Chapter 12: The Harrowing of the Bones Bailey

17th of August - Saturday - Bones Bailey

Susan darted towards the main house, muttering a near-incoherent mantra as she sped ahead of Harry. "It's almost time, it's almost time, he can't be there when it happens!"

"Susan!" called out Harry from behind her, his breath fogging in the cool evening air as he tried to keep up, "What are you talking about? Almost time for what?"

But she didn't stop, her pace only quickening until she reached the heavy oak doors of the main house. Harry's heart sank as he noticed that the doors Amelia had firmly locked shut, now stood wide open, an eerie glow spilling out from the other side of the corridor beyond them.

Susan hesitated, glancing back at him for a moment. "Harry… think long and hard before you follow me back in there. This won't be the fun and games we had with my cousins we had before. What we'll be walking into is the hour the Bones family practically ceased to exist."

Harry gulped, coming to terms with the fact that far more had occurred in the Bailey than he had allowed himself to believe. "I'll… come with you," said Harry, sounding braver than he felt.

Susan nodded gratefully, "we go in, find Draco, and get out," she promised, before turning around to lead the way back into the dining hall. This time, the contrast between running through the ruined corridor only to emerge in the already restored grand hall was all the more jarring. The projections of the Bones family had since taken their seats at the dining table, eating, drinking, chatting, and laughing as if nothing were amiss. Draco was seated near the end of the table, busily chatting with Susan's cousins, while occasionally looking around the hall with an expression of awe and fascination. He waved at them as he noticed Harry and Susan approach the table.

"Well, look who finally showed up!" he called with a smirk, prompting the cousins to take notice.

"Jamie! Heather!" called out Ignis gleefully. "Took you long enough to come back! Cousin Draco said you were too busy being boring outside. We had to start dinner without you!"

Susan glared at him, her hands curling into fists. "Cousin Draco?" she asked accusingly, before turning to face him. "Malfoy," she hissed, "What are you doing here? How did you steal the key?!"

Draco's smirk fell monetarily. "What key? The door was wide open when I got here." he said, then shook his head, "Oh, come on, Bones. You didn't really expect me to sit around doing nothing?"

Susan froze, her face turning pale as his words sank in. "No… no, that's not possible," she murmured, "the door couldn't have been unlocked. Aunt Amelia sealed it with a magical key."

"Obviously, it was," retorted Draco, looking increasingly annoyed. "How else could I've got in?"

Harry frowned, stepping forward to place a hand on Susan's shoulder. "Susan… what's going on?"

Susan shook her head, her face pale. "I don't know," she whispered. "It's never done this before. It's supposed to be the same every time, like… like a memory on repeat, changing only a little based on how I interact with them, but always ending the same way. But now… It's different."

"Oi! Jamie! Heather! Don't just stand there!" called out Camden. "We saved your seats!" He said, pointing to a pair of chairs, one of which Harry was pretty sure wasn't there in the present.

"Yeah, and Ignis has been cheating even more with Jaime not here to keep an eye on his cards!" added Anson with a laugh, ruffling the youngest boy's hair, much to the latter's annoyance.

"Did not!" Ignis protested, his face scrunching up in indignation. His gaze shifted to Harry, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Hey, Jamie, what's with the waistcoat? Looks just like the one Aunt Amelia got me last year. Did she get you one too? It's… pretty terrible, isn't it?" he laughed.

Harry froze, glancing down at the burgundy waistcoat Amelia had given him. "Yeah, something like that," he muttered, feeling a chill creep up along his spine.

Susan, however, was having none of it. She grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him to his feet, "We need to leave. Right now!"

Draco jerked his arm free, scowling. "What's your problem, Bones? They're just your cousins. They've been perfectly nice to me, by the way. Better company than you've been all evening."

"They're not my cousins!" Susan snapped, her voice cracking. "They never were…"

Camden's laughter interrupted the tense exchange. "Not your cousins? What are you on about, Heather? Did Jamie put you up to this? He is a bit odd, no offence," he added hurriedly.

"Not taken," said Hurry, before he could remind himself that none of this was real.

"Yeah, lighten up, Heather," Ignis chimed in, his tone playful. "You're ruining the fun."

Draco smirked, glancing back at the table. "See? Even they think you're overreacting."

"They don't know anything, Draco!" Susan shouted, her voice breaking. "They're just echoes of the people who used to live here, not even ghosts! They don't realize they're dead!"

The room fell into a heavy silence as the words hung in the air. The chatter at the table continued, but it now sounded distant as the three cousins looked at Susan with a frown. "Alright, knock it off Heather, that wasn't funny," said Anson, while his two brothers nodded, looking rather put out.

Before Susan could react, a commanding voice echoed through the room. "My family," boomed Edgar Bones, standing at the head of the table as the other figures turned to face him. "Tonight, we gather not only to renew our family bonds, but against a rising darkness. Behind the Bailey's impenetrable wards, we could outlast any foe or siege, taking care of our own while letting the outside world attend to itself. But I ask you, would we still be worthy of the name of Bones? "

A murmur of dissent punctuated by a loud cry of "No!" from Anson rippled through the hall. Susan fearfully looked between Harry and Draco, but whenever she spoke, the cousins shushed her.

"No," repeated Edgar, nodding at the young man as he sat back down with a smile, a few older family members patting him on the back. "We are not cowards, hiding behind our ancient battlements and the magic of our ancestors while our world crumbles around us. We fight!"

Victor Bones nodded gravely, his hand resting on Evelyn's, "Well said, brother. The Ministry is faltering. With our system of government in doubt, it is up to families like ours to stand for justice."

Evelyn's expression was more difficult to read. "I understand and largely agree, Victor, but Amelia wouldn't approve. The Ministry grants us our legal mandate, without it, what right do we have?"

Several family members murmured their agreement, while others frowned in uncertainty, as Edgar continued. "You are right to have doubts, Evelyn, but there was a time when magical law as we know it did not exist. In the distant past, the Bones family followed Helga Hufflepuff and later helped Merlin create the Wizard's Council. The time has come to follow a great Wizard once again."

"But is Dumbledore truly worthy of such loyalty?" asked Hector Bones, one of the family elders. "Is it not our duty to stand by the Ministry? What right do we have to abandon it in its hour of need?"

Edgar turned to him with a respectful nod, "But what if the Ministry's power is no longer sufficient to support these laws? What if the laws themselves no longer give us the means to deliver justice?"

"Are we to understand that you, as head of the family, propose that we join the Order of the Phoenix?" asked Evelyn, pausing only to gently stroke baby Susan as she stirred in her sleep.

Edgar paused, his eyes sweeping over the room before speaking, "It is true that Dumbledore asked me to propose such a motion. But what if I were to tell you that there was another option? A wizard even greater than he, both in ability and purpose, one who will truly work to change our world."

