Hey everyone,
I've got some bad news. I don't really know a whole lot about raising a kid (single and proud of it). So I will probably just summarize how Harry and Lea handle being parents to their newborn child.
However, I will make sure to describe the day of the child's birth and how much the parents love their newborn little one.
All clear, good,
Venquine1990
Chapter 47
The Hogwarts Situation
2nd of February 1996
Hogwarts Grounds, Scotland
Draco's POV
The last month has been a somewhat troubled time, but it also left me feeling very satisfied. I even daresay that I should have done what I did years ago.
Or better said, that the Sorting Hat should have taken more than two seconds to Sort me back in '91, something it admitted itself during my Resorting.
And while some of my former comrades – especially Flint and a few others who I played Quidditch with over the years – consider me a traitor, I wear the eagle and the blue with the same pride as I previously did the snake and the green.
And while I definitely had to prove myself to the few Ravens I made fun of and mocked in my former years, most of my peers are slowly growing to respect me.
And just like in Slytherin, my year mates and I show a united front outside of the Raven's Tower.
I never thought I'd prefer a tower over a dungeon as my chambers back at home have always been on the ground floor with a cellar where I could hide my personal treasures – as my father would describe them – yet I slept just fine this past month.
There had been one mayor confrontation a week ago. Chang had confronted me and told me that Ravenclaw apparently holds try outs every year, even for positions that are already filled.
I had wondered why she told me about this and had been shocked to hear her admit: "You're practically the only one who can give Potter a hard time. You're trying out next year, so you better keep up your training."
And when Flint found out about this – something I tried to arrange myself as my inner Snake was still as present and self-preserving as always – all hell had broken loose.
Thankfully, my year mates had proven why there has always been a bond of mutual respect and understanding between our two Houses.
Everyone who is anyone knows that the Goldsteins and the Malfoys have a financial rivalry between each other that almost equals the moral rivalry between the Malfoys and the Weasleys.
Yet Antony Goldstein had actually proven to both my former teammates and me that Muggles have some hidden talents and skills to them.
One of which is that they have some really mean and almost nasty fighting techniques that prove as effective as a stunner to someone's private area.
Antony Goldstein had later told me that his mother had taught him these martial arts, as they're called, because he had always been a meek-looking child and she had wanted him able to defend himself against bullies.
Ever since he told me that I've been glad that I never really tormented the kid and that he's now on my side, despite our families and their financial rivalry.
By now, as I leave Herbology for History of Magic – a class that is still just a running joke and the only negative still left to Hogwarts and its reputation – I wonder something.
"Has my training to replace Chang as Seeker next year improved my eyesight, have I just always underestimated my skills, because of Potter or –?"
"Is there actually someone trying to hide in that tree over there?" I ask out loud.
My peers turn to me, a few of their conversations halting as they hear my question.
I am for one of the trees at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
And while his black robe/cloak definitely creates a nice camouflage, there is no denying or ignoring the thirst for knowledge that makes his eyes light up.
Or eye, I should say as I suddenly notice that the other has been covered up with an eyepatch, one that actually has a Noble House Emblem on it that I don't recognize.
And I've prided myself on even recognizing the most obscure or badly-remembered Noble House Emblems that have ever existed.
I'm even able to recognize what some of the Founder's Logos used to look like before they took on the House Mascots, something that didn't happen until 1776.
More and more the strange man intrigues me and I hear Sue mutter; "Huh, as if Binns is going to miss any of us."
And while Padma, who apparently needs a History OWL for her chosen career after Hogwarts, leaves for the castle, we head for the tree the man is hiding in.
"Ah Mr. Malfoy. I see that you and your peers have also noticed our sudden and unexpected new visitor. History of Magic, I presume?"
I nod at the Headmaster, while I wonder if the man has the right to accuse anyone of being unexpected as he suddenly appears from around a corner of the castle.
Oliver Rivers tries to excuse himself for not leaving for class, but Dumbledore only gives the boy a knowing smile.
This smile reminds me of the rumors that have been going around the school about the man looking for a replacement for Binns, rumors that are only believed by a rare few.
The eleven of us head for the tree that is situated right at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, yet the man inside it jumps off of his branch and lands in front of us shortly before we can fully reach him.
