November 1991
On the morning of November 9th, Harry was dressed in the Ravenclaw Quidditch team uniform while enjoying a delightful breakfast besides Hermione and Terry. Comprised of thick blue robes clasped by a bronze brooch, it held a flying eagle sewn on his back with its wings spread open. His jersey held the house crest etched on his left breast pocket with a solid field of blue with bronze trims on the shoulders; it was made of a lightweight material, feeling soft and smooth upon Harry's skin. The trousers were made of a thicker material, colored entirely of a soft beige hue, it had knee pads sewn to them to provide his knees protection.
Harry was entirely relaxed, not allowing any nerves to be demonstrated in the prospects of his first Quidditch game. Susan, however, was unwilling to eat a single bite from the offered breakfast buffet, too nervous about the Quidditch game.
"How can you be so calm before your first game, Harry?" asked Terry, watching Harry place another stack of pancakes upon his plate.
Taking care to swallow the remainer of his food, Harry replied, "I was in my school's football team back in primary. While I can admit being worried that I may fail to catch the snitch, I've gotten used to the nerves before a game."
Shrugging, Harry pointed at Susan saying, "Honestly, if I wasn't so used to it, I'd be just as bad as Susan."
Nodding, Hermione added, "Besides, it's important you have a full meal, otherwise you'll be starving during the game. You'll need the energy."
In agreement, Harry took a particularly large bite into his pancakes. With a barely decipherable mumble, Harry said, "Too right you are, Hermione."
A look of disgust crossed Hermione's face while Terry laughed, "Oh, be serious Harry, I know you have better manners than that."
Time Skip
Quidditch Field
Standing together besides his fellow Quidditch team players, Harry paid attention to Roger's speech.
"Okay, gentleman, you all know the play. Chasers, we'll keep possession of the Quaffle at all times, keep passing it-even if you don't have a clear shot, pass it to someone else. It's imperative we maintain Quaffle control. Beaters, aim to disrupt the Hufflepuff's Chasers as best as possible, you're on chaos duty. Grant, keep an eye on your peripherals, the Hufflepuffs like coming in from the flank to score. Harry, keep a perimeter check to find the snitch. If you can, fly around the Hufflepuffs Chasers to distract them. Questions? No, then let's have a good game, gents!"
Lining up one behind the other, Harry stood at the end of the line as the Seeker.
Noting his hands begin to shake, Harry began to take several deep breathes to calm his nerves. Harry was ready for his first game, to cement his skills as the Ravenclaw Seeker, and prove to any naysayer that his position was earned and not simply because of his fame.
Using his broom as support, Harry looked at it in admiration.
The Nimbus Two Thousand was the newest model available in the market. Harry had requisitioned Hrothgar to purchase one within a week of joining the team and even now, weeks later, Harry could barely contain his love for the broom.
Sleek smooth brown, it's twigs were neatly sculpted and held in place by a bronze band. It was as beautiful as it was fast, and Harry could not wait to begin flying.
Walking in a collective line, Harry was suddenly blasted with a flash of light as he walked outdoors from the team's locker room.
The Quidditch Field was oval in shape, filled with neatly cut forest green grass, that held three tall hoops on each end where the Keeper remained. There were four main tall towers, each draped with humongous flags for each of the Four Houses. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff towers were each filled to its maximum as each House came out in support for their team. A tall high rise stadium seats connected the four towers to form an enclosed oval stadium.
The day held perfect flying conditions; the sky was barren of any clouds, the sun was warm enough to stave away any cold, and the gentle breeze provided a soothing coolness to the bystanders.
Madam Hooch was refereeing. She stood in the middle of the field waiting for the two teams, her broom in her hand.
"Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you," she said, once they were all gathered around her. "Mount your broomsticks, please."
Harry clambered onto his Nimbus Two Thousand.
Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle.
Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air.
They were off.
For the next hour, it was a blur of zooming players flying at neck breaking speeds as they fought an aerial battle for victory. The Ravenclaw Chasers had a clearer advantage than their counterparts; the trio had a couple of years of experience working together, unlike the Hufflepuffs who had to replace two out of their three chasers this year. Working cohesively and without a single word being uttered, they were able to pass the Quaffle to each other with seamless elegance. Their Beaters, having one year of working together, were proving to be an effective duo as they helped one another in their weak points; Duncan Inglebee was able to hit the Quaffle with perfect precision but lacked the sheer strength that his partner Jason Samuels possessed. Regardless, they were proving to be an effective team. Grant, their Keeper, was on his third year in the team and was demonstrating exactly why he continued to be the Keeper for Ravenclaw; he stopped many attempts with nonchalance evident. The entirety of the Ravenclaw team was working cohesively with victory in mind.
Harry, on the other hand, quickly shed away any fears or worries about his capabilities to play and became an invested member of the team. Swerving in and out, interrupting plays and stealing the Quaffle, he was proving to be an effective distraction against the Hufflepuff team. Already, 45 minutes into the game, Harry had successfully intercepted the Quaffle three separate times and stopped multiple plays that would have resulted in a score. During their practice, Harry had demonstrated that his precision shooting had also translated well into Quidditch. As such, Roger had put Harry through the paces and encouraged him to learn the Chaser's playbook and learn to play as one in order to become their unofficial fourth chaser during the games. This idea proved its worth when Harry was able to score a goal during the 30th minute mark.
