6th July 1992

Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley

Dressed in dark black formal robes with the Potter crest sewn to the left breast, Harry's hair was neatly combed and styled with his best shoes on. His goal was to come across as mature and powerful, demonstrating his intellect and avoid having Director Bones or Auror Shacklebolt see him as a child.

His request for a meeting with Director Bones and Auror Shacklebolt has been answered in the evening the day prior. Hrothgar was able to secure a private conference room in the bowels of Gringotts. Usually reserved for the wealthier families, the conference rooms were rarely used.

Inlaid with powerful wards against any offensive magic, each party could ensure their own safety as the ability to harm one another with magic was nullified by the wards. Of course, what most witches and wizards forgot was that any physical injury to them could still be inflicted, but then again, most wizardfolk tend to think only about magic.

As such, having risen early to enjoy his morning runs around the grounds, Harry had eaten and was dressed in time for the 0900 meeting with the Director of the DMLE.

In his hands laid a small circular rock that had been charmed as a Portkey that would take him directly into Hrothgar's office. Usually impossible to Portkey into Gringotts, exceptions could be made when the head of the family for whom the account manager worked for would be attending a meeting with said account manager.

Therefore, ten minutes before 0900, Harry was whisked from the confines of the Potter Manor into Hrothgar's office.

Landing before Hrothgar, Harry noticed that his usual garb of a black suit with a golden tie was even more sharp, making his usual clothes appear less than his very best.

"Well met, Lord Potter. Be welcomed under the rights of guest under my King, we swear no foul intentions."

With a bow in return, Harry greeted him, "Well met, Hrothgar, I assent to thine protection."

"Please, take a seat, my Lord."

Sitting in the comfortable chair before the wooden desk, Harry placed the small cage in between them. Appearing no different that a mundane box, its aluminum material had been charmed by Alfred to prevent the changing of an Animagus.

"So," began Hrothgar, peeking through the small slits to witness the fat brown rat scurrying away from his eye, "This is the rat known as Scabbers?"

Nodding, Harry said, "Yes, and by the end of our meeting, we'll be able to confirm that its true identity is Peter Pettigrew…the real culprit behind my parent's murder."

"Then lets begin our way to the conference room."

Following Hrothgar, they made their way upwards, getting closer to the lobby of the bank, turning right and walking straight until they entered the third door to the right from the corridor's entrance.

Entering, Harry noted a long wooden table with several chairs laid throughout, barren of any other decoration, Harry saw that Madame Bones and Auror Shacklebolt were already seated waiting for them.

Dressed in dark red robes, Madam Amelia Bones, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, appeared every bit as strong as her own reputation. Her swirling grey eyes were focused solely on the contents of Harry's hand, the rats cage.

Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt, taller and bigger than Madam Bones, was a bald black wizard with a golden hoop earring hanging from his right ear. He was a tall man, with broad shoulders that demonstrated his physical strength, his eyes were a deep dark black with pearly white teeth. A flutter of his eyes, showed to Harry that Shackbolt had gathered every bit of details he could from a single glance.

"Good morning, Madam Bones, if you and Auror Shacklebolt would please sit, we may begin this meeting."

Taking the chair in the head of the table, Hrothgar motioned to the both of them the chairs to his right, Harry sat in the chair to his left.

"Well met, Lady Bones and Lord Shacklebolt, may you be invited under the protection of my King Ragnok the Swift."

With a sharp bow of her head, Madam Bones said, "Well met, Master Hrothgar, we assent to your King's protection. My Lord Potter, it is good to see you again. May I present to you Supervisory Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt, the lead Auror in your godfather's taskforce."

"Well, met Lord Shacklebolt"

With a deep baritone voice, Auror Shacklebolt thundered as he said, "Well met, Lord Potter."

With a clap of his hands, Hrothgar began their meeting.

"As you may recall, Madam, in the sworn testimony of Lord Black, he mentioned that Peter Pettigrew was a rat Animagus, a project that the four friends undertook during their time in Hogwarts. Unfortunately, due to his lack of a trial and the hysteria that Lord Black was during the night of his arrest, nobody followed up with the supposed 'death' of Peter Pettigrew. However, my Lord pondered a question…how was his death confirmed when there was no evidence other than the finger that was found at the site of the explosion? As such, working under the hypothesis that the finger was left behind with the sole purpose of misguiding others to his existence, Peter Pettigrew ran away, hidden in the form of a common brown rat. We scoured the records of all Animagus registered with the Ministry, but this too proved to be fruitless, there was no indication of Peter Pettigrew being registered with the form of a common brown rat. Therefore we expanded our search to neighboring countries, but this too was inconclusive. Our search did not find any bit of evidence of Pettigrew's existence until my Lord's admission to Hogwarts where he met young Mister Ronald Weasley, the sixth child of Mr. Arthur Weasley. There, Harry found that he had a brown common rat for a pet…a rat that seemed to have the same missing toe to its left paw. From his talk with the young Weasley, he learned that his older brother, Percival, had found the wounded rat in the same night as the defeat of the Dark Lord with a bleeding left paw, a paw that was missing a finger. Unfortunately, my Lord was not able to capture this rat, due to the Weasley boy keeping the rat away in the Gryffindor Tower. Thankfully, an invitation from young Mr. Weasley to my Lord gave us the opportunity to capture the rat during the middle of the night."

