18h of June, 1971 – Godric's Hollow, Potter Cottage

Charlus Potter POV

The soft clinking of the cutlery was a constant dull break from the silence that rippled through the dining room as they ate, the feeling of impatience practically vibrating from his wife as the minutes ticked away and late evening approached.

He shared a glance with Dorea who gave him a non-expressive signal that was as subtle as a bull in a china shop.

"Michael."

He called out and the young man paused from eating, an inquisitive expression on his face. They both learnt that their son wasn't one to speak without needing to.

Compared to his nephew James, Michael had been almost mute as a child and as he grows into a young man, it was clear that it was not going to change.

"The Roman School of Arithmancy and Spell Theory has owled back the results of your entrance." Charlus said as he put down his cutlery as he looked to his son and Dorea brought out the exam results she had kept in her robes.

"You aced the exam!" Dorea hastily spilled out, unable to contain her impatience any longer, a wide beaming smile on her face, her eyes shining with pride.

"As I knew you would! Congratulations Michael." Dorea said affectionately as she passed the results to Michael who took the parchment and carefully read it.

Charlus looked to his wife with fond exasperation before he turned to his son "Congratulations, my boy. It's a wonderful opportunity."

It truly was.

The school was a prestigious one, one that was built a few hundred years after Hogwarts was built by six Roman families that boasted links to famous Roman Sorcerers. By now it was one the foremost schools in the entire magical world when it came to spell creation.

Their entry exams for non-legacy applicants were notoriously difficult and for Michael to ace it was remarkable.

Michael allowed a small smile to grace his face as he looked up from the parchment. "Thank you mother, father." He said with a shadow of affection in his voice.

"I expected I did well though achieving this is a pleasant surprise." He said with a trailing look to the parchment before he handed it back to Dorea.

"It will be important in my application to the Department of Education to let me take ICW OWLS classes in Spell Creation and Magical Theory." Michael added.

"You're still certain you want to go that route?" Charlus asked.

"I am" Michael confirmed.

"With two classes being done mostly through independent study and practicals with Professor Carlyle, it will not be as heavy a workload as one would imagine."

"And you're going to stick with the three electives too? The external classes along with three electives on top of your normal classes must be time consuming." Dorea questioned slightly concerned.

Charlus was also concerned about their son's schedule. It was a workload that see many crumble under. But he did have faith in Michael.

His work ethic and intelligence were remarkable. And Michael had not once disappointed them when he committed himself to anything so when he indicates he could handle something most others could not, Charlus believed him.

"Not overly." Michael said, the corners of his lips tugged upwards as he continued "It helps that the History class functions more or less as a free period to catch up on other subjects if I need to."

Dorea frowned "You mustn't do that. It's disrespectful."

Michael raised an eyebrow, an amused look on his face "Binns recites, word for word, the exact lessons for each year all the way to NEWTS."

"Word for word?" Charlus questioned a little surprised. Binns had been alive during his time at Hogwarts so this was the first time he was hearing of it.

"Word for word." Michael confirmed before adding "The older students used dicta-quills for his classes and we confirmed it that way. It's all the same."

"If that is the case, how come you haven't scored a perfect O?" Charlus asked curiously. If he had access to notes, word for word notes, then shouldn't he have also known the kind of questions that would be asked?

Michael got where he was going and answered "Because I only do enough to pass the class." He said with a shrug before a displeased expression settled on his face.

"He focuses on Goblin Rebellion and the first half 1800s for some reason. Three years of History and he hasn't touched upon anything else of interest. Not about the Founders, Camelot or the myriad of wizarding conflicts we should be learning about."

"Binns taught us about the founders in my first year." Charlus said surprised. He turned to Dorea was five years younger than he was.

"It was the same for me." Dorea said with a deep disapproving frown on her face before she looked to Michael "How come you never mentioned this?"

"I didn't think it was any different to how it was done before." 'When he was still alive' Michael left unsaid and Charlus knew that Michael wouldn't have mentioned anything or his displeasure had they not asked.

Dorea looked a little unimpressed and more than a little exasperated at the explanation. She turned to him "I'll speak to Arcturus about it. It's scandalous that they're not learning about our history!"

Silently Charlus wished Arcturus the best of luck. When Dorea got in a mood about something related to Michael, she never relented. It wouldn't surprise him if Arcturus did try do something in the next schoolboard meeting about the class.

It wasn't long after that they resumed their meal and stayed a little longer afterwards as Dorea had taken to probe Michael a little more about his classes and Charlus listened quietly to the pair of them.