The score was 80-50 with Ravenclaw in the lead when Harry saw a glint of gold in the corner of his eye.
Harry saw it. In a great rush of excitement, he dived downward after the streak of gold. Hufflepuff Seeker Cedric Diggory had seen it, too. Neck and neck they hurtled toward the Snitch – all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch.
Harry was faster than Diggory – he could see the little round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead – he put on an extra spurt of speed – and something gold fell into his hand.
"Ravenclaw wins! 230 to 50!" shouted the commentator, Lee Jordan.
Landing on the ground, Harry's team all circled him in excitement as they lifted him on their shoulders.
"Potter! Potter!"
The chant spread within the Ravenclaw House until every member was yelling it together.
Within Harry, a great sensation of accomplishment spread throughout him. He had done it!
He was able to catch the snitch and win!
The party that evening was one to remember. Due to the severe rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin, they were usually the ones to be winning the Cup. However, with this new Ravenclaw team, the House felt that their chances to win were skyrocketing.
As the guest of honor, every member of the House came and congratulated Harry in his spectacular catch.
It was not until nearing midnight that Professor Flitwick entered the Common Room and stopped the celebration.
Regardless, for Harry, this was definitely a day to remember.
10th November 1991
Awakening late due to their late night festivities, Harry was feeling positively giddy from his first win with the Quidditch team.
Having the rest of the day free for their desires, Harry and the group had decided to meet up at noon to begin their defense practice.
As such, after a filling breakfast, the group met up in a center location between both the Ravenclaw Tower and Hufflepuff House.
Yawning, Harry took note of Susan and Hannah making their way towards Terry, Hermione, and himself.
"Good morning, guys, slept well?"
Sleepily, Hannah nodded in reply.
"Yes, we had a good night. How was it in the Ravenclaw Tower? I'm sure there was a huge party after your win."
Nodding, Terry answered, "It was great! The party lasted until midnight. If it wasn't for Professor Flitwick, it might've lasted even longer."
Looking at Susan, Harry noticed her looking downtrodden.
"How are you doing Susan?"
Shrugging, she said, "I'm fine, I just wished we would've been able to do better. Your Chasers were too good for us."
The last twenty minutes of the game, due to an injury sustained by Tamsin Applebee, Susan was able to play for her team. A rising star within the Hufflepuff House, Susan took to the field like a predator on the hunt. Flying fast and with purpose, the last two goals were committed by her through sheer precision and fast thinking.
"Well, I think you did absolutely wonderful, Sue. You were flying so fast, and your passes were amazing. I can't believe how you made that last shot! I swear I saw that Quaffle literally curve into the post," said Terry, as he attempted to cheer her up.
Placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, Harry agreed, "It's true, Susan. You did a marvelous job."
Flashing a gentle smile, Harry put his arm around her.
A gentle blush blossoming across her cheeks, Susan replied, "Thanks, guys. I appreciate it."
Entering their chosen escapade, the group began to stretch in preparation for their dueling.
Initially, those raised in the magical world were hesitant to "stretch," due to their lack of education regarding physical health. However, Harry, being an athlete himself, began to demonstrate simple stretches and exercise to prepare their body for their dueling in order to avoid any unnecessary injuries.
As such, every session began with twenty minutes of stretches and simple warm ups.
Today's lesson covered the importance of movement during a duel.
As it was written in 'The Might of Fighting,'
"Ensuring a continual movement in your attack and defense allows for the caster to remain in control of their movements and conserves magical power. While it is important to master shielding charms, reliance upon them will prove detrimental for the average person due to their high demand of magical power. As such, it order to conserve energy, it is preferred to always move about."
Therefore, they would pair up whereupon they would take turns between having one person cast the stunning spells while the other attempts to move around to avoid getting hit.
It was a fun game for them that allowed them to improve their casting, precision and ability to avoid being hit.
Therefore, standing with his knees slightly bent, his back leaning forward, Harry watched as Hermione began to smirk towards him in a taunting manner.
"I hope you're ready, Harry."
Smirking back, Harry replied, "Catch me if you can, 'Mione."
"Stupefy!"
Immediately throwing himself forward in a roll, Harry landed rolling before he stood up and twisted his torso in order to avoid the second scarlet beam of light arching towards him.
And so began their dance of cat and mouse. With an impressive use of acrobatics learned through Krav Maga, Harry was able to twist and turn, jump and roll out of any of Hermione's spells. Five minutes later, when the heaviness of tiredness began to weigh him down, Hermione caught the end of his shoulder as he failed to jump out of the way from her last Stunning spell.
A quick 'Finite' later, Harry woke up to Hermione's smirking face.
Groaning, Harry said, "How long did I last?"
Looking at the enchanted clock in her hands, Hannah answered, "You got a new record, a full five minutes."
Reaching down, Terry offered his hand to Harry.