At this, Harry placed the cage in the middle of the table, settling it between himself and Madam Bones.

Taking over for Hrothgar, Harry began to say, "I was able to capture Scabbers, the name given to the rat, while the Weasleys were asleep. I had it hidden in my family's manor under a dose of a Sleeping potion. Since then, I have had no communication with or interaction with the rat, until today."

With a sharp and penetrating gaze, Madam Bones looked at both Hrothgar and Harry, attempting to determine if any lie had been uttered. Finding no lie in their faces, Madam Bones turned her gaze to the grey cage before them.

The squeaking of the rat was not heard as a Silencing ward had been inlaid throughout the cage to ensure that no audio could enter nor exit. Inside, a fat brown rat could be seen attempting to hide in the corner of it, failing to make its fat body smaller.

"So, you're telling me that this rat…this common brown rat is in actuality the illegal Animagus form of the supposedly dead Peter Pettigrew? That on the night of his 'death,' he cut his own finger, feigned his death and hid for the past decade in the care of the Weasley family?"

Looking directly into the eyes of Madam Bones, Harry did not flinch as he said, "Yes. That's exactly what we are stating."

The deep voice of Shacklebolt began to say, "Director, I believe it best to cut to the chase and determine the truth. If it truly is Peter Pettigrew, then a simple reversal charm will do the trick."

Nodding, Madam Bones said in agreement, "I agree. Master Hrothgar, would you consent to my Auror and I in using our wands to determine the truth of your words?

With a nod and wave of his hand, Hrothgar said, "Of course."

Standing up, lifting the cage and placing it to the far side of the rectangular room, away from the entrance, Auror Shacklebolt waved his wand, causing the cage to melt away and pour outward, revealing the rat.

In a flash, the rat began to jump away, running towards the corner of the conference room, fleeing from the giant black man.

With pin-point accuracy, Madam Bones was able to cast a spell that froze the rat in its place, floating a mere millimeter from the floor. With a twist of her wand, Scabbers began to float towards the front of Shacklebolt before suddenly beginning to twist and twirl.

In a blink of an eye, the brown rat transformed; a head was shooting upward from the ground; limbs were sprouting; a moment later, a man was standing where Scabbers had been, cringing and wringing his hands.

He was a very short man, shorter than Harry. His thin, colorless hair was unkempt and there was a large bald patch on top. He had the shrunken appearance of a plump man who has lost a lot of weight in a short time. His skin looked grubby, almost like Scabbers' fur, and something of the rat lingered around his pointed nose and his very small, watery eyes. He looked around at them all, his breathing fast and shallow. Harry saw his eyes dart to the door and back again.

"Peter Pettigrew, I presume," said Madam Bones, looking quite coldly at the fidgeting little man.

With a jab of his wand, Shacklebolt was able to paralyze the man, causing his arms and legs to stiffen. His eyes, still mobile, moved erratically from left to right, wide-eyed and full of fear.

Bringing a clear crystal and a floating quill out of one of her pockets, Madam Bones brought one of the chairs in front of Pettigrew before taking a seat. Standing beside Pettigrew, wand out at the ready, Auror Shacklebolt remained looking at the short man without any emotion in his face.

With a tap of her wand, the crystal glowed a hue of red within its center, before floating between both her and Pettigrew, the quill began to glow a darkish purple before a piece of parchment was conjured by Madam Bones.

"I ask that the both of you do not speak during my interrogation. The crystal is a standard issue recorder to ensure our compliance to protocol in the cases of an Auror interrogating a prisoner in the field. The quill is enchanted to record any audio in the general vicinity of the interrogation. In order to ensure that we do this properly, please allow myself and Auror Shacklebolt to be the only ones speaking."

With a nod to her, Harry and Hrothgar remained seated in their chairs as they witnessed the interrogation.

"Interrogation of the individual once known as Peter Pettigrew begins at 0924 on the 6th of July 1992. Interrogators: Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and Supervisory Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt. Witnesses of the Interrogation: Lord Harry James Potter, Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter and Master Hrothgar, Account Manager of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter. Location: Conference Room #3, Gringotts Bank, London branch."

Without a hand to move it, the floating quill began to scratch the parchment as Madam Bones spoke, each letter flowing neatly and precise, appearing to be written as well as any printed paper from a computer.

"Due to the legal status of one Peter Pettigrew, whereupon his status was officially declared as Deceased, the use of Veritaserum is allowed under Ministry code 13.b. Administering the three drops, as per protocol, is Supervisory Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt. Since the individual once known as Peter Pettigrew has been under hiding for the past 11 years, the prisoner is being kept under the Full Body-Bind Curse by control of Supervisory Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt to prevent his escape."

At this, Shacklebolt waved his wand near Pettigrew's head, forcing his jaw to open and his tongue to protrude long enough for the three twinkling drops to fall from the tiny vial. His eyes, wide-eyed with fear, suddenly became glazed, changing his gaze from fearful to vacant.

The use of Veritaserum was heavily regulated, with even the manufacturing of the potion bearing the fine of 3 years of imprisonment in Azkaban, if not in the possession of a license to produce from the Ministry. Its use by the DMLE was even more regulated, with every single drop being documented and verified by two members of the DMLE before it's administration.

An incredibly potent potion, the Truth Telling Potion was able to force the individual to answer any question. Only an incredibly powerful practitioner of the mental arts, with extraordinary mental wards, could be able to prevent themselves from speaking the truth. As such, it was usually the custom of the DMLE in providing their prisoners with water mixed with a potion that would deteriorate their mental ward.

