Well guys, here it is, the first official chapter of my rewrite of He's My Son, and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as the original version. I'm hoping that by getting back into this I can get my other HP fics back as well, but I promise nothing.
Anyway, here's the main summary:
After the deaths of James and Lily Potter, Harry Potter suddenly disappears off the face of magical Britain. Years go by and he's never found, but when he returns with a new family, will he the savior everyone expects? Or will he be something stronger?
It's not much I know, but this is the best I could come up with.
I don't own Harry Potter.
Enjoy!
Gringotts bank, November 5th, 1981:
Gringotts bank was extremely busy today, then again was there ever a day it wasn't? The goblins ran about, counting, stamping, filing, just walking discussing the numbers of all the vaults, it was almost…very droll to be here. This day was important though, and she had no intention of leaving until she got what she came for. No one seemed to pay her any mind, she kept her hood up to keep her face hidden from prying eyes.
In recent events the world was abuzz, merely a few days before the one everyone called 'Lord Voldemort', had been vanquished by the child known as Harry Potter. He was praised as a hero, a vanquisher of the dark, and only being a year old. The news had spread worldwide, but how Voldemort was destroyed no one knew, because the child had vanished, and no one could find him. At least, not now, but that was all about to change.
"Good morning Ragnok." She spoke as she approached the front desk, and the goblin looked up from his books.
"Lady Prewett, good morning."
"Good morning to you as well, how are things?"
"Chaotic, as you can see. How can I be of service to you today?"
"I have come here on a private manner; I need to speak to the goblin in charge of the Potter accounts." Ragnok stared at her for a minute, she handed him a notice she'd received the previous day, before nodding and motioned for her to follow. They went towards the back, and through a corridor before stopping at some double doors. Ragnok knocked, and they entered an office where another goblin sat behind a large, mahogany wood desk.
"Forgive the intrusion Bloodfang, Lady Prewett is here to see you." the other goblin didn't look happy upon being interrupted in his work, his glare at Ragnok made the goblin slightly nervous. He looked at her as she removed her hood, and after he looked over the notice he looked up at her again.
"Lady Prewett, welcome back to Gringotts." She gave a slight bow.
"Thank you Bloodfang, I received your summons."
"Excellent." He saw the notice in Ragnok's hand. "You came at a good time."
"Oh?" he motioned for her to sit.
"I was hoping you would come sooner, but that no longer matters. You are alone I see, are you expecting anyone else to join us?"
"Not at all, and I trust we can keep this visit quiet?" they stared at her, looking slightly affronted.
"Lady Prewett, you dare doubt us?" Bloodfang asked and she shook her head.
"Not at all, please forgive me for being cautious but I can't take any chances of this meeting getting back to the wrong people." The two goblins exchanged a glance, and Ragnok went to close the office doors.
"Take a seat Ragnok we have much to discuss." They did so. "Lady Prewett, we called you here about a matter of the guardianship of Hadrian James Potter."
"Yes, though I assume this is a slight shock?" he nodded.
"Before the Potters went into hiding, they sent me a charmed letter signed in blood to make some changes to their wills. Your name was mentioned, and they stated if anything happened to them, that you could be trusted." She gave a small smile.
"I'm pleased they thought so, and I admit that am not that surprised."
"You knew of the changes?" she nodded.
"You are both aware of my ability, but that's not how I know. I had managed to visit them just days before they vanished, and while I can say James Potter didn't fully trust me, Lily did."
Flashback:
Her stomach was in knots, it had been since she'd left her hideaway; her nerves were high and on edge, but her mind kept saying 'this has to be done, no other choice'. She watched and waited for several minutes, waiting to see if anyone else was around, and when none came, she marched to the front door and knocked. A few minutes later she heard the knob moving, and she found herself face to face with Lily Potter.
"Good evening ma'am." She bowed slightly.
"You're…" Lily stared at her for a minute before her eyes went wide. "You're Charlotte, Charlotte Prewett?"
"I am, I'm sorry to come at so late an hour but I need to speak with you and your husband, please?" Lily looked a little unsure, but nodded and let her inside.