Michael had always had a talent for magic but it was clear that he truly had a knack for the more esoteric branches of magic. The fact that he got into a well sought after summer course to the Roman School spoke volumes of his talents.

He wasn't sure where Michael had inherited this talent for Arithmancy and even Runes, neither Dorea or himself were particularly talented in it…nor was it incorporated in any meaningful way in either the Black or Potter family magic.

As he tried to get up once dinner and conversation ended, he felt a familiar sharp pain in his chest, one that almost caused him to topple over. Thankfully he managed to grip onto the table quickly enough.

Dorea walked over to him concerned as she helped him up. "Again? So soon?" Dorea asked immensely displeased as she held onto his right arm, her wand waving around his chest, the sharp pain receding away under the effect of the numbing spell.

"You're doing too much as I said you were." Dorea said disapprovingly.

Charlus sighed as Michael came over with a potion in hand.

Charlus smiled gratefully as he took the vial and drank it, the sharp pain disappearing within moment of consumption. "Director Longbottom needs me to whip up the taskforce into shape. I can't not get involved, Dor" Charlus said meaningfully.

Her expression twisted with displeasure, a faint glint of disdain in her eyes. She knew all too well why Charlus couldn't stick to retirement.

With the increasing rate of disappearances, the coalition of Dark Houses increasing in rhetoric and more and more animal attacks in the muggle world…

"This is the best way I can help." Charlus said firmly.

His chest injury may be debilitating, even worsening year on year out, but he was still strong magically and he was still able to teach and now more than ever, they needed capable Aurors if what he and Longbottom feared to be true.

Michael handed Charlus his cane "I'll go by Uncle Mony's in the morning to pick up a few more supplies." Michael paused as he met Charlus' gaze.

It was hard to know what Michael was thinking at the best of times but Charlus knew that Michael preferred him away from the Ministry. It was warming, in truth, to know that Michael loved him that much that he feared for Charlus' safety and health.

It may sound odd, that a child would not fear for his parent but Michael had not ever been an ordinary child.

Even as a baby, he'd been quieter, more observant, sharper and even in some ways distant than any child had any right to be, traits that exploded in intensity when he turned six years of age. Disturbing nightmares only fuelled the worst parts of his son's tendencies, to the point that he hardly spoke as a boy.

Only through patience and care, mostly at the hands of Dor, had they broken through to him and though he was still far from warm, they knew of his ways that he showed care and love.

This was one way of his.

"Alright." Charlus said with a warm smile before his eyes lit up "Do ask if Effy's made some more of her casseroles." Honestly, the woman can cook. Floppy's food was nothing to scoff at but there was something about the way the woman could make food that made it taste divine.

Michael's eyes shone with amusement as he made to walk away though not without saying "If she's made enough." Michael said, a hint of mirth in his voice and Dorea chuckled softly at his remarks.

Charlus sighed "I won't be so lucky, will I?" he said almost mournfully.

"No." Dorea said with amusement "I rather think that there will be scraps left if there she's made any. Come on, dear. Let's get you to bed." And he let her take him away.

-Break-

Black Country, Potter Manor

Fleamont Potter POV

The sounds of his son's cheerful laughter rang delightfully in the air as he ran rings around his older cousin with his quick and skilful manoeuvring.

"I have no idea how James manages to cajole Michael onto a broom without fail." Effy said with a trickle of laughter in her voice as she arrived next to him with a pair glasses of wine in hand.

"Especially given how much Michael quite dislikes flying" she added as they watched the poor fail miserably at a routine broom-turning manoeuvre.

In a way it was impressive, Monty thought as he watched on. No Potter was ever terrible on a broom until Michael came.

"I rather think Michael lets him rather than James' own powers of persuasion." Monty said as he took the offered glass and returned his attentions to the flying boys.

"Powers of persuasion?" Effy repeated and he could imagine her raised eyebrows as she spoke "Interesting way to say 'begging'"

"No Potter begs." Monty said with a light grin as he brought the glass to his lips.

"Hmm. Summer of '03 begs to differ" Effy said nonchalantly.

"Ah, ah, ah!" Monty said with light warning as he turned to his wife "I did not beg for that date"

She raised her dainty eyebrow at him "Really? I seem to remember even at one point you grandiosely were on your knees in front of my father's shop making a fool out of yourself."

Monty internally winced.

Thinking back on it, it was embarrassing the efforts he went through to get her to go out with him. He was only thankful he was smart enough to carry out his antics when her father wasn't there manning the wares shop.

"I call that charmingly convince, my dear." Monty said with his grin widening, an act that earned him a roll of the eyes from his wife.