This startles a few of my peers, though Terry Boot tries to suppress the shocked yelp that almost escapes his throat.
"Morning you all. My boy and his friends had a bit of a talk a few days ago and their words got me curious about this place.
And considering that he will soon be providing me a grandson, I figured I'd better go and observe the place that made him the brilliant little tyke that he is."
Instantly silence reigns through my group as we realize who we're talking with.
Lea's father.
Yet at the same time this makes me wonder: "Why didn't we meet him when the others came here after Potter first discovered that he was pregnant?"
And apparently my curiosity is visible on my face as the man shows off a smirk as he says:
"I know what you're thinking, so let me put those questions of yours to rest.
To put it simply; the lad's mother and I had a one-night stand, one I tried to avoid until the very end, mind you, and she never told me about the consequences.
In fact, I only recently found out that her reaction to those consequences are as opposite as mine would have been as possible.
And needless to say, I'm just tickled pink at the notion that I'm now a father and soon to be grandfather.
So you can imagine how the missus reacted, though she apparently kept that secret from everyone she knew. Image and all that, you know?"
I don't know if the man is aware of my history or not, so I'm not sure if I should feel personally attacked by his last, offhanded comment.
"So ehm, what's your name, sir?" Sue Li asks.
The man seems startled and then he starts to laugh. We all look at each other, wondering what's so funny.
The man explains: "Forgive me, I'm not laughing at you. As if. I'm laughing because, while I didn't really try to live up to my old reputation of doing recon through the shadows, the instincts of silence and secrecy that come with that are hard to let go of.
The name's Braig.
Nice to meet y'all."
We all nod in agreement and introduce ourselves.
"So, who can take me to meet with the lass that was responsible for my boy for the last few years? His – Head of House, I believe you lot call them?"
Dumbledore offers to escort the man and the rest of us sigh at the clear sign that our attempt to skip History of Magic for something more interesting has clearly passed.
Yet as we head back into the castle, the man named Braig unknowingly gives the whole event – at least for us – a most satisfying end.
"So tell me, sir. Has that lass learned to recognize the difference between squabbling friends and people too stubborn to give in during an argument yet?
Because she apparently made the rest of you think that the way that bookwork and Knight argued with each other was perfectly normal and just their way of being friends.
As if."
It really shouldn't surprise me that Granger and Weasley's arguments have already left the man with a negative impression of the two, even if it took me a moment to recognize them from the man's nicknames for them.
Yet it actually surprises me and my peers that, unlike the teachers here at Hogwarts, the man is willing to call it for what it is.
"So they finally got called out?" Michael Corner asks, a look of shocked disbelief on his face as he asks his question.
"Yeah, there was even an intervention a few days ago. Kind of necessary after that girl almost unknowingly caused my boy to fall on his stomach."
The man might not say it, but he doesn't have to either. All of our eyes widen as we realize what it is that he isn't saying.
Granger almost made Harry fall in such a way that it could have damaged his womb, maybe even to the point that it might have made him miscarry.
"I always knew that those two and their blind stubbornness and pride could get Potter hurt. Never thought they'd do something like that though."
"Just for the record, she didn't realize the error of her ways until we pointed it out to her. But she has also been showing sincere regret ever since."
We all nod at him.
That sounds like Granger.
Then I notice that the man is looking at me and says: "Before I forget. Could you give your ma a message from me and your uncle?"
I nod, while I also wonder why Uncle Sirius didn't use the mirrors to tell me. The man smirks, which gives me the impression I am going to like what I'm about to hear.
"There will be two weddings between my boy and Sirius'. One to make sure our little grandchild won't be considered a bastard for whatever reason.
And one, naturally, to fully seal the bond that has been forming between them for the past few months now. Expect that one sometime next Yule."
I nod, determined to contact my mother as soon as I sit down in the History classroom.
We reach the point in the castle where Dumbledore and Braig head one way and the rest of us another.
And while we part and head for History, my peers are talking like rabid animals.
The boys are making guesses on how the wedding might come to pass and whether or not the latter will take place here at Hogwarts.
And while they mention a few previous Potter weddings – including quite a few details that are connected to the last one – the girls gossip about all kinds of details; from the outfits to the décor to the food to everything in between.