"Well done, Harry!"
Clapping his hand against Terry's shoulder, Harry smiled and said, "Thanks."
Sitting down in the run down chair, Harry looked at them all and said, "Okay, guys, I think that's good enough for today. Hermione, you are definitely improving in your stamina, you lasted a full five minutes of continual casting. Well done! Susan, you did good in your casting with Hannah, I can definitely see an improvement in your aiming. Terry, I think your physical endurance is getting better, you just need to stop thinking and move out of the way. Hannah, you're getting better in avoiding the spells, you just have to remember to get up as quickly as possible when you're on the floor."
After their practice, the group enjoyed a delightful meal in the Great Hall before they went to their respective Common Room.
So, now Harry rested in his bed after a refreshing shower as he went to the latest of his mail.
Dressed in soft blue trousers, a dark green sweater, and black socks, Harry scoured through his envelopes.
A personal letter from Ms. Douglas, another monthly statement regarding his vaults from Hrothgar, and lastly a reply from Madam Bones.
Choosing to read Madam Bones' letter first, Harry broke the Bones's family seal dried on the back of her letter. The seal was a small crest that had a miniature badger on its hind legs in front of a shield.
Opening the folded piece of parchment, Harry read,
"Lord Potter,
I was surprised to receive your invitation for a meeting. I must admit being curious about whatever information you may have regarding Sirius Black (yes, I was able to decipher this from your vague implication). I understand that you are indisposed at the moment due to school, but I hope you will accept an invitation to Bones' Manor during the winter holidays and celebrate the New Years with us. Susan has expressed her appreciation of your friendship, and I hope you will join us. This would allow us the time to meet regarding your information.
I await your decision.
Madam Amelia Bones
Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Bones"
Smiling, Harry got a spare piece of parchment to pen his reply.
"Madam Bones,
I appreciate and accept your offer to attend the New Years with you and Susan. I hope you do not mind me having my attorneys with me during our meeting. Unfortunately, the information I possess is incriminating, therefore I want to ensure legal counsel during our talk.
I look forward to enjoying the holidays in your hospitality.
Harry J Potter,
Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter"
Giving the letter to Hedwig, Harry stood by the window sill and watched her fly away.
Returning to his bed, Harry decided to open Ms. Douglas' letter.
"Lord Potter,
I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to personally write to you and express my gratitude for your investment in my dream. I know that many would have been hesitant to invest so much money in an unknown Potion's Mistress, and I appreciate your willingness to join the team. Since we've opened our doors, the business had grown immensely. Along with the normal day-to-day clientele that enter our doors, we have secured a contract with St. Mungo's and the DMLE Healer's Wing to supply healing potions each month for the duration of our yearly contract. This has allowed us to grow our business and, as of now, have three potioneers to assist me in producing our supplies, two cashiers, and a supply manager who is in charge of ensuring our potions ingredients. The additional staff has allowed it to remain self-sustaining, requiring little of me in the day-to-day. This has allowed me to work to grow the business.
If you ever have a need for potions, please, do not hesitate to reach out.
Maeve Douglas, Owner of Potioneers Dream"
With a satisfied smile, Harry nodded in joy that his investment paid off. Who would have thought that a store with ready-made potions would have been so lucrative?
'I suppose not having to prep their own potions at home is an appealing thought for many parents,' thought Harry.
As it was, before the inception of Potioneers Dream, there was no business that sold Potion Master quality potions. This meant that anybody requiring a potion would be forced to brew their own or pay someone else to brew it especially for them. Over time, this became pricey and time consuming; especially for those who were rather poor potioneers.
The business provided a useful site where many of the commonly required potions were readily available to buy that same day.
However, this did mean that the Ministry Sub-Department of Business Regulation was rather strict in the sale of potions. As such, they were subject to random inspections to ensure the safety and quality of its production.
Regardless, Harry was glad to hear the growth of the company.
The statement regarding his vaults was nothing out of the ordinary, showing the gradual increase in revenue from the investment. Along with it, it included the final price for the renovation of the Potter Manor, as well as an estimate for the restoration of the Potter Cottage found in Godric's Hallow.
Using an empty parchment, Harry wrote to Hrothgar to inform him of the agreed meeting with Madam Bones, along with the request to pass along the date to the Tonks.
Letters all complete, Harry decided to nap and enjoy the rest of his Sunday.
20th December 1991
"Harry? You doing okay?"
Suddenly, Harry fell back into reality as his attention was called by Hermione who sat beside him with a concerned look.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Hermione, I was thinking about the semester. I guess I fell in too deep in my memories."
Chuckling, he wrapped his arm around her and shined a dazzling smile.
"Now, c'mon, let's get back to the topic at hand."
Leaning forward, he faced the rest of the group.
Seated beside Hermione by the door was Neville, who upon hearing that they were leaving for the winter holidays, had decided to go home and enjoy the celebration with them.
Harry, after confirming with Madam Bones for their meeting, had asked their group if they would all like to meet up during the holidays to enjoy Christmas together. As such, seated across from the were Susan, Hannah, and Terry.
