Chapter Nineteen – The Disappearance of Harry Potter
It had been a rough two hours since Marvolo and Severus had begun moving their belongings from Riddle Manor to Slytherin Mansion with the help of their family house elves. They breathe a sigh of relief when they drop the last of the boxes on the floor, stretching out sore muscles; watching in fond exasperation as multiple house elves converge on the mountain of boxes, a flurry of noise and movement before they pop out to begin unpacking everything.
Deciding to leave the excitable creatures to their work, Marvolo slips his hand into Severus's and begins to lead the man towards the East Study walking as fast as they dared as the anticipation of seeing their son again rises with each step. It was a mystery to both of them as to just how much they could miss Aldwyn after simply spending such a brief time apart. They are eager to see how Aldwyn is adapting to their new home as well. Upon arrival, Severus pushes the door open, their gazes racking the room only to come up disappointingly empty.
They are surprised to see both Narcissa and Draco sitting riveted in the armchairs in front of the fireplace deeply engrossed in their reading. Much too focused to notice their arrival. Their eyes sweep the room again though they don't see any indication that their son had even been present in the room, nor Bill for that matter who had been the last person they had seen with Aldwyn. A closer inspection of the room shows that Marvolo's desk had been cleared of his paperwork indicating that it had been used by someone earlier on. A small roll of parchment sits abandoned beside a quill and inkwell which is adorned with the Malfoy Crest. At least they knew that Lucius had been here, which could mean that Aldwyn was with the Malfoy Lord somewhere.
Severus feels his eyes narrowing when he also catches no sign of his son anywhere; he remembers Aldwyn assuring them that he would speak to his Godfather about furthering their plans, and he had taken that to mean that he would be staying in the study. He can feel his annoyance rising against the people he had left in charge of their son.
Clearing his throat pointedly, Severus smirks when Narcissa and Draco jump at the noise; Draco nearly drops his book on the floor in the process. Two sets of eyes widen at the sight of the irate wizards standing in the doorway. When he is sure that he had gained their attention, Severus raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Would one of you care to inform us as to the location of our son?" Silence meets Severus's hissed question. Draco and Narcissa choose to shoot a quick glance toward the desk where Marvolo assumes Aldwyn must have been sitting, most likely with the Malfoy patriarch the last time they had thought to check on Aldwyn.
Marvolo can feel his annoyance rising to irritation at the continued silence and almost doesn't realise when he flicks his wrist calling his wand from its holster. He holds the wooden weapon between his fingers, a smirk forming when Narcissa and Draco tense in fear, eyes widening as they fixate on the wand.
"I strictly remember asking you to keep an eye on our son while we were kept busy with moving our belongings from the Manor, as we were unable to do it ourselves. It was a simple task as Aldwyn is an extremely good child and tends to do exactly what he is told to do, and yet why is it that Severus and I return home only to find Aldwyn's carers having no idea as to our son's location?"
Narcissa and Draco exchange a glance of abject horror, shivers picking up as Marvolo's brown eyes begin to glow with power, a familiar red bleeding into them. His wand delicately twirls around nimble fingers; a threat for them to start talking. Severus and Marvolo watch as Narcissa takes a deep breath before pushing herself out of her seat. She bows her head, knees quivering when crimson eyes focus solely on herself. She barely manages to conceal her flinch when green sparks shoot from the end of her Lord's wand.
"My Lord, I am quite sure that your son is safe. We last saw him with Lucius and Bill, and you know they would never let anything happen to Aldwyn. Though I am unsure as to where they have disappeared off to or what they are planning, My Lord."
"Oh, I see. You are quite sure our son is safe, are you? Well then, how could we argue with that? I am quite sure that certain followers of mine need to be reminded of what happens when my orders are not followed."
Draco cautiously follows his mother's lead, making sure to stand at his full height, head slightly bowed towards the floor. He does his best not to incur the wrath of the Dark Lord on himself further, nor his mother; praying to Merlin that he doesn't end up angering Marvolo even more.