Due to the extenuating circumstances, the same could not have been given to Pettigrew, so Harry hoped that Pettigrew did not possess strong mental walls.

"Interrogation under the Veritaserum has begun. What is your name?"

With a blank and monotone voice, Pettigrew replied robotically, "Peter Pettigrew."

Her face, already severe and cold, seemed to bear a close resemblance to a stone statue, no emotion nor thought demonstrated on her person.

"When were you born?"

"27th April 1960."

"Are you, or have you ever been, a member of the terrorist group known as the Death Eaters?"

"Yes."

"Are you, or have you ever been, a loyal follower of the individual known as Lord Voldemort?"

"Yes."

"How are you alive?"

Even under the spell of the Veritaserum Potion, Pettigrew's chin began to quiver as he answered, "When Sirius found me in the street, I knew that he found out that I was responsible for the Potter's death. I began to scream, 'Why Sirius?! Why did you betray them?' in order to place the blame onto him. I used a Blasting Curse in an area exposed with the gas line, causing an explosion in order to escape. I cut my own finger and transformed into my Animagus form before escaping through the sewer pipes. I ran for hours before I was found by Percy Weasley who decided to take me as his pet. I knew that I was better in the care of a wizarding family, so I continued to pretend to be a simple rat."

"When did you reveal the location of the Potter's home?"

"On the 30th of October, the Dark Lord requested that I give him the location of the Potter's home."

"Why did you remain hidden for the past eleven years?"

"There are many followers of the Dark Lord who remained free, some of whom may desire to hurt me for leading the Dark Lord to where he met his defeat."

"Why did you betray the Potters?"

Every bit of willpower resisted the potion's attempt to force him into talking, but the weak fat man was no match for the Veritaserum.

"The Dark Lord's followers began to approach me…they knew that I was a member of the Order of the Phoenix, that I was a close friend of the Potters from Hogwarts. At first, they would come bearing gifts…gold and women…they began to convince me to tell them something irrelevant…like what was Lily's favorite restaurant…but then they asked me where James would go to eat after his shifts…eventually they convinced me to meet with the Dark Lord…he was so convincing…how my friends didn't treat me as an equal…how they saw me as a henchmen for them…eventually, I accepted his invitation and was marked as His…a month later, James and Lily chose me to become their Secret Keeper and I tried to resist telling Him…but then he found out that I was the Secret Keeper…when we met…I had no choice, to deny the Dark Lord is to invite your own death."

"Is Sirius Black now, or ever been, a member of the terrorist group known as the Death Eaters?"

"No."

"Is Sirius Black now, or ever been, a loyal supporter of the individual known as Lord Voldemort?"

"No."

"Did Sirius Black have anything to do with the deaths of the Potters?"

"No."

With a wave of wave of her hand, Peter Pettigrew's stiff body collapsed into a sleep state.

"So ends the interrogation of the individual now identified as Peter Pettigrew at 0952 on the 6th of July 1992. The prisoner Peter Pettigrew will be secured and transported to the Ministry holding cells until his trial can be arranged. His transport will be under the supervision of Supervisory Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt. End transmission."

With the end of her talk, both the crystal and the floating quill returned to her palm, before being place back into her pocket.

His hands clenched tightly into fists; Harry could barely restrain himself from hurting Pettigrew.

'How dare he! That little back-stabbing piece of shite!'

"I hope its not too much to ask of you, Madam Bones, that you ensure this…this sorry excuse for a man is given the worse sentence possible."

"I understand your sentiments, Lord Potter. I am grateful for your assistance but both Auror Shacklebolt and I will take it from here. I assure you that nobody other than a trusted few will be aware of his existence and that his security is tight."

"Please do, ma'am, too much rides on this man's trial. Too many people have an interest in him remaining dead."

With a flick of his wand, Auror Shacklebolt forced Pettigrew's body to shrink until he returned back to the same fat brown rat that he had lived for the past decade. Conjuring another cage, Harry saw the Auror wave him wand around the cage, placing several charms and wards on it to secure the transport of Pettigrew. A quick wave saw the rat float into the cage before being sealed tightly. Shrinking, the cage was no bigger than a muggle toy, lifting it, Shacklebolt placed it into his robe's pocket.

"How long before you'll be able to secure a trial for both Pettigrew and Black?"

"I'll have to be careful in preparing for both. Before I can do both, I'll have to remove Black from Azkaban to ensure that he gets any medical treatment he needs to appear presentable, both physically and mentally. I'll ensure that one of our healers is sworn into secrecy before being allowed to care for him. Likewise, I'll need to arrange an around-the-clock guard rotation is maintained by their cells."

"Please ensure that their cells are protected against any Animagus transformations."

With a wry smile, Madam Bones said, "Teach your grandmother how to suck eggs."

With a small smile, Harry conceded her point with a nod of his head.

"I do hope that you'll inform me of the date for their trials. I think, perhaps, that it's time the House of Potter made their return more publicly. Plus, it might help to have a friendly vote in attendance."

"Of course."

With a bow to both Harry and Hrothgar, Madam Bones and Auror Shacklebolt made their exit through the door, entered the lobby and exited the bank.

Within the confines of the conference room, Harry and Hrothgar settled in as they discussed the interrogation.

