Chapter 66

Harry hardly had time to be disgusted with what he had done to Barty Crouch Jr. After throwing the boy's body in the Black Lake and transfiguring it beyond recognition, Harry knew there would be no finding the boy. Even if they did they would have no idea who he was or how long he had been in the water. It had been a difficult step to take, but Harry resolved himself, with the reminder that Crouch had helped torture the Longbottoms into insanity.

Arriving at Number 12, he wore a blank expression on his face as he approached Sirius who looked weary. With a flick of his wand however, Harry ignored the boy as the front door opened and he strolled right in, dragging the levitating body of Regulus Black with him.

The teen didn't even look to see if Sirius was following him as he strolled right into the family living room where he could sense much of the family was still gathered. When he entered the room fell silent, but that only lasted for half a second as Regulus' unconscious form followed.

Before him were the entirety of the surviving members of the Black clan. Andi, Cissy, and their mother Druella sat on the far end with Walburga who was already on her feet with murder in her eyes. Then there was Charlus and Dorea sitting next to Cassiopeia Black who sat directly across from the others. Closer to the head table were Pollux, Alphard, Arcturus, and Melania, all of whom seemed displeased by the interruption. Even more so when considering a member of their family had been brought into the house in such a way.

Harry's magic flared in irritation, and his voice carried over the group, "The only reason this idiot is not dead is because of my respect for Lord Black. I suggest you hear my words before accusations continue to fly, Walburga Black."

His voice carried over the shouting woman, who looked ready to foam at the mouth. Arcturus stood to his feet, slamming his hands on the table, "Harry there better be a damn good explanation for this."

In understanding, Harry nodded shortly, while shifting his eyes between Charlus and Arcturus to convey his message, "Regulus here thought it would be a good idea to ambush Sirius, the heir of this family, and his two best friends, Remus Lupin and James Potter, with some of his junior Death Eater pals. Heir Potter has been transported to Saint Mungo's by my girlfriend…his injuries were very serious if not potentially fatal."

This silenced the room, and it was mostly because of Harry's tone, while even, spoke of the violence that would follow if another word was murmured out of line. All eyes when he was done speaking went to Charlus whose magic flared with rage. Charlus' head whipped towards Arcturus, but the man looked furious himself and drew his wand pointing it at Regulus barking out, "Ennerverate."

Regulus sputtered awake, and crawled backward rapidly in fear. Clearly, he remembered the last time he was conscious, Elaina was drowning him in a massive swirl of water, and his eyes were wide as he looked around, realizing he was home, "How did I get here?"

"It seems my godson has more mercy in his heart than I do when it comes to people trying to harm his family members." Arcturus raged at the boy as he pushed his chair back with his legs and approached the youngest male member of his family, "Now I need to explain to our entire family why you would risk violence with the Potters and attack a member of their family. THE HEIR to their family."

Arcturus was practically screaming and spitting at the boy as he yelled. Sirius had entered the room, skirting the wall, unnoticed by most of the room as all eyes were on the irate Lord and his youngest male grandchild.

Regulus sputtered incoherently, trying to find words, but none came to him. Instead, his mother came to his rescue, "Give it a rest, Arcturus. I am sure the Potter boy is fine, and this is all a misunderstanding. A prank my oldest son, your heir, is so fond of."

"I assure you, the death of my cousin would be no prank, Ms. Black." Harry said with a fierce tone.

Arcturus whirled around to face the woman and flicked his wand in her direction, "Not another word, Walburga! You are only in this house by my good grace after what your idiot husband, my son did, last time we were all here. Another word will cost you greatly, maybe even your life."

Charlus grunted out, "What can you tell us, Harry?"

Harry quickly explained the patronus he had received at Potter Manor, and was quick to exclude the sordid details of what Elaina and him were up to prior to the call for help. He went on to explain that Lily was in the middle of fighting for her life among the three teens when Harry and Elaina arrived and seized control of the situation. He finished the story with the state of James Potter and how he sent Elaina ahead to get his cousin help.