Susan stiffened as the spectres of her family murmured in confusion. "We have to go, now!"

Harry nodded and started toward the door, but as they approached, the dining room's doors slammed shut with a resounding thud. The sound echoed through the hall, though none of the Bones family phantoms seemed to mind it, or the locks as they clicked into place as if by an unseen hand.

"What the…" said Draco, rushing to the doors. He tugged at them, but they wouldn't budge. "What's going on? Open the door! Whatever prank you two are pulling, it isn't funny!"

Viktor Bones leaned forward, his brow raised. "You're speaking as though there's another choice, Edgar. Surely you do not mean to suggest we join Barty Crouch's extrajudicial crusade?"

Edgar chuckled haughty, "Crouch is but a frightened, weak fool. The Unforgivable curses are merely a fraction of the Dark Lord's power, one that he now gives leave for the Aurors to use, in a mark of such stark hypocrisy that will live through the ages." he said, as most of the Bones family nodded, clearly relieved, and yet still confused as to who the Bones family head could be alluding to.

"No," repeated Edgar, "there is one wizard who does not resort to fearful reactionism when confronted with a threat they are too weak in power and will to counter. The Dark Lord himself has extended his hand to us, seeking an alliance," he revealed amidst the gasps of his family members.

Evelyn jumped to her feet, "Edgar! What are you saying?!" she shouted.

Edgar turned to look at her, his expression calm, almost serene. "What I am saying is that the Dark Lord recognizes the strength and legacy of the Bones bloodline and invites us to join his new vision for the wizarding world. He is even willing to overlook our family's past choices, such as our less dignified marriages, so long as we commit ourselves to his cause. Is it not worth considering?"

"That isn't Edgar," declared Evelyn, her voice sharp with outrage and fearful realization.

Draco stood up, his eyes narrowing at Edgar. "He's been Imperiused, hasn't he?"

Anson shook his head with a frown, "The wards would have detected and warned us about any attempt at impersonation or magical coercion. Dad must be doing some rhetorical exercise…"

"No, he isn't," repeated Susan with a shudder of terror as she looked away.

Victor stood, his voice calming down the chaos around the table, "Impossible, this has to be my brother, Evelyn. No one but a Bones or the guests of the family head could pass through the wards. I don't know what you're doing, brother, but you, of all of us, must know we'd never join him!"

"Is that the Bone's family's final word?" asked Edgar, with a dangerous edge to his voice.

"I don't know how, Victor, but it isn't him. His words, his manner, they've changed in the past few moments. Look at this man and tell me this is your older brother," said Evelyn, drawing her wand.

Susan's hand latched onto Harry's, her voice trembling, "Don't look, whatever you do, don't look!"

Harry hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to heed her warning. But curiosity and dread warred within him, and he couldn't stop himself. His head turned just in time to catch Edgar tilting his head.

"Mudbloods," he said, his bloodshot eyes glinting with malice. "Always the clever ones." His voice growing deeper, more serpentine. "But I must correct you on one count. I am Edgar Bones…"

A collective gasp swept through the room as Edgar's features began to contort. His flesh quickly peeled away, falling in ragged sheets, revealing something impossibly pale underneath, like a serpent shedding its skin. Long, spindly, eerily graceful fingers emerged in place of Edgar's formally large hands. His hair fell, revealing a smooth, stark-white scalp. The light-brown eyes he shared with Susan sank into the skull, replaced by glowing slits of crimson, burning with malevolent glee.

"... or rather, what's left of him."

"D..ad?" called Ignis as he stared on in horror at the scene with the rest of his brothers.

Anson grabbed his hand, "No… it can't be, don't look Ignis, it's a trick!"

"Bones!" shouted Draco, his face pale and panicked. "What is that thing?!"

Harry's scar flared with a searing pain, forcing him to clutch his forehead as he stumbled back. Susan grabbed his arm to steady him, her face ashen with terror as she opened her eyes. Around the room, the Bones family froze in shock, their earlier disbelief giving way to a dawning horror.

"It's… it's him!" gasped Hector Bones, his voice trembling.

Victor paled in realization, "It… can't be!"

Their recognition only seemed to worsen the pain, forcing Harry to his keens. Draco stumbled back, his face stricken with a horrified realization. "The Dark Lord?" he asked with evident disbelief.

"Malfoy! Stay with us!" Shouted Susan, trying to reach him while holding on to Harry.

But Draco didn't move, "But… my father… he always said… he always said."

"Draco!" hissed Susan, her voice sharp and desperate as she turned to him. "Forget what your parents told you, forget the war, this isn't the time! We have to get out of here!"

"I don't understand!" said Harry, straining against the pain to be heard, "who… what, is that?"

"Lord Voldemort," recognized Evelyn, before lowering her eyes.

"Ah, recognition at last," said Voldemort, his voice silky and mocking, though it carried a venomous edge. The remnants of Edgar's skin sloughed off entirely, crumpling to the floor like discarded robes. Voldemort stood at the head of the table, a newly summoned cloak billowing as if stirred by an unseen wind. "Your family wards are exquisite, I must admit, as old magic always is. Impossible to breach… unless, of course, one were to possess the blood and flesh of the family's patriarch."

Ignis whimpered, his small hands gripping Camden's arm. "It's him, isn't it? You Know Who." he said, his voice quivering. "He killed Dad… you are wrong, Anson. It wasn't a trick!"

Camden's mouth opened and closed, struggling to form words. "What do we do?" he asked Anson.

Anson's limps trembled, but he forced himself to stand tall. "We survive." He said firmly, looking to Harry, Susan, and Draco. "Stay with me, all of you. We'll survive and get out of this. Together."

Evelyn's hand trembled as she raised her wand, her face pale but resolute. "You… desecrated him," she said, her voice filled with equal parts rage and grief. "What manner of Foul Magic is this?"

"Desecrated?" Voldemort repeated, tilting his head as if amused. "No, I elevated him. Edgar proved surprisingly resistant to the Cruciatus Curse after we caught him. I had to resort to… more extreme methods to secure his cooperation. But I have always believed in waste not, want not. Edgar now serves a far greater purpose than he ever could have in life. Through him, I now control the wards of this house. Through him, I have brought you all together, and through him…" He spread his arms wide, a cruel smile playing on his mouth. "… I will show the Wizarding world the price of defiance."

Hector surged to his feet, his wand raised. "You vile creature! You think you can come here, use…"

"Avada Kedavra."

The words cut through Hector's words mid-sentence. The flash of green light that erupted from Voldemort's wand seemed to fill the entire room for a moment. Harry barely registered the sharp crackle of magic as Hector's body crumpled to the floor, his wand slipping lifelessly from his hand.

"Grandfather!" screamed Ignis, his small hands gripping the edge of the table as though it might anchor him. He lunged forward, but Anson caught him, pulling him back with trembling arms. "No! No! Let me go!" Ignis cried, struggling against his brother.

