July to August 1992, summer of 1st year
"All better now?" Lynea asked Harry, who had just drained his second glass of cold water.
The side-along apparition had not agreed with him at all, but that was only to be expected.
Harry nodded.
"You will get used to it over time," Lynea said. "Now, while you were otherwise occupied, our servants have brought your belongings upstairs into the guest room. You can settle in later, because we still have something important to do first."
"Uhm, and what is that?"
Lynea raised her eyebrows. "Why, your birthday, silly! We need to bake a cake and tell the others so they can send your presents over – no, better tell the others right now, they've been worried about you all summer."
Harry looked at her with wide eyes, opening and closing his mouth like a fish.
"Come, I'll get some parchment and a quill and we will write the letters together."
It took them a while to formulate each letter, because there were nine people in total they had to write to and each needed an explanation of what had happened – although neither Harry, nor Lynea knew why Harry hadn't received his letters and Naenia was currently nowhere to be found, so they couldn't ask her, either.
Then Lynea gave Harry a brief tour of the house, explained that it was bigger on the inside, because Naenia had specifically added three new rooms for her family 'and not bothered to correct the outside appearance accordingly', and then retrieved Amelia to help them with the cake. Harry was at first rather wary of the Inferius, but quickly warmed up to her when he realized that she wasn't very different compared to a living being. Lynea had chosen Amelia precisely because of that, their other Inferi weren't nearly as warm and kind and Harry might have had a harder time accepting them.
While they were busy with the cake, Thelus returned home.
"I have great news," he said and then his eyes fell on Harry. "Who's this?"
"My friend Harry, the one we wanted to visit today," Lynea said and then explained what had happened that day.
"And Naenia just decided to take him home?" he asked, after Lynea had finished. "That does not sound like her at all. She usually doesn't care about anyone outside the family."
"Because everyone outside the family that I ever cared about is dead," Naenia answered from the entrance to the kitchen.
"Dead or undead?" Thelus quipped back and Naenia smiled.
"Let's see … Perseus Black was killed and became one of my Inferi. Amelia killed herself after her husband was poisoned, both became my Inferi as well. Nott and Lestrange died in the war. And Tom …" She trailed off and then shook her head. "I wouldn't say he's alive anymore, either."
Harry's face had become rather pale at that and Naenia, noticing his discomfort, gave him one of her more genuine smiles. Lynea wasn't sure it helped, as it still looked somewhat wrong and out-of-place, albeit not as much as her usual smiles.
"I might have to add another room," Naenia said, changing the topic.
"No need," Thelus said. "I found a place. That was the 'great news' I was talking about earlier, by the way."
"You're moving out?" Lynea asked in surprise.
Thelus' expression softened. "I have my own job, my own life. One day, I want to settle down with a partner and start my own family, too."
"But –"
"Father is in Azkaban and the Dark Lord is either gone or won't regain his power anytime soon. I'll be fine on my own."
"We have already discussed the necessary steps for his protection," Naenia said. "He will be fine."
Thelus smiled. "And I can always come back, should it become necessary."
Lynea sighed. "I don't like it."
"It's my life, little sister."
"I know," Lynea said and crossed her arms. "I still don't like it. And the Dark Lord is not gone, just so you know."
"Naenia told me," Thelus said softly, "but that was merely a fragment of what he has once been and I don't think we have to worry about him in the near future. Now, I see that we have a birthday to celebrate?"
o
There were a lot of owls coming through the kitchen window the next morning, all of them carrying letters and small parcels for Harry, although Lynea received a few letters for her own. Harry happily opened each of them and then put them safely away into his room, so they could continue with their preparations for Lughnasa, the first harvest.
It was only the next day that Naenia and Phyllida sat the two children down in the living room for a more serious talk.
"We must first talk about what happened with Quirrel and the Dark Lord back in June," Naenia said. "Because it is important for the main topic of this discussion. Harry, did Quirrel ever touch you during the whole ordeal?"
"I – yeah. I mean, he tied me up and gagged me and then dragged me all the way down to the chamber where the stone was hidden."
"But did he touch your skin?"