I shake my head and think with an amused smile: "Even when he's not even here, Harry knows how to make tongues roll and make people talk."
Yet I really can't help it. I both love the fact that, this time, the topic is truly a positive one and happily join in on both conversations.
And it greatly amuses me, but is completely missed by Binns, when our animated conversations wake up the slumbering students in the classroom.
Hey everyone,
So I'm sorry to say that this is probably going to be the only chapter for this update. I will try to make it two chapters, but I can't guarantee anything.
A little something fun, that I haven't seen in many years, has come back into my life and it has taken over my life this past month.
Either way, on with the show.
At the same time
With Braig and Albus
Braig's POV
"I must say, you surprised me, Mr. Braig. I would have expected Harry to ask you to tell Draco this message in private."
I shrug at this and explain that the lad, who I have started calling my boy, just didn't give any specifics.
"Plus Doggo told me that secrets and rumors don't always match around here. So I figured giving these guys something positive to work with would improve those chances.
Especially considering the fact that my boy, your old student, is thinking of coming back sometime after his little one is born."
I turn to the old man and ask: "You wouldn't happen to know the gender, do you? My boy and my ruby are the only ones who seem to know."
The man gives me a smile, yet the smile and the look in his eyes tells me everything. No one here at Hogwarts knows the gender either.
I shrug and mutter that I had to try.
"Did Harry and Lea give any specifics on when they hope to return?"
I shrug again and explain: "My boy's in his second trimester now. They're expecting the little one somewhere around the end of May.
And sorry to burst your bubble, but my boy seems to have some kind of aversion with a holiday of yours?"
The man grimaces and explains: "Halloween. I truly do not understand why, perhaps Tom was able to curse the event with this death, but ever since young Harry has entered Hogwarts for his first, something always happened that day."
This, just like the intervention a while ago, makes me decide to visit Halloween Town and question Jack Skellington about this.
The man asks if there is a chance for the couple to return after Halloween and I mutter that that seems to be their plan for the moment.
"Though they also want to be absolutely sure that they have a good solid bond with their babe and that they have a schedule set up between them and the newborn first."
The old man nods in understanding and the smile on his face proves that he takes a great deal of pleasure out of hearing news about my boy and his soon to be expanding family.
And he seems not to be the only one as a small group of students who are passing us by on their way to class share grins with each other as they start to whisper.
We reach a classroom door that is set on the western side of a beautiful green courtyard with a stone hallway surrounding the field.
Dumbledore gently raps his knuckles against the wooden door and opens it a moment later.
"Professor McGonagall, do you have a moment? We have a new visitor from the Garden who wishes to speak with you."
The woman at the other end of the classroom asks us to wait in her office and that she will finish her lecture before meeting with us.
We nod and I hide my sense of marvel how, at these words, another door appears just a bit away from where we are standing.
Yet my sense of marvel is suddenly replaced with a sense of concern and confusion as I think to myself: "Why would someone responsible for a whole House full of students hide the place where they can meet with her?"
What also worries me is the interior of the office as it actually looks small. And while it has a large fireplace, that just makes the rest of the office look even smaller.
There are windows overlooking various fields in the distance, yet the windows are by far not big enough to compensate for the way the size of the fireplace makes the room shrink.
To make matters worse, the desk and chairs that are within the room are made of wood and looking stiff instead of welcoming.
"What is with this décor? Even the décor of the castle had more decorations. And even as Nobodies we were better able to make our bedrooms look somewhat unique.
Why would someone who cares enough for others to take on a Head of House role make her office look colder than Vexen did his research lab?"
As I wonder this, the woman in question enters the office from a wall that, as she passes, only looks transparent for a moment.
Again I feel a sense of awe and wonder at how diverse the magic of this world is , and again it's quickly replaced with a sense of confusion.
The old man introduces us to each other and we nod at each other. The woman proves that she is quite direct as she instantly asks me:
"How are my Lions, sir?"
My sense of confusion is tempered by the obvious care and concern sounding through her voice and I happily report what I know to her.
"The lot of them are definitely settling in well. This is partially thanks to his Highness' little inventors. You know, the Gummi phones and all.
Though for some reason, a few of their family members seem to refuse to use them. Perhaps you can explain that to me, so I can rely this info to the galls?