The room descended into chaos. Guests screamed and scrambled to draw their wands or flee, their movements frantic and disjointed as fear overtook reason. A woman near the fireplace collapsed in a dead faint, her scream still echoing in the air. Plates clattered to the floor while the crystal glasses shattered, the sounds mingling with desperate cries and shouted incantations. But whenever a spell made its way towards Voldemort, a yellow-green forcefield quickly materialized to intercept it.

Harry's heart pounded against his ribcage as he stood frozen in place, his scar burning like fire. His vision blurred, but he could still see Voldemort's crimson gaze sweep over the room, lingering on him for an agonizing moment. Voldemort's predatory grin widened, his malevolent glee palpable.

"Harry!" Susan's voice broke through his paralysis, her nails digging into his arm as she shook him. Her face was stricken, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "None of this is real! None of it!"

But Harry couldn't tear his eyes away from Hector's lifeless form, the first death he had ever witnessed with such cruel finality. "He just… he didn't even…" Harry stammered.

Draco stood a few steps away, pale and unmoving, his mouth slightly open as though trying to form words. "It's him," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the commotion. "It's really him…"

"Draco, snap out of it!" Susan barked, her voice sharp and cracking with desperation.

Voldemort's triumphant voice echoed through the hall. "The doors are sealed. Floo connections, disabled. Apparition, blocked. Behold, your wards at work!" Around the room, shimmering gold runes flickered alive, their warm glow twisting into a sickly green. The fireplaces dimmed, their flames extinguished in an instant, leaving cold, lifeless hearths behind. "You will find no escape."

The chandeliers above began to sway violently, their crystals jingling ominously before shattering into a deadly cascade of jagged shards. The sound was deafening, like a hundred windows breaking at once. Harry instinctively raised his arms to shield his face, wincing as a shard narrowly missed his cheek and embedded itself in the table beside him. Many of the guests weren't so lucky.

"Susan!" Harry shouted, reaching for her. She was crouched low, her hands over her head, but her face turned toward him, pale with terror. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said, though her voice trembled. "We need to…"

A metallic clatter interrupted her as the suits of armour lining the walls came to life. They stepped down from their pedestals, their swords drawn. One swung its blade at a fleeing guest, cutting her down mid-step. A blood-curdling scream echoed as more suits advanced around the hall.

"Fight!" roared Victor Bones, standing in front of them. His wand snapped up, and a blast of fiery red light struck one of the animated armours, shattering it into scrap. "Protect the children!"

A sickening green light from Voldemort's wand ended his rallying cry. Victor crumpled to the ground, lifeless, his wand rolling from his grasp. "No!" screamed Evelyn as she rushed beside him.

All around them, family members sprang into action. Wands rose in desperate defiance, casting spells to hold off the advancing suits of armour. The air filled with the sounds of shouted incantations, the hiss of fire, and the crackling of spells colliding mid-air. Bright jets of light streaked across the room, briefly illuminating the chaos, the panic-stricken faces, both of the living and of the dead.

"Bones, what do we do?!" Draco's voice broke through Harry's haze of fear. He turned to see Draco gripping his wand tightly, his knuckles white, his face pale as death. "Tell me what to do!"

"Keep moving!" Susan shouted, grabbing Harry's arm. "Draco, stay close!"

A suit of armour lunged toward them, its blade raised high, its movements unnervingly fluid for something made of metal. Harry's body moved on instinct. He shoved Susan aside and grabbed a fallen chair, swinging it with every ounce of strength he could muster. The chair shattered on impact, sending splinters flying, but it was enough to knock the suit's blade off course.

"Come on!" yelled Harry, dragging Draco and Susan toward a corner of the room.

"Anson" shouted Susan, her voice breaking as she saw her cousins huddled under the table. "Run!"

Anson rose to his feet, pushing his younger brothers behind him, his face pale but full of resolve. "I'll hold them off!" he shouted, taking out his wand.

"No, you won't…" Susan whispered, her voice trembling with despair, as a green light struck Anson squarely in the chest. His body crumpled to the floor, lifeless. "No!" she screamed, her hand clawing toward him as if she could pull him back to life.

Harry's stomach churned as he felt the heat of another spell streak past them. A suit of armour advanced, its blade arcing down toward Harry. He flinched, bracing for the impact, but nothing came. His scar flared with an agonizing heat, but his body felt no pain, no force, no impact.

Susan screamed behind him as the same blade seemed to connect with Draco, who collapsed to the floor, clutching his arm. "It hurts!" Draco whimpered, his face twisted in agony. "Make it stop!"

Harry frowned, confusion clawing at the edges of his mind. Why didn't he feel the blow as Draco had? His scar throbbed relentlessly, grounding him in a pain that felt all too real. But everything else, the armour, the spells, the screams, felt hollow. "This isn't real," Harry muttered, his voice barely audible over the chaos. He turned to Susan, who was scrambling toward Anson's body, tears streaming down her face. "Susan! We need to go! He's not real, none of this is real!"

But Susan didn't seem to hear him. "Anson, get up!" she begged, her voice breaking as Ignis and Camden huddled around their fallen brother. Their small hands hovered over the lifeless projection, trembling with uncertainty and fear. "Please, get up!" she cried again.

Evelyn arrived, her face streaked with tears but set with grim determination. She knelt beside them, her arms pulling Ignis and Camden close as she cast a protective glance at the rest of them. "Come here, you too Heather," she urged softly, her voice steady even as her eyes betrayed her grief.

"Milly!" she called, her voice cutting through the chaos. The House Elf apparated at Evelyn's side, still cradling the baby in her arms. "House-elf magic works differently. How many can you take?"

Milly shook her head, her large, tear-filled eyes glimmering in the starlight. " So much death… it is weakening Milly's magic," admitted the House Elf, her body shaking as if physically ill. "Milly has enough left to take someone small, like Miss Susan, through the wards with her, no more." She stammered. "But Milly will need an opening through the hall's walls to apparate outside the wards!"

Evelyn's jaw tightened, and for a fleeting moment, despair flickered in her eyes. She looked at Ignis, Camden, and them before letting her gaze linger on the baby in Milly's arms. "Do it," she said firmly. "Take Susan, and the others, if you can. Get them to Amelia. I will give you an opening."

Milly hesitated, glancing at them, before nodding. "Milly will take Miss Susan," said the house-elf, her small frame trembling and meeting Evelyn's gaze. "Milly will protect and serve her! I promise!"

Voldemort's crimson gaze settled on this last group of survivors, a cold smirk curling his lips. "How quaint," he drawled, his voice dripping with malice. "But even elven magic is no match for me."

Evelyn stepped forward with her wand in hand, "You will not touch them!" she declared. With a sharp flick of her wand, the grand dining table groaned, its massive oak frame twisting unnaturally across its various panels. The legs buckled and bent, the surface rippling as though alive until it wound itself protectively around them, its wooden form crackling and shifting with each move.

