Harry Potter and the Unlocked Runic Potential
~~ooOOoo~~
A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz. And Alix33 - your suggestions and reactions are very welcome. Thank you.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by JKRowling. We are only playing in the sandbox.
Last time:
Harry was whisked away to Gringotts, Cairo, setting off alarms as he arrived with an unwelcome "plus one" in the form of Tom's soul bit in his brow. He winds up with a new guardian and is receiving healing for his childhood woes.
In Egypt, Bill will be setting up their portable home and getting Harry settled in.
Back in Britain, news is filtering that Hogwarts had had a huge monster roaming the halls that one Harry Potter had turned to gold without alchemy or use of a Philosopher's Stone.
Finding out her son was in deadly peril has Narcissa Malfoy reacting at first. And now acting.
~~ooOOoo~~
Welcome to the Fireside.
~~ooOOoo~~
Chapter Two - New Digs
Bill was early to report to the new project but both he and the managers at Gringotts knew getting Harry out of Britain for a time was wiser than leaving him in the jurisdiction where the Supreme Swampgas ruled. It didn't hurt to help set up and earn some goodwill as he was expecting trouble this coming term for his new ward.
After checking in and getting the site map, they were shown where to set up the tent. The curse-breaker was nervous about Harry's reaction to his new home. Oh sure, the lad had been raised in a modest muggle house, certainly no mansion, but what were his expectations, at least when he was on holiday?
So far, Harry'd been a bit quiet. Time to find out if the lad started sneering and complaining.
The explorer's tent, even a hundred years since its manufacture, looked new on the outside. Nothing special; just a large cabin-style tent one would expect on a turn-of-the-century dig. One of the layers of protection were subtle wards; not the typical muggle expelling, but more 'I'm just a tent, nothing special to see here'. Inside? That was the magic.
The entrance was a practical "sand-trap" room: A room to literally 'trap' sand from being tracked into the rest of the tent. Screens were in place in case one came in during a sandstorm. There was a place to sit to remove footwear. Handy hooks for coats and specialty robes were along one wall, footwear could be stowed on the low angled shelves, handy for the sturdy boots normally worn on site. Soft, magically adjusting slippers were in a nearby cubby.
Harry couldn't help but notice Bill's boots matched his own shoes in terms of style, as both were in sad shape. Both planned to do something for the other just as soon as possible.
Leaving his windcheater on a hook and his sellotaped shoes behind, Harry was handed a pair of the comfy soft slippers. The bench seat had more storage and was more comfortable to sit on than one expected.
Then it was time to enter his new home.
~~ooOOoo~~
Harry didn't know why Bill had called this a library tent. Not at first. The entrance from the sand-trap room was through another set of magical screens designed to trap dirt, insects, or stray animals from the rest of the tent. No scorpions or other pests inside for them!
The next room felt like stepping into the ground floor of a Victorian home. There was warm mahogany wood paneling on the walls and one corridor immediately split to the left.
Bill pointed down that hallway, "Our bedrooms are down there. Each room has its own ensuite and the bathrooms are very nice. There is a kitchen that we can stock with snacks and have breakfast if you like but Dobby is going to be working in the bunkhouse kitchen where we will be taking most of our meals. We curse-breakers and helpers tend to use meal times to catch up with one another.
"Come on, let me show you the real Potter legacy." Bill's eyes gleamed in delight as they proceeded straight, passing an open archway to a casual eating area on the left, and further down, a small parlor on the right. Going straight, there was a double-door entrance with stained glass within the tall ten-foot doors. Opening those doors dramatically, Bill bowed. They entered from the top floor. Top. floor. Spindle railings ran all around the upper floor in front of the bookcases here filled with leatherbound volumes. Harry looked down over a huge table in the middle of the downstairs room.
Two stories. How could a tent that was perhaps ten feet by twelve have a two story library? The mahogany theme continued with the staircases, plural. One was a spiral staircase. The railings would not be out of place in a library back home. There was a wooden staired main staircase that Bill went to that was wide and went down, splitting left halfway down.
The lower level was huge, with bookcases going back, behind them and beyond them. Wow!
It smelled of academic knowledge, peace, and a bit of lemon-polish.
"All of these are arranged by sections. The upper floors contain a lot of encyclopedias of various types. Most of the books downstairs are about the cultures and languages of different areas and times but there are specialty curse-breaking, runes, and arithmancy books as well. Somehow and don't ask me how, the library is linked to a dedicated vault that has been updating this place with any new books in certain subjects. I've tried to ask the goblins about it, worried I was stealing from someone but they said it was all known and planned."