"James? James…we have a visitor." Some quick footsteps came down the hall, and suddenly Lily was yanked behind James and a wand was in Charlotte's face, but she didn't flinch. "James!"
"Not now Lily." James glared at her. "You're not going any further unless you answer a question."
"Fine, do what you wish." She expected this, it was a little lesson of old Moody, 'constant vigilance'.
"The last time we all saw you, you yelled at Dumbledore and called him a name, what was it?" she gave a small smirk, the memory was one of her favorites.
"I called him a deranged, white-bearded old bastard who had no business in toying with peoples' lives for the sake of his own ambitions. I also called all those blindly loyal to him sheepish little wankers, willing to die for a war that shouldn't have begun in the first place." James seemed to believe her answer, but his wand didn't lower.
"You speak the truth, but we can't let our guard down around anyone these days. Hand your wand to Lily."
"James, is that really necessary?"
"It's fine Mrs. Potter, I have no quarrels with it." She pulled out her wand from her sleeve and passed it to the red-haired witch.
"Since you have no quarrels, follow us into the living room."
"Very well." She noticed as they walked through the house that it was almost bare, boxes were piled up and taped shut, but the furniture was still in place. "I see you're packing up, so you've chosen to leave this house?"
"We have." Lily answered her. "Do you want some tea? I can whip up a fresh pot."
"No thank you, I know you're in a hurry to get moving, I'm just glad I caught you beforehand."
"So, what did you need to see us about? Have you come to talk us out of hiding?" James was always suspicious of her, mainly because they didn't share the same views of Dumbledore. Him being a Gryffindor and all, well it was obvious the man trusted the old goat.
"No, I believe going into hiding is the best bet, and you don't need to explain yourselves to me. I came actually, about your son." That got their attention.
"Our boy, Harry? What do you want with him?"
"It's not what I want, but what others will want with him should neither of you survive this war." James looked mad, but Charlotte held her hands up. "Please hear me out, I wouldn't have come here if it wasn't absolutely necessary."
"James, please." Lily said the word but a stern glare from her made the wizard shake in his seat. "Go on Charlotte."
"Thank you, and do you mind if I call you Lily?" the other woman nodded. "Alright, for starters you are both aware than I'm a seer, and I'm nothing like that drunk Trelawney."
"Yes, Albus told us about you." Along with his entire vigilante group, all sworn to secrecy.
"Well, lately I've been having some concerning visions, and the most recent ones have been leaving me…fearful for Harry's life."
"What do you mean? Did you see us die?" she nodded and Lily went pale.
"All of my visions have been based on the outcome of your deaths, and from what I have seen, Harry's life is set for a dark path. There are many possibilities to come, but all of them involve him living a difficult, possibly horrible life."
"Difficult, but how? We already made out our wills at Gringotts, even if something did happen to us we already selected possible guardians to take him in. Sirius Black is his godfather; he would be the first choice." James ranted but Lily touched his arm.
"That's another thing, in all my visions, Sirius Black isn't present, until much later." James went pale that time. "I can't explain why, only that his absence deeply affects Harry to the point of where he feels he's unworthy of love."
"But Sirius would never abandon Harry…"
"I know he wouldn't, I may not hold Black in the highest regard, but I know he loves that child. The only reason I believe he wouldn't be involved in your son's life is that something causes him to be away. There's also the matter of your other friend, Lupin…"
"Remus? He's disappeared we haven't seen him in months."
"He's also a werewolf." James jumped in his seat. "I know, but I don't care. Remus Lupin, while he is a bit of a chicken of a wolf, he has a good heart. Due to his condition though, the ministry would never let him near Harry."
"We've also listed Alice and Frank Longbottom, but they've also gone into hiding."
"Something will happen to them as well, and I'm afraid they won't have a chance to take Harry."
"What? Why?" she shook her head.
"I will try and reach out to the elder Lady Longbottom, but it's not unknown that she's set in her ways, even if I warned her."
"Frank and Alice, and little Neville…" Lily looked ready to cry, James placed a hand on her leg.