Ron had wanted to join them as well; however, he had received word from his mother that they were going to visit his brother Charlie in Romania during the winter holiday. Therefore, he and the rest of the Weasley siblings were going to enjoy the festivities at Hogwarts.
For now, the group were enjoying the beginning of their school break by playing several rounds of chess and Exploding Snap. Harry himself was particularly good at chess, having taken it as a hobby during his lonely days with the Dursleys. So now, years later, he was quite the savant at it.
He enjoyed the mental maneuvering of tactics and manipulation against his opponents.
Growing up, Dudley had always teased him in his interest in chess, claiming it a useless waste of time and therefore was 'girly.' He wasn't all too surprised that Dudley found it a waste of time, that boy couldn't think for more than one minute before his brain went on overdrive.
Either way, right now he was in a deadlock match against a fellow brainiac.
Scrunching her face, Hermione leaned over the board as she attempted to build a move against him. Her queen sequestered in a corner of the board, Hermione found herself in "Check," and as such needed to find a way out.
With a triumphant smile, she moved her queen out of his chokehold and liberate herself from a near defeat.
Instead of a defeated look on Harry, a small smirk grew in the corner of his lips as he moved to place his bishop in position, just as planned.
"Checkmate"
A deep frown settled into Hermione's face as she took a deep long look at the board to verify his claimed.
A groan of defeat emanating from her as she realized the reality.
"Damn, I thought I had you there."
"I'm afraid to say that you simply fell into my trap. I figured you'd' want to take my knight when it became open, which you did, so I sacrificed it in order to place you in 'Check,' knowing that your only possible move afterwards was to place it just there…where my bishop could lay in wait. Well, it was only elementary, my dear friend."
With a wink, Harry leaned back as he took in her look of shock.
Looking around, Harry asked aloud, "Alright, who wants to go next?"
~~ Time Skip ~~
King's Cross Station
Upon their arrival, Neville was quickly picked up by his frightening grandmother.
Tall and imposing, Harry could clearly see why the boy was initially very shy and quiet.
Hannah and Susan were both picked up by Hannah's parents; Susan's aunt was occupied by her work and was unable to take time off to pick her up.
Terry was picked up by his father, his mother having to stay behind to care for his younger siblings.
Hermione, the last one to get picked up, reminded Harry to not be late on the 22nd.
With a pointing finger, she said, "You better arrive on time, Harry. It will be nice to celebrate Christmas with a friend this year."
With a smile, he said, "I wouldn't dream of being late, Hermione. Don't you worry."
"There you guys are!"
Turning back, they both saw Hermione's father making his way towards them through the crowds of students and parents.
Upon seeing her father, Hermione squeaked, "Dad!," as she ran towards him with open arms.
With a wistful smile, Harry stood in respectful silence as he watched their reunion.
"Oh, pumpkin, I missed you so much these past months."
"I missed you too, dad, and mum."
Letting go of Hermione, her father walked closer and shook Harry's hand.
"How are you doing, Harry, I hope the train ride went well?"
"Yes, sir. It actually seemed to fly by."
Looking at his watch, Hermione's father replied, "Oh, I hate having to rush off, but we really do need to make our way home. The traffic was absolutely dreadful on the way in! You have everything you need, Hermione?" he ended looking directly at Hermione.
Nodding, she said, "Yes, dad, I'm ready to go."
With another shake, Daniel said, "We'll see you on the 22nd, okay, Harry. Stay safe."
Waving them goodbye, Harry made his wave towards the exit before walking down the street.
10 minutes later, Harry found himself in a small park with enough privacy where he could call upon the Knight Bus.
Changing his appearance back into his Evans persona, Harry entered into the Bus and grabbed ahold of the pole near the seat as he prepared himself for the horrible ride.
Exactly 1 minutes and 45 seconds later, Harry stood alone in the empty lot of Privet Drive before he began his trek towards the Dursleys.
Entering the door, Harry could hardly believe how strange it felt to be back here. Being surrounded by magic and magicals, being back in an entirely mundane house felt oddly disconcerting.
"I see you're back," grunted his uncle, as he sat before the telly.
"Hello, uncle. I hope you and Aunt Petunia got my letter."
"Yes, we got it."
"Good, then I'll be off your hands first thing tomorrow morning. As long as nothing changes, you won't see me until the summer break."
His uncle grunting, Harry took that as a sign of agreement.
Entering his bedroom, Harry noticed that nothing appeared to have been moved since his departure. A thin layer of dust covered the surface throughout the room, his bed laid the same as he had left it and even the doorknob seemed unmoved.
Opening his trunk, Harry took out a small plate of sandwiches he had taken from the train's snack cart. Dusting off any dirt from his bed, he laid down and engulfed his dinner.
One warm shower and 30 minutes later, Harry was ready to enjoy his sleep before waking up early the next day to visit his family's manor.
21st December 1991
Gringotts Bank, London Branch
With a respectful bow, Harry greeted his account manager, "Greetings, mine accountant. May your enemies meet a swift death, and our fortunes continue to grow."
