AN:/ I do know own Harry Potter that right goes to JKR. I would like to make just a quick note that the last update was infact an update for any that were confused about the chapter count. I went ahead and removed the AN chapter from when i missed an update. I am sorry for any confusion. As always thank you to AlphaFlash for his assistince and thank you all for your comments and reads. It means the world folks it really does.
Harry had finally returned home two months after leaving Britain. He was tired, not really physically, but mentally. His time in Tibet had been a stressful one, to say the least. The teachers there had worked him hard in learning runes and even how to use them in wards. He sighed and stretched as he stepped from the fireplace. He breathed in deeply, taking in the familiar scent of Camelot Manor as he did so. He released it with another sigh and a slight smile as he heard Larry doing the same.
It was good to finally be home. He started making his way out of the entry hall and towards the kitchen. He heard a soft pop in front of him and noticed Trixie standing there with a large smile. "Hello Trixie, and how are you today?"
"Hello, Master Harry, sir. It is good to have you home!" She squeaked out, causing him to smile. Trixie and Kurt always did their best to make him not feel alone now that his parents had passed on. In a way, it was as if Trixie had done her best to fill the role of his missing mother, and it made him feel loved. "How was Master's trip?"
Harry smiled even more. "It was fantastic, Trixie, thank you for asking."
"Oh, that is good to hear. I also have Larry's new habitat made for him in the office. I have taken the liberty to move the old habitat from Master's room," she said.
Suddenly, Larry popped out of his shirt and slithered quickly down his arm. "I'm going to have a look!" He called behind him.
Harry just chuckled. "I guess he is excited to see what you have created for him, Trixie. Thank you from the both of us for doing that for him."
Trixie blushed a bit before saying, "Oh, it is nothing, sirs. Trixie is happy to be doing it." Then she popped out of the front hall.
Harry smiled and shook his head a bit. He walked off to the library on the second floor of the west wing. There he took out his trunk and his wand. After resizing it, he opened it and waved his wand about. Thirty books flew out of the trunk and spread themselves throughout the large library. Each shelf was dedicated to a different branch of magic. The introductory books went to the bottom of a row, and then they got harder the higher up you went.
His job there being done, Trixie popped in and removed the trunk up to his room. From there, she would usually remove everything and place it in its proper place before scrubbing the trunk clean to keep it in good condition. Harry smiled as he left the library through a side door that led to his study. There he found Larry and Laura lying around in their habitats, enjoying the warming charms that were placed upon the rocks and logs within. He smiled as he went to sit behind his large mahogany desk.
"Hello, Laura, it's great to see you again," he greeted the ancient serpent who raised her head.
"Bondmate Harry!" She hissed excitedly and rushed from her rock to give him a squeeze. She rubbed her head against his cheek lightly. "Laura... missed you."
Harry reached up and scratched the top of her head. "Well, I missed you too, Laura. How have you been?"
"Laura has been good. Laura is learning... to talk better," she said. "Trixie comes to talk to Laura. Even though she... doesn't understand me."
Harry smiled at his elf's kindness. "Well, I am glad to hear that, Laura. Don't worry; both myself and Larry will help you learn as well."
"Thank you," she hissed sincerely as Harry took his seat behind his desk and took out the Pendragon grimoire. Laura didn't remove herself from his shoulders as he sat there and read into his family magic. He didn't tell her to stop either, figuring she was in need of human contact after being alone for so long.
A week later found him heading to the Lupin house once more to pick up Remus for their day over at the Evans household. When he reached the door and gave it a knock, Hope soon answered. "Oh, hello there, Harry, dear! How is your summer going?"
"Hello, Hope, it's nice to see you again as well. And my summer is going great, thank you for asking," he said with a smile.
"That's wonderful, dear. Let me just call Remus for you," she said, turning back into the house. "REMUS, HARRY IS HERE!"
"Coming!" came the muffled reply.
Hope turned back to him with her beautiful smile well in place. "Harry, I want to thank you." He tilted his head in question. "Well, it's just Remus doesn't have many friends, and after what happened this school year, he now has even fewer. But you are helping him to find more, and that means so much to us. It's good to see my little boy being happy again."
Harry just nodded a bit. "There is no need to thank me, Hope. Remus is a great guy and a good friend, and I help my friends."
She just smiled as Remus ran to the door. "Hey, Harry, ready to go?"
"Yup, sure am. Are you?" Remus nodded. "Good, then let's head out. Goodbye, Hope; it was good seeing you."
"You too, Harry, dear, and please come by for dinner sometime before school," she called after them.
"I will," he said with a wave.
Trixie popped them over to Cokeworth shortly after, and the two friends made their way to the back door of the Evans home. Harry was about to knock upon the door when it flew open, and he was tackled to the ground by a red missile that was quickly becoming a tradition it would seem. He laughed as he hugged Lilly back. "Harry, it's so good to see you!"
"It's good to see you too, Lilly. How's your summer?" He asked.