"My skin?" Harry faltered. "I don't … I think he might have, once, but he withdrew his hand so fast it looked as if he had burned himself."
Naenia nodded. "He could not touch you, because there is a powerful protection surrounding you. I believe it is what made him unable to kill you on that fated night eleven years ago."
"But he fled from Lynea's touch, too, didn't he?"
"He fled from the touch of a Necromancer. He fled from the touch of Death, his greatest fear."
"The Dark Lord is afraid of death?"
Naenia smiled. "Indeed. He has gone to great lengths to prevent his own death, but they have turned against him in the end, just as I said they would. He has been reduced to near to nothing the night you defeated him, little Boy Who Lived." She laughed and Lynea watched Harry jump in surprise. "Dumbledore will tell you it was because of your mother's love and he might not be entirely wrong, but love alone cannot save someone from the Killing Curse. When I laid eyes upon the house the old man had placed you in, I finally understood. You mother used blood magic, very powerful blood magic, to protect you. And because the Dursleys are related to her and to you by blood, there is now a blood ward protecting the house and protecting you.
"That," Naenia continued, "is why the old fool will insist on you returning there. He will want to keep the 'power of love' alive, to make sure you will continue to be protected by your mother's 'love'."
If Naenia were someone to roll their eyes, she would have surely done so twice during that last sentence alone. Lynea knew her grand-aunt didn't believe in the 'power of love' and seeing as she was one of the most powerful people around and had never truly loved someone (according to her) and the same was supposedly true for the Dark Lord, as well … She was probably right.
"I am not saying that there is a good reason behind Dumbledore's actions," Naenia said. "I am almost certain that the old man knows exactly in what kind of household he has placed you and that he thinks it is for the greater good, but he is wrong. It is merely the main reason why he did so and the one he will put forth should anyone ever question him."
"Harry," Phyllida said gently, "do you want to stay with the Dursleys? Do you like it there?"
Harry stared at them wordlessly.
"Harry?" Lynea asked quietly.
Harry averted his eyes. "I don't have a choice, do I? My mum's protection will disappear if I leave."
"And aside from that?" Phyllida asked. "If you did have a choice?"
"I don't like it there," Harry mumbled.
"Are you thinking of taking Harry in?" Lynea asked.
Her mother smiled. "It was Naenia's suggestion, actually."
"I won't be able to adopt Harry officially, because of the Lémures' rules, but I am the only person who Dumbledore might actually allow to take Harry out of that house, because of my power and my past with the Dark Lord. And I can take over his guardianship."
Harry's eyes widened and he looked up from the table. "Why would you do that for me?"
Naenia fixed him with her undead eyes. "I think you know exactly why, Harry." Then she deliberately softened her features. "Take your time to think about it. We will not force you to do anything, we are merely presenting you with a choice."
Harry swallowed. "How – how long do I have to decide?"
"However long it takes. The offer comes without a time limit." Naenia rose from her seat. "That was all we wanted to discuss for now. Think about it and whenever you are ready, you may tell me your answer."
The two adults left the living room and Lynea turned to Harry.
"I don't want to talk about it," he said quietly.
Lynea smiled. "And I wanted to ask whether you wanted to meet up with Draco in Diagon Alley."
Harry perked up at that.
"Our letters should arrive soon and then we can go and buy our school supplies. There's also Lockhart's signing next Wednesday, I expect Tracey and Daphne will be there, maybe Pansy, too, so that might be a good day." Lynea paused. "On the other hand, Flourish and Blotts will be rather cramped on that day, so maybe that's not a good idea after all."
"Who is Lockhart?"
"A very famous author. Very narcissistic, too, and there is no proof that all he claims to have done in his books is actually true, but most people still regard him as a hero and all that." Lynea shrugged. "According to Daphne, his books, at least, are enjoyable."
As Lynea had predicted, their Hogwarts letters arrived a few days later. Their book list was oddly full of Lockhart's books, which made Lynea suspect that their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher wouldn't be any more competent than Quirrel had been, but at least that one probably wasn't in league with the Dark Lord.
