Harry was sitting with Neville in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room. The two were chatting amicably about their vastly different experiences growing up. Harry who had been treated a little better than a house elf. In fact, even living under similar circumstances in terms of his housing, food, and clothing. Neville on the other hand had been thought a squib for quite a while by his family. Largely because he had less frequent bouts on accidental magic than some. However, in spite of his grandmother and great uncle's concerns regarding him the other wizard struggled to imagine any family treating a child like that.
Neville was just telling Harry all about the books that were written for wizarding children about him. An idea that astounded Harry, which was complete libel. Harry, finally choked out, "can someone really do that? I mean write complete lies about me and sell it as fact." Neville was thoughtful for a moment. "They are not supposed to. People did not know what happened to you, so it has gone unchallenged. If I were you, I would look into getting a solicitor and suing." Harry lowered his head. Harry mumbled, "I do not know that I have the money for one let alone a way to track one down." The other wizard looked at him, "Let me write Gran and see what we can do. Trust me, this is not an issue. You have the money; you are from the one of the wealthier families in our world. I am certain though we can get you set up with one." Harry's jaw dropped; he had not really had the time to explore his vault at all when Hagrid took him to Gringotts on his birthday. Neville was about to say more when the door to the common room swung open and Professor McGonagall.
McGonagall, came over to where the two boys were seated, "come along Potter the headmaster has asked me to bring you to his office." Harry, well trained not to talk back or lag when asked to do something, quickly rose from his seat, and the two swiftly left the common room and began making their way through the halls. Once they approached a large statue of a gargoyle, McGonagall uttered, "sherbert lemon." The gargoyle stepped aside so that the two made their way up a moving stone staircase and to the headmaster's office. Harry's eyes widened as he had not taken the time to take in his surroundings when he was last brought to the headmaster's office.
Once they stepped in the headmaster indicated that they should take the seats across from him. The old man's eyes were not twinkling nor was there a smile on his face. Finally, the headmaster spoke, "First of Harry I want know are you settling in alright?" Harry nodded, and so the wizened old wizard said, "I have heard back from a friend who works in records and got a copy of your parents will and sent it to me." Minerva snapped, "get on with it Albus, who is the next in line to be Harry's guardian?" Albus said sadly the first two choices are no longer available, however Xenophilius is still alive willing to take Harry in. After all Pandora and Lily were quite close working on their mastery's together. They have a girl not much younger than Harry, who will start her next year." Harry who had not heard much about his parents or family in general could not help it, "Please sir I would like to hear more about my mum. You mentioned she was getting a mastery. What is that?" Dumbledore looked at him and his eyes got distant. Harry began to apologize but was cut off by the headmaster. "Do not ever apologize my boy for being curious especially about your family. You mother truly was an extraordinary witch and was working to gain her mastery in charms. Pandora a friend of your mother was also studying for a mastery in charms under Professor Flitwick. Sadly, she passed before you came to Hogwarts. However, her husband and daughter remain and will be glad of your company." Shock crossed Harry's face, as he realized that this family wanted to take him in.
Walking back to the common room McGonagall said, "Did your aunt and uncle tell you nothing about your family, Potter?" Harry replied, "No mam they did not like it when I asked questions so eventually, I just stopped bothering." The older witch shook her head, "Well that will not be the way things are now. If you want to hear more about your parents or father's parents, I would be happy to share some stories with you. For now, I will tell you that your parents were both extremely intelligent. They were among the top ten of their year, head boy and girl in their day. " Harry thanked her and giving the password stepped back into the common room.
Harry found his way back to where Neville sat working on an essay for transfiguration. Seeing that his friend was studying Harry grabbed his own books, parchment, ink, and quill and began to work on his essay as well. Harry took his time to make sure that his essay was clean and researched. Hearing that his parents had done well in school and free to not worry about the Dursley's reaction to his marks inspired him to try now that he was here.
It was several hours later when both boys, now finished with their homework, headed up to their dorm. Once there the boys sat on Harry's bed which was closest to the door and Harry swiftly began to fill in Neville on what he had learned from the headmaster and their head of house. Neville listened attentively. Finally, the other boy said, "I know the Lovegoods, they are a good family. It is a shame what happened to Luna's mom. I do think that it will be loads better for you than going back to the muggles. They are really nice and will treat you well. I do think it will be a promising idea to get you some clothes that at least fit before you meet them." Harry nodded, "How do I go about that given that I can not exactly go to diagon alley." The other boy nodded and stood let me help you." Neville took out a magazine and walked over on the cover was a smiling wizarding family in elegant clothes. The script on the cover read Twilfoot & Tattings. The boys flipped through the magazine a selected seven sets of pants two black, two gray, two khaki and a pair of jeans. They also selected seven long sleeve tops, three button downs in blue, green, and white, and two long sleeve shirts. Trusting Neville to help him figure this process out he selected sizing charms, antiwrinkle and antiwear charms. He also bought a new pair of black shoes and snakeskin boots and a matching belt. They provided the needed information to place the order and would send it off with Hedwig in the morning.