"My Lord, Aldwyn, Bill, and my father were discussing the Daily Prophet article that was mentioned before. I believe Father offered to aid Aldwyn in writing Harry Potter's Will in order for him to begin his part of the plan within the Ministry as soon as possible."
Severus breathes a small sigh of relief at Draco's words. He places a hand on Marvolo's forearm attempting to soothe away some of his partner's rage or at least coax him into lowering his wand. Lord Voldemort allows himself to be pulled from his anger, calm seeping through his veins at the gentle gesture. He turns to face his consort, a thankful smile on the corner of his lips as he slowly lowers his wand arm from where he had it trained on Narcissa. He knows Aldwyn would not appreciate it if he ended up cursing one of the Malfoys.
Aldwyn dutifully sits down at one of the tables in the room Lucius guides him and Bill to, glancing around he smiles when it reminds him a little of his classrooms at Hogwarts. Taking the offered parchment from Lucius's stretched out hand, Aldwyn waits for his Godfather and Bill to bring chairs over before he dips his quill into some ink and poises his hand to write.
"Alright, so the first thing you need to do is open your will. Now, all wizarding Will and Testaments begin with the same phrase 'I, insert your name and title, of sound body and mind hereby dub this my last Will and Testament.'" Lucius begins, writing down the phrase in his own delicate calligraphy for Aldwyn to copy down.
Aldwyn does so, trying to make his handwriting a little messier than it is now before he frowns down at the quill in his hand. If he was going to make this Will look as if he had written it at the Dursleys, then he couldn't write with a quill and ink, nor could he write it on parchment. If his trunk had been locked in the cupboard under the stairs, then it would have been easier to steal a pen and paper.
"Uncle Luc? If I wrote this as Harry Potter at the beginning of the summer holidays, then I wouldn't have known what any of my titles were, nor how to write a proper wizarding will. I don't think I would have had access to a quill, parchment, and inkwell either."
"Ah, yes. I believe this would put a dent in our plans." Lucius trails off. He raises a hand to cover his chin in contemplation. Bill stares between Lucius and Aldwyn before he smiles, a memory drifting to the forefront of his mind as he glances down at the abandoned quill.
"Why don't you just transfigure the quill into a pen?"
"A what?"
"A pen. It is a muggle writing tool that has a storage of ink inside, so you don't have to use an inkwell. It prevents the ink from smudging as well by only letting the smallest amount out." Aldwyn explains to Lucius, biting the inside of his cheek to prevent his laughter from bubbling over at the look of utter befuddlement which descends over his Godfather's features. Sucking in a large breath to regain his composure, Aldwyn slips his wand out of his pocket and grins at Bill.
"So, how would I do this? Is there a specific spell or what?"
"I don't think there is a specific spell to transfigure something into a pen. Try to concentrate on the quill and hold a clear image of a pen in your mind. Then do what you would usually do in your transfiguration lessons. Because we don't have a specific incantation, then I would recommend focusing your magic through your wand." Bill instructs, ruffling the boy's hair when he nods his understanding.
Aldwyn sticks his tongue out the corner of his mouth, eyebrows creasing as his gaze locks on the quill, magic saturating the air as he sinks further into his concentration. It takes a few moments before Lucius's quill begins to glow faintly, sparks of magic crackling from the tip of Aldwyn's wand. A flash of light erupts, and a small black ballpoint pen sits on the desk, the Malfoy crest still adorning its side. Lucius raises an eyebrow at the strange device drawing another chuckle from Aldwyn who picks up the pen twirling it between his fingers.
"Alright, now all we need to do is sort out the parchment and then we can get started," Aldwyn mutters. Pointing his wand at the parchment. He follows the same procedure and smiles when a page of lined muggle paper sits on the desk in front of him. Bill ruffles his hair again in silent praise at the non-verbal casting before they turn their attention back to Lucius.
"Alright, so Harry Potter would know how to officially start a will, but I believe he would know to include his name, possibly his age, and state that this was his last Will and Testament, to begin with."