Goblins! Harry hadn't spent much time at Gringotts but had to return to the healing halls himself. At least their potions tasted a lot nicer than Madam Pomfrey's.
Bill continued, "That podium over there has the index to the entire library. I'll show you how that works. It helps when there's something specific you're looking for. And this cart here? When you're done with a book, place it here and it puts it away in the correct spot."
The boy wandered around the main floor, hands behind his back as if he was afraid to touch anything and get into trouble. But then he saw something and his hands reached out.
Harry was drawn to a locked glass case at the end of one of the bookshelves. It looked like it had several shrunken chests on one shelf and a few leatherbound books on the others. The top shelf had one book on it, laying flat.
The curse-breaker shared, "Three years ago, Alastor Moody approached me to bring this here. He said the things in this case were not for me but he needed a safe place to store them. Away from Britain. Until you brought it to my attention, I hadn't really thought about them."
"Bill? Some of these…they say Potter on them." Harry breathed in wonder. As he reached forward, the lock 'bit' him, making Harry jerk his hand back; then the lock clicked open.
Bill quickly pulled Harry's hand close to him, looking at the damage. He pulled his wand. Good. No curses; just a verification of family. Wasn't that interesting? The minor healing spell was automatic and earned him a smile of thanks.
The Weasley wizard wasn't trying to be rude, but pushed Harry behind him, wand still in hand. He trusted Mad-eye but James Potter had been a prankster: A prankster who had really hurt people. He wasn't going to let Harry touch anything until he had checked it out.
Then he saw the leather-bound curse-breaking journal. It was standard in the field and Moody had given Bill a blank one when he graduated from school, along with this tent.
The book was labeled in a neat hand - "Our Adventures in the Valley, Charlus and Dorea Potter."
Bill looked behind him and pulled Harry forward. "I think Moody was being clever. I bet he had the elves hide the Potter library here. I'd heard Dumbledore complaining about its loss once."
Harry reached for the journal, touching his family's magic for the first time. He then reached down and grabbed one of the small chests, the size of Petunia's jewelry box.
With the tap of a wand it was now the size of a steamer trunk. At least on the outside. Inside, were hundreds of books organized in a neat rotating shelf that appeared to have thirty or so volumes per shelf. There was a master index and instructions on how to use the chest.
"And I thought the library was big before these trunks had been opened. Nice!" Bill rubbed his hands. "If you'd allow me to read some of these on a given Friday, oh, I haven't told you yet: that's our day off here."
Harry looked up at him in amazement. If it had been something Vernon wanted, the man would have grabbed it out of Harry's hands, blamed him for being in the way, and banished him to his room without food. Likely following a good beating.
Bill was asking to read his books. Misinterpreting the child's look, he added, "But if you want to keep this to yourself, that's fine too.
Harry replied, "Truly, I'm happy to share. It's not like they'll be used up. Right. Wait. They wouldn't be used up by sharing now, would they?
"Does reading magical books use up their 'batteries'? You know, does the magic only last a certain amount of times reading them?"
Bill chuckled, "There actually are some like that and we're glad many of them have lost their magic before we get to them." He was not going to describe some of the curses from those books. He continued, "but that type are well marked. I doubt anything here would be like that."
Harry sighed in relief, "Good. Then sure, you can read anything in here that will let you."
Bill laughed at that but then chilled. This place really wasn't warded against children so he warned, "There's only one section of the main library that I would like you to avoid. There are dark arts books that Charlus collected in order to research darker curses, to combat them. Those books are dangerous; please stay away from them until you are much older. The section is well marked. He got those in order to be able to find counters and protections against such. I don't want you getting any odd ideas, but you have plenty of healthier options available."
Harry laughed, "You sounded like Mrs Weasley trying to get us to eat our greens just now. I have no intention of becoming any kind of dark lord for our dear headmaster to vanquish. I'm really not looking forward to what he's going to say to me when we return."
"Have no fear of that. Now, you see there's comfy chairs and sofas for pleasure reading, there's also the main worktable for when we're in serious research mode. No food or drinks there, please."
"Certainly!"
"And Harry? If you don't mind? May I read Charlus' journal? I bet it's going to be fascinating."
Harry smiled, happy to share. "Anytime. I just can't wait to show Hermione these trunks."
Dobby popped in right then, "Dinner is being served if you're hungry. Oh, Dobby is so happy! Dobby is cooking for the Great Master Harry Potter, Sir!"
Before Harry could quiet him down, he was gone. Bill turned to him, "Is the Great Master Harry Potter Sir ready to grab a bite?"
Bill laughed as Harry's stomach voted 'Aye' loudly just then and they decided to finish the house tour afterwards.
They'd eaten earlier at the Burrow but it had been a busy day. Having a second dinner sounded good to him!