A deep bow of respect, Hrothgar replied in kind, "Hail, Lord Potter! May our business be fruitful and plentiful."
Greetings completed, both of them took a seat in the available chairs.
Opening a folder, Hrothgar began their early morning meeting by saying, "I hope your first semester in Hogwarts has been productive. I'm glad to report that since we have begun investing and returning your family's fortune into circulation, it has grown an additional 0.7%. While it may not appear to be much, in total we have had a return increase in the vaults for a total of 299,199 Galleon. Our initial investment in the Potioneers Dream has proven to be a well worth investment. Already it has grown in size and has seen our initial capital investment returned with an additional percentage. According to Ms. Douglas, she estimates that by the beginning of the next school year, she may require renting or purchasing an additional warehouse for their laboratory in order to meet their orders."
Placing before Harry, Hrothgar laid three different portfolios of Potter estates.
"If I could direct your attention, in front of you are three available pieces of land that would be well suited to be used as farming land where an appropriately sized warehouse could be built to accommodate the business' demands. If you would desire to, I would recommend any one of these could be offered as a lease to Ms. Douglas for their development of a private laboratory and farming for an extent of five years in exchange for an additional 5% ownership. At the end of the five years, we would reconvene and determine whether the business would like to continue their lease of the land."
Reviewing each one, Harry noticed that the first was an empty tract of 10 acres near Colliford Lake that was heavily warded against muggles to ensure a private land. It used to be worked as additional farming land in the 1600s before it was left to its own devices. Currently, it was plain of any building or people, making it a perfect location to be used for farming.
The second and third did not appeal to Harry for the business' needs. Settled nearer to muggle cities, it held smaller pieces of land (only 2.5 acres each) and as such would provide less for their farming.
"I think option one would be best, Hrothgar. It's a flat plain with a nearby water source. Hidden away, it should be well protected against muggles that the Ministry will allow for their permits."
Nodding, Hrothgar picked up the three portfolios, "I agree, Lord Potter. This too was my preferred option. I shall send an offer letter to Ms. Douglas with our proposition."
Nodding, Harry said, "How fares the Firebolt company? Any progress in their development?"
Picking up another folder, Hrothgar answered, "I have kept correspondence with their research and development supervisor who has informed me that they feel very comfortable in their timeline for sales to begin in the summer before your third year. Right now, they are fighting with licensing rights from the Ministry. The currently flagship broom company, Nimbus, has a large monopoly in the broom industry. As such, our invested company is finding it hard to move forward in ensuring the appropriate permits."
"Is there anything we could do to expedite this?"
"Unfortunately, no. As it is, the Ministry looks quite harshly towards upcoming companies, especially to a competitor company such as Firebolt who is attempting to grab a piece of the broom industry. Nimbus Flying Brooms is a time honored company that has been opened for the past 200 years, as such they have many sympathetic Ministry employees on their side."
Rubbing his chin in thought, Harry murmured, "What if I would be willing to sign off on a piece of support for the Firebolt Broomsticks to help streamline the process?"
"I believe that a show of support and interest on your part would definitely help convince many of the older pencil pushers in the Ministry. Even now, ten years later, there are many who remember the Potter family's sacrifice."
"Good, then pass along the suggestion to Mr. Spudmore and let me know of their decision."
"Very well, sir."
"Now with our business side completed. I am sure you are looking forward to visiting your family's manor."
Nodding in agreement, Harry said, "Yes, I am looking forward to seeing it's renovations."
Providing a plain silver rock, Hrothgar said, "Then I shall detain you no longer, Lord Potter. The password for the portkey to the family manor is 'Home'."
With a bow of gratitude, Harry said, "I appreciate all that you have done for me and mine, accountant of mine vaults."
With the offered password, Harry was whisked away with a tug from his navel as he landed quite roughly on the empty gravel road leading to the Potter Manor.
Thankfully, it seemed as if his stomach had hardened enough to tolerate the discombobulating effect of the portkey.
As beautiful as the massive oak doors were in his first visit, now they glowed with a powerful golden hue with streams of silver throughout. Somehow, the ancient wood seemed revitalized with a powerful presence emanating from them.
The family coat of arms shined a beautiful shade of pure silver while they remained connected to resemble one single piece, as opposed to the two melded pieces connected.
Placing his left hand upon the crest, Harry waited in anticipation for the sharp needle that drew a drop of his blood.
In a flash, the emerald beam of light glowed from within the crest as it allowed passage to its rightful owner.
With a near silent 'hiss,' the gates once more opened wide, smoothly and without sound.
Whereas before the lined hedges may have been overgrown, now they stood neatly trimmed with nary a bit of branch laying out of order. The plains of forest green that had once been unkept and filled with crusted leaves, were now short and trimmed with an inch of pearly white snow resting upon it.
The centered stone fountain looked every bit as new as the rest of the house. The crouched lion glowed a pure hue of white as the snowflakes that decorated it shined a beautiful white. The fountain was now flowing a steady stream of crystal clear water, landing elegantly on the circular base that now held nothing but clean water.
As impressive as the renovations had been so far, nothing took your attention as the manor did.