The first Killing Curse struck the table, the green light detonating with explosive force against the wooden panel. Evelyn's wand moved in tight, precise patterns, weaving the table into a dynamic shield. Each twist replacing a damaged panel with a new one, creating a continuous flow of objects.

"Defiant to the last," sneered Voldemort, his frustration mounting. "But tricks will not save you!"

He sent a volley of fire roaring toward her, but Evelyn countered it by sloping the panels into redirecting the flames towards the windows, until they started to crack. The table then surged forward like a coiled predator, but Voldemort spelled it aside, "There will be no escape!"

For a brief moment, Harry dared to believe she could hold him off. But as the duel raged on, the table's form grew more twisted and battered. Each curse from Voldemort warped its structure further, carving deep gouges into its surface and leaving splinters trailing like broken scales. The table no longer resembled a piece of furniture; it had become a living force, its movements fluid and serpentine like a Chinese dragon, its surface darkened and scarred by the relentless assault.

Voldemort's gaze shifted to their group, now exposed to view by the missing panels. His lips curled into a malicious smile. "What about them? Your dear nephews, huddled like lambs for the slaughter."

Harry's heart sank as Voldemort's wand swept towards them. A fiery snake the size of Evelyn's table-dragon emerged, bearing down on them with flaming fangs. Evelyn commanded the table-dragon back to them, intercepting the snake just in time, before casting a blasting curse on one of the 2nd floor's pipes, dousing the snake with water, but leaving herself exposed in the process.

Voldemort's laughter rang out, cold and venomous, as he cast a series of spells at her the dragon's tail could barely intercept. "So predictable. You will protect others, but what about yourself?"

He then started to cast a continuous barrage of curses at them. The first few were once again intercepted, but there was now not enough of the table left intact to keep this up. It was only when the final green light rushed towards him that Harry realized that he had seen it once before.

Evelyn hesitated for the briefest moment, her eyes flickering towards them. Harry could see the conflict etched on her face. "I am so sorry… children, but this is all I can do," she said, and then, with a sudden movement, she flicked her wand, sending what was left of the table-dragon surging toward the far wall, allowing the green light to fall upon their now unprotected bodies.

Harry caught his breath as the green light passed through him. His hand rushed towards his scar as pain surged through it once again, but he didn't feel otherwise affected. The same couldn't be said of the others, who all fell where they stood. "Susan! Draco!" shouted Harry as he rushed to their side.

The dragon had meanwhile smashed through one of the great hall's windows, shattering glass and caving a hole into the illusionary light as if it had been a physical blow. The wards flickered violently, a sudden gap in their power opening as the dragon tore through the enchanted barriers' anchor.

"Milly!" Evelyn cried just as Voldemort's killing curse struck her exposed body. Milly closed her arms around baby Susan and disappeared with a sharp crack as they escaped into the night.

Voldemort's eyes narrowed, his expression twisting with fury as he realized the trick Evelyn had played. "You foolish woman," he hissed, "Did you truly think you can outwit Lord Voldemort?!"

But Evelyn could not reply, falling instead to the ground with a tired smile. The dragon faltered, its serpentine movements growing sluggish. The magic animating the great table began to fade, and the once-mighty construct collapsed with a loud crash onto the hall's floor. The battered table lay where it had begun, broken and twisted, its surface scarred beyond recognition as what it had once been.

Harry reached his friends a few seconds later, finding the bodies of Ignis and Camden still and lifeless, yet huddled together in a final moment of brotherly affection. He could barely bring himself to look at Draco and Susan, but when he did, he saw their chests were still rising and falling, unconscious, but still very much alive. Harry sighed in relief, their breathing looked normal.

"A mother's love can be a potent thing… but even that cannot save you now, Harry Potter," said Voldemort, turning his attention towards him, sending a new force of pain through his scar.

Harry staggered, clutching his forehead as he fought to remain upright. The pain was overwhelming, but he forced himself to focus, his voice shaking. "What did you do to them? You're just a memory… I know this isn't real, but…" He trailed off, gasping as the pain flared again.

Voldemort's laugh was cold and mocking. "The past is a powerful thing, Harry Potter. Your… friends lived this memory as though it were reality, and so it became real to them. *So wills its King, who hath forbid. The uplifting of the fring'd lid; And thus the sad Soul that here passes. Beholds it but through darkened glasses."* It should not come as a surprise to a muggle-raised wizard such as yourself. What are the conflicts of nations but the grievances of the past disrupting the present?"

"I…. don't… understand," said Harry, struggling to speak through the pain. "How do you know these things about me? All this must've happened before you… killed my parents."

Voldemort frowned in distaste. "I have carved out a little bit of power though the Bones child's presence over the years. But since you arrived, I have seen things I should not know, while my power has tripled, as if I am almost alive!" Voldemort's form loomed closer, his voice softening into a coaxing, almost fatherly tone. "I wonder, Harry… is it not exhausting, this life of uncertainty? Shuffled between strangers who claim to care for you, only to use you for their own ends. Always on the outside, longing for something you will never have. But it doesn't have to be that way."

He raised his skeletal hand, and the air between them shimmered. Wisps of silvery mist began to twist and curl like smoke caught in an invisible breeze, floating over the bodies of the Bones family's memories. Slowly, the formless vapour thickened as the bodies vanished and moved towards him, gathering into distinct shapes, at first amorphous and ghostly, but soon all too recognizable.

The first figure emerged, tall, lean, and fit compared to Harry's skinniness. Harry caught his breath as he looked at the familiar face's unruly black hair and the similar, if fancier, looking glasses perched on a slightly longer nose. The only real difference were the hazel eyes he'd seen in Mrs. Weasley's photograph. For all his resemblance to Harry, he was much older, and there was an easy confidence in the man's stance, a carefreeness in his gaze, that Harry had never known in himself.

"Dad…" Harry's voice cracked, barely above a whisper. James Potter nodded at him.

Beside him, the mist swirled and coalesced into a second figure, shorter but far more graceful. Her long, vivid dark red hair tumbled down her shoulders in soft waves. Her almond-shaped eyes, a familiar brilliant green, locked onto Harry's mirror image with a tenderness that made his chest ache. Her face, beautiful and kind, broke into a soft smile as she raised a hand towards him.

"Mum…" choked out Harry, as the pain ebbed away from his forehead like a distant dream. His hand rose instinctively, reaching toward her, as if touching them might make them real.

"Yes," Voldemort murmured. "They are as you always wanted them, Harry. All you need to do is to stay here, in my domain. Embrace what I offer, and your parents will live again!"

The heavy doors of the dining hall flung wide open before he could touch them. "Let 'im go!" shouted Ted as he strode into the hall, his wand aloft. Behind him came Amelia, Milly, Narcissa, Andromeda, and Lucius, their expressions caught between shock and resolve.