"Can I also assume that you've named Amelia Bones as a possible candidate as well?" they nodded. "She will lose her brother and his wife; her niece will come to live with her but her mind will be mostly focused on justice for the victims of the Dark Lord's forces."
"What?" Lily said it in a small voice. "T-Then…wait, Charlotte, who did you see take Harry in?" she sighed.
"You won't like it." She took a breath. "He was raised by your sister, Petunia."
"WHAT?!" Lily jumped up and shrieked. "THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE!" she started shouting unfathomable words in anger until James got up to soothe her.
"Lily, Lily love calm down…we just put Harry down for…" right as he said that a loud cry was heard throughout the house. "Merlin's beard, Lils I'll get him, you two keep talking." James all but ran out of the room, leaving the two women to talk.
"It can't be…Harry can't go to Petunia; she hates me, how can she take him?" Lily shook her head repeatedly. "We specifically put it in the will, he's not to go to her."
"Yet someone obviously disregards that wish." Charlotte whispered. "Listen Lily, I understand you and James trust Albus Dumbledore implicitly, but even you have to admit that his ambitions often override his common sense."
"Albus wouldn't let anything bad happen to Harry." She said it, but there was uncertainty in her voice.
"Lily, I know you don't want me to say it, but he's the one who leaves Harry with your sister. He uses 'blood wards' as an excuse to put him there, and from what I've seen, Harry grows up unloved in that house. He is put down, beaten, and starved daily, that's no way for a child to live. To top it off, he'll go to Hogwarts completely unaware of who he is, and they will have high expectations of him."
"But…but Albus…"
"Albus Dumbledore may think of the best interests of this world, but he's also the type of person to sacrifice a few to save many. Lily's eyes watered.
"He would sacrifice Harry? But he's just a baby, my baby…"
"Dumbledore has enough connections to where he could have protected Harry better, but he chose not to. I'm not saying he's a bad person, but he looks too far ahead to see what's in front." Lily looked conflicted, but after a minute, she took a breath and stared Charlotte in the eye.
"Tell me the truth, if all this does come to past, what does it mean for Harry?" she was waiting for that to come up.
"Lily, as a mother you will do whatever you can to protect your child, it's natural. There is a very small chance you and James will survive, but if you don't, then everything I've told you can lead up to one of three possibilities. The first and least likely to happen, is that Harry grows up and eventually finds love in his life, but not without the challenges thrown at him that will force him to be an adult before he's of age. He will eventually move on and have a life he wants, but it will cost him almost everything and everyone he holds dear."
"And the other two?"
"The second possibility is that Harry could grow up hard and angry at the world. He's dumped in a home where he's belittled just for being himself, and then he's thrown into a world that abandoned him. So much will be put upon his shoulder, and his heart will harden. He could wind up as the next Dark Lord, and he could destroy everything." Lily had more tears in her eyes, she looked like she would be sick.
"The third…?"
"The third, is likely the worst and the most possible. Harry will grow up hated and unloved, but he could still become the moldable savior the magical world expects; he will be used, and cast away when his destiny is complete, and the trauma will be so terrible, that it will destroy him, mentally. He could die before the age of twenty-five."
"Oh my…" Lily dry heaved a little. "Oh, my baby…my baby boy." She sat down in her chair, and Charlotte sat next to her, wrapped her arms around and gently rocked Lily. Her heart broke seeing the young mother like this, sometimes having her powers felt more like a curse than a gift.
"Lily…this little monster refuses to go to sleep…" James' voice came through the hall, both women looked up seeing him carrying little Harry, fussy and red-faced until he saw his mother.
"Mama…" the little one reached for Lily, and she immediately took him into her arms. She hugged and squeezed her child, as if never wanting to let go.
"Lily, what's wrong?" James saw the tears on his wife's face, and he looked at Charlotte. "Why is my wife upset? What did you say to her?"
"I told her of my visions, about Harry."
"Visions, Lily…you know those aren't set in stone right? I mean, seers can see things but how often do they actually come true?"
"James." Lily looked at her husband. "She said Harry…if he ends up with Petunia, he won't…" she sobbed again.