~~ooOOoo~~
Morning at the Burrow
'Mr and Mrs Weasley,
'I have been up all night thinking about what Director Bones shared with me. My former husband, for I will never allow him to stay here again, tried not only to revive the Dark Lord, he attempted it using the life of a child of a political enemy.
'He truly planned to kill her.
'Such an action is beyond the pale. No one decent wants the Dark Lord to return. He promised a better way of life for Purebloods and then ended far too many Pureblood families.
'I know it was Lucius that hurt your daughter. You will find that Gringotts will cover whatever healing your daughter needs from the Malfoy vaults. I'm told that possession occurs at times in the field and they have the best healers and curse-breakers with current experience.
'I swear on my magic I knew nothing of this. My son Draco admits that his father was planning 'something' and told him to 'watch and enjoy'... Did the man not think? A basilisk could have ended not just his only son's life; MY son's life, but all of our sons' lives. Sons and daughters.
'In addition, I have asked Gringotts to transfer a hundred thousand galleons in weregild from my matron's vault to your family vault. It is not enough. Not nearly enough. But it is the limit I am allowed to remove this year.
'With proof of the malfeasance, the goblins are more than happy to fine House Malfoy for the healing –if Lucius doesn't authorize it himself. I laugh as I write, almost hoping he does object.
'Goblin justice cannot be bought after all.
'Your daughter is a lovely girl. In another few years, if you are interested, perhaps we could sign a courting agreement. I have no prejudice against any House of lesser circumstances. With magic, everything is possible. Both of our Houses support the things that truly matter - family.
'I wish I could do more. If you desire anything, I can try to help.
'Narcissa Black, Regent House Black.'
Molly and Arthur looked at it and then at each other.
The Head of House Weasley shared, "Lucius was the only one who treated me poorly in the Ministry. His wife has always been cordial, if a little cold."
"Maybe if Ginny winds up liking this Draco, we could see about a courting…" Molly started but Ron interjected his feelings.
A fainting flower Ron was not! "Mum! I told you! The first time I saw him, he was trying to tell Harry how he could advise him and tell him who shouldn't be his friend. Like me!"
Ron was a little jealous that Harry got to go to Egypt until he heard about the situation. Bill only had a library tent so Harry was likely going to stay in a shared bunkhouse tent. Ron shuddered. He just knew Harry would be cooking and cleaning when not translating snake language. And knowing Bill, Harry was going to have to study runes!
That all sounded too much like work to the freckled boy and quickly wished Harry all the best.
"You should hear Malfoy! He called Hermione the m-word, calls Harry all kinds of names and dresses all poncy on the weekends. He sneers at Harry's second-hand clothes. Draco is not going near Ginny around me!
"I'm going to use some of this gold to buy Harry some good quality trousers that fit and shoes with no tape! That's what I'm going to do for my best mate." Ron concluded.
The twins clapped and cheered Ron, making him blush.
"Perhaps we could buy a family tent and go on some adventures this summer. I wouldn't want to impose too much on Bill, but visiting where he is working and such. Of course, getting treatment for Ginny might mean traveling. What do you think, Mollywobbles?"
The matron nodded, "And there're quidditch games to attend as well. We all enjoy that." She waited for the cheer to die down then focused on the most urgent need. "Do you want me to go to Gringotts and investigate the offer of help for Ginny and see what the curse-breakers recommend?"
Molly was still angry that Dumbledore had tried to say Ginny didn't need healing. If Hogwarts was too poor to cover the potentially expensive treatment, he could have at least said so honestly rather than lie about her daughter's true condition.
Arthur nodded, "That sounds perfect. Well, family, I'm going to be late if I don't get going. Have a wonderful day, Weasleys. Percy? I nominate you to go scout out a good tent for us all."
Ginny piped up, "Make sure it has cooling charms!"
Mr Weasley chuckled in agreement before flooing to work. The boys started in on that remark.
"Yes, because a certain Miss has to visit a certain Mister…" George started to tease but his sister interrupted.
"I'm trying to get over that crush! Besides, Harry likes someone else…"
"Miss Granger of the Intellect and Most Glorious Hair." Fred nodded. "I wouldn't mind asking her out on a date but not until she's older! If Harry doesn't snatch her up before her fifth year though, I will!"
George snorted, "You'd try. My slightly less handsome twin, she does seem to think you are a bit of a prankster."
"Moi? Whatever did I do to give her that impression?"
Percy looked pleased at Fred's revelation, he liked smart witches himself, but the old Molly Prewitt almost came out.
"But she's…she's…"
"Muggleborn?" Fred asked cautiously.