"Now I find myself here, instead of by my family's side. I only did this out of love and respect for my godfather. I assure you the other two did not get off so lucky." Harry spat towards Walburga Black who bristled at the words.

Arcturus clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white and turned on his grandson, "You have no idea what you have done."

"I need to see my nephew, Arcturus." Charlus said standing to his feet.

"Of course, please let me know if my family can do anything for yours. I am sorry old friend." Arcturus said humbly.

Charlus said nothing but turned and kissed Dorea on the forehead, before storming out of the room. Silence fell over the occupants before Regulus spoke weakly, "I was just trying to put that Mudblood lover Potter in his place. We didn't know Snape was going to try and kill him!"

"YOU ATTACKED AN HEIR TO A FAMILY ON THE WIZENGAMOT!" Arcturus roared before composing himself with a deep breath, "You jeopardize a relationship that has been in good standing for over thirty years because you wanted to impress your idiot friends…If the Potter Heir dies there is nothing I can do to protect you."

"Can't or won't?" Walburga spat.

"My answer is the same regardless!" Arcturus practically roared out.

"Godfather." Harry spoke calmly, and the man turned back to face the boy with a questioning look, "Assuming James lives through the night, I think it would be best if Regulus is sent away."

Walburga went to protest, but before she could Dorea silenced her with a whip of her hand, "Let my son speak, you impotent cow!"

Arcturus' eyes never left Harry's as he eyed the boy with concern, "Away?"

"To finish his magical education." Harry finished, "With the state of things, and the Black family going to war with the Heir perhaps it would be best to send the younger members of the family to the continent. They would be safer there, and if the worst were to happen, and the Black family were to crumble, there would be heirs in safe places."

The man was silent as he pondered the question and Regulus began to protest, "Wait a second, I-"

"Silence boy!" Arcturus said, pointing his wand at the teen who flinched at the gesture, "You only live because of our relation to the man you attacked. My protection will only go so far."

"Harry." Alphard said, rising to his feet now hoping to diffuse the situation, "I do not think you would have proposed the solution if you did not have more to it. What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that if Regulus ends up donning the black robes, and joins the wrong side, he is going to end up getting killed by my family." Harry said adamantly, "The only way to protect him, is to get him out of it. Send him to Durmstrang to finish his last year of magical education. It is a good institute, worthy of a member of the Black family. He will be safe from the Pureblood movement in our country, and will be out of reach from the Heir of Slytherin, for now at least."

Pollux spoke after a long silence, "I have some connections on that side of the continent. I could easily get the boy transferred."

"You should take little Cissy with him too." Alphard added, "Things have not been good at Hogwarts this last year, and I suspect without Harry to keep the more outspoken purebloods in place it could evolve further."

Narcissa looked alarmed by the suggestion, and her mother immediately chimed in, "I have been in talks with Lord Malfoy about a betrothal contract. I fear if we send her away those talks will fall through."

"It's best that they do." Dorea spoke sharply, "Lord Malfoy is suspected to be a part of the Pureblood movement. Narcissa could end up a very young widow if Lucius were to end up on the wrong side of my husband or son's wand."

Narcissa looked at her mom desperately for intervention, but Arcturus spoke over them all, "My godson is correct. Our family is going to war. If we are to be wiped out it would be the interest of preserving our families if our heirs were scattered. Narcissa, you will finish your schooling at Beauxbatons. A professor there is a good friend of mine, and I know she will ensure your admission process is flawless. Your mother can take the Black cottage in Versailles that way you can visit during the off time of the school year. Regulus, you will go to Durmstrang, as long as Pollux can get you in."

"I will send the necessary letters tonight." The man said resolutely.

"Good. Cassie, can I impose on you to take the lad in?" Arcturus asked softly.