"It's so good, thank you so much for the book on charms. It was just so fascinating," she said as he helped her up. "Oh, hey, Remus, it's good to see you too. I hope your summer is going well."
Remus chuckled at the interaction between the two of them. "Hey, Lilly, it's going pretty good."
"That's good; well, come on in." The two boys followed her into the house, where her parents were sitting along with Patunia.
"Hello, Rose, Robert, and Patunia," Harry said as they entered the living room.
"Hi, Harry," they called back.
"Thank you for inviting us over today," Harry said. "This is Lilly and my friend, Remus Lupin. Remus, this is Rose, Robert, and Patunia Evans."
"Hello," he waved a bit shyly.
Patunia was watching the new boy with interest. She couldn't help but wonder where he had gotten the scars from but dared not ask. He also seemed like he was like Harry in that he didn't hate her or her parents for not having magic.
The Evans all returned his greeting before sending the four children out to play. They
went to the back garden and sat in the small gazebo that Robert had built for Rose for their last anniversary. "So, Patunia, how are your potions studies going?" Harry asked.
Patunia blushed as Lilly gave her a huge smile. "Oh, it's going really well, actually. I'm keeping up with Lilly for her year. I study the book, and then when she returns, we brew the potion."
Harry nodded his head, and Lupin looked shocked. "You're learning potions?" Patunia hesitantly nodded, not sure if he would make fun of her. She was shocked, though, by what he said next. "That's so cool! I love potions; it's one of my favorite classes. You know I should teach my mum how to brew; I bet she would like that."
"Wait, your mum can't do magic either?" She asked, confused. Didn't other magicals only marry magical people?
"Naw, she can't. My mum is a muggle. My dad helped her from a boggart in a forest a long time ago and fell in love with her. She didn't care that he was a wizard, and they got married a little while later," he said with a smile.
"Wait, aren't boggarts those things that can show your deepest fear?" She asked, intrigued.
Remus was even more shocked now. "Yeah, they are! Do you study magical creatures as well?"
She nodded her head rapidly, loving that she had more to talk about now with other magical people besides Harry and Lilly. "Yeah, Harry sent me a few books on them. So far, I really like Nifflers; they seem so cute."
Harry and Lilly smiled at them as the two devolved into a long discussion about various magical creatures. They slowly moved away from the two to let them talk. Lilly reached over and gave Harry a big hug. "It's so good to see you again, Harry. I missed you so much."
Harry chuckled and hugged her back. "I missed you too, Lilly."
Neither one noticed the pair of onyx eyes glowering at them from behind a bush. How dare Pendragon touch what was rightfully his. He would make sure he pays for this, that was for sure. Perhaps Lucius would help him. He thought with a smirk coming across his face.
A few weeks later found Lilly, Amelia, and Andie going to Camelot Manor for the first time. Harry had invited them over a week ago, but they were just now being able to go. He had invited Remus and Patunia as well, but they had things to do. Patunia was going to hang out with a muggle friend of hers named Yvona, and Remus was going with his father somewhere. So that just left them alone with Harry. Amelia and Andie were coming through the Floo, while Trixie went to pick up Lilly. Andie was still at her grandparents after her father had told her to leave as he didn't want to see her for the rest of the summer. Arcturus had given his permission for her to spend the day with Harry.
They stepped out into a large entry hall with a white marble floor. The fire that they stepped from was large, by at least eight feet by eight feet. Amelia was the first to arrive, followed closely by Andie. Trixie popped Lilly in almost at the same time Andie had shown up. The girls looked around in awe at the opulent room they found themselves in at the moment. There were large tapestries showing twelve knights in shining armor. Each one moved and would nod to each of the girls that looked at them. Under their boots were various names of each one. Names that were very familiar to the Arthurian legends like Gawain and Lancelot.
The Pendragon coat of arms was emblazoned upon the floor at their feet. They were taken from their wonder as they noticed the knights all bowing to someone behind them. They looked back to see Harry climbing down the grand staircase that led up to the upper floors of the west wing. He gave them all a lopsided grin that made them all blush a bit.
"Hello, girls, I am so glad that you have made it. Welcome to Camelot Manor," he said, gesturing around him.
They each returned his smile with one of their own. "Thank you for inviting us, Harry."
Andy, who hadn't seen him yet over the summer, came up to him and gave him a gentle hug. He had grown some over the summer but was still a bit shorter than her, even if he was taller than the average thirteen-year-old. After all, she was a bit tall for her age as well.
Harry returned the hug with one of his own before gently pulling back. As if not to be outdone, the other two girls quickly came and gave him a hug as well, making Andie pout a bit. Harry, however, was a bit dense in this and didn't really notice any of it. "Well, then would you girls like the tour of the place?"