"No, French! Didn't you talk to her mother? Emma Granger was born in Paris!" Molly shared, her horrified look clear to all.
She didn't mind the 'new blood' but apparently being half-French was almost too much.
Then Molly caught herself and waved her hands so all thought she was just joking. And she really tried to quash her prejudice and be a better person.
~~ooOOoo~~
The only family outside the Weasleys that had a warning about the coming news was the Bones household.
Susan was looking at the pictures with Hannah who had come over for breakfast. It was still too cold to go swimming, so Susan would be heading to Hannah's to stay there for the day.
She was practically an Abbott already.
"And I was so mean to him! He faced a basilisk! We could have all been killed. It's a miracle none of the ones attacked died!" Susan shared. "I'm going to write and apologize to Harry. I mean, look! He used the Sword of Gryffindor! That means he's a founder's heir."
Amelia nodded, "He really could be the heir to Slytherin too. I mean, we don't know his mother's family. The only known parselmouths in the country were related to Salazar."
Hannah was in shock. Potions had been her favorite subject before first year started. "A half-million galleons to the school! Oh Susan! We might get a teacher who actually teaches!"
Susan smirked, "What, the 'Directions are on the board, Begin!' aren't good enough for the granddaughter of Lord Abbott?
"No, not really. No."
Amelia laughed, "I have news to share if you promise to keep it to just you two for now. It should come out soon."
Susan loved that her auntie would share when she could. She was kept from far too much as it was!
"We promise!" They said together.
"Lucius Malfoy has been removed from the Board of Governors for cause. Narcissa Black is going to be taking over the Black seat for Hogwarts and the Wizengamot as she is the new Regent for Heir Black and House Black."
"But I thought the Malfoys were friends with Professor Snape?" Hannah complained.
"Lucius was, is. But not Narcissa. She has a huge grudge against the man for ruining potions. Her older sister ran away from a betrothal with Malfoy. Once she was out of school, she was working on getting her potions mastery. Lucius put an end to her work and her dreams when his suit was approved. Disgusting wizard." Amelia spat.
She was not a fan of controlling men!
"Which is why Auntie plans on letting me choose for myself when it comes to a husband." Susan shared.
Hannah turned wide eyes to Amelia, "I heard that…I mean…your betrothed…you didn't…"
"What? Kill my betrothed because he was a controlling, evil git?" Amelia took a breath. It still hurt, his loss, even after all this time. He had been kind and loving. One of many good men lost fighting evil. She forced a smile on her face, not reaching her eyes, "No, but that theory would make a great story, don't you think? A morality warning tale."
Hannah nodded. Amelia picked up the paper to take to work and headed to the floo after kissing both girls on the forehead. Odds were that someone was going to complain. She had memories in three different pensieves (her personal one, one borrowed from Moody, and the department pensieve), sworn testimonies (with the originals safely stored from Dumbledore's hands), and a poster-sized picture of a twelve year old slaughtering Slytherin's monster with the Sword of Gryffindor.
Let Cornelius and Albus fuss. She owed Harry Potter twice. Once for defeating Riddle (and wasn't that a surprise) as a baby, and twice since. Or did that count as three times? And then again for slaying that beast.
The bullpen was loud walking in and Alastor stumped towards her.
Show time.
~~ooOOoo~~
Bill looked at the missive. Harry had ongoing healing appointments and while Goldrub would be escorting him back and forth today: it would be the Potter account manager in future. They'd be taking turns. Were they wanting to get to know their client? Interesting. The curse-breaker wondered about that but tried not to ask his questions aloud.
He'd be told what he needed to know.
Last night, Harry had acted as though the large, four-poster, mosquito-screened bed was a huge luxury. Oh, sure, it was very comfortable and the screening was more decorative than truly needed but it was a pretty standard wizarding bed.
The bath was an old Victorian clawed thing that kept an even temperature until you exited. The shower was obviously a modern addition but someone had tried to have the taps match the other brass fittings.
Bill was impressed the boy cleaned up after himself and relied neither on Dobby nor magic. Wait. Did the boy know any household magic? Something else to address immediately.
At least Harry liked his bedroom. Until his appointment, the two spent time together. Harry picked up cleaning spells quickly then they moved to the library. Bill spent some time answering rune questions. This lad was smart. Very smart. And had Charlus Potter's ability to see magical connections.
Harry was going to be a joy to teach but he also understood that Bill would have his own research to do. They spent a very pleasant morning together and once Goldrub had taken young Potter to the bank, Bill took the opportunity to help the lead get set up for the next project.
~~ooOOoo~~
Hagrid made his way back into the castle. Hedwig flew down to him and rubbed her face on his in greeting, delivering her boy's message.