"I'm glad to see that our suspicions were correct," began Harry, "Is there anything we could do to ensure a more…positive result?"

Stroking his greying beard, Hrothgar pondered the question before answering, "I do not believe that any interference by our part would be seen positively by Madam Bones, my recommendation would be to allow her to do her own preparations unless specifically requested by her. Even if our intentions were pure, our interference could potentially interfere with the trial and jeopardize months of investigation."

"Of course, Hrothgar, your words speak true. In that case, I believe that we should prepare ourselves for the trial. I truly meant what I told Madam Bones, perhaps its time we bring the House Potter into the public once more."

"How would you like to do so, my Lord."

"I will require a proxy until I am able to attend a Wizengamot meeting next year. I've been thinking to ask Mrs. Tonks if she would be willing to act as my proxy. With her upbringing in the Black House and her expertise of the law, I believe that she would be uniquely suited to meet our needs."

"I agree. Would you like for me to send an offer letter to her?"

"I would, thank you. What would the process require of us to place her as my proxy?"

"The process is relatively simple. Once we've agreed on the terms for her tenure as your proxy, she will sign a legally binding contract that will ensure she does nothing that could cause you or your family harm. Each family has their own unique requirements and stipulation for their proxy, the last proxy utilized by your family was when your grandfather and his brother were fighting in the war against Grindelwald after the death of your great-grandfather. I would recommend that you speak with her directly and sort out any fine details she or you might have. Once an agreement has been reached and she has signed the contract, we will send a letter of notification to the Office of Appointments. After that, Mrs. Tonks will be able to take her place as proxy to the House Potter."

"Very well, please send her a letter as soon as possible and arrange a meeting with her to discuss the terms of her tenure."

"Yes, sir. Will there be anything else you'll require my assistance?"

"Yes, is there anyone who you'd recommend as a trainer in how to fight using a dagger? I recently had a meeting with Nicholas Flamel, whereupon he later gifted me a dagger with the suggestion that I learn how to fight with one."

"I can compile a list for you with a few recommendations. Is there any preference?"

"Only that they can guarantee their discretion."

"Of course. I'll begin as soon as possible."

"Thank you. I believe that will be enough for today."

Making his way to Diagon Alley, Harry enjoyed the anonymity of being in his 'Sebastian Evans' as he walked through the crowds without a single second glance or finger pointing.

Time Lapse

Harry took advantage of the rest of the week to practice each day. Awakening early each day, he would take a run outside and within the forest. A hearty breakfast saw him prepared for a long day. His mornings were taken up by his continual practicing of new spells that he learned the day before, practicing until he was able to cast them repeatedly without fail. After lunch, he would work on his physical training with each day being different; some days he would enjoy a cold plunge into the lake near the manor, others he would hike up the hills near the end of the forest, some days he would punch and kick his way though a punching bag that he was able to buy from a local muggle store. As time went by, Harry began to notice the benefits of his practicing, with his aim getting better and better, his firing rate getting faster and faster, and the strength of his spells getting stronger and stronger. Each evening, he would enjoy several hours in the library, reading through scores of books that covered Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, DADA, Warding, Healing, etc. Most of his books covered offensive spell work, but Harry ensured that he was well versed with defensive magic, for he knew that one ought to be prepared for any eventuality.

The day after his meeting with Madam Bones saw Hrothgar sending him the list of recommendations for an instructor in learning how to use the dagger. Most he crossed immediately, some for their excessive cost, others for their lack of experience in teaching. In the end, Harry elected a Philippine native, Mr. James de la Cruz, who had emigrated from the Philippines nearly ten years ago after serving the Filipino Ministry for Magic as the leader of their version of the Rapid Response Unit for twenty years and their academy instructor for his last five years of service.

The son of a Philippine muggleborn father and a half-blood British mother, he was fluent in both Tagalog and English.

They had agreed to meet in Mr. de la Cruz's studio, where he continued to teach those who wanted to learn the Filipino martial art of Eskrima, also known as Arnis, which was a weapon-based martial art that used sticks, knives, and other bladed weapons.

As such, each evening, Harry would travel to Mr. de la Cruz's studio near London where he would spend the next couple hours learning how to practice the correct techniques under the keen eyes of Mr. de la Cruz.

A stern instructor, James de la Cruz was in his mid-fifties, having retired early after a near death situation that saw his partner dying in a raid. A short man, his greying hair and dark brown eyes hid the hidden tiger that resided within the man. After a demonstration of the true capacity of Eskrima, Harry was all too excited to begin training.

As was the case when he first began learning Krav Maga, his instructor had him practicing with sticks, a safer alternative tool that would allow him to learn the techniques without fear of injury. It was not until his third week that Mr. de la Cruz allowed him to wield a knife in his studio. With a whispered charm, the sharp edge of the knife was dulled to the point that any damage caused by the weapon would be from blunt force trauma.

Regardless of the protective charm, Harry was under stern instruction to take care of his movements.

As it was, Harry began to enjoy his instruction with the Filipino instructor, learning all he could to prepare himself for the eventual war.

The only day that Harry skipped his scheduled practices with Mr. de la Cruz, was on the afternoon of the 20th, when he met with Mrs. Tonks in her office to discuss the possibility of her becoming his proxy in the affairs of the House of Potter.