Aldwyn nods his head, clocks the end of the pen, and puts it on the paper. Being mindful to keep his handwriting slightly messier than usual and a little different from how he writes now. He doesn't want anyone, especially Dumbledore and his lackeys noticing the familiarity between the two scripts. He carefully writes down what Lucius suggested and grins at the results so far. It really did sound like a little boy had given up hope of living through his teens or even pre-teens.
They jot down a few more ideas, Aldwyn scribbling away at the paper as he tries to construct the Will as best as he can without giving too much away. Bill adds his two knuts in every now and again, pointing out little details that Aldwyn could input to make the age of the draft more believable. It doesn't take him all that long for the document to be finished, and they read it over a few times to ensure it is finished before breathing a sigh of relief. Reliving through some of the horrors Aldwyn had been forced to endure as Harry Potter took its toll on all of them.
"Alright, Aldwyn. I believe we truly are finished now. How about we go and see if your parents are home yet?"
"Okay. We can show them our masterpiece if they are!"
Bill chuckles at Aldwyn's enthusiasm, holding out his hand to the young boy who grasps it tightly within his own, Harry Potter's Will clenched in the other as Lucius proceeds them out of the small classroom, carding a hand through Aldwyn's hair as he passes. They make their way back down the corridor, pushing the door to the East Study open drawing the attention of the residents within.
Marvolo, Severus, Narcissa, and Draco freeze when Lucius steps through the doorway, Aldwyn and Bill close at his heels each chuckling softly. Their smiles stretch across their lips as Bill mutters something to Aldwyn setting him into fresh peals of laughter. Turning to face the deathly silent room, their laughter dies abruptly, their eyes casting around at the scene laid out before them.
Lucius sucks in a sharp breath as he sees his son standing protectively in front of his mother who is gripping the material of her skirt in white knuckles. He spies the sheen of tears building in their eyes before he notices the wand still gripped tightly in his Lord's hand. Narcissa's complexion is paler than usual, arms shaking making Lucius stiffen in panic. His grey-blue eyes glance frantically between his family and Marvolo. Severus's muscles are stiff, even if he has placed a soothing hand on Marvolo's arm, stroking his forearm in an attempt to calm the anger he can see shining in crimson eyes.
"Father, Papa when did you get home?" Aldwyn questions happily, not noticing the tension palpitating the air until he creases his forehead, casting his own glance around the room, assessing the situation before he sighs. Looking pointedly between his parents, a smirk works its way across his face. "Should I even ask what is going on here?"
His smirk widens when Severus and Marvolo exchange a sheepish look before they gaze down at the floor looking remarkably like scolded schoolchildren, especially when the Dark Lord scratches the back of his neck in embarrassment. The tension within the room dissipates somewhat now that Aldwyn has been 'found' safe and sound.
Severus, shaking himself out of his stupor quickly walks towards Aldwyn and gently pulls his child into his arms, holding him close to his chest as he kneels down in order to direct Aldwyn's head to rest against his shoulder. He drags a hand through Aldwyn's hair and brushes a kiss to his temple just as Marvolo makes his way over to them. Dropping to his knees, Marvolo slips his wand back into its holster before wrapping his arms around his partner and son as he too brushes a kiss on Aldwyn's head.
"We are truly sorry, Aldwyn. I guess your papa and I were merely worried when we arrived home and no one seemed to know where you were. We had trusted them to keep an eye on you and we didn't know where you had gone off to. Your papa and I thought something might have happened to you, as unlikely as that may be."
Pulling back, Aldwyn glances between his parents, cheeks flushing a deep red. A large smile stretches across his features at his father's words. He had never felt or seen anyone worrying about him so much before, it was a nice feeling he decided.
"I know you were probably worried about me Father, and Papa but you were only gone for a couple of hours nothing was going to happen to me. Besides Uncle Lucius and Bill were with me the entire time and we even decided to get started on our little plot for Harry Potter. We decided on what information to leak about his life to the Ministry, Auror department, and Daily Prophet. Uncle Luc and Bill even helped me write the Will!"