'Hagrid, I know people are working on getting you free. I can't take Hedwig with me this summer. Can you watch over our girl for me? You and her were my first ever friends and are very important to me.
'If you are reading this then I guess it worked. I'll see you September 1st and might ride on the boats with the firsties just to talk to you.'
'HJP'
Hagrid wiped his tears. "Our Harry's something special, ain't he, Hedwig? Of course ye'll spend the summer with me but I have to tell the headmaster sommat first."
Albus was a bit chagrined he'd forgotten about Hagrid. Learning that Sirius Black had also been released at the same time had him panicked. What was Cornelius thinking? He had a floo call to make.
Nooo!
~~ooOOoo~~
Spurnik and Goldrub argued and decided to take turns escorting the young heir rather than do some kind of axe or dagger throw each time.
Sirius, Lord Black, had requested to see Harry the minute the skeletal man was inside the bank's door when he was in London. Only the fact that he arrived in Cairo wobbling on his feet prevented the man from tracking down his godson right then and there.
Goldrub didn't have to win to be the initial escort as this was House Black business. He was happy to make the trip out to where the curse-breakers were setting up. The lad appeared to be happy with his new home and his guardian. Good.
Upon arrival at the bank, the account manager started talking with the young heir, "There is an obscure talent called Occlumency that allows one to keep secrets. Your godfather has paid to have you taught. There are other heirs who need to learn as well.
"You must keep what you are about to learn secret. There are enemies who would happily kill you or wipe your mind if others knew what you know.
"Your choice is to come with me or stay ignorant. You are a warrior and it is your choice." Goldrub offered. He would just take the lad to his own medical appointment if Potter didn't agree to the lessons.
Harry knew, if this was Dumbledore, he'd just have been kept ignorant and have the obliviation spell cast at him. Again.
Hmm. There was a big secret here, one that others would hurt him to protect. Harry was nearly thirteen. Of course he had to know!
Goldrub briefed him on the way but Harry was about to meet his godfather.
He was led to the healing hall where he had just been and where Ginny would be coming. Her appointment was already set up.
There, a gaunt man was sitting up in bed. He wore elegant nightwear and had a crimson silk bathrobe tossed over the foot of the bed.
"Harry? Is that really you?"
The boy offered his hand but as the man stood, he found himself engulfed in a warm hug.
Harry sniffed; he recognized this smell. It was of home and safety. Love.
"Oh Harry! I'm so sorry! I was such an idiot to run off to chase Pettigrew…"
"Or you were forced to. Potions and charms to make others loyal to a certain headba…headmaster don't affect me. I don't know why. I see things happening to others around me but am powerless to help. Or seek help for them. It has changed how I see some powerful people."
A phoenix flamed in right then and accepted Harry's pets as her due. There was a huge bowl of fruit on a nearby table and after getting silent permission from this kind wizard, fed her some grapes.
"Is that…Fawkes?" Sirius asked, plucking one of the grapes to feed her as well.
The phoenix settled on the headboard of the bed just as she had for Harry. She seemed to sniff Black for a moment but then accepted his grape. And pets.
His godson beamed at him because of her approval and acceptance.
That Harry immediately accepted him was a healing balm to his very soul. He was worried he'd be frozen out of all future Potter affection and interaction for abandoning his godson to Hagrid.
Goldrub, who had kept back to observe and interfere only if warranted, warned."Young Potter is still receiving bi-weekly care at our facility. We will bring him for a visit to you each time but he needs to learn mind-arts or our enemies will know what he knows."
"Can you have the family rings brought here, please?" Sirius politely asked.
Goldrub nodded. He could tell these two were bonding quickly. Or rebonding. Black's godfather's oaths would prevent him from hurting the Potter lad. He left the two alone to do as bid.
Sirius then turned to Harry. "I've made a cousin Regent. I would prefer to have asked Andi but it would cause more problems than it solved. Narcissa is thought to be dark. I have so much to share with you."
"Please, wait a moment? Can you please explain? Who are these people? Narcissa who? What does Narcissa being 'dark' mean? I don't understand."
"I will explain in full later but I'll give you the short version now. You see, I found out that my grandfather had allowed Lucius to play politics with the various votes House Black has in the Wizengamot and the Board of Governors for Hogwarts. If I put my cousin, Andromeda Tonks, Andi, who married a muggleborn, in to replace him, everyone would know there were huge changes coming. Enemies would act, and might even kill her and her family. I don't want that.
"Andi is one of two witches I recognize as my Black cousins. The other is Naricissa.
"By leaving it with Narcissa, no one is alerted. Not yet. The marriage contract Lucius signed means he can't ever seriously harm her on purpose or get another to do so. He'd kill to protect her. But I want to talk about other things with you."