It would be several days later when Harry saw two owls land in front of him. One of the owls held a large package and the other owl carried a letter. Harry and Neville finished eating breakfast and then decided to drop off Harry's mail on his bed before they went to charms. The boys were not aware that all of this was causing a great deal of problems for the plans of one formerly twinkling eyed headmaster. Albus watched the boys leave the great hall chatting as they went and began to pinch the bridge of his nose. This had not gone as planned. He needed Harry to be unaware and kept ignorant of all but what he wanted the boy to learn, broken and moldable into the soldier he needed him to be. For that reason, he had placed just the right people around the boy initially. Now all of his plans were blown to bits. Xeno Lovegood had married Pandora Lestrange they had been in Ravenclaw together and were a lovely couple, but they had chosen to stay out of the first war, Xeno would not tolerate Harry being ignorant and not doing well in his studies. He would also not be taking kindly to Dumbledore interfering in Harry's life, and the kinds of test the old headmaster had planned. Now it looks like Harry had rejected Ronald in favor of the Longbottom heir. Nothing was going according to plan.
Severus sat in front of his classroom and watched as the class brewed the recipe that he had assigned them half and hour previously. Potter and Longbottoms potion appeared to be coming along splendidly, and he could see that Harry was slowly gaining weight and muscle after taking the positions to help reverse the damage that years of malnutrition had taken. He could see that though he had wondered after the first couple of classes if Potter would be a dunderhead he was happy to be disproved. As his health and plenty of rest and a regular routine aided him in being able to settle in and focus, he began to see the keen mind of the boys mother. Harry and Neville had developed a steady rhythm playing gob stones and studying together in the evenings even reading ahead to see what would be covered next in class and Neville was patient in answering Harry's questions when the other boy did not have background knowledge from growing up in the wizarding world.
So, the weekend dawned and once more McGonagall came into the common room to pick Harry up. The letter earlier in the week had said the Mr. Lovegood and his daughter would be coming to tea that Saturday so that they could meet him before he came to stay over the winter holidays. Harry stood and approached her dressed in his black trousers and green long-sleeved button down. Neville had assisted him in attempting to tame his hair. Upon entering the office that belonged to his head of house Harry's eyes grew wide at the homey office with walls covered in bookshelves, as large desk was settled in the center so that there were two seats on each side each covered in soft leather. On the desk was a simple silver tea service with cups, a teapot, and saucers, as well as a platter of sandwiches.
Harry had not been in the room long when the fireplace in the corner turned green and a out stepped a tall man, with long silvery blonde hair and blue eyes. A girl a year younger than Harry stood next to him. She had beautiful blonde hair that came down to the middle of her back that was a little scraggly. Both were dressed in a relaxed style. The man in trousers and a blue shir with long-sleeves and the girl in a soft khaki skirt and white blouse. While Xeno wore a traditional black wizards cloak, Luna wore a plaid jacket in pink, khaki and white. The man stepped forward and introduced himself, "Hello Harry. Xenophilius Lovegood, it is a pleasure to meet you I have not gotten to meet you since your folks went into hiding. This is my daughter Luna." The girl smiled at Harry and waved. When she finally spoke it stunned Harry, "I am glad that you will be staying with us. It will be like having a friend." Harry smiled, "I would like that, and I hope as we get to know each other we will be friends. They settled down to tea after the formalities were out of the way. Harry was glad that the pair did not ask a lot of questions about his pervious year. Their questions focused on Harry. Xeno wanted to know if Harry had any favorite foods, or anything he particularly did not like. Luna wanted to know his favorite color animal, and class.
Harry was honest with them figuring that it was best since they were doing their best to get to know him and keeping the conversation light. Harry told them, "I love treacle tart and shepherd's pie. My favorite color is blue. I do not really have a favorite animal, Hedwig, my owl that I just got this summer. My favorite class is charms, although I like most of the others too. Luna smiled. Her father asked, "Have you made any friends at Hogwarts yet?" Harry smiled and nodded I get on with Neville the best. As tea ended, they hugged each other goodbye and the Lovegood told Harry that they would see him at the station for winter break and make sure to write.