Voldemort's gaze quickly shifted towards them with evident disdain. "Fools. Do you think your paltry resistance means anything to me? I am the Dark Lord Voldemort! The boy is mine!"

"Impossible… it's him!" exclaimed Lucius, his expression looking torn between fear and awe.

"No it ain't," said Ted as he walked towards them. "This is just a memory, an Eidolon of that night, clingin' on to the echoes of this house's magic and its past, tryin' to break into the present." He looked at Harry and frowned, "Harry… come here. Those people… they ain't your parents."

Harry's head whipped toward Ted, his face streaked with tears as his scar started to itch again. "You're wrong! They're right there! I can see them! They are just like in the photograph!"

"Then why aren't they speaking to you?" asked Ted with a sad yet knowing look.

Harry froze, the question cutting through the fogginess which had overtaken him like a bucket of cold water. His mother's figure hovered just in front of him, her hand still outstretched, her green eyes fixed on their mirror image. His father stood beside her, tall, proud and reassuring, his glasses catching glimmers of starlight. But Ted was right, they hadn't said a single word. Not one.

"I…" Harry faltered, his voice breaking. "I don't know…"

"Course you don't," said Ted gently, but without any attempt to coddle him. "Because they ain't real. They're just shadows, stitched together from bits of things you've heard or seen from photos, along with what you've imagined. That thing behind 'em is playin' on what you want the most. But it doesn't know what they sounded like… because you never did. Go on, try talkin' to 'em."

Harry's chest tightened as he stared at the figures of his parents. "Why aren't you saying anything?" begged Harry, his voice rising against the silence. "Why… why aren't you talking to me?!"

The figures didn't respond. His mother's hand remained suspended in mid-air, her lips moving yet stuck somehow on the unspoken word cheese. His father wore the same easygoing grin.

"They're not real…" murmured Harry, his voice breaking along with his tears. "They're not real…"

The spectre of Voldemort hissed sharply, its crimson eyes flaring with rage. With a wave of its hand, the projection forming Lily and James shattered like fragile glass back into the hall's window panels.

Harry reached out instinctively, his hands grasping at the empty air where they had stood. "No!" he shouted. But they were gone, his fingers grabbing at a lock of red hair, only for it to pass through them. As quickly as it had washed over him, the warmth vanished, and the pain in his scar returned.

"That's all he is, Harry," said Ted, crouching at his side. "A shadow, just like them, tryin' to trick the livin' into thinkin' he's somethin' real. His memory's stronger here, yeah, but it was never alive."

The spectre's lips curled into a sneer. "A memory, yes… but one anchored to the very blood that built this house. Blood that has been shed and can no longer challenge my right to its power!"

Amelia stood at Ted's side, wand in hand. "This house belongs to the Bones family, not to you! I am Amelia Bones, and by my blood, I claim the part of the wards I left abandoned for too long!"

Voldemort's expression darkened. "You think mere words will undo what I have wrought here? Your claim means nothing against the dark mark I have left upon this place for all eternity!"

The air seemed to grow heavier as what remained of the old chandeliers above swayed unnaturally. Shadows writhed along the walls, their forms twisting into grotesque shapes as the room darkened. The lights around the hall flared an ominous green, casting an eerie glow over the faces of those gathered. A gust of wind swept through the space, carrying with it a low, haunting whisper.

Amelia took a half-step back, her hand tightening on her wand. "The wards… it's as he says. He still commands them. Memory or no… If he's retained control, it will be the same as last time."

"No." said Ted, as he put a reassuring hand on Amelia's shoulder, snapping her out of her lapse of fear. He took a deliberate step forward. "Don't fall for it. They always bluff. That's all they've got."

Voldemort's lip curled in rage. "Bluffing?" The spectral figure extended a long, pale hand toward a rusted suit of armour, its sword scraping loudly against the stone floor as it stood. The wind strengthened, the ancient doors swinging open and shut. "Does this seem like a bluff?"

Ted didn't flinch. Instead, he let out a soft, incredulous laugh. "What are you gonna do next, eh? Animate a few tin soldiers? Maybe chuck a chair across the room? Move some furniture about like a second-rate poltergeist?" said Ted, each word laced with his knowing grin. He took another step forward, his wand drawing nearer and making Voldemort's image flicker. "You're not Voldemort; you're a glorified shadow puppet. A memory. A malfunctioning set of automatic doors in a Muggle supermarket, stuck swingin' open and shut for anyone daft enough to stand too close to them."

"Stop this madness, Tonks! Surely, even the memory of the Dark Lord has power!" shouted Lucius.

"No, it doesn't. I know you respected the bloke, Malfoy, though I can't for the life of me figure out why any sane man would follow him, but this thing? It ain't worth your loyalty," said Ted firmly.

The spectre snarled, the walls shuddering in response as the lights crackled green once more, but Ted pressed on, undeterred. "Oh, go on, throw a tantrum! It's all you've got left, innit? All this huffin' and puffin', tryin' to convince us you're more than a shabby echo clingin' to scraps of power." His voice grew sharper, "But you're not. The only power you've got over the present is what we let you have over us, and I'm not givin' you so much as a knut or a penny more of it!"

The memory flared violently, the room shaking as it lashed out in a desperate attempt to assert its dominance. The suits of armour clattered against the floor, their movements faltering. A vase shattered against the wall as the wind howled through the hall, but Ted held his ground.

"You're slippin'," observed Ted. "That's why you haven't dared cast any spells at me, ain't it?"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" shouted Voldemort, the green glow intensifying as he sent a wave of energy towards Ted. The surrounding air crackled with magic, but the spell dissipated before it could hit.

"See?" said Ted, his voice almost pitying. "You're out of juice. Go take a nap. Make it a long one."

The memory hissed, retreating toward the centre of the room, its form growing dimmer. The lights around the hall began to flicker, the green fading replaced by yellow as the house itself seemed to reject it. An old grandfather clock at the far end of the room chimed nine times. The sound echoed through the hall, each dong wearing down the image, drowning out the last of the spectre's power.

Voldemort's eyes burned with hatred as his form unravelled, dissolving into tendrils of green smoke. "This isn't over. The mark I've left here will never fade." It said with a final venomous hiss.

Susan and Draco jolted awake, "We're alive?" they asked in unison, glaring at each other as they did. Narcissa's arms fell around her son as he looked on with confusion at his surroundings.

Milly's arms did the same around Susan. "Milly promised Lady Evelyn she would keep Miss Susan safe, but Miss Susan keeps putting herself at risk!" she cried, weeping over her charge's shirt.

"I'm sorry, Milly," said Susan, returning the hug as tears started streaming through her eyes.

The tap of Cassiopeia's walking stick on the floor signalled her arrival, "I see the matter has been settled, was it as you conjectured Mr. Tonks? A past event trying to assert itself on the present?"