Harry's eyes were huge, "Lucius? Lucius Malfoy? Your cousin is married to…"
"I'm hoping to make that a 'was married to'. I've hired some legal help to look at the contracts."
"He is not a nice man at all," Harry's green eyes were troubled, "I have so much to ask you, sir. Goldrub said you knew my dad and might tell me stories about him. Would you please, Mr Black?"
Sirius barked a laugh, "You won't be able to stop me! And none of this Mr Black nonsense. I'm not an all-powerful mage who offs death eaters with trains or tall balconies or even with the power of my mind! I'm Padfoot to you. That or Sirius."
The two chatted for a time, Sirius sharing stories of his father and friends and some of their lesser adventures in Hogwarts. Harry could tell the castle was Sirius' first home, just as it had been for Harry.
Harry had a wonderful visit. Goldrub returned with the rings, bearing it as though for a coronation and presented the box to Sirius first. Sirius took the Lord's ring from the ornate black velvet-lined box and, with a slight look of distaste, placed the ring on his right ring finger. He sat back, wide-eyed and after a moment, shook off his distraction and encouraged Harry to take up his own. "You still need to take lessons but as long as you're wearing this ring, your mind will be safe."
Putting the ring on was different! Harry felt a surge of magic and, for a moment, the House sigil of a viper was active and muttered 'finally'. The boy didn't ask what he meant but thought it was because he was happy Harry was a Speaker. He really liked this ring.
Goldrub's mate showed up just then. The healer was not impressed with the 'crowd'. "Unless you have urgent business, it is time for Lord Black to get some rest."
All three felt guilty for staying so long.
Giving Padfoot a hesitant hug as the man felt so frail, "Thank you so much. It was wonderful meeting you. Padfoot. And when I get back to school, I will try to find the map. I promise."
"We'll talk about that and more next time." Their hug goodbye was full of affection and joy about having the other back in their lives.
Harry was then seen to his own follow-up appointment. A spin of a time-turner and he was back when expected.
"Spurnik will be here next time. Until anon, Heir Black." Goldrub bowed.
Harry bowed back and made sure the ring was in invisible mode before returning to the library tent. Wow. He had a godfather who loved him, a guardian who liked him, and goblins who seemed to approve of him. Things had really flipped around.
And after work, Bill was going to be teaching him new magic! He'd already learned a few things this morning and could now clean his room and the kitchen with little charms. So much fun!
This was going to be an epic summer. Living in a library tent - encouraged to learn runes and more. No Dursleys and he was with people who didn't hate him. He had met his godfather and was learning about his birth family. Plus he was gaining a new one.
Was this happiness? He thought it might be. If not, it was close enough.
~~ooOOoo~~
Auror Bullpen
The cannon blast charm startled the aurors and detectives; silence reigned for a moment.
"For those of you discussing the news, yes, it's true. A basilisk had been roaming Hogwarts and was stopped by our twelve-year old hero. I talked to Barnabus Cuffe myself yesterday and got an oath from him to publish only those pictures which had been oath-sworn as taken from true memories.
"Mr Potter told me, when I interviewed him, that he might want to be an auror someday and that is why he wants a good potions education. His mother was supposed to be very good at them."
There was much grumbling at that. There was a reason there was a picture of Severus Snape on the dartboard in the recreation hall.
"Harry Potter should be up for an Order of Merlin. However, that award makes the recipient emancipated. So, we try for business as usual. If any of the bosses complain about the basilisk, send them to me. The skeleton is going to be on display soon. Only the location has yet to be decided.
"I want three volunteers willing to live at Hogwarts next fall. I want patrols in the hall and ideas for improvements to the school. Back to work, boys and girls."
Albus Dumbledore was about to find out that he had new security at the school, hired by the new Board of Governors. He likely wasn't going to like it.
Too bad.
Hearing about the last two years had parents wanting their children in a much safer environment. Including Director Bones herself.
~~ooOOoo~~
Bill ducked and pulled his wand. This was supposed to be a safe environment! What a disaster! Bringing Harry into the tomb to read a parselrune that snaked around an arch seemed like such a good plan.
Getting attacked by a lethifold wasn't in those plans! Bill cast his patronus, a huge lion, and shepherded the creature towards the door. Sunlight was deadly to it and the demonic thing didn't want to go into the light.
Harry hadn't been frozen though. He had run and gotten another curse-breaker. Together, the two of them managed to get rid of the nasty being.
When the danger was past, the rest of the team scouted the area around the arch before allowing Harry to return.
"You are going to teach me that spell? Right?" Harry insisted.