Apparently it's starting to cause friction between the galls, the callers and those refusing to join in on the calls these last few weeks."
The two grimace and I get the feeling that they already knew about this.
"We are working on this, Mr. Braig. It's just that Mss. Johnson's uncle, while supportive of Harry before his departure, is apparently more of a Blood Purist than we knew.
After the Gummi Phones started being used here in this world, the man told us that, while he's okay with Muggleborns entering our world, he didn't want their products or products similar to theirs anywhere near him."
I raise my eyebrow at this.
The Headmaster and the kids might have noticed me earlier, but I've actually been studying and observing this world for the past few days.
The first day I spent most of the time in this portion of the world, on the second I switched to the other community. And earlier this morning I did a bit more recon in the other one before returning here – and getting close enough to be spotted.
And thanks to my observations, I can't help but ask: "He does realize that that made him a hypocrite every time he let his niece use that train of yours, right?
After all, it might be enchanted, but it's still a product of the other community. So he does realize that he's being a hypocrite with that statement, right?"
Yet it seems I'm the only one who made that realization as the other two adults share a shocked look before the woman mumbles that she will relay this info to Lord Johnson next time.
"So what about the other? From what I heard, there's even more tension between Ali and her folks and it's only slightly lessened these last few days. Leader Chaser told me that, before, they wouldn't even answer her friend's calls."
"That's, unfortunately, an even sadder story. As it turns out, Mss. Spinnet was the only one in her family willing to support Harry and me through the smear campaign Cornelius spread about us across the country.
She was apparently told to only interact with the other Chasers and to convince them that making Harry leave the team was for the best for all of them.
Naturally, as I'm sure you can already guess, Mss. Spinnet absolutely refused to answer to her parents and supported young Harry, even when I was making my mistakes.
And even when the Unspeakables worked together with the Order to take out Tom Riddle, they needed time to come to terms with the truth.
The fact that their daughter had disobeyed and, as they saw it, abandoned them for a boy they didn't approve of before this happened just didn't help the situation.
Unfortunately, I believe this tension and the notion that her parents believed they could tell an adult witch who to stay friends with played a role in Mss. Spinnet's readiness to leave."
The more I hear, the more I'm growing to understand why that whole group left.
"There really are more problems in this world than just that Riddle guy, aren't there?" I can't help but ask.
And while they are obviously upset, they nod in confirmation, which impresses me.
I shrug and tell them that the same can be said for the Garden and the other worlds; that there are more problems there than just the Old Man (I quickly explain that I mean Xehanort) and Maleficent, also known as the evil fairy.
The two seem worried about the latter of the two, yet they also seem to appreciate my statement.
"Onto some good news and a few questions I have for you." I tell the woman.
She turns to Dumbledore and asks if he could supervise her class while we talk. The man beams and tells her that he'd be delighted.
And the near spring in the man's step, only slightly lessened by age I'm guessing, proves this.
"Albus used to be the Transfigurations teacher before me. He was even my mentor and the one who inspired to become a teacher myself."
"Okay well, you'll be happy to know that your Lions are thinking of coming back and that they're having discussions about this.
The discussions started a few weeks back, shortly after I came made my return to the Garden, and it was meant to help them decide the best return strategy.
Thanks to Knight, they decided it'd be best to return in small groups. So now they're just trying to decide who will come back first and in what order the rest will return.
Oh, and before you ask, my boy and my lad, his mate, won't return until after that crazy holiday that is apparently cursed or something."
The woman seems genuinely shocked at hearing this and asks if any semblance of order has been decided yet. I shrug and tell her:
"Two of the Chasers seem more than ready to return this year, mostly out of a sense of competition over your sport or something.
But at the same time, the whole group is just as willing to wait till next year and just give the school year they were supposed to have a fresh start."
The woman seems somewhat disappointed to hear this, though she also seems to understand as she nods at my statements.
"I will admit, Miss Johnson and the other girls certainly managed to put together a decent team as we're currently second in the running.
Though at the same time, even with Mr. Malfoy now in Ravenclaw and Horace as the Head of Slytherin, I don't believe we stand a chance at the Cup this year.