The previously dull grey stone seemed to shine, emanating from an inviting dusty silver around the outline of the manor. It's many windows glittered against the beaming sunrays creating a kaleidoscope of colors that shone prominently. Peering through them, Harry noted new dark brown curtains preventing him from getting a further view.
The front door was a shining brown color that stood steadfast in its entrance. The bronze doorknob was clearly cleaned thoroughly since Harry was able to see his own reflection clearly. The stone stairway was barren of any vines, now revealing it's aged stone clearly without blemish.
As he entered the foyer, he took note of the pearly white granite interior that glistened under the twinkling lights of the silver hanging chandelier. The rest of the interior was cleaned to the point that it now appears to have a perpetual glow. The wooden Thestral stood as a menacing reminder of the power of the Potter, it's muscles clearly etched and outlines throughout its body.
For the next hour, Harry took a thorough tour throughout the entirety of the manor. The floors shined under the twinkling chandeliers and glowing enchanted glasses, furniture was replaced with newer models that looked as inviting and soft as their predecessors, each painting and statue received a makeover to reveals it's previously hidden beauty.
The cost of the renovation was high, but regardless of the price tag, Harry felt that it was a well worth investment in the continuation of the family home.
As he continued to look throughout the manor, Harry felt it an appropriate change of status, as it represented the physical changes and improvement to the Potter family.
Standing back in the front of the foyer, Harry could not help but feel excitement as he thought of the Potter's return to power.
He may be the last of the Potter, an ancient and proud bloodline, but he would ensure that they returned back to their rightful place on the top of the metaphorical food chain.
"As Lord of the Potter Family, I call upon the sworn family elves to come forth!"
Immediately, three separate 'POP' sounds could be heard echoing throughout the empty building.
Standing before him were three house elves, two male and one female.
Hrothgar had taken the liberty of purchasing the three elves upon completion of the renovations to continue the maintenance of the family manor. Harry was thankful for Hrothgar's intervention, for it had failed to cross his mind to think about its maintenance.
The eldest stood tall and proud, wearing a miniature black suit with a smooth white undershirt and black tie that held the Potter family crest prominently sewn on his left breast pocket. He had a deep set of black eyeballs slightly protruding from its eye cavity. Tall narrow pointed ears with a round face with grey hair rested on his thin boney body.
The younger male, wearing a similar uniform, stood tall and stiff to the left of the elder elf. He had large grey eyes that similarly protruded from its eye cavity. It's tall pointed ears popped from a nest of midnight black hair that reached the top of the shoulders.
The female, dressed in a white top and black coat with black tie and a plain black skirt, was staring directly at Harry with a barely hidden enthusiasm and energy. She had long black hair that glistened against the light, her bright green eyes were smaller than her male counterparts, and a slimmer figure.
"Hail Lord Potter! Master of these land, I am Alfred, Elder to the Potter Elves. Please, be welcomed and let me introduce Clark," waving his hands towards the younger elf, Harry noted him standing even taller upon hearing his name, "Clark shall be in charge of the lands, greenhouses, and any future pet or animals."
With a nod of acknowledgement, Harry said, "Be welcomed Clark and accept the protection of the Potter Family. Serve me well and you will become like family to us."
With a bright smile and a deep bow, Clark said, "I accept and swear fealty and loyalty to the Potter Family."
Waving his hand to the other side, Alfred presented the female elf, "May I present Daisy, she shall be in charge of the kitchen and laundry. When there is a Lady Potter, she shall henceforth serve as the Lady's Handmaiden."
With a another nod of acknowledgement, Harry said, "Be welcomed Daisy and accept the protection of the Potter Family. Serve me well and you will become like family to us."
Smiling wide, Daisy gave a gentle curtsy, "I accept and swear fealty and loyalty to the Potter Family."
Walking forth, Alfred continued to say, "I shall be in charge of the interior maintenance and assisting the Lord Potter in whatever is needed."
"Be welcomed Alfred and accept the protection of the Potter Family. Serve me well and you will become like family to us."
With a proper deep bow, stiff and straight, Alfred replied, "I accept and swear fealty and loyalty to the Potter Family"
Clapping his hands, Harry began to say, "Well, now that the formalities are over with, I would like to begin by making a few rules perfectly clear. First and foremost, you now serve the Potter Family and with that comes a degree of respect and dignity that shall be afforded to you; therefore, you shall never have to fear me inflicting any form of abuse or harm against you. If you feel you committed an error, please come to me and we shall decide together what your punishment will be. Secondly, you are now commanded to keep secret any information, location, or whereabout of the Potter Family Manor or any of its many properties. No one shall know anything about the Potter Family without my explicit permission. Thirdly, Lord Potter is a bit of a mouthful; you are not obligated to call me such, but I will not forbid it if you so wish to do, Master Harry or simply Harry will do just fine. Fourthly, I care deeply for your safety and health, and as such, I want to make it clear that you should ensure adequate rest and sleep to maintain your health. I do not want any of you to work to death. Lastly, the protection of the Potter Family is paramount, and as such I give you liberty to defend yourself and any member of the Potter Family and it's friends or guests by any means as necessary against any who means to hurt you, us or ours."
