AN: To those who thought the baby thing from last chapter was a Head canon, it's not. At least I don't think it is. I remember coming across an interview or part of one once where Rowling mentioned that was something she intended as unspoken Canon. Kind of like George wearing Fred's spoon from the Weasley clock.
AN2: Been thinking more on the pairing and I have some candidates. I'm wanting to use someone I haven't before. Lilith Moon and Morag MacDougal I mentioned before are options. But so are Hannah Abbot and Luna Lovegood who have a bit more known personality. Let me know who you want for pairing and, even beyond that, who you want to join 'the gang'. We do still need at least one Hufflepuff after all.
My Way's the Fun Way
Chapter 4
-Harry-
"So, Harry, you said you're going to inherit your guardian's Ice Cream Parlor?" Hermione asked as they walked around Hogwarts, working to explore it more. They thankfully had an entire weekend to do so before classes began on Monday.
"Yeah." He nodded, "I've always loved cooking even if I don't like why I got so good at it. So, working with the parlor sounds like fun! I might even create my own ice creams. I want to make potions and enchantments too."
"So, you like making things?" Dean tilted his head, nibbling some toast as they approached the Black Lake, massive tentacles rising up, waving playfully.
"I like making practical things." Harry admitted bashfully, "I'd get in trouble if the tools I was supposed to use for chores were broken…or if anything was broken. So, I had to learn to make and fix things early on."
"Well at least you already have a career in mind and lined up." Hermione nodded satisfied, the studious girl showing just why she'd been the one who best fit Ravenclaw, "Personally I'd love to create new spells. Or maybe work in a magical archive of some kind!" he'd swear there were sparkles floating around Hermione as she gushed, "So many books! It would be amazing!"
"I'd rather be an artist." Dean shrugged, rolling with the subject, "I like pretty things."
"Maybe we could make wands." Harry shuddered, "Honestly I'd love a different wand."
"Is there something wrong with yours?" Hermione asked concerned.
"Ollivander said it was the brother to Voldemort's." Harry admitted, shuddered as he remembered the incredibly creepy wand maker, "He said it was a good connection but…well it felt wrong. My scar ached when I picked it up." His fingers felt the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.
"I don't blame you then." Dean had a disgusted expression on his face at the connection. Being a 'brother wand' didn't necessarily make his evil but it still made him uncomfortable. Especially given how it made his scar ache.
"Maybe we can check the library for books on Wand Lore then?" Hermione decided to focus on finding a solution, "And if not that, then maybe ask the Headmaster?"
"You just want to go and check out those books." Harry teased but didn't argue as they walked inside, heading to the Library to begin the search.
-Dumbledore-
"Hello Amelia." Dumbledore nodded to the head of the DMLE, still feeling drained from all the things he'd learned in recent weeks.
"Hello Dumbledore." The woman nodded to him, adjusting her monocle in confusion, "Was there something I could help with you?"
"Yes. I require the assistance of the Ministry's Prosecution office." He nodded, "There's a case I've been assisting the Muggle Government with."
"Muggle?" the red haired woman blink surprised before sighing and shaking her head, "As much I'd like to help you Dumbledore you know I can't. Fudge has forbidden resources spent on anything involving the muggle world."
"I'm aware." Albus' eyes twinkled mischievously, "But this isn't simply a muggle matter. The muggles in question were given custody of an orphaned magical child, the heir to a known magical family in fact. And I've recently learned they spent years abusing them."
"What?!" Amelia's monocle fell from her eye, face wide with both rage and fear.
"They feared magic and wished to, and I quote, 'beat it out of him'." Dumbledore's twinkle became a furious scowl, "The Muggle Ministry has agreed to hand them over to be tried by our courts. They simply ask that we inform them of any crimes related to their own world that we learn of during veritaserum interrogation."
"Done." Amelia went to her desk to begin signing the requisition form for the Veritaserum as well as an order to prepare an interrogation room plus some cells, "Who was the child?"
"Harry Potter." Albus eased into a seat with a sigh as Amelia blinked in shock, "Because Alice Longbottom refused her duties as godmother and ensured Sirius Black was imprisoned without trail, the only option I was given was to place him with his remaining relatives. I was able to have Florian look after him for now and the two have bonded quite well."
"I might see if Susan might want to talk to the boy." Amelia muttered to herself as she filled out the forms faster, "Merlin knows he could use a friend after what you just told me."
"You're not wrong." Dumbledore sighed, running a hand down his face, "Then there's the fact that the boy was sorted into Slytherin house." Amelia gaped at that little revelation.
"Truly?" she asked stunned, "I figured he'd go to Gryffindor like his parents."
"The boy has a sharp mind and enough ambition that the house wanted him in Slytherin." Albus shrugged before leaning in conspiratorially, "Given that the two students he became close with on the train got sorted into Ravenclaw and Slytherin I'm starting to wonder if he has some sort of scheme in mind. Who knows, if your Susan does befriend him then their group would have someone from each house."
Amelia snorted at that, "Do I have to worry about a rebirth of those blasted 'Marauders'?"
"No comment." Albus chuckled as Amelia's memos flew off.
"And Snape isn't throwing a fit about his rivals' son being a Slytherin?" Amelia asked before stilling when she saw the mourning look of grief on his own face.
"About that…there's been a discovery." Albus shook his head, "About Lily, James, and the second potter child who never got to be born." As he told her of what Severus told her he made a horrifying realization. The letter had been sealed…did young Harry even know?
-Harry-
"How could they be so stupid!" Hermione huffed as they walked back to their secret base, several library books tucked into their bags. The Librarian had been quite pleased to see their appreciation for the books. The problem had been running into Longbottom and Weasley on the route back. Longbottom had been the same stuck up prick he'd been on the train. Weasley meanwhile just treated them like they were insane for wanting to do 'extra homework before they even had homework'.
"I know!" Harry could not comprehend the absurdity of it, "I don't even get why they're opposed to the idea of homework here. It's magic homework for our magic school! Why wouldn't I want to do that!"
"I guess maybe they aren't as impressed with magic having grown up around it." Dean frowned in confusion, "But that just feels weird. How could you not wanna know more magic?"
"Stupid." Harry shook his head in disdain, "Morons, the lot of them!"
AN: About the wand thing, I just can't see the Holly wand being Harry's. It always felt to me like it bonded to the bit of Voldemort's soul in his scar. So, I'm going to be trying to make a really cool original wand for Harry. Making some plans so let me know if you have any suggestions.