Draco wrote to them that his father wanted to go to Diagon Alley on the Wednesday of Lockhart's signing and since some of their housemates planned visiting on that day, too, they might as well go with it. Hermione wrote them a letter as well, in which she told them that her parents were taking her to London on the very same day. Neither of the adults in Lynea's family had time on Wednesday, though, so it was decided that Thelus would drop Harry and Lynea off with Mr Malfoy before going to work.
"Remember not to mention Hermione in front of Mister Malfoy," Lynea warned Harry the day before. "Draco already had to listen to his father's lecture about what a disgrace he is for only placing second on the exams after a muggleborn." She shook her head. "I think we might need another meeting about that topic once we're back at Hogwarts."
"What? Why?"
"Harry, rumours about our friendship with Hermione have reached the pureblood parents and most of them are decidedly not happy with that at all. We might have been able to change the minds of our classmates, however slowly, but their parents are still pureblood elitists through and through. If they hear of their children being friends with a muggleborn …"
"But there's nothing bad about being muggleborn!"
Lynea sighed. "I know that, Harry. And the others have realized that as well. But it doesn't change the fact that their parents don't think so."
"That's stupid," Harry groused.
"And short-sighted," Lynea agreed. "Still, Draco loves his father very much and so does Theodore. It is just something they have to live with. In fact, my own father shares their worldview. But I am lucky enough that I do not have to live with him, nor do I see him as a part of my family."
"You mentioned that before."
"So I have. Anyway, just be careful around Mister Malfoy. I still haven't figured out how we will meet with Hermione without rousing his suspicions, but we'll think of something."
On Wednesday, the two children got up early and Harry ate breakfast while Lynea sipped at a cup of tea. Then Thelus came down the stairs with his fancy leather suitcase and they followed him outside, where he disapparated with them.
"Very well, Mister Malfoy should be here any minute," Thelus said, checking his watch. "And there he is, now. Good morning, Mister Malfoy."
"Good morning, Mister Fawley," came Lucius Malfoy's drawling voice.
Thelus nodded at them all and then immediately set off for one of the fireplaces. Lynea watched him go and when she turned back to the others, Draco had already introduced Harry to his father, the two of them awkwardly shaking hands.
"Mister Potter," Lucius Malfoy drawled, "such a pleasure to meet you. Draco has told me much about you. I was all the more curious after hearing how – ah – different you seemed to be from the hero most of our kind regard you as."
Harry swallowed, looking like he was going to bolt any second now, but he managed to keep his voice steady as he said, "The pleasure is mine, Mister Malfoy."
Lynea decided to help him out by drawing Mr Malfoy's attention to herself. "Could we perhaps go to Knockturn Alley first, Mister Malfoy? My grand-aunt has asked me to pick up an order from the Coffin House for her."
Mr Malfoy smiled coldly. "Why, my dear, I was planning to pay Borgin and Burkes a visit, myself."
"What is Knockturn Alley?" Harry whispered, when Mr Malfoy had turned his back to them.
"The darker version of Diagon Alley," Draco whispered back. "They sell all sorts of objects related to the Dark Arts there."
"As well as the Forbidden Arts," Lynea added quietly. "Because they are, as the name suggests, forbidden. Even if most of the Coffin House's goods aren't nearly as sinister as everything else Knockturn Alley has to offer."
"And what does your father want there?"
Draco shrugged apologetically. "Nothing good. It's probably better if you don't know, Harry, sorry."
Harry nodded in understanding.
Knockturn Alley could be accessed fairly easily through a side-alley from the main street and it looked exactly as one would expect it to look – dark and shady with suspicious and sinister looking figures leering at them from the shadows.
"I expect you will manage on your own while I conduct my business?" Mr Malfoy asked the children and Lynea nodded on their behalf.
He then entered the antique shop, while Lynea opened the door to the one right next to Borgin and Burkes. The entrance to the Coffin House was closed off with black curtains with a small table right next to the door on which several masks lay. Lynea handed one each to Harry and Draco and then selected a mask for herself that would allow her to put the white streak in her hair on display.
Most customers brought their own masks and put them on outside, somewhere no one would watch, but the table was there anyway, just in case. No one did business with the Coffin Shop under their real identity with the exception of the Lémures.