20th July 1992

Tonks & Tonks, Barrister-at-Law

Located in one of higher affluent areas of Diagon Alley, Tonks & Tonks was found in a two storied building, a rich brown color with a sign atop its entrance, written in flowy golden letters, Harry could tell that the Tonks were pretty successful. Around them, Harry saw that they were located in what appeared to be a business district with various other professional businesses laid throughout.

Entering the door, Harry saw a small but spacious lobby with a few leather seats spread evenly throughout, a few potted plants decorated the corners, and a single wide desk directly before the entrance.

Seated behind the desk was a young man, seemingly just out of Hogwarts, he did not appear familiar to Harry. With pale skin, thick black spectacles and a rather timid demeanor, the young man did not cut an imposing pictures in comparison to Andromeda Tonks.

"Good morning, how may I help you?" the unnamed receptionist began.

"Yes, I have a meeting scheduled with Mrs. Tonks under Mr. Evans."

Having decided to keep his association with the Tonks hidden until it became public, Harry had Hrothgar set the appointment under his alias, Sebastian Evans.

"Yes, of course, please follow me."

Standing from his desk, Harry noted that the young man was hardly taller than he, appearing more lanky than tall, he was dressed in a rather fine cut of robes, appearing both professional and functional.

Crossing the reception desk, Harry was led down a corridor that displayed four different doors, each one with its own plaque.

'Theodore Tonks, Esq.'

'Andromeda Tonks, Esq.'

'Felix Wilson, Esq.'

'Emily Larson, Esq.'

Entering the farthest door to the right, Harry saw Mrs. Tonks seated behind the desk, dressed in a rather professional muggle attire—black suit pants, a white blouse and a black coat—she appeared no less regal now than she had in their previous meeting at Bones Manor.

Her wavy hair was a deep black, glimmering a dark blue when shined by the sun, it was styled in a ponytail with a few loose hair strands, her sharp grey eyes glinted as she stood to greet him.

With a close of the door, she offered him a short bow before saying, "Well met and be welcomed under the rights of guest. I swear to foul intentions."

"Well met, Mrs. Tonks. I assent to your protections."

Pointing her hand to one of the two chairs, she said, "Please, take a seat."

Taking a seat in the cushioned mahogany chair, Harry got comfortable as he began their meeting.

"I must say, my Lord, that your glamour is very well placed."

With a wry smile, Harry replied with a wink, "Can you keep a secret?"

"Well of course."

With a single thought, Harry felt his face begin to change until his own features were in display.

With a subtle widening of her eyes, Andromeda Tonks seemed to have taken his metamophagus ability in stride.

"A metamorphagus? You truly are a very interesting young man."

With a tip of his head, Harry said, "Thank you. I hope you restrain from telling anybody else…other than Mr. Tonks, of course."

"Of course, as a client of ours, any secrets you possess will be kept hidden."

"Thank you. Now, I asked for this meeting with the purpose of asking you if you would be willing to act as my proxy in matters of the Wizengamot?

With a raise of her eyebrows, Harry's proposal seemed to have caught her by surprise.

"I can't say that I saw that coming…I'm honored, of course, to having you consider me to become your proxy…but are you quite sure of it? You may receive some negativity in choosing me as your proxy. I'm sure you know that I was cast out of my family for running away and marrying a muggleborn. In the eyes of many pureblood families, I am a traitor, worse than muggleborns. It might weaken the Potter family standing, having a 'blood traitor' acting as its proxy. You might find some Heads of Houses unwilling to work with you through me."

Looking pensive, Harry began slowly before gathering speed, "I know that what I am asking is a lot…and that I may face some pushback from the more extreme pureblood families but if there is anything that I have learned…is that if I ever wish to bring the Potter family back into power…if I ever want to be taken seriously…I have to do what is best for myself and my family, not caring for the opinions of others…the same people who would rather see me meek and penniless. No, what I need are people who would be willing to stand by my side, supporting me and able to empower my family. You possess both the wit and experience to maneuver those old batty men, you have the knowledge of both the law and the way the system works, you have contacts within the law enforcement departments and the judicial branch, and you have the personal strength to stand your ground…everything about you screams of self-determination, strength, and an unbending will. Your family forsook you, threw away like filth expecting you to die from hunger…but look at you now…you began your career and grew into a reputable law firm…you married a man that was willing to protect you from the claws of your parents…and have a family which has grown in spite of your troubles. No, I can safely say that I very much admire you for your tenacity…and its due to that that I know you will help me lead the Potter family with the same inner strength it took you to build yourself up."

With a sheen of tears in her eyes, Andromeda had to clear her throat before beginning to speak.

"I'm thankful that you think so greatly of me…I cannot say that it was easy…having to start all over from nothing…but you're right, it is important to have like-minded individuals around you who will support you. Your task is a difficult one, made even harder if you allow others to sway you."

"Yes, as such, I hope you would accept to being my proxy."

Bringing about a legal pad and a golden fountain pen, Andromeda beckoned him before saying, "And what would you require of me as your proxy?"

Leaning back on the chair, Harry began, "First, I expect that you will continue to be willing to be honest with me, I do not need a yes-person, but someone who will be willing to correct me, when needed. I am not prejudiced towards muggles, muggleborns, squibs, werewolves, half-breeds, or other such groups that face unfair treatment. I believe that in the end, we should judge people based on their own actions and merits, not through their family name, connections, or power. A powerful person does not always mean a good person. Likewise, a magically weak person can be a great person. The Potter family has always strived to be good, doing what we can for our fellow witches and wizards, helping allies and enemies when needed. In spirit of my heritage, I want to work to bring respect to those who have been unfairly judged. I respect our heritage and customs…traditions are a great reminder of what it took for us to get here but stagnation due to fear of causing change is detrimental to the health of any society. We cannot improve if we cannot change. As my proxy, you may find yourself at odds with the 'established' status quo of the magical world, where many will find me, and by association, you, as crazy for our 'radical ideas.'"