At the same time, I suppose that should make me feel relieved about this news as it means I will be able to get a chance at earning back the Cup before Unbeatable Trio gets broken up.
Still, Miss Bell has always said that she is the most capable of the trio to work with any two other Chasers. Though I'm not sure how she knows this."
I blink at her a few times and mutter: "Try-out games during summer or winter break?" The woman seems startled and then mutters her same at not realizing this herself.
I shrug and decide to change the subject. I tell her that I will relay her opinion to the Squad when I go back and continue on with the next topic.
"One other thing. Even when Bookwork, Knight and my boy return, they won't be alone. On orders of Master Ansem, the King and their friends, they'll have escorts with them.
These escorts are meant to make sure that, if the competitive beliefs of Knight and Bookwork run out of hand, there is someone who can pull them apart and defuse the tension."
The woman tries to argue this and claim that this really won't be necessary.
Yet I instantly rebuff her and repeat what I told the little Ravens; about Bookwork's unfortunate mistake and the consequences it could have had.
The woman argues that Bookwork would've never intended for such a thing to happen. I argue back and tell her about two of the three events that Herbs told me about.
The woman tries to interrupt and argue with me a few times, yet because of how weak her arguments are, I don't let her and just keep talking.
In the end the woman tries to argue that Bookwork had the best intentions, yet by now my inner father has come out and I snarl:
"No parent or guardian would ever consider humiliation a way to express good intentions. And that is exactly what Bookwork did. Not to mention that she was in the wrong both times.
Face facts, woman. You're not arguing for Bookwork's sake, but for your own pride. You know that you have been failing as a Head of House, that you're too distant and that you haven't paid enough attention to your House to notice how wrong this is.
You just don't want to admit it."
We had gone to sit down while I told her about the discussions regarding the return plan. Yet now the woman jumps out of her seat and snarls:
"I will not be told that I am a bad Head of House by an absentee father."
Yet thanks to everything the All-Seeing Eye showed me over the years, her raised figure really doesn't frighten me and I just coldly state back:
"As if. You've been as absent in your students' life as I have been in Lea's. After all, outside of that one incident in '91, when was the last time a Lion came to your office because they were homesick or needed help with a bully?"
"In '82!"
And as soon as the woman shouts her answer, she falls quiet and her face whitens.
Instantly she realizes the wrongness of her statement.
Instantly she realizes – that I'm right.
I keep seated, my arms crossed and my left foot resting sideways on my right as I give her a simple, single nod of agreement.
We understand each other.
An hour later
"I'm glad to hear that she realized the error of her ways and how much her pride has blinded her to reality. So what happened after that, Braig?"
I've called Pads, Moon and the Master together and we met up in the latter's office, so I could give a report of my visit to the castle and the Magical world.
I had already called the Master the other two nights to report my findings of the two worlds and so now, I'm mostly focused on relaying how my conversations with the residents went.
I shrug at the Master's question and say: "To be honest, we mostly just talked about ways that the woman could improve herself and fix these mistakes of hers.
She also promised that she would take this up with her Mind Healer and her hope that things would be better by the time our lot came back."
The men certainly seem happy to hear this. Moon sighs and mutters that times of peace have as much a chance to change someone for the worst as times of war.
It's obvious that he's talking about Kitty-Minnie, yet the Master grimaces either way, obviously remembering his own faults.
"That man is never going to fully forgive himself, is he?"
I wonder to myself, even if I don't let my face show this concern.
"So I guess we can just focus on the final touches of the wedding. And I suppose that we can tell the kids that returning to Hogwarts next year really is our best course of action."
All of us agree with Sirius on these points. Yet at the same time I tell them that I will make a few return trips to check up on the lot from time to time.
The men smile gratefully at me for this.
Hey everyone,
So this chapter is probably one of the longest of the story.
Also, a story similar to Out of Balance, but then without the KH crew included and with more Gods, has been running through my mind.
In it, the Potters are brought back to life in a manner similar to how they were revived in Darkened Light and they give Dumbledore, Fudge and several others hell. It also takes place in Harry's Fifth instead of his Fourth, most likely around Halloween.
If you guys like this idea, I'll probably start it all off with a prologue - of sorts - on Venquine's Mind. Though it might also become part of July's update.
Would you be interested?
Venquine1990