They each nodded, and Harry started leading them through the manor. There was a large library that had Lilly practically drooling over. He showed them the Ballroom and the formal and informal dining rooms. He explained the guest rooms but didn't really bother showing them that. Then was a gym, and there was an exit to a large indoor pool. From there, he showed them around the garden and explained the various creatures that lived in the woods around the home. Nothing in there was really bad. Some unicorns, gryphons, thestrals, and hippogriffs. Fairies and other woodland creatures were fairly common as well.
"Harry, what's that building over there?" Lilly asked him, pointing to a Roman Gothic looking building at the edge of the woods.
"Hmmm?" He asked, turning around. His face fell a bit when he saw what she meant. "Oh, that's the Pendragon crypts. It's the only structure that's left from the great castle of Camelot that once rested on these lands. Every Pendragon has been laid to rest there since King Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon. As one of our final requests to our elves, we ask them to return our bodies to these crypts upon our deaths. Even when no Pendragon lived in the isles, they would be returned here."
The girls looked down, realizing that his parents must be down there as well. Suddenly, they heard a fast slithering sound from behind them and turned to greet Larry. However, what they saw made them all freeze. Larry was there, alright, but so was another snake that was even longer than Larry. Whereas Larry was now twelve feet long, this one was around sixteen. It was a poisonous green with the same eyes as Larry. In fact, it looked just like Larry without the extra heads and a different color.
They froze, realizing that this was another Basilisk. They knew that Larry wouldn't hurt them, but would this serpent feel the same? Would it be friendly, or would it kill them? They watched as the two snakes shot past them and quickly twirled their way up around Harry. They watched in a stunned silence as the green snake started to rub her head against his cheek in an affectionate way.
Meanwhile Larry was hissing in his ear with all seven heads.
"Larry that tickles." He said leaning his head over a bit. "Now stop talking all at once whats going on?" They watched as he hissed back and forth between the two snakes for a while before he returned his attention to them. "Would you girls like to see something really special?"
They all looked at one another. "Sure but perhaps you would like to introduce us to this one?" Andie asked motioning to the new comber.
Harry rubbed the back of his head a bit. "Oh yeah sorry I almost forgot about that. Girls this is Laura and Laura these are my best friends Lilly, Andromeda and Amelia." He said causing all three to blush and look away a bit at being called his best friends.
"Hello bondmates mates!" Laura hissed out causing Harry to blush as well though the others didn't see it.
"No Laura just my friends." He hissed back.
Laura seemed to roll her eyes. "SSSSuuuurrree." Her and Larry both hissed.
Harry cleared his throat clearing the blush. "Anyway she wanted to form a familiar bond with me and I allowed her to."
"Wait so now you have two familiars?" Amelia asked.
He nodded. "Yeah I even got her papers all filled out so its all legal with the ICW. Cant imagine that Crouch will be happy when he finds out but oh well."
"Is she as friendly as Larry?" Lilly asked edging forward.
"Oh yes you can pet her if you want." The girls moved up and began rubbing the snakes scally head. "The only thing I ask is that you three don't tell anyone else about here. I will probably tell Remus but for now that's it."
"Why's that?" Andie asked as Harry started to lead them the way the two snakes came Larry leading him.
"Because I really don't want to start a hubbub on where I got here. You see I found her at hogwarts deep under the school." The three girls looked rather confused. "Have you three ever heard of the chamber of secrets?"
Andies eyes went wide. "Harry... are you saying that you have found the chamber of secrets?"
"Well technically Larry found it and should me. Anyway Larry found it and Laura here down in the chamber. Laura was once Salazar Slytherins familiar but since he is gone she was unbound. That is rather dangerous when you think about it as any parselmouth can command any snake if it is unbounded. So she asked me to kill her. However Larry here would have none of that and insisted that I bond to her so here we are."
"Wait but didn't Slytherin want to kill all muggleborns. He could have easily done so with Laura?" Lilly asked curiously looking around as Harry led them into the forest.
"He could have if that's what he really wanted. It wasn't Muggleborns that he hated Lills it was muggles. You have to remember the times that they lived in. Back then it wasn't a great time to be a witch or wizard. Many people didn't understand what was happening to be magic and they thought magic was all evil. So they would often times hurt even their own children for possessing it. Slytherin only wanted Laura to protect muggleborns and the school."
"Well that makes sense I suppose." Amelia said.
All conversations were stoppped though as they heard a soft grunting noise. As they came to a clearing they came across a beautiful light with in. There stood a mother Unicorn and at her feet was a small baby unicorn taking its first steps. Harry stopped them at the edge of the trees as the mother looked up at them and watched them.
After a long moment it put its head back down to watch its baby as it moved around. The girls all gained looks of awe at the cute creature that was before them. They each cooed at it when it stumbled over its on its knobbly knees. Harry for his part moved back to a respectful distance for the mother unicorn who bowed its head ever so slightly to him. The girls all patted the newborn with awe and wonderment. Harry couldn't help the large smile as he saw their eyes sparkle at the new experience. He loves seeing them happy and smiling.