"Lils." James went to his wife, wrapping his arms gently around her and their son. Charlotte could tell he wasn't going to listen much, so here goes plan B.
"If you both wish it, I will take a magical oath that everything I just told Lily is true, after that I'll leave." James wanted to retort, but Lily kept her gaze firm.
"Alright, James give Charlotte back her wand."
"Lily…"
"James, do it." James reluctantly handed the wand over, and Charlotte raised it along with her free hand in the air.
"I, Charlotte Marguerite Prewett, do hereby swear on my life and magic, that everything I have told Lily Marie Potter, concerning the life of her son Hadrian James Potter, to be true, so mote it be." The room shook a little, and Charlotte looked at her wand. "Lumos." The tip of her wand glowed bright. "Nox." The light vanished.
"She's telling the truth, James…we can trust her." James didn't entirely look convinced, but the vow seemed to help.
"I'm sorry to have dropped all this on you so suddenly, I just thought you had a right to know. Dark times are ahead, but we can only hope for the best." She put her wand away. "I'll leave you both to it, have a nice evening."
"Wait." James' voice stopped her from turning towards the door. "Do…do you know about the prophecy?" she faced him.
"I do, and I don't put much faith in prophecies." Prophecies were mostly garbage, but if anyone truly believed in them, it only took one chance to set one in place.
"But…but if it were to come true, and we…we die, what would you do?" she took a breath.
"Like I said, it's not up to what I would do, but you two must do the best to ensure that your son will be protected. He needs to grow up in a home where he will be loved and cared for, but also be prepared for the tasks fate will have in store for him."
"But what if he…"
"We all make our own destinies, and even if Harry's will be a complicated one, with the right people at his side, there's nothing he won't be able to accomplish." She gave them a light smile, and looked at the baby boy, whose eyes met hers and shined. "Hello little one." She waved at him and he smiled.
"He seems to like you." Lily rocked Harry slowly.
"He's a good child; take care of yourselves." With that said, she bid them both goodnights, truly hoping that whatever came next wouldn't be what she feared.
End flashback.
"I had hoped the outcome would be better, but it seems I was wrong." She hadn't known James or Lily Potter that well, but she still did what she thought best to warn them.
"You did your best Lady Prewett, and I can say now I understand why the Potters made those changes to their will. In fact, had you not come in today, I would have assumed you wanted nothing of the boy."
"I'm here now, so I am able to take the child?" the goblin nodded.
"After we go over the details, I have with me a copy of the will, the original is in the vault where it will remain." Bloodfang reached into his drawer and pulled out a thick, scroll tied with the Potter family crest, but it held no magic, so of course the original would be kept away. Bloodfang unrolled it and quickly scanned over the contents.
'I hope I can get him quickly, the sooner the better.'
"You are indeed listed in this will Lady Prewett, your talk with James and Lily Potter was taken very seriously."
"What did they say?"
"In their letter, they named you as a potential guardian for their son, in fact, it seems that you were placed at the very top of the list, even before the boy's godfather." Her eyes widened slightly. "They also left a letter for you." Bloodfang pulled an envelope from the scroll and handed it to her. As she read over the contents, her eyes started to water.
Dear Charlotte,
If you're reading this then James and I are gone. We truly hoped we or at least one of us would survive to raise Harry, but it seems fate turned on us.
After you left that night, I had a very long talk with James. I convinced him that even with your magical oath there was no guarantee something would go right after we died. It did take him a bit, but he agreed that even if your values on Albus Dumbledore didn't agree with his, that maybe we could trust you.
This might be a little shocking to you, or perhaps not, but the reason I've wrote this is because James and I agreed that if we could choose anyone else to protect our son, it would be you. You gave us many good points on Albus, and James even with all his confidence in Sirius, agreed that you might be more suitable to raise Harry. He mainly asked that if you do choose to take Harry, let Sirius be in his life, he is his godfather after all.
Our son has a huge destiny ahead of him, and we believe it's you who can help him shift it to where he can still live a full, happy life. You are a strong woman and you aren't a pushover, and while we may not have known you long, we know you wouldn't have come to us without purpose.