Marvolo smiles down at his son, eyes quickly flickering towards Lucius and Bill, he inclines his head in thanks watching as they return the gestures before he focuses back on his child.
"I apologise, Snakelet but we had asked the Malfoys to look after you which included knowing where you were going just in case you needed them." Severus's cheeks flush in embarrassment, spreading to his ears as the realisation dawns that he may have acted too rashly. He had never had a child of his own to protect and look after before, especially not one as anxious as Aldwyn. Much to his own mortification, he is forced to admit that he had acted like the Gryffindors he so despised. He wonders just how they are going to make it through the school year.
"Apology accepted Papa, Father. Just promise me that you won't torture the Malfoys, or Bill and Charlie unless they have failed a direct order concerning the Dark Sect. or majorly affected our winning of the battle."
"I promise, Snakelet."
"As do I, son."
The room descends into a comfortable silence, all the remaining tension bleeding out as Aldwyn giggles happily throwing his arms around Marvolo's and Severus's necks in a tight embrace. He was a little embarrassed by how much he had missed his parents, even if Lucius and Bill had kept him suitably distracted. Bill allows them a few moments before he steps forward and clears his throat.
"Well now that everything has been sorted out. Why don't you show everyone what we have been working on for the past few hours, Aldwyn?"
Aldwyn jumps back from his parents, head bobbing in agreement. A wide grin shapes his lips, and he makes his way over to the collection of armchairs. He turns a questioning gaze towards Bill who rolls his eyes, inclining his head. He seats himself in the chair Aldwyn is standing next to, opening his arms to allow the child to crawl onto his lap. Aldwyn shifts around, draping his legs over the arm as his head rests against Bill's shoulder, cuddling into the older wizard's chest as arms wrap around his back and waist.
As the rest follow suit, Draco sitting on his father's lap due to a lack of space. Severus watches the interaction between Aldwyn and Bill, a soft smile adorning his usually abrasive features. He finds himself ordinarily pleased that Aldwyn had found such a good friend, other than Draco, that would be there for him. He sits on the arm of the chair Marvolo seats himself in, wrapping an arm around his partner's shoulder as Marvolo lights a fire and calls for some refreshments.
"Alright, Snakelet. I know you are dying to show us all what you, Bill, and Lucius have been spending the past few hours cooking up. The stage is yours." Marvolo calls everyone's attention to Aldwyn who shoots him a sparkling smile as he pulls a piece of muggle paper from his pocket. Sliding the parchment over to Severus, Aldwyn settles back against Bill, winking at his parents as the note is passed around the room.
My name is Harry James Potter, or at least that is what Aunt Petunia told the teachers at my primary school to call me anyway. It is what everyone in the wizarding world calls me as well, so it must be true. I thought my name was Freak until I was five, but that was when I was living in the Cupboard under the stairs. My family are horrible to me every day; they give me long lists of chores to do and force me to finish them all before my uncle gets home from work. I'm not even allowed to have a break or a drink of water until it is all done.
Most days I am not allowed food because I am a freak and they do not want to waste their hard-earned money on me. I should not be alive now, and I am scared that I won't be soon.
Uncle Vernon hurts me more and more all the time. It is worse when he is drunk. His favourite punishment is to use his belt and sometimes everything would go black for hours before I could wake up again. Then I would be told to resume my chores and the cooking. I know I am not going to be alive for much longer so I am writing this Will. That's what people do before they die, I think.
I don't have much to leave behind because I am a freak and freaks aren't allowed toys or presents. The only clothes I have are Dudley's old hand-me-downs which are too big for me. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia even destroyed my Hogwarts school supplies and robes when I returned home.
I did receive a letter a few days ago from Gringotts Bank. They said that bad people were taking money from the Potter Family Vault (whatever that is). So, if I am dead, then I guess my only request would be that my friends at Gringotts Bank get it back for me. The Potter Money and everything that has been taken from my parents is being left to the next Heir to the Potter line which has already been agreed upon by Gringotts. It cannot be undone.