"It's done," said Ted, his voice heavy with exhaustion as he lowered his wand. His easy demeanour was gone, replaced by a sombre look. "That Eidolon used up most of the magical power it's been hoardin' all these years. It'll take ages for it to build back enough to try anything like this again."

"But it's not over," said Harry quietly, his eyes lingering on the twisted remnants of the table and the shattered grandeur of the hall. "The memory will still keep happening, won't it? Over and over."

Ted nodded, his expression grim but thoughtful as he met Harry's questioning gaze. "That's the thing about this sorta magic, Harry," he said, his voice low. "The house remembers that night too well. Like a wound that ain't ever healed, a cut so deep it keeps bleedin' into the magic round here." He gestured around the room, the shattered table now standing like a monument to Evelyn's sacrifice. "And it ain't gonna heal," he went on, his gaze softenin' as it landed on Susan, "not 'til somethin' good fills these halls again. Memories of joy, of kids laughin', life that can cover the pain of that night with somethin' brighter. Somethin' worth lookin' forward to, so the house can move on."

Amelia shook her head sadly, while Susan glanced between Mr. Tonks and the hall with a frown.

"Draco," called Lucius, interrupting them, his voice tight with relief as he strode to his son's side and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, his grip firm but not unkind. "Thank Merlin that you are safe."

Draco nodded, though his face betrayed his inner turmoil as memories flooded back. "Father, I…"

Lucius held up a hand to silence him, his gaze shifting to Ted. "Mr. Tonks," he said, his tone measured but layered by an uncharacteristic softness. " I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving my son. Your expertise have proven invaluable tonight, and I apologize for my earlier crude remarks."

Ted raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard by the acknowledgment. He scratched the back of his neck, his tone turning awkward but sincere. "You're welcome, Mr. Malfoy," he replied, glancing briefly at Draco. "I just did my job, besides, the lad's probably Dromeda's favourite nephew."

"My only nephew," corrected Andromeda with a fond roll of her eyes.

Lucius inclined his head slightly, though the motion carried the stiffness of pride fighting its own undoing. "Nonetheless, tradition binds us both in this case, however reluctantly I may embrace such a bond. My son owes you a debt, Mr. Tonk, as does the Malfoy family by extension." The air grew heavier with the weight of those words, even as Lucius straightened his posture and spoke again, the hardness returning to his voice. "But do not mistake this debt as an invitation for… familiarity."

"Wouldn't dream of it," said Ted, looking more relieved than insulted by this clarification.

Cassiopeia sighed, "Oh, get over yourselves."

"I know what I want," announced Harry, gaining the adults' attention. "I… I want to get to know all of you. My close family is… gone for good, but you are still here; some people don't have even that." he said, trying not to look at Susan.

Andromeda sighed, "This doesn't have to be a battle, Lucius," she said, looking into his eyes. "I was never against your guardianship, only your concept of family. All we ask is to become a part of it."

Narcissa glanced at her sister and then at her husband, "They're right, Lucius," she said.

Lucius seemed ready to argue, but a quiet glare from Cassiopeia gave him pause. "Very well," he said finally. "I will agree to a compromise, but not without a commitment to a full public investigation into Dumbledore's meddling: both in his recent interference in the hearing, and his illegal placement of Potter with the Muggles years ago. His overreach must end. A message must be sent." He turned toward the Tonks family, his gaze sharpening. "And I expect you to distance yourselves from him."

Ted let out a sharp whistle, shaking his head. "Oh, that's bloody rich. You don't give a damn 'bout what's best for Harry; you just wanna use 'im to take a swing at Dumbledore. You don't get to tell us who we stand by, Malfoy. Ain't never been your business before, an' it ain't about to start now."

Amelia exhaled, rubbing her temple. "Lucius isn't wrong to question Mr. Dumbledore," she admitted. "The Ministry never sanctioned Harry's placement with the Dursleys, and certain records are… missing. I've already begun my own investigation. If the findings warrant it, there will be a full inquiry." She met Lucius's gaze coldly. "But it will be based on facts, not political manoeuvrings."

"But he said it himself! At the Ministry… he admitted he put me with them!" said Harry, as his fingers curled into fists, still angry at that revelation.

"Madam Bones, let's not waste time pretending this is about due process," added Narcissa. "The Malfoy family is well-informed; we know exactly how far your investigation has gone, and what you have uncovered. And yet, you still hesitate to publicise it," she revealed as her hand reached Harry's. "If the truth does not come from you, rest assured, it will come from… elsewhere."

Amelia's expression hardened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "The Malfoys do seem to have a talent for leaks," she said dryly. "Particularly when the truth isn't dramatic enough for your ends."

Andromeda stepped between Amelia and her sister before their accusations could escalate further. "If the inquiry proves what you and Lucius suspect, I am certain Madam Bones will do what she must. Naturally, the Tonks family would reconsider our association with Mr. Dumbledore in the aftermath of the revelation of any such public scandal. As a matter of principle, of course."

Ted shot her a sharp look. "You're really gonna let them throw Professor Dumbledore under the bus, 'Dromeda? He's been there for us through thick an' thin—doesn't he deserve a bit o' loyalty?"

Andromeda didn't so much as flinch. "Ted… If the investigation confirms wrongdoing on the part of Mr. Dumbledore, then distancing ourselves isn't a concession, it's plain common sense. We don't owe blind loyalty to any person or idea. That's the sort of attitude that lead to my disownment."

Ted exhaled through his nose, clearly unhappy, but held his tongue. Cassiopeia, watching with interest, inclined her head. "A prudent choice. If your family takes a step away from Dumbledore's faction, it would significantly smooth over the path to restoring your place among our social circles."

"Fancy that," muttered Ted dryly, but he held up his hands when Andromeda glanced at him.

"The full details can be worked out later," said Amelia with a note of finality, before anyone could speak further. "For now, we focus on the children. They've been through enough tonight."

The group trudged back to the tower in heavy silence, the weight of the evening pressing on all of them. Harry lingered a step behind the others. So, that was Voldemort, or rather, a memory of him. He shuddered, as effortless Mr. Tonks had made his craft appear, Harry knew it paled compared to the truth of the man he'd seen through the memory, as he destroyed the Bones family single-handed.

*He's still out there somewhere, but lost his powers, too weak to carry on.* Whispered the memory of Hagrid's warning in his ear, and for the first time since he'd entered the magical world and heard his story, Harry truly grasped the full horror of why wizards feared to speak his name.

18th of August - Sunday Morning - Wizengamot Chamber

The Wizengamot was a bustling hub of tension and intrigue as the final resolution of Harry's custody hearing loomed. The chamber had filled almost to capacity, despite the emergency secession being called on a Sunday out of concern that Mr. Malfoy would change his mind if given time. Susan sat at Harry's side, her hands clasped tightly together as her eyes darted around the chamber. Her gaze flickered briefly to the Malfoys, their polished presence as imposing as ever. Narcissa sent her a faint, encouraging smile, Draco a smug smirk, while Lucius's expression remained inscrutable.