"To which party would you closer associate yourself with…the progressives under the head of Albus Dumbledore, the neutrals under Lord Greengrass or the traditionalist under Mr. Malfoy? The Potters have typically changed political associations throughout the years, depending on the political climate of their times."

"I do no see myself ever aligning with an individual as slippery and backstabbing as a Malfoy…and I have found very little to trust in Dumbledore. As such, I believe that I'll keep the family a 'free agent' so to speak. I will work with any who are willing to work with me to improve matters, for the sake of progress and not to further their own pockets. While I believe that some of the progressive and a few of the neutrals families would be willing to work with me, I will not stick myself with one sole group. Who knows, perhaps we can work to create an alternative option."

"A maverick, I see. Well, you do paint a rather steep hill we'll have to mount but I've always been one for a challenge. Will I have the authority to barter agreements on your behalf or will you prefer to leave that solely on to you?"

"No, I believe I can trust your judgement to begin an agreement on my behalf, but I do hold the ability to nullify any agreement if I do not feel that it aligns with my interests."

"Of course, that is your prerogative."

"Likewise, I believe that in matters of the law, I might defer to your greater knowledge and experience. I do not claim to be as well-versed in law as you are."

"Good, I'd rather not have you thinking that you can do whatever you wish without consequences. It will make my job much harder if I have to keep fixing your mistakes."

With a chuckle, Harry said, "No, you'll find me much more willing to useful insight. I am a Ravenclaw, not a Gryffindor."

With a chuckle of her own, Andromeda continued, "Good…now is there anything else you'll have need of me?"

"Yes," he began, looking around the office, "how secure is your office?"

With a furrowing of her eyebrows, she asked confused, "Very. Teddy and I paid a lot of money to ensure we had the best protections to ensue both our and our clients safety"

"What about any eavesdropping?"

"Impossible. Each room is warded individually to ensure that any conversation is kept to the confines of the room, providing secrecy between client and barrister. Even I do not know about the any information my husband has regarding his clients."

"Good. Because what I have to talk to you about is of utmost importance and I need to make sure that you understand it before you can fully agree to become my proxy. But before you do, I need to have you make a magical vow that what I am about to tell you will remain only between the two of us."

"My Lord, I assure you on my integrity as your barrister, that nothing you say will be repeated to any other, without your permission."

"It is not that I do not trust you…the complete opposite, I assure you. But the information is too important to risk having anybody else find out. Believe me, once you learn what I have to say, you'll be glad to have made the vow."

With a wave of her wand and flash from the vow later, Harry began his tale.

Covering everything from the beginning of his first years and explaining his encounter with Quirrell and Voldemort, Harry made sure to describe everything as well as possible. His encounter with Flamel and the safety of the Stone was kept hidden, having decided that it best remain a secret from as many people as possible.

A near half hour later, after having covered his arrangement with Hrothgar to purchase several properties and Ms. Douglas' transfer of several potions crates, Harry finished by saying, "So you see, if you choose to become my proxy, you'll have to be cognizant of the fact that by doing so you agree to helping me prepare for the eventual return of the Dark Lord. This will place a bigger target on you and your family than simply remaining as my barrister would."

Throughout his speech, Andromeda remained completely silent, growing more and more pale and he continued his tale. By the end of it all, she could have resembled a corpse that had suffered exsanguination with how white her skin had become.

"I am the sole remaining member of the Potters; therefore I need to do whatever I need to ensure my survival. I know that the claim that I defeated the Dark Lord will mean that he will have a personal vendetta against me, as such, the moment he returns will mean having himself and his followers attempting to kill me. I plan to be as prepared as possible, surrounding by people who understand that their association with me will paint a similar target on their back. I need people willing to fight alongside me, who will do what is needed to survive."

Letting a spell of silence grow between them both, Harry sat quietly as Andromeda processed everything that she just learned.

It took her quite a while before she was composed enough to begin talking.

"Uh…you are completely certain that he is alive…that it wasn't just someone playing a trick claiming to be He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"I am."

"But…how?!"

Shrugging, Harry said, "Does it really matter? He's alive…weak, sure, but alive and its only a matter of time before he is able to gather strength and return completely. That could be tomorrow or next week…heck, he might never be able to return to power fully…but I cannot take the chance of the time until then to become ready."

"Yes, I suppose you have a point."

"So, now that you know about it…do you still wish to be my proxy?"

With a hint of hesitation, Andromeda whispered, "Yes."

"Good, then I'll have Hrothgar write up a contract and a meeting with you to discuss compensation and other financial matters."

Standing up, Harry gather himself before saying, "I understand that I have given you a whole heap of terrible news…heck, even now I still feel frightened…but I am very thankful for your willingness to work with me."

"Of course, my Lord."

"Please, it's Harry. If you are to be my proxy then its time we get comfortable with each other."

"Then please, its Andy."

"Thank you, Andy."