Finally, I would like to request that Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is to be kept away from any and all of my family possessions, properties, and assets. He was the one who left me on the doorstep of the muggles' house the night my parents were murdered. He never checked on me. I would also like Gringotts to unseal the Potter Wills, as I was told they haven't been read yet, so no one knows where I was supposed to go.
Harry James Potter
The room falls into tense silence as the information processes. Narcissa and Draco subtly try to wipe their eyes free from tears before they allow them to fall freely down their cheeks as they finish reading through the Will. Draco cuddles into his father's chest, taking comfort from Lucius who takes his time rereading through their carefully drafted work. If this was their reaction after having already known about the abuse, he was vindictively looking forward to the reactions of the rest of the wizarding world. Bill, upon rereading the page, tugs Aldwyn swiftly into a tight embrace after handing the will back to Severus.
"I still can't believe that this is you sugar-coating everything, Parum Anguis. They will pay for everything they have ever put you through. That I can promise you. We will get them back for you, Aldwyn!"
Aldwyn is stunned speechless by Bill's actions and the emotion he can hear seeping through Bill's tone, the man who is usually so carefree and happy. His words choked as he clings to Aldwyn as if trying to share in the pain the young child had been put through. To potentially shield him from all the suffering he had been forced to endure while he had been Harry Potter.
"Thank you, Bill. I know it is hard but there is nothing we can do about it now. Everything those muggles did to me is in the past and I will never have to see them again. Father and Papa will fight tooth and nail if anyone even thinks about trying to pull us apart now. I know I can count on the Malfoys, Charlie, and you to keep me safe as well."
The Will is handed back over to Lucius so he can plant it at the Dursleys' home at some point before the Aurors begin their investigation. He slips it into his pocket, dragging a hand through Draco's hair. Aldwyn smiles, settling back against Bill, he grins over at his Godfather who returns the gesture before clearing his throat.
"Aldwyn and I have devised a suitable plan. I will be dropping hints, discreetly of course, throughout the Ministry for the next couple of days and sending in an anonymous report further illuding to the suspected abuse of Harry Potter. Aldwyn's Will would have already been put in place making it all the more realistic."
Marvolo and Severus smile at Lucius, waves of relief washing through them at the idea of the son being mere days away from being released completely from the weight of the wizarding world. He will be free from their crushing expectations. They were finally so close to being able to give their child the chance at having a normal childhood, even away from the war if he so chose.
Their plans were finally coming to fruition.
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is sitting in a throne-like chair upon the raised platform which holds the long staff table at the front of the Great Hall; a great vantage point for when he wished to preside over his students during term times. The early morning atmosphere was much calmer during this time of the year due to the lack of student chatter, as the Professors gathered for breakfast while bright streams of sunlight streamed through the large windows behind them.
Headmaster Dumbledore looks from his left to his right a small smirk shaping his lips at the power he holds over some of the most talented witches and wizards in Wizarding Britain. He butters his toast while upholding an idle conversation about the upcoming school year with his Deputy, Minerva McGonagall.
Severus Prince, despite his great reluctance and obvious discomfort at being summoned to dine with his colleagues on such a particular day for such an early morning meal, sits passively in his seat beside the Head of Gryffindor House blocking out any attempts the Lioness makes in engaging him in mundane conversation. His mind drifts periodically to his son and how disappointed Aldwyn is going to be when he learns that his papa has been called away for his first-ever birthday breakfast with his new family. His frown deepens.
Pomona Sprout, head of Hufflepuff, and Filius Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw are also lost within their own discussion on the array of charms and spells used to aid in the caring of various plant species and herbs kept in the Greenhouses. Catching the ground Keeper, Rubeus Hagrid's attention, who is happy to put his two knuts forward every now and again. The room is otherwise filled with the quiet sounds of cutlery clattering against plates, mugs of hot beverages hitting the wooden table, and the shifting of robes as each professor eats their fill.