On the other side, sat the Weasleys, despite their loss of the case. Susan could only guess that they were there to show Harry they supported him, no matter what. Dumbledore was noticeably absent, his role taken by a stand-in, while the Tonks family was seated on the visitor's bench. Susan's eyes settled for a moment on the now familiar form of Nymphadora as she looked at the Malfoys, her pink hair flashing an angry red, but she quickly moved on to the other two unfamiliar sisters.

The first was a teenager with long flowing platinum blond hair and striking blue eyes. She was dressed in rather traditional looking green robes compared to her older sister's muggle looking yellow T-shirt and dark jeans. She sat almost regally on the uncomfortable looking bench with both feet on the floor like their mother, while Mr. Tonks and their eldest daughter lounged around with one foot on top of the other. Her eyes seemed to take in the entirety of the chamber without moving too much, with an out-of-place familiarity, and yet they never drifted far from Mrs. Malfoy. Her expression was too controlled for Susan to puzzle out, but it seemed thoughtful, almost longing.

That was the case, at least, until the youngest girl's elbow jammed into her side, prompting her poise to fall into an exasperated roll of her eyes as her head moved to tell her off. The youngest Tonks couldn't seem to stop fidgeting in place, sitting still, seemingly alien to her nature. Out of the three girls, she seemed to share the most features in common with Andromeda, though it was hard to say for sure on account of her age. Her hair was a darker, shiny, shade of black that looked like it was in open revolt against the hair pins sticking through it. Her clothing was… odd to say the least, consisting of a mismatching yellow overall and red jumper she must have put on in a hurry. A pair of dark brown eyes darted across the chamber, until they settled on Susan. They briefly looked at each other, until the former gave Susan a toothless grin, moved her head to the side, and winked at her.

Amelia Bones stood up, her gravel commanding attention. "We are here to deliver the final resolution in the matter of the guardianship of Harry James Potter. After careful deliberation and negotiations, a compromise solution has been reached by the concerned parties."

The murmurs in the room grew louder, but Amelia's raised hand quickly silenced them.

"Mr. Potter shall reside with the Malfoy family," she announced, "but with a critical condition: the entirety of his relations to House Black, including the Tonks family, must be made available to him and to one another. This arrangement will thus formally end Andromeda Tonks's so-called disownment by some elements of House Black, and the estrangement of her family from pure…"

Gasps and whispers erupted across the chamber. Cygnus Black, seated in a high-backed chair among the Traditionalist representatives, stood abruptly. "This is preposterous!" he bellowed. "The Tonks family is a disgrace to the Black name! I will not brook Ministry meddling in my affairs!"

Amelia's expression hardened. "Mr. Black, while your opinions are noted, they are irrelevant in this matter. The rights to overrule this decision rest with the family's elder, Madam Cassiopeia Black."

All eyes turned to Cassiopeia, who sat regally in her seat, struggling not to roll her eyes at her Nephew. Slowly, she rose. "The Tonks family is Black by blood, regardless of your vendetta against your daughter, Cygnus. This estrangement has weakened us all. I support the compromise."

Cygnus glared at her but fell silent, his protests quelled under the weight of her authority.

Amelia nodded gratefully towards Cassiopeia and continued. "To cement this arrangement, Harry will visit the Tonks household one week into the Malfoy guardianship to meet his cousins and be allowed to do so whenever he wishes, be it to visit the Tonks family again, the Weasleys, or others."

Lucius Malfoy rose next, "While this arrangement… complicates Mr. Potters belated preparations for the coming Hogwarts term, we will honour it." But his tone suggested lingering reservations.

Amelia nodded. "Mr. Potter's orientation with Magical practices should be given its due priority. With the family feud settled, the Wizengamot may now vote on the proposed guardianship arrangement. All those in favour of the compromise, cast blue. Those opposed, cast red."

The courtroom fell into tense silence as the members of the Wizengamot raised their wands. Susan held her breath. A brilliant cascade of blue lights began to fill the room like a fireworks display. Here and there, streaks of red intermingled with the blue, but they were few and far between.

"Mr. Potter's guardianship is approved by an overwhelming majority." Announced Amelia.

The echo of her gravel coming down reverberated through the chamber as cameras snapped, but Susan barely heard it over the rush of her own thoughts. She couldn't deny that the selfish part of her had been hoping that the vote would fail and that Harry would stay with them at the Bailey.

Harry shifted next to her, his expression a mix of relief and sadness as he turned toward her and Aunt Amelia as she left the podium. "Thank you," he said quietly, his voice laced with sincerity as he looked at her aunt. "For everything."

Susan's chest swelled with pride as she watched Aunt Amelia's stern features soften, her hand resting firmly on Harry's shoulder. "You're welcome, Harry," said Amelia. "I only ensured your legal rights and did my job. Just remember that you will always have friends here at the Ministry."

Susan felt her heart flutter as Harry turned his gaze to her, hesitation flickering across his face. "And you, Susan," he began, his words catching slightly in his throat. "I hope we can stay friends."

Her cheeks burned with a faint flush. "Of course, we can stay friends!" she said quickly, her tone sharper than she intended. "Don't be a stranger, alright?" she added softly, looking away.

"I won't," he answered with a small smile.

Susan's eyes returned to Aunt Amelia, who cleared her throat, her tone returning to its brisk, no-nonsense cadence. "You'll be alright, Harry. The Malfoys may have their beliefs and ways of doing things, but you now have a voice in this arrangement. Don't be afraid to use it."

Harry's smile faltered, but he nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

The sound of heels clicking against the stone floor drew Susan's attention, and her gaze fell on Narcissa Malfoy as she approached, "It's time to leave, Harry," she said smoothly.

Harry glanced back at Susan one last time, his brilliant green eyes meeting hers. "Goodbye."

As he walked away, following Narcissa, Susan felt a strange hollowness in her chest. She stood there, rooted to the spot, watching his retreating figure until he disappeared from sight.

"Goodbye, Harry," she murmured under her breath, but he wasn't there to hear her.

The sun dipped low on the horizon by the time Amelia apparated them back to the Bailey. Amelia quickly opened the door to their tower and went inside, but Susan lingered at the entrance, her gaze drifting toward the shadow of the main house, silhouetted against the fiery glow of the sunset.

"Auntie," said Susan quietly. "I want to visit the Main House one last time."

Amelia's expression tightened, her reluctance clear. "Susan, that house is…"

"I know what it is," Susan interrupted, meeting her aunt's eyes. "They've been dead for ten years. I'm not sneaking in there ever again. But I want you to come with me, just this once."