Time Lapse

30th July 1992

After their meeting, Andy was able to sign the contract designating her as his proxy and by the end of the week, she was inducted into the Office of Appointments as his official proxy. Taking it a step further, Harry decided to classify her family, Teddy and Nymphadora (her daughter), as protectees of his family, thereby affording them protection from other pureblood families who my take offense to a 'blood traitor' being the proxy to an Ancient and Noble House.

Returning to his scheduled study and training, Harry days continued to fly by as he progressed further into his studies.

Before long, Harry found himself getting invited to a birthday party at the Longbottom Hall to celebrate Neville's twelve birthday. Having invited their fellow classmates, Neville himself had expressed his excitement to having him over for his birthday.

Offering to provide transportation to Hermoine and her parents, Harry took a taxi to the Granger's residence and had them all stand around him as they each held hands. Using the Lord's ring's Portkey, Hary was able to whisk them away.

Harry was glad to have picked them up earlier than the party as he found himself playing guide to the Granger family.

Dan found himself captivated by the surrounding landscape, loving the natural air that flowed through the forest and nearby lake. He expressed that he always enjoyed the random camping trips he took with Hermione, seeing it as a much needed break from the chaos of the city.

Emma was herself in love with the growing garden that Daisy maintained. Located near the two greenhouses that housed the magical flora and fauna, the garden was a personal project of Daisy that Harry had been more than willing to allow. At times, Harry found himself helping Daisy care for the plants, having grown to enjoy garden during his time with the Dursleys.

Hermione, to nobody's surprise, was entranced by the family library. She wished for more time to spend reading all those ancient tomes but was practically dragged away by her father and Harry.

After a quick guide on how to use the Floo, the four found themselves in a tall room, richly decorated with cushioned wooden chairs, a small center table and several floating candles.

With a 'pop' a male elf appeared, dressed in a uniform closely resembling Alfred's, he was an aging elf with light grey hair. His eyes were a starling blue that seemed to glow with a scary glint.

"Be welcomed to the Longbottom Hall, my Lords and Lady. Please, follow me, my Lord and Lady are waiting for you."

With a turn, the short grey elf guided them through the Longbottom ancestral home. Made from hard stone, it was decorated with various pieces of arts and weaponry. Harry saw swords, axes, spears, shields, and many more weapons that Harry was unfamiliar with.

The receiving room seemed to have been placed near the front of the manor, bedsides the main doors, which opened to a large entrance hall. Directly before the entrance, there was a wide corridor that seemed to cross through the manor and entered into a Great Hall that was both wide and tall, displaying a ballroom to them all.

Near the back, by a set of glass doors that led to the back grounds, were several tables where Harry spied Neville seated at the head of the longest one. Several other adults seemed to be seated in the other tables, enjoying their own lunch as they conversed amongst themselves.

Seated around Neville, Harry saw Susan, Hannah, Terry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, Justin, and Ernie.

As they walked closer to them, Neville turned in time to see them getting closer.

"Harry!"

Standing up, Neville made his way to greet them all.

"Well met and be welcomed under the rights of guest. I promise no foul intentions."

With a bow in return, Harry greeted for them all by saying, "We welcome your protection, I swear on our behalf no foul intentions."

With a manly hug, Harry said, "Happy birthday, Neville!"

"And a happy early birthday to you, Harry!"

Giving him a strong hug of her own, Hermione said, "Oh, happy birthday, Neville! Thank you so much for inviting us all to your family's manor. It's been such an amazing day! Have you seen the size of Harry's family library?! Thousands of years of books just lying there!"

A hand placed on her shoulder, Dan Granger calmed her before saying, "Hermione, please, remember to breathe. It's a pleasure to meet you, Neville, and a happy birthday."

With a wide grin, Neville replied, "Thank you, Mr. Granger. I'm glad you were all able to come, please, let me introduce you to my grandmother."

Motioned towards the table nearest to theirs, Neville whispered to the ear of the elderly lady seated at its head.

Standing, Harry saw the imposing figure that was Dowager Augusta Longbottom, matriarch of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom. A tall witch, she was a lean figure dressed in a rather outdated form of high class robes with a high pointed witches hat that was adorned with a full sized stuffed thin and underfed magical version of a vulture—an Augurey.

She was an imposing witch, a magical powerhouse in her days as an Auror. Born in the Moody family, she was cut from the same cloth as the rest of them. Augusta Moody was a an Auror straight out of Hogwarts, making her own mark as a rather fierce fighter before meeting Ceasar Longbottom, a fellow Auror from a different unit.

Retiring from the DMLE, Augusta transferred her intensity to the political arena, bull-dozing anybody who attempted to harm the Longbottom family using a surprising amount of guile for a former Gryffindor. Even the Dark Lord's attempt to destroy the Longbottom family, killing entire generations and dozens of their members, were not enough to fully eradicate them.

Unfortunately, as in the case of the Potter, there were now a few remaining members of the Longbottom family; Augusta, Neville, and the catatonic forms of Nevilles parents—Frank and Alice.

The victims of overexposure to the Cruciatus Curse by the Lestrange brothers, Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr., Frank and Alice Longbottom were left in a state where they remained alive only the faintest of definitions.

"Lord Potter and guests, may I present my grandmother, Dowager Augusta Longbottom. Grandmother, may I present Lord Harry James Potter, Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel and Emma Granger, with their daughter Hermione Granger of House Granger."