Their usual morning routine only being interrupted by a sudden influx of owls flying through the overhead entrance much earlier than normal. Knives and forks are abandoned when the birds drop an emergency edition of the Daily Prophet in front of each Professor, a black and white image of a clean-cut, ordinary muggle house adorning the front. A few professors exchange baffled expressions at the hurried pace of the delivery owls, none of them pausing long enough to accept payment as they make a beeline out of the hall. The only exceptions are Severus, Bill, and Charlie who try valiantly to bite back their smirks of vindictive amusement at the article.
A heavy silence descends through the hall as mouthfuls are swallowed and hands wiped clean. Everyone stares in frozen trepidation, dread creeping across their skin as the newspaper stares back at them innocently urging them to read it. There had only been a few occasions when the Daily Prophet had released an emergency copy throughout the century or so. The most recent being to announce the demise of the Dark Lord and Harry Potter's status as the Boy-Who-Lived.
A loud, horror-filled gasp breaks the silence. Pomona Sprout stares wide-eyed at the front page, having already reached for her copy. Her eyes scan the headline as tears rapidly begin to fill her eyes when she begins to read the full article. The others, now startled out of their trepidation, are quick to follow suit. Unrolling their individual copies, shocked exclamations resound through the air at the information written before them.
Boy-Who-Lived… Missing?
It is with a heavy heart and somber mind that I find myself drafting this article for you all, the population of Wizarding Britain, this despairingly dolent morning. Distressing news reached us here at the Daily Prophet Headquarters late last night that a group of trained Aurors and members from the Child Welfare Office had been called out to a Muggle Residence due to some suspicious accounts being reported about a young wizard who may have been being mistreated by his relatives. Aurors and Wizarding Child Service officials gathered outside the muggle residence of one, Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, only to find that the young Saviour was missing from his home in Little Whinging, Surry.
That's right, our loyal readers, Harry Potter, eleven-year-old defeater of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has supposedly vanished without a trace just days after reports of mistreatment were established.
After hearing of this distressing news, I had the privilege of interviewing the individuals who had discovered this deplorable turn of events, and what I found out was quite disturbing indeed. The Wizard, who wishes to remain anonymous for their own safety answered that Mister Potter was usually spotted outside his relatives' home working in the Gardens at least once a day. However, this would not have been a cause for concern except that young Harry Potter was last seen to be pale, tired, bruised, bloodied, and trying to mask obvious pain. The Wizard also claimed that it wasn't unusual to see the young Potter Heir covered in various bruises and injuries. Harry Potter then failed to show the next day.
He answered that Mister Potter's relatives, who had been given the responsibility of caring for and raising their nephew, when questioned about the suspicious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Harry Potter were said to have jeered, sneered, and muttered about 'the good for nothing freak', 'he had been asking for it' and things along the lines of the 'Freak getting what he deserved'. These phrases, for obvious reasons my dear readers sent chills down our spines. It is clear that the young Potter was forced to suffer through some horrendous attacks under their care.
After many hours of intensive and grueling questioning from the several highly trained Aurors on the scene eventually managed to pull a disturbing account of the events surrounding Harry Potter's disappearance. Harry Potter's relatives, whose names will be kept private for their own safety at the present time, confessed to having beaten, starved, and severely verbally abused their young Nephew from the day he had been abandoned on their doorstep the night of his parent's murder.
That is right, ladies and gentlemen, Harry Potter, Light of the Wizarding World was left outside at the tender age of fifteen months, overnight on one of the coldest nights on record from the last decade. By whom you ask? It has been hinted at by a close, reliable source within Gringotts bank and confirmed by insiders within the Ministry (and by the Muggle Relatives of Harry Potter themselves) that someone close to the Potter family has been found to have been responsible for Harry Potter's placement with Lily Potter's sister and her family despite the Potter Wills being sealed immediately. Though no further information has been given about their identity as of yet. Did no one decide to check up on the child to ensure he was being looked after and cared for? Did this person have the Potter Will's sealed in order to prevent the young Saviour from going to his proper home in accordance with his Parents' last wishes?