"You cannot send my son awa-"

Before the woman could argue further her hands shot to her throat and Arcturus spoke dangerously, "I will do whatever I see necessary to ensure the future of our family. The wards of this house are dangerously close to stripping the last of your life from your worthless body. When this meeting is over Walburga, I suggest you never return to this home while I am alive. You poisoned the heir to our family against the rest of us, and now you have led another astray to the point that our allies may come calling for his head. I will have no more of your presence in this family."

When Arcturus finished speaking, the wards released the woman and she slumped sideways, falling out of her chair onto the floor. His eyes went back to Regulus and shook his head, "I failed you, Regulus."

"You as well, Sirius." The man said as his eyes went over to his heir, "I should've taken you from that idiot son of mine years ago. You should've grown up under my wing. Instead, I am forced to send one away, and the other, my own heir, hates me. I have failed you all."

The man looked down at the table, and there was a thick silence in the room. Then Sirius, who had been quiet since their arrival stepped towards his grandfather, "I don't hate you."

Arcturus lifted his eyes towards his grandson who looked uncomfortable to have so many eyes upon him, but he carried on, "I hate what people think of our family. I hate the pureblood propaganda that led to the death of children in Hogsmeade. The death of my best mate's dad, a man I trusted and respected. All that hate, has nothing to do with you."

"We are only seen that way because I allowed my children too much freedom, because I went quiet in our society with the absence of my best friend. All those things you hate are because of me." Arcturus said with a voice of regret.

"You two can make it right." Harry chimed in, "Protect the family. Protect the country. Stand against Voldemort together. Make a difference."

"I planned to join the Aurors at the end of the Summer." Sirius admitted to Arcturus, "I want to help people. I can help people."

Alphard approached Sirius putting a hand on his shoulder, "You'd make a damn fine Auror, son."

"Aye, he would." Arcturus admitted, "And I would be a poor Lord and grandfather if I didn't do everything in my power to support you and your cause."

"We can make a difference." Sirius said hesitantly as he approached his grandfather, and then offered his hand to the man, "Together."

"Together." Arcturus agreed, clasping the boy by the hand.

Swallowing hard, Harry hoped the difference they would make would be a positive one. He could only hope he was not sending more people off to their deaths. It was time to see to his family though and the fidgeting Dorea told him enough. His eyes shifted to Regulus and he knelt down next to him, "If we ever cross paths like we did tonight, I'll kill you. I spared you once, don't make me regret it."

With that, he stood back to his feet, and Dorea was at his side. Speaking to his godfather he spoke softly, "Lord Black, we must go to my cousin's side."

Arcturus looked grave at his words, "I understand. Thank you for this, Harry."

Offering the man a nod, he took his mother by the hand, and moved towards the door. He heard Sirius exchange final words with his grandfather, and soon the three of them were all outside Grimmauld Place apparating to Saint Mungos.

.o.

Opening his eyes, James feared the worst. He had left Harry, Lily, and other Marauders behind to deal with the rising Death Eater threat alone. He heard his father calling to him, welcoming him into the next Great Adventure, but as he blinked the bright light of life out of his eyes he knew his day had not come. James had woken up in enough hospital rooms to know immediately that is where he was. The lancing pain in his back indicated the duel he had been in with Snape was lost, but what he couldn't quite fathom was how he came to be where he was. Had Sirius and Remus managed to get the better of their school rival?

"Sleeping beauty awakens." A voice joked to his left.

James' eyes moved faster than his brain would've liked, but he took in the appearance of his cousin…son, Harry. The dark-haired teen could've been his double with a little bit of work and adjustments to his hair and frame. Structurally their faces were very similar, and James often felt like he was looking in a mirror when speaking to Harry. It was an odd feeling, especially now knowing it was his son from the future.

The time traveler leaned forward and spoke softly, "How do you feel, James? What do you remember?"

Groggily the boy attempted to sit up, and Harry gestured for him to relax as pain visibly reflected across his face, "Easy there, mate. Let me get you some water."