As the highest ranked individual of their group, presentations and greetings rested upon him.

"My Lady, it is a delight to meet you."

With a kiss to her wrinkling hand, Harry offered her a much deeper bow than would have been deemed necessary for their station, but Harry held much respect for her. Having to raise her grandson alone, with her own son and daughter-in-law being tortured into insanity, and a multitude of Death Eaters who would easily kill them all…Dowager Augusta was an incredibly willed woman whose respect was earned.

With a small smile on her stern face, she said, "What a flash from the past, my young Lord. Ever the charmer, just like your father was."

"Easy to be when such inspiration lays before you," he said with a wry smile and a quick wink.

A sharp laugh erupted from her throat as she threw her head backwards in laughter, "Oh, dear boy! Your father said the exact same thing."

A smirk grew from the corner of his lips as he heard her laugh.

"Come, join us in our celebration! Doctor and Doctor Granger, please join me and let these younglings enjoy themselves."

Beckoning Hermione's parents, she walked with them towards the table filled with other adults. Getting closer to their classmates, Harry saw them all rise from their chairs and wave their greetings.

"Harry! Hermione!"

With a flash of red, Susan launched herself between the both of them and wrapped an arm around them. Following in a much calmer example than Susan, the rest of their group took their turn giving them a hug, or—as in the case of the boys—a rather short but manly hug.

Directing him, Neville had him sit to his right, at the end of the table, where he found a newly appeared plate resting with a steaming piece of juicy venison, roasted asparagus, sauteed mushrooms, and creamy mash; spread throughout the table were baskets of warm bread rolls and butter; accompanying the dish, there were several pitchers of pumpkin juice, butterbeer, various fruit juices, or water.

In the center of the table, rested the toasted remains of what appeared to be a hog, rather big in size, its tusks gleamed under the magical lights that were spread throughout the hall.

"My grandmother and I went out hunting in the family grounds all day yesterday for that hog and the venison we have served," explained Neville, "It was quite fun to join her. She's never been willing to let me join her in her hunts, but she felt that I was ready for it."

Tasting the dish, Harry complimented by saying, "My compliments to your elves, Neville, truly this is an inspired dish. How did your hunt go? Do you use magic or mundane weapons? I must admit to having never heard of a magical hunt before."

Shaking his head, Neville explained, "It used to be quite the norm for the Noble House to partake in hunting but in the past century, hunts by magicals has been going away. My grandmother still keeps up the tradition and bemoans those 'stubborn old goats' who see it as beneath them. Only mundane weapons, old hunting rifles, are used during the hunt and the ones we used have been in the family for almost a hundred years. They belonged to my great-grandfather before he gifted it to my grandmother before his death. My grandmother is rather strict in no-magic being used during the day, she says that the use of magic is a cheat…a real hunter uses only his wits and experience to outmaneuver their prey."

"Sounds like a blast, Nev. I'm glad to see that your grandmother is being more receptive to you."

Nodding rapidly, Neville continued, "Thanks! I even asked if she would be willing to have me purchase my own wand…instead of using my father's old wand. She was hesitant to do so but I was able to convince her during the summer."

"Wonderful news! Like Lord Ollivanders says, 'It's the wand that chooses its owner'. You never would achieve your full potential with a wand of another, even if he was your father."

For the next several hours, the group of friends enjoyed their conversations, food, snacks, drinks before eventually making their way toward the back grounds, where they found an indoor pools that, just as in the Bones Manor, was enchanted to remain warm and comfy.

Changing into the provided swimwear, they swam and played with the water, with magic making it all the more fun. A low-powered Depulso, when done correctly produced a much better and powerful wave that would drench its target.

Due to the powerful wards surrounding the ancient manor and being under the supervision of their parents, any magic performed by them were allowed, leading to them taking full advantage of it by creating as much chaos as they could with their limited arsenal.

As the one with the most knowledge and power, Harry quickly began to demonstrate why he was seen as a magical prodigy, wielding magic that created small water typhoons, swirling the pool in a rapid current that swept everyone.

Terry, not to be outperformed, was able to cast a charm that allowed him to breathe underwater, even for the few short seconds that he was able to perform. An incredibly advanced charm for the budding second-year student, it was a testament to his strength.

In the end, even the adults partook in the fun, creating bubbles of air that twinkled and fizzled with flashes of colour, lighting the darkening sky with their displays. Terry's father was able to create a blasting display of fireworks that lightened the night sky with moving dragons, unicorns, and phoenixes that caused them all to 'ooh and ahh' with his mastery of charms.

Dan and Emma, along with Dean's mother, as the only non-magical individuals were amazed at the beauty of magic, with its glowing colours and magical displays. Hermione, after repeated assurance that she would not get into trouble, began to demonstrate to her parents many of the charms that she had read, enjoying the smile and looks of pride that they brought to her parents.

At the turn of midnight, Madam Longbottom surprised Harry with a cake with the words, 'Happy Birthday, Harry,' written in emerald green frosting. Overwhelmed with the well-wishes and hugs for his birthday, Harry fought hard to keep his tears hidden. Nearing one in the morning, the weary children began to doze off, leading their parents to guide them back to their respective homes.

Having been brought by Harry, the Grangers found themselves offered a room in the Potter Manor that was denied at first, until Harry's insistence wore them down. By the second hour of the day, the Potter Manor was once more quiet and dark, with its occupants heavy in their sleeps.