After further investigations and inquiries, I have discovered a most frightening truth about the extent of abuse that our Saviour had to suffer through for ten years or so. Aurors, after hearing the story from the muggle relatives went forward to search the house for evidence against the abusers and found sights that would bring even the most hardened criminals to their knees. Eleven-year-old Harry Potter, upon arriving home from his first year at Hogwarts School was forced to live and sleep in a boot closet under the stairs, somewhere where he had been confined to, for most of his stay as seen by the sign taped to the back of the door claiming the cupboard to be 'Harry's room'. Upon deeper searches, something was discovered that sent chills down the Aurors' spines. Young Harry Potter had been worried about his uncle and Aunt eventually taking their beatings too far and feared for his life. So much so that he had taken the time to write a Will; a will which had been crafted after he had returned from Hogwarts.
According to the Goblins in charge of the Potter accounts, the wizard who had placed young Harry with the Muggle family had intercepted any chances being put forward about Harry Potter's living arrangements; barricaded his rightful guardian from suspecting his responsibilities; responsibilities they had been informed about yesterday evening. Professor Snape, world-renowned Potions Master, and recently anointed Lord Prince, could be seen standing outside the muggle residence throughout the ongoing investigation and despite his obvious grief agreed to give his statement:
"I know that I have made many errors during my life, especially through the years when I was fresh out of Hogwarts, but I can honestly say that I have come to regret many of the choices I had made. I caused such unnecessary pain, suffering, and many casualties. I am ashamed. Though, I would never have thought that someone would even consider abandoning Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived in such an abusive setting without ever having checked on the child once. I, myself faced much abuse from my father at home during my childhood and often found myself, much like Mister Potter, neglected and left to fend for myself despite the evidence pointing to my abuse. It saddens me greatly that I have been denied the opportunity to care for and raise such a bright young child as Mister Potter."
"I can't help but feel as if it were my own fault that Mister Potter has potentially met with such an early demise, or even run away due to the harsh treatment and pray to Merlin and Mother Magic that the Aurors can find Harry in good health soon. As one of his professors over the past year and, as I have recently found out, his true guardian, I should have seen the signs; noticed that something wasn't quite right. I could have raised him together with my own Son. Though I fear that I am now too late. I have failed to protect my young charge."
My heart went out for the Potions Master, ladies, and gentlemen as I watched silent tears spilling down his cheeks; his eyes holding such a depth of sorrow and regret as he stood outside the house of young Harry Potter. I followed up by asking him what he had planned to do now after he had found this information out and his answer truly surprised me.
"I will be keeping up to date on the ongoing investigation into the Disappearance of Harry Potter. Though I will also be resuming my position at Hogwarts teaching potions. There are many students within the school who need me, and I will not let them down now. Besides, I will be ensuring I am there to keep an eye on my son who is transferring into his Second year come September."
You have indeed correctly heard my dear readers, Severus Prince, residing potions professor at Hogwarts has a twelve-year-old Son who will be joining the school for his second year this upcoming September. I also have been privy to the news on the dear professor's potential for a future courting by none other than the recently discovered Lord Slytherin. Apparently, Lord Slytherin made his intentions known to his partner in making him Lord Consort Prince-Slytherin by ways of the Old Laws, and let me be the first to congratulate this happy future union.
Well, I ask you this dear readers:
Is this what our world has come to? Has our world sunk as far as to turn our backs on Magical children residing in the Muggle world facing abuse? There are several examples of innocent children who have been abandoned by the magical world even after learning of their mistreatment at the hands of muggle relatives: a young bright boy by the name of Thomas Riddle who disappeared mere months after his graduation from Hogwarts, Severus Prince and now Harry Potter, all had been ignored when they had pleaded for salvation. Is it too late for our nation to save our young so blessed by Mother Magic?
Keep posted as I will be doing my best to report any additional information on the impending investigation into Harry Potter's disappearance.
Rita Skeeter.