Looking at each elf with a serious face, Harry wanted to ensure they understood the gravity of the situation.
With a sharp nod, Alfred answered on their behalf, "We understand, Master Potter."
Smiling, Harry turned to face Daisy and asker her, "I hope it's not much of a bother, Daisy, but I am rather hungry. Would you mind a spot of lunch?"
With a bursting smile, Daisy replied, "Oh, yes, Master! Daisy will have lunch shortly!"
With a quick curtsy, Daisy disappeared with a 'pop' as she went to prepare his lunch.
21st December 1991
'Now this I could get used to.'
Laying in a king size bed, Harry was thoroughly enjoying the massive Lord's suite in the family manor.
The four poster bed was centered to the back of the wall in between two nightstands made of rich oak wood. The bed itself was a dark cherry red wooden frame with the softest and puffiest mattress Harry had ever enjoyed. If he thought the bed from Hogwarts was soft-this bed heavily beat it off the charts. The covers were a rich dark red with soft beige pillows that had-in Harry's opinion, way too many pillows. Regardless, Harry could safely say that his first night sleeping in the Potter Manor was a thorough success.
Looking around, Harry saw a vanity with clear mirrors and drawers that apparently served as the personal beauty parlor for the Lady of the House. Beside it, rested a door that lead down a small hall to the walk-in closet; it was in and of itself another massive room that held shelves, rods and cabinets to hold the clothes of the Lord and Lady. The room alone was bigger than Harry's and Dudley's room back in the Dursley's residence.
To the left from the bed was yet another door that held a massive bathroom with a double vanity sink for the Lord and Lady, a small closet for towels and personal items beside the vanity, a private enclosed toilet, a massive walk-in shower and a big bathtub. This Harry took full advantage of last night while he enjoyed a warm bath in the jacuzzi. Enchanted to maintain the water in the perfect temperature, it had different settings to add more bubbles or even to change the color of said bubbles.
In Harry's opinion, the suite was a godsend, and he could not wait to enjoy it further for the rest of his life.
Sadly, however, all good thing must come to an end.
After a rather delightful breakfast, Harry had to take a quick detour to Hrothgar's office in order to obtain another portkey towards the Potters cabin hidden away near Mallard Park. Nicknamed the 'Potter's Retreat,' it was a cottage hidden away in the middle of the forest in the midst of five acres that were heavily warded against dark creatures, muggles, and any magical scrying.
It was used as a backup retreat for the family whenever they chose to hide away from any trouble. Harry had decided to go and take control of the wards in this cottage first due to its usefulness as a quick getaway in case Harry ever needed to hide away.
Entry to the cottage required the Lord to personally transport them or use an enchanted portkey cast by him in order to bypass the wards. Thankfully, there was an available portkey within the Family Vault that Harry was planning to use.
So, one hour and a portkey later, Harry landed in the midst of a forest clearing.
Before him stood an old two story cottage, made entirely of wood logs and aged stones, it held a small window opening giving the impression of it being a rather mundane looking building.
As he walked through the landing trail, he took note of the overgrown shrubs, vines, and plants that covered the cottage under its overgrown moss. Opening the door was a rather hard task, it's hinges completely rusted away, the doorknob was just as rusted away that Harry had to put as much force as possible to turn it.
Within it, he took note of the withered furniture and decomposed decorations that laid throughout the first floor. The second floor was hardly an improvement. While the structural integrity appeared intact, its contents had withered away throughout the years.
"Alfred! Daisy! Clark! Come to me!"
Immediately, the aforementioned elves appeared instantly before him.
"How may we help, Master?" asked Alfred.
"This is the Potter's Retreat, a hidden estate that has clearly been overrun by time and decay. I need you three to return this place back into tip top shape. Replace all the furniture and anything that you deem too damaged. Clark, I need you to trim the outside to a suitable terrain. Daisy, ensure that the kitchen is back into working order and that we maintain enough food for several weeks under stasis. If you need anything, let me know and I'll make sure Hrothgar, my account manager, can get it for you."
After ensuring that everything was in order, he used the portkey to return back to Hrothgar's office before making his way out into Diagon Alley.
Harry had decided to take advantage of his time here in the alley to shop for the Christmas gift to give his friends.
Terry was rather simple, a rare tome from the confines of his family's book collection, it covered advanced runes and arithmancy for the discipline of Enchanting.
Hannah got a sapling for a rare plant, the Glowing Rose. It was a pricey flower due to its rarity. They emanated a rosy hue during the night that increased as the waning of the moon progressed. During the full moon, it would glow an effervescent brilliant pink that was said to possess healing properties when a single leaf was cut during said time. That leaf, coupled with a mix of other ingredients would produce an elixir that could cure nearly everything, or at least that was what it's rumor said.
Susan got an Auror-class wand holster that was enchanted with anti-Summoning charms and a concealing charm to ensure it remain unseen.