"After all, you did agree not long after that."

"Only so that you would stop" she muttered though he didn't fail to see the somewhat pleased look on her face. Despite her initial hesitancy, they both knew that it was a wonderful match.

Monty laughed a little as he looked to his wife affectionately. They'd lived a wonderful life but there had always been something missing until James came along.

Truly, it was the happiest period of their lives and it seemed like it was just flashing by. Already it was time for their boy to go to Hogwarts and before they knew it, even that would go by like dust caught in a strong breeze.

"James, Michael." Monty greeted as they stepped off of their brooms. "Have fun?" he asked knowing that only one of them likely had much fun at all.

"Yes! I'm as good as ever!" James exulted with a beaming smile before he eyed Michael "And you're as bad as ever" James said teasingly.

James made to move away from Michael but it was to no avail as Michael already anticipated and flicked James on his forehead.

"Ow"

"What did I tell you about showing yourself to be smug?" Michael asked expectantly as James winced, his hands on his forehead.

"That it can backfire on you." James said morosely as he rubbed at the spot where Michael flicked him on. "You hit hard with just a finger." James said almost accusingly.

"Well my advice does seem to need to be hammered in somewhat" Michael said with a blank expression and made Fleamont snort with the cold and frank way it was delivered.

James' look of accusation didn't last and he broke into a fit of laughter "Funny." James said with a grin as he looked to his cousin.

Michael smiled a little and soon enough James chattered away at Michael as they walked into the home, Effy and he watching on with a smile on their faces as they followed them into the dining room.

Monty was glad James had Michael.

James was a surprise to the pair of them who'd accepted that they were to remain childless years before Effy fell pregnant in her seventies.

To say they spoilt James was an understatement, their little miracle, and it was to their good fortune that Michael had taken on the duties of the sensible older brother lessening some of James' thoughtlessness.

It wasn't long before they were around the dinner table eating some light lunch.

"Dorea owled me last night" Effy said after a nimble bite, a warm smile on her face "I'm very pleased for you Michael, it is quite the feat!"

"What happened?" James asked curiously from across the table.

"Your cousin got into a prestigious summer school in Italy." Monty explained to James "Congratulations." Monty said to his nephew.

"Thank you." Michael said with a small smile.

"You must visit Stillicho's Square when you're in Rome. Oh the place is just magical!" Effy said delighted before she turned to Monty "We should take a trip to Rome soon, it's been decades since we've last been" she said with fond eyes filled with memories.

The last time they went was in '48 not long after the rebuilds were complete.

The place had actually improved, most of the buildings were torn down and replaced with newer architecture in honour of the original Roman buildings, and it had been a wonderful experience.

"Of course dear." Monty agreed. After all, they would have a lot of free time when James started Hogwarts. A trip to Italy sounded marvellous.

"You're going to school over summer?" James asked with his nose scrunched up. "Why?" he asked, genuinely confused.

Michael looked at James with mild amusement as he leaned back in his chair "Because I want to." Michael simply said to James who seemed to contort his face even further as if the idea of actually wanting to study over summer was physically hurting him.

Monty had no idea where he was getting this impression that school equalled bad from given that he was home schooled. Alright, maybe he did, Monty thought with cheer. Effy could really be a taskmaster when she wanted to be.

"It's not so different from wanting to go to Quidditch camp like you've badgered your parents so many times." Michael pointed out.

"But that's actually fun." James said with a roll of the eyes before he eyed Michael "You should have been a Ravenclaw like mum really."

"It was close thing." Michael admitted before gave off a shadow of a smile "In the end, I favoured other traits more."

How the boy avoided Slytherin, Monty had no idea, he mused internally. Let alone actually get into Hufflepuff when that seemed like it was farthest House he should be joining.

Perhaps it was a good, Monty thought a little grimly.

The boy was a Slytherin, through and through but it was a kind of Slytherin that was harder to come by in this generation which was replaced by something far viler.

From what he hearing from Sluggie, they were near impossible to influence away from what they were getting taught by their parents.

All poor Sluggie could do was protect the younger kids.

"Your own sorting is coming up soon." Michael stated curiously before he drank of his water "Are you ready for it?"

James scoffed, his chest puffed up in a show of bravado "I was born ready!" he said bravely and Monty rolled his eyes.

"Is that so?" Michael drawled in a musing tone as he leaned back, eying James intently "Well, I look forward to seeing you handle the challenge."

James deflated a little bit before he rounded up "It won't matter, whatever the challenge is. I'll even fight a dragon and win and earn my way into Gryffindor, the home of the brave!"