Amelia's frown deepened as she opened her mouth to argue, but Susan pressed on. "I need to say goodbye." Amelia's shoulders sagged under the weight of Susan's plea, but she finally nodded.

Milly appeared at Amelia's side. "Milly thinks Miss Susan is wrong to go back to that place. But Milly will watch over Miss Susan if she insists on doing so, just as Lady Evelyn asked her to."

They walked the path in silence, the air growing cooler as they approached the main house. The structure loomed ahead, its crumbling facade softened by the golden hues of dusk. Susan hesitated at the threshold, until she felt Amelia's hand squeeze her shoulder, and then stepped inside. The air grew colder as they approached the dining hall, the last sun rays giving way to enchanted starlight.

The dining hall transformed before their eyes. The warped and scarred table straightened, its surface gleaming with a golden cloth. The chandeliers sparkled like starlight, as the ruined or scattered furnishings moved back into position, tapestries unfurling to reveal their vibrant patterns. Figures began to materialize around them, their voices filling the hall with laughter and conversation.

Amelia stopped in her tracks, her usually sharp gaze softening into something mournful. Susan went ahead, her heart pounding as she saw the familiar faces of her family; her parents, her cousins, and all the rest, all caught in a moment of time she could never truly share with them, and yet she knew so intimately, it might as well have been like returning to a favourite childhood book.

Evelyn Bones turned to greet them, her strawberry-blonde hair catching the light of the chandeliers, but her expressions turned to one of confusion. "Amelia? I thought you said you couldn't make it."

Amelia smiled sadly, "It's taken me a while to get here, Evelyn, but I've finally arrived."

The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward them. Susan stepped closer to her aunt, her voice trembling as she spoke. "It's me," she said, looking directly at her mother. "I'm Susan."

Evelyn blinked, "Susan?" she asked, and then smiled, "what a splendid coincidence! My daughter is also called Susan!" she said happily, gesturing to the younger Milly to bring the baby to her arms.

Amelia shook her head, "This is my niece, Evelyn. Your daughter." She said, her voice tinged with emotion. I've done my best to raise her alone without you or the rest of the family, but she has visited this memory many times. She knows who you were, I only wish you could have known her."

The room erupted into murmurs. Some family members looked on with scepticism, others with concern. Victor Bones reached them, his gaze shifting between Amelia and Susan. "This… can't be. What are you even saying, sister? How? When? Bones justice lives on evidence, please present it!"

"Look at me brother," interrupted Amelia, "what do I look like?"

Victor frowned but did as he was told, "you look… old, too old to be my sister," he said, his frown replaced by shock. "Am I a ghost?" His eyes shifted towards Milly, darting between the younger version he knew, and the one beside Amelia. "No, there wouldn't be two… an Eidolon then."

Amelia nodded, her eyes glittering beneath the starlight. "It's been too long, Victor."

Viktor started to speak, but then shook his head, "if that's true, you shouldn't be here. As Eidolons, it is in our nature to try and get you to stay, and lose yourselves in our past, while we latch on to your present in a vain attempt at living. It will happen, no matter who I used to… pretend to be."

"Surely you don't believe this! Susan is just a baby!" said Evelyn, hugging her Susan protectively.

"I was," interrupted Susan, her voice straining as she spoke. "But I've grown up. I've spent my life wondering about all of you until I found out about this place. Now… I'm here to say goodbye."

Evelyn stepped closer, her hands trembling. "Goodbye?" she echoed.

Susan nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "I'll always carry your memory, but my family isn't in my past, it's in my future. With Auntie Amelia and… with someone I will one day share my life with." She hesitated, then added, "But I promise you that, one day, this house will be full of life. Our family will live here again!"

The phantoms stared at her, their expressions a mixture of sadness and pride. Evelyn reached out as though to hug her daughter, making contact with the lights of the projections, even if not a physical one. "Susan," she whispered. "You are stronger than I could have ever imagined, I'm proud of you."

"I hope I'm as powerful as you one day," cried Susan, the memory of her mother's heroic sacrifice fresh on her mind for the first time in years since she last stayed to witness the whole event.

Victor soon joined them. "She carries our dreams with her," he said, then stared at his daughter. "And you are right, Susan. The future is yours to make. Don't waste your life in our past, be it here in this memory, or by avenging our deaths. Stay true to Bones Justice, and we will rest easy."

Her cousins moved to greet her once the older family had said their farewells, "So… you're a time traveller?" asked Ignis with delight, evidently not having heard or understood their explanation.

Susan smiled, "Something like that," she answered, not having the heart to tell him the truth.

"Wicked!" he exclaimed, "I hope I've been a good cousin and that I don't tease you too much. "

"You wouldn't be Ignis if you didn't wind us up," said Anson, while Camden snorted loudly.

"Fire by name, fire by nature!" he exclaimed, and then ran to Amelia to complain about getting clothes as his birthday present again. She promised she'd get him other things in the future.

As they turned to leave, Susan glanced back at her family's memory, one last time.

Notes: Thanks again to my Beta-Reader Lilitari for going over this chapter. I'll first say that the * symbols represent two pieces of unoriginal dialogue, the first, a bit from Edgar Allen Poe's poem "Dreamland" which I only discovered in the process of adapting the idea of the Eidolons from Greek myth. I don't know why my Voldemort is into poetry, but that's how he's writing himself, though to be fair, that wasn't really him. The 2nd * was Hagrid's dialogue I took from book 1.

Crikey, my Voldemort is… something else, a master of Dark Magic so ancient and twisted even protections as old as the Bailey's simply didn't account for this scenario. I won't go into his broader motives and goals just yet, but my goal is to make him a far more compelling and credible villain. I rewrote the scene between memory Voldemort and Ted the most in this chapter because I really wanted to make it clear that this wasn't so much a matter of Voldemort being vanquished, but of a memory posing as him. The real Voldemort did single-handedly destroy the Bones family after all.

As for the matter of how the custody battle is resolved, I did think of going more into it, but ultimately I decided I've done all I can with this storyline without it feeling stale. Yes, the Malfoys did end up getting Harry, which was always a core aspect of its premise and the thought experiment it started as. That said, the compromise they've accepted to get him is a pretty big deal, though they will get at least one goal out of it. We'll be back in Harry's POV one more time before Hogwarts.

Before we get to Harry's next storyline, however, Hermione's long delayed storyline is up next. That will take time to get right, especially with academic papers in the way in February. Harry and Ron were easy in comparison, with Hermione, I need to figure out who she was before we saw her in the books by inferring on what we know as well as inventing quite a lot we don't. I've drafted and redrafted her storyline five times already, and I am only now fully satisfied with my plan for it.

I will try to get the first chapter from Hermione's POV out by the end of February or early March.

Thanks for reading!

Umbradius.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. JK Rowling and any organisation empowered by her to that effect own the Harry Potter title and its related products.