With a flick of his wrist, a glass came levitating towards the bed and hovered above James' chest. Slowly James reached out to grab the cup and to slow sips of the water feeling his throat constrict desperately while trying to rehydrate. When he was done, James looked around realizing Harry was the only one there, "Where is everyone?"

"In the lobby." Harry said gently, "You've been down for a day, and the first few hours were rough, but the doctors were able to counter the spell Snape hit you with. If not for Dorea I am not sure they would've figured it out in time."

James let out a huge sigh and stared up at the ceiling, "Snape beat me. We were dueling and it all spiraled out of control."

"I know," Harry said evenly.

James looked over at Harry, "What happened after I went down?"

"I showed up." Harry said simply, "With Elaina, and Lily."

"And Snape?"

"I don't know." Harry admitted, "I hit him with a pretty nasty spell, and gave him a chance at living by giving him a portkey which he didn't take. I snapped his wand, turned my back on him, and when I was looking at the others he disappeared. Without a wand, he likely bled out, but Snape is resourceful. Regardless, we crossed wands and I showed him the caliber wizard he would be facing the next time we fought. I left no room for misunderstandings that if we crossed paths again I would kill him."

James nodded in understanding, but Harry had not told him the full truth of his deception in 1981, "Better than the git deserved. He is a Death Eater."

"Not yet he's not." Harry countered, "I checked his arms. He is unmarked."

James' jaw fell a little bit, and he flopped the small distance back onto the bed, groaning angrily, "He baited me. He said he was close enough to see Dad get killed by a superior wizard. After that…"

The Potter Heir didn't need to finish, Harry understood. He likely would've killed Snape had he been taunted with anything similar, "The next time we encounter him, if we encounter him, we will duel to kill. He had his chance."

"He beat me, fair and square, Harry. If it had been a duel to the death, had the boys not been there…"

"You will be ready next time. We just need more time training together." Harry said, trying to support the teen, "If you and Sirius stick with your decisions to be Aurors in the fall then there will be lots of prep and training this Summer. I will be working with Elaina a lot anyway to prepare her for the dueling circuit."

"What will you do?" James asked quietly.

"Wage war." Harry answered softly as he rose to his feet, "I need to tell the others you are awake. There will be lots of relief and you can expect lots of visitors. Including one upset red-head. I don't envy you, mate. She might finish what Snape started. If you get overwhelmed, you can always remember that you are a tosser for making me think I lost you last night and suck it up."

James cracked a slight smile at his cousin's joke and shook his head, "Thanks for coming to help me, Harry."

Harry was at the door when he turned to face the man who was his birth father in a different time, "Always."

.o.

Harry sat with a glass of firewhiskey at Potter Manor in his hands. He was sitting in the family Common Room listening quietly to the wireless. He had been at Saint Mungo's for two days and had hardly rested. Now that he was home however he just needed a drink to try and unwind and breathe again.

Things had been hard the first day when James was touch and go. There were several points throughout the night Harry knew they could lose him, but thankfully he had pulled through. The rollercoaster of emotions he suffered in that time had been staggering. The world had been spinning as he feared he failed in his objective once again of protecting the members of his family. For once, the world seemed to show mercy, but he knew hard days were still on the horizon.

"I half expected you to be staring darkly into a fire when I found you." A familiar voice teased as she entered the room.

"It's the middle of Summer?" Harry questioned as he raised his eyes to meet the beautiful heterochromia of his girlfriend.

Shrugging, the girl chided, "Seems like the dramatic sort of thing you would do."

Harry chuckled, and the girl came and sat beside him, close enough that they were touching. Harry put an arm around the girl and pulled her close to him and she kissed him on the cheek softly, "Are you okay?"

"It's been a long few days." Harry admitted.

"That doesn't answer the question." She said pointedly, "We didn't talk about what happened after I left with James."

"There isn't much to say." Harry said with a frown, the flash of green light echoing through his mind. Barty had likely only just turned seventeen, or maybe he wasn't even of age. Harry wasn't sure, which only made his stomach turn.