Neville, like Hannah, would receive a sapling for a plant that he had exclaimed a desire to obtain. The Moonlace Plant was only able to be planted, cared for and trimmed during the moonlight. When fully grown and under the cover of the night, it would glow a pure silver. It's sap, when collected under a half-moon, was said to be toxic towards werewolves.
Ron, was a rather simple man, liking only two things with a passion. The Chudley Cannons and food. As such, Harry decided to buy him a limited edition Chudley Cannon Keeper gloves that were, funnily enough, colored scarlet and gold like the Gryffindor House.
Megan, he got a complete set of the Holyhead Harpies collectibles-they were a set of miniature figurines of the current players of her favorite team, including her aunt.
Hemione, he decided to buy an enchanted mirror that was paired to a twin. It was a relatively new company that he had decided to invest in; they produced enchanted mirrors that would allow you to speak face-to-face with its twin regardless of its distance. Designed to last up to ten years, Harry felt that this would allow Hermione to reconnect with her parents.
Therefore, several hours later, Harry made his way back to the Potter Manor with a ravaging hunger.
Thankfully, Daisy was more than happy to prepare a late lunch for him. One plate of chicken breast smothered in sauce, buttered corn, mashed potatoes, and a pile of buttered rolls later and Harry felt like a new man reborn.
Decided to taking a stroll around the grounds, Harry enjoyed the picturesque landscape of gently swaying blades of grass covered by the millions of miniature snowflakes, the near frozen pond and the endless spread of pine trees.
Harry could see the reason why his ancestors chose this location for their manor. It was hidden away, settled near the sprawling forest and provided a much needed peace and quiet for Harry.
On his way back, Harry saw several animals scurrying away in their last attempt to forage for food during the winter season.
Hour later, as he laid resting in his new bedroom, Harry squirmed in content as he continued to enjoy the softness and warmth found within the massive bed.
22nd December 1991
As he closed his trunk, Harry looked around the room with a bit of sadness in him.
Barely living in it for two days, the manor was already feeling more like home than the Dursleys residence ever did.
Harry was set to meet up with the Granger family at noon at the Dursley's to spend the rest of the Christmas holidays with them before making his way to the Bones Manor to enter into the new year.
He was looking forward to spending Christmas with the Grangers. It would be the first Christmas he hope he would be able to enjoy amongst friends. Hermione was especially looking forward to having a real friend stay over during the holidays.
As he made his way down the main stairwell, Harry called the house elves to him.
"Alfred, I'll be heading to a friend's place for the rest of the holidays. I do not expect to return until the summer, but I expect you to maintain the house in working order. I've placed the wards under lockdown until my return. If there is any issues, please, let me know.
"Yes, Master Potter."
Grabbing ahold to the reusable portkey, Harry landed back into Hrothgar's office before he made his way towards the muggle exit through the Leaky Cauldron.
After catching yet another horrible ride from the Knight Bus, Harry made his way into the Dursley's front door and took a seat in the empty living room.
Before leaving Hogwarts, Harry had made arrangements through the Hrothgar to make sure the Dursley's would be gone to Majorca in order to ensure their house remains empty for his use. For now, Harry would remain alone in the house for the remainer 30 minutes before the Grangers were expected to arrive.
'Knock, knock'
Dusting off any wrinkles, Harry stood before making his way towards the front door.
Standing before him, wearing a pair of blue trousers, a grey top covered with a white coat and a soft puffy knitted hat, was Hermione. Her fair skin was pink from the cold weather, a slight mist flowed outwards as she took a deep exhale. A slight smile graced her soft pink lips, a happy glint shined through her eyes.
"Hi, Harry. Are you ready?"
Nodding, Harry closed the door behind him as he said, "Yes, I'm ready to go."
Walking towards the Granger's pearly white mid-size sedan, he took note of Dr. Daniel Granger on the driver's side beside Dr. Emma Granger.
Settling behind Mr. Granger, Harry greeted them as he closed the door.
"Good afternoon, Dr. and Dr. Granger."
Turning slightly to face him, Emma Granger greeted him, "Oh, Harry, we told you just to call us Daniel and Emma. How are you doing? Are you ready for a Granger Christmas?"
Smiling, he replied, "Sorry, it's just a force of habit. Yes, I am very much looking forward to it."
Along the way to their home, they enjoyed a lovely conversation about the Granger's.
Apparently they had met during their final year of dentistry school. Daniel immediately went to join the Army upon graduation, serving 6 years as an Army Orthodontist before leaving to open up his own dental practice along with Emma. During this time, he and Emma maintained their friendship and eventual relationship during his time in the military before they married.
Emma, after their graduation continued to go to school to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. While she worked alongside Daniel in running their clinic, she would also work in the local hospital to perform several surgeries throughout the month.
It was quite evident why Hermione was so frightfully intelligent.
As they drove up the driveway into their home, Harry could clearly see how lucrative the dentistry field could be.
A two story house, made of dirty white stone with grey wooden trims, had an adjacent building to the back of their own acre of land. This was the house the Dursleys wish they could possess.
"I wasn't aware how rich you were, Hermione."
"We are not rich, Harry, we're just comfortable," she said, rolling her eyes.
"That's literally what rich people say!"