One of the curse-breakers snorted, clearly skeptical. But Bill knew Harry's power levels.
"Sure thing, but we need to make you a vault of new, happy memories. Oh, did you hear? Hermione's parents accepted the offer for her to come and visit. She'll be traveling with my family. They will be here in time for your birthday."
Harry's smile assured Bill the lad was far from broken from his early childhood if he could beam like that.
With lethifolds here and dementors used in the Ministry of Magic, knowing this spell would only be to Harry's good. Besides, it was a great way to send messages on a dig.
~~ooOOoo~~
Fudge summoned Amelia Bones into his office and set privacy at maximum. She had never seen him so angry.
"I have a report here that you freed Black from prison!" And the gameskeeper!" At least he wasn't a problem for Lucius. Fudge would deal with him later.
"As I sent you that report, I'm glad you read it." Amelia replied blandly. 'One does wonder at times.' She thought to herself.
The Minister demanded, "Why would you do that? And where is he?"
"It is illegal to hold prisoners indefinitely without a trial. With Rubeus Hagrid, you exceeded the limit by a mere two months. Black had been in Azkaban since November of 1981. I was following the law. Mr Hagrid refused treatment and told me he wanted to return to Hogwarts. Lord Black has gone abroad for treatment for dementor exposure but I did question him with veritaserum. An innocent man was sent to prison, Cornelius."
He interrupted, "Sirius Black was the secret keeper and killed all those muggles."
Her look told him that she thought he was an idiot and kept talking, completely ignoring what he'd said.
"You can do the press release as the hero who righted a great wrong. That's why I sent it to you first. I haven't told anyone else. I know you prefer to handle the media." Amelia hoped by keeping this quiet in this way, the man would see reason and get in front of the media storm that was certain to blow in.
"No one else knows? Well. I see. I'm disappointed you didn't discuss this with me first before acting. No matter. Next time, I would appreciate it if you would notify me first. Dismissed."
The woman, seeing nothing but a bumbling fool actually turned her back to head to the door.
The snake in a suit pulled his wand. He was better at the spell than Lockhart, " Obliviate."
Now, he just needed to make a quick trip to Azkaban to talk to the few human guards there.
He looked again at the letter from his friend Lucius and pocketed the small bag it contained.
Yes, Lucius would be most pleased.
~~ooOOoo~~
Fawkes was very unhappy; not with Harry, but for some of her choices. She loved Hogwarts. Perhaps that's why she had stayed so long. Now, she had to go away for a time. She needed to find a volcano and get a deep, deep cleanse.
She relayed some of the information to Harry, but he was a child and didn't need too much.
Crying tears of his own into her bright plumage, he thought he was saying goodbye for the last time. How happy he felt when she promised she would return.
It might not be until after school started but if he needed her, she would be there.
~~ooOOoo~~
Madam Rosemerta served the Minister another apricot cordial; it was a particularly fine batch. She gave Hagrid a nice ale and a wink. The Minister was 'holding court' so to speak.
The pair had come in together, Hagrid a bit dizzy and Cornelius was making sure the average citizen knew that Hagrid was innocent and released from gaol.
Rubeus had just nodded along, hardly his normal effusive self.
When the pompous wizard finally left, the barkeeper came up to him, sitting alone. "I'm sorry to hear ye were arrested. We were only told ye were away. I would have tried to visit or write."
"Azkaban. I was in Azkaban. Ain't no place fer a lady. If it wasn't fer Black making me think about thestrals 'n stuff, I'd 've gone crazy. Good man, Sirius Black."
"But isn't he…?"
Hagrid shook his head. He was getting old. Something tickled at the back of his mind…stupid Minister had interrupted his day.
"A very good man." Hagrid pushed coins for the drinks as Fudge had left without doing so.
Rosemerta pushed them back. "He invited ye, and I heard him. Some apology, to invite ye fer a drink then wander off without payin'. I've got ways of collectin'. Don't be a stranger, now."
She patted his hand. Azkaban? Why wasn't there sommat in the papers about that?
~~ooOOoo~~
Severus wouldn't answer his floo and when Albus tried to delegate the task of tracking Harry down to Minerva, she wrote down his request, verbatim and asked him to sign it.
Then she refused to act as it had nothing to do with her duties. The strange witch!
After failing to recruit help he sighed heavily, looking at his staff as if they were all petulant children and went to his own floo.
Arabella wasn't happy with him when he got there. "Finally! I've been flooing and sending owls. I'd have liked to try smoke signals using your beard!"
"Whatever is the matter, my dear?"
What she wanted to share were her thoughts. 'If I could wield a wand or my Mortimer was still alive, oh, you'd pay for your disrespect.' What she stated was short and to the point.