James had badgered them all, even the portraits, about how he could make sure he could get into Gryffindor. So much so that they ended up just claiming that it was a challenge.

James' own imagination did the rest and conjured wild theories of challenges to test students and he thought to get into Gryffindor he'd have to show off his bravery.

"I wouldn't be careful if I were you. I have seen many children try and meet the challenge only to fail and be remain without a House." Michael said with an ominous undertone as he looked away from James' wide eyes.

"They're like ghosts wandering the halls without purpose."

Effy artfully hid her smile behind her glass of wine as she watched on silently at the interplay between the two boys.

"Wait, you can really go without a House?" James asked wide eyed before he narrowed his eyes suspiciously "I don't believe you. There would be stories about it otherwise!"

"Good." Michael's smile this time was larger though somehow it was a little darker. "Never trust anything or anyone blindly." Michael said as he fixed James with a look. "Always verify the truth. Even if you want to trust someone with your life."

Silence descended into the dining room as Monty exchanged a look with Effy as the conversation took a dark turn. "Desert?" Effy interjected cheerfully.

It was not long after that Monty was escorting Michael with his bag of potions for Charlus towards the Floo. "Michael…what you said to James about trust…"

"I know Uncle." Michael interjected though not unkindly.

"But James needs to understand. He's too naïve when it comes to people." Michael said with a certain look to Monty "Given the power he'll wield when he is older, naivety is dangerous. To himself and to the family."

Monty sighed, all too aware of his son's character.

James lived a sheltered life, free from the typical heir training that he ought to have had by now, something that Michael had picked up when James had been eight years of age, the time heir training started for scions.

After the way the grey and darker Houses treated his father Henry during the first muggle world war, Monty had soured on the Wizengamot and traditions, especially after they were branded as blood traitors for campaigning for greater muggle rights.

Monty wore the so called taint of blood traitor proudly when those who called him that were little more than extremists and perhaps that influenced him more than it should have when it came to James' education.

He didn't want his son to consider himself superior than people, magical or muggle, it mattered not, and he felt that he'd save James' education as the future Lord Potter for when he was older and more aware of the world.

He could see now that it was perhaps a mistake.

"You know how dangerous things are getting. The last thing I want is for James to fall under the influence of something or someone without knowing any better." Michael said meaningfully as they stopped before the Floo.

"I don't think it's as bad as you think it is, Michael." Monty said with a frown.

Michael only fixed him with a look and Monty sighed.

It seems like he wouldn't fool his nephew. It was already worse than his nephew thought it was getting and it was hinting towards it even getting worse.

The deaths and the kinds of deaths that were happening were increasing with a startling rate. Veterans of the Grindelwald war were starting to disappear, muggleborns of some prestige were getting killed and their homes destroyed.

The laws they were trying to get passed in the Wizengamot were even more restrictive and borderline inhumane. Only a series of alliances between traditionally Neutral and Progressive Houses were what stood in the way of truly draconian laws.

And it wasn't just the Traditionalists that were getting more vocal either.

"I've been invited by Ms Bones to a gala this summer." Michael commented as he met Monty's gaze. "We should all attend it." Michael simply said but it was far from an innocent comment knowing the cunning his nephew possessed.

The Potter Alliance though powerful paled to the alliances held by the Traditional and Neutral Houses. House Bones for example could call upon House Smith, Abbott, Fawley and three other Noble Houses with House Greengrass another faction leader capable of similar voting power.

In comparison, House Potter only had House Longbottom, Wyeth and House Marbrand in its alliance though House Longbottom had their own web of alliances that they could call upon if they needed it.

Monty eyed Michael understandingly. "I shall speak to Effy about it."

Michael inclined his head "Of course Uncle. I'll give mother and father yours and aunt Euphemia's regards." Michael said as he threw a ball of floo into the fire and disappeared in the green fire.

Monty shook his head. A boy Michael's age should not be worrying about things such as alliances or gruesome happenings. Monty's expression grew grim.

Yet…he couldn't help but think they were fortunate in some way.

At eight five years of age, he wasn't getting any younger and Charlus' body was breaking down. If it was going to be as turbulent a time as it unfortunately promised it would be, neither he, Charlus or Effy may still be around to advise James and James would need his cousin more than ever.

As he walked into the living room, he saw James reading a book on Quidditch.

"James." He intoned and James looked up inquisitively to Monty and as James gazed at him with such innocent eyes, he realised that he had been far too lax in preparing his son. That would start to change now.

"I believe it's time for you to learn more of what it means to be a Potter." Monty said, his expression serious.