Plus, between you and me, what happened to Albus the last time you were around, that was bloody fantastic. I have never seen anyone stand up to him like that, and I admit, I might have done the same thing if I were you.
Either way Charlotte, with our last moments before everything, James and I have arranged a new guardian for Harry. Please protect our child, and don't let Albus interfere in his life.
Also, I know you are still angry with your sister, but please, if you can, try to mend fences with her. You can do it slowly, you don't have to fully forgive her, but don't cut her out of your life like Petunia did with me. If you at least try, then you can't say you didn't.
Look after Harry well Charlotte, and yourself, I have a feeling you'll need him as much as he needs you.
Thank you.
Lily Marie Potter nee Evans
"Lily…"
"Are you alright Lady Prewett?" she quickly wiped a tear from her eye and took a breath.
"I'm fine." She took another breath. "I can assume now, that I am eligible to take Harry?" Bloodfang smiled at her.
"You are, we have all the paperwork ready, we just need to go over the final details."
"Very well, but before we do, I want it made abundantly clear that whatever money and heirlooms James and Lily Potter left behind will be given to Harry, they are rightfully his." She knew James Potter, a man of noble and ancient wealth, had quite a fortune behind him thanks to his parents. If he had lived, he could have likely lived off the fortune requiring that he be smart with it.
"In the will some amounts of money were given to others, but that has already been taken care of."
"Was one of them Albus Dumbledore?"
"He was left a small sum of ten thousand galleons, but nothing else. James Potter did say he left a Potter family heirloom in his possession but asked that it be returned to Harry Potter immediately after his death."
"Has he returned it?"
"Not yet, but we will get it back soon whether he comes willingly or not."
"Good, now I must ask, has anyone else come forward in regard to obtaining guardianship of Harry?"
"No, other than Dumbledore himself, and while he tried to gain guardianship, it was only because we have received no word from others yet." That old goat, playing his games again.
"Others, no one has come forward?"
"No, we've sent at least a few notices already, but no one has come." Charlotte didn't want to assume the worst, but it was all still fresh.
"If I took Harry today, could anyone contest it?" the goblins smirked.
"Not unless we found some reason to allow it, and even if there was a question of guardianship, you are the best choice."
"Good, but I want everything that belonged to the Potters to be returned, if it was taken without permission I want the guilty parties fined or whatever the rules decide."
"It shall be done, but if you wish, we can set up a monthly allowance to give you for caring for young Mr. Potter, however you will be required to give receipts of proof that the money goes towards him, clothing, food, toys, anything a child could need."
"It won't be necessary, but I will keep it in mind in the future." She had her own money, and a job, no need to take what wasn't hers. "Something else, can we keep this all confidential? I don't need anyone toxic showing up around Harry as he grows, it won't do any of us favors."
"It will be, as per our laws. Your residence though…?"
"I am currently living in France, I am a citizen there and perhaps soon, I can make Harry one as well."
"To do so you will have to officially adopt the boy, and that will only be done a year after being his guardian." The rules applied to all; she could do it.
"So be it."
"Very well, we have all the guardianship papers here, you just need to sign using a blood quill." Bloodfang took out some papers and pushed them to her, and Ragnok handed her the blood quill. She filled out all the necessary spots, the goblins would get the filing done and everything would be set.
"There." The last signature was down, and the magic on the forms twinkled. The ink glowed, and the parchment flew off into a large filing cabinet.
"Congratulations Lady Prewett, you are now officially the guardian of Hadrian James Potter."
"Thank you both, where is he now?"
"His current address, is this." Bloodfang scribbled down something on a bit of parchment and handed it to her.
H. J. Potter
Number 4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging, Surrey
Sorry I ended it here but I had to stop somewhere. I wanted to give Charlotte a better introduction than the last time, at least here I've put in a reason for her to take Harry in legally.
Next chapter Charlotte picks Harry up, but what will she find? She's got a lot to handle now, and we'll see just where everything begins.
I hope you all liked the first chapter, the next one will be up soon.
Later!