"Near the end of the school year, the Dursleys moved house. Without Harry! And there was an article about it. 'Uncle of local orphan gets out-of-country opportunity so assigns guardianship to distant but kind family.' They even had a picture in the paper, though Harry wasn't named and they got Bill's name wrong."
"'William Wetherby, a handsome archeologist who works for the Museum of Britain, has adopted a young Surrey orphan. The boy's birth parents were friends of his parents and their fathers are cousins.
"'The child will spend most of the year in an elite boarding school in Scotland where he excels in science, sports, and other classes.
"'We here at the paper wish Mr Weatherby and his new son all the best.'"
Pictured in the paper was clearly Bill Weasley in a leather fedora. His hand was on the shoulder of a beaming Harry Potter.
"This is what the article read but you couldn't be bothered to listen to an old woman. You made me move here from the house I raised my family in. Now, I'll be here alone without anyone. And for what?"
"I'm certain you can find a new post, Arabella. Just think, if you had done a better job, you'd still be here."
Whap! The newspaper could be used to discipline more than just juvenile crups.
"I floo'd, I owled, I floo'd again and again and finally took the Knight Bus to the Leaky to find someone to send you a patronus. You were ignoring me! How is that my fault?"
Dumbledore waved her away. At least she would not be eligible for the bonus he'd promised her.
He thought it was justice that she'd be kicked out of the house, bought with the only money Dumbledore had been able to get from the Potter vaults before Spurnik recovered and complained. And locked him out of getting any more. The goblin accused him of taking advantage of him being injured in a fight with Death Eaters in Diagon the week before the Potters were killed. As if Dumbledore had bribed his replacement.
No, he'd not done that. Not exactly.
Albus would be so disappointed when Arabella was not punished by getting kicked out of her house. She'd done her best for a certain orphan and Harry knew it.
~~ooOOoo~~
Harry owned the house on Wisteria Lane. Spurnik had explained the situation to the young heir. On the spot, he signed the title over to Arabella in appreciation for all her kindness to him.
Arabella in turn made her Will so Harry got the house and all of the assets she owned when she passed away. Not that he knew about that until much later. Neither Harry nor Spurnik wanted the widow who supported Harry's parents to suffer because of Dumbledore's spitefulness.
Harry would visit her from time to time all the rest of her life but he would never return to Privet Drive to live there.
~~ooOOoo~~
Now that the project was in full swing, Harry got to see Bill in his element. He would carefully make sketches and bring them back to the library.
Harry made a note to himself –in his very muggle notebook with a very muggle pen– to be sure and buy an instant camera for Bill. He knew he wasn't going to be invited inside an active dig for a long time.
"Curse-breaking is moving slowly and carefully so everyone goes home with all their bits." Bill was sharing when there was a 'knock' on the door.
"Oh, that will be Marissa. I'll introduce you."
Bill returned to the work table in the main library with the shortest adult woman Harry had ever met in the wizarding world. She was maybe three feet something.
"Marissa Carpenter. Look, you're curious. It's okay. I used to be normal size and my children, if I have any, will be okay. Shrinking solution gone wrong in a prank at Hogwarts left me like this. Blessed my life as the weregild gave me the resources to get my kit and all. And I'm the favorite for sending into tight spaces."
Carpenter was not a wizarding name and she was obviously older than Bill. Was it really a prank? Or an attack? Hmm.
"So you aren't short, you're just concentrated?" Harry suggested, shaking her hand.
She laughed and saw what Harry was working on. "Those are some great beginning protection runes. I'll show you a trick later on ways to charge them and then be able to disable them with a tap of your wand."
Bill looked up from his work, "What? You'll show Harry but not me?"
"I like Harry." Marissa smirked, going to the shelf and pulling out a huge tome.
Bill, as a professional curse-breaker, responded as any adult in his situation would. He stuck out his tongue at her and went back to work.
~~ooOOoo~~
A/N: Story recommended by stacygrrl2002: Old Soldiers Never Die by Rorschach's Blot
https/s/2784825/1/Old-Soldiers-Never-Die
Some of Rorschach's Blot fans might have noticed the homage to Make a Wish, another favorite of ours.
Another one she recommends is: Browncoat, Green Eyes by nonjon
https/s/2857962/1/Browncoat-Green-Eyes
A/N: Your story recommendation here -
~~ooOOoo~~
ƺ parseltongue galleons sickles ķ knuts
Ɠ Goblin language Copyright: The original books are all owned by JK Rowling and her associates. This piece is the intellectual property of the writer VashonBeader and her beta LtsHrIt4ThBoyz and is not to be used (or sold) elsewhere under any other name.