The shopkeeper was a small, round man with grey whisps of hair on his nearly bald head. He first took in their appearances, his expression hidden by the skull-like mask he was wearing, and then paused when he came to Lynea.
"The young Miss Lémure," he said demurely. "Here to pick up the order for Mistress Naenia Lémure?"
The Lémures were the only people who didn't bother hiding their identities in this shop, because they were known as Necromancers to the whole magical world and despite their practices being technically illegal, the Ministry was unable to do anything against it. Their name had power wherever they went and it was that power that made the shopkeeper treat Lynea with respect instead of writing her off as an ignorant child. He was completely disregarding her two companions, though.
The shopkeeper briefly disappeared to the back of the shop and then returned with a small parcel.
"I hope everything is to Mistress Lémure's satisfaction," he said, wringing his hands. "I made sure to acquire only objects of the utmost quality."
Lynea nodded and then offered the coins Naenia had given her. "The first instalment, as agreed."
Naenia would only pay the full price once she had made sure everything was to her satisfaction and according to her, only the Lémures were allowed that privilege. Every other customer had to pay upon receiving the goods, no matter their quality. It was a safety precaution the owner had to take, but unnecessary with the Lémures. For a family that upheld neutrality, they sure were rather infamous.
When the three children left the shop, Lucius Malfoy was still bargaining with Mr Borgin, so they positioned themselves next to the entrance and waited. Whenever someone approached them, Lynea made sure to angle her head just right. Everyone knew which family she was part of by just one look at her hair. She might keep insisting on being a Fawley, but in places like this the Lémure name was always safer, especially when you were a twelve-year-old child surrounded by dark magic.
"Father is planning something," Draco told them. "I don't know what it is, but it has something to do with Hogwarts and it can't be anything good."
"Is that why he chose today to go to Diagon Alley?" Lynea asked.
She couldn't imagine Lucius Malfoy visiting on one of the most busiest days, when he could have easily chosen any other day of the week.
"Maybe," Draco said. "The recent Ministry raids made him anxious, but we could just as well have gone to Borgin and Burkes and bought my school supplies yesterday."
"There will be many Hogwarts students around today," Lynea mused. "But we don't have much to go on and he won't be so careless and reveal his hand in front of a few children."
Draco shook his head. "I just hope it won't put us in danger, whatever it is."
"I don't think your father would intentionally put you in any danger."
"Not me," Draco agreed and gave her a meaningful look. "But a certain friend of mine." Then he turned to Harry. "Are you alright? You have been awfully silent this whole time."
"Hm? Oh, I'm fine," Harry said. "I just don't know what to say to any of that."
"Harry?" came a booming voice and Hagrid's big figure came lumbering down the alley. "What d'yeh think yer doing down here?"
"They are accompanying me," Lucius Malfoy said coldly, closing the shop's door behind him. "Come now, children. We don't want to stay around that."
Lynea had to grab Harry by the shoulder and give him a warning look, so that he wouldn't offend Mr Malfoy with whatever outraged comment he had been planning to say.
"Sorry, Hagrid," Harry mumbled as they went past the giant man. "I'll write to you later, alright?"
Draco, meanwhile, was assuring his father that the groundskeeper just was like that and of course they weren't associating with the likes of him and so on. Lynea was once again reminded that she was quite happy with her own family (certainly with her father in Azkaban) and not envious of Draco in the slightest. But one couldn't choose one's family.
They emerged on the bright main street not shortly after and set off to Gringotts so that Harry could retrieve money from his vault and Lynea exchange some pounds for Galleons. Mr Malfoy sneered at that, until Lynea reminded him that her grand-aunt as well as the Lémure family in general each owned a funeral parlour and a cemetery (or a graveyard, in Naenia's case) that received both wizarding as well as Muggle customers, because all were equal in death. That made the stuck-up prig shut up right away. Things would have been so much more complicated, if Lynea was really only a Fawley and at the same time less complicated in entirely different matters … Oh, well.
They still had an entire shopping list to go through and yet to escape Mr Malfoy to secretly meet up with Hermione.