"I know Crouch Jr is missing. Are they going to find him?" Elaina pressed softly.

Standing to his feet abruptly, Harry moved towards a window avoiding the question. After a moment, Elaina was beside him again wrapping her arms around his waist comfortingly, "I know what he did to you in your time, Harry. He wasn't like Regulus who defected on his own. Crouch was as loyal as the most fanatical follower even years after Voldemort was gone. You made the only smart move available."

"Killing a defenseless teenager should never be the smart move." Harry said bitterly.

"It can be in this case, Harry, and you know it." The girl countered stubbornly, "Who knows which of our friends that lunatic would've killed had you left him to live. Who knows which child would've been an orphan if you had spared him? You know what those bastards are capable of. I don't see you any differently."

Separating from the girl Harry moved away before taking a big gulp of his remaining firewhiskey before saying, "I am afraid of how I will see myself by the time this is over."

Elaina looked at him questioningly, and he sighed, placing the glass on a nearby table. The dreary mood in the room was a far cry from the careless dancing they had done together on Christmas Eve. Harry felt dirty ever since his fight outside Hogsmeade, and he hadn't even washed away his sins yet.

"If you can see yourself…or me…or James and Lily…or Charlus and Dorea at the end of this then it all has to be worth it. Harry, we said we would pay the price for victory. This is it." Elaina said softly.

Harry shook his head and Elaina took his hand and guided him to a chair where she gently pushed him down and then sat on his lap pushing her legs over his knees wrapping both arms around him and talking softly, "If we win Harry it will be worth it. This feeling you have now, it's because you are still a good person. Despite all that's happened, you will want to be inherently good. I understand. I know how you were in your Hogwarts days now. They saw you as the hero. Harry, the hero, lost. If you want to win, a part of you is going to have to be the villain."

Harry clenched at her words, but she whispered words in his ear, "To me though, you will always be my hero. The boy who came to my rescue, who struck down those would've harmed me. Maybe even killed me."

Swallowing hard, Harry felt butterflies in his stomach at her whispered words. When the girl moved away from his ear he could tell she was grinning mischievously in an attempt to take his mind away from war, "I talked to Charlus."

Harry raised his eyebrows at the girl, and she supplied an answer, "He wants to give us a break before we come back and…put our plans into motion."

The girl paused and seemed to try and gauge his reaction, "A break sounds nice."

"Two days in Paris, two in Zurich, and then we will go to Vienna for our meeting." The last part was said in trepidation, but he could tell by the look in her eyes that she was very excited about the trip, all things included.

"A few days in Europe with my sexy girlfriend sounds like a nice getaway, think I can find a beach to get you into a bikini?" Harry asked with a kiss on her neck.

The girl moaned, but tried to stifle it, shaking her head and allowing him to continue peppering soft kisses against her skin, "I think I like when you drink firewhiskey."

Pulling away from the girl he offered a cheeky smile, "I don't need a firewhiskey to want to see you in a bikini."

"I hear most of the beaches in France are nude anyway." The girl teased.

"Can we leave tonight?" He asked as he moved his kisses to her jawline.

Laughing, the girl pushed his chest and grabbed his chin as she gently made him look into her eyes, "You know we did get interrupted by your mother's patronus the other night."

"I'd have a go at you right here if I didn't think my other mother would disrupt us with something less tranquil than a Patronus." Harry said with a chuckle.

This made Elaina laugh as well and she planted a soft kiss on his lips, "Maybe when we are on the continent we will find some time for just us. Where we won't get any interruptions."

"Sounds like a dream." Harry joked.

"Keep your eyes open and it doesn't have to be." The smile she offered him was tantalizing and with both arms in motion, he wrapped her up and pulled her as close as possible as he offered her many kisses. Harry wasn't sure what the Summer, or the coming days on the continent would bring, he would just be happy to have this beautiful girl at his side.

(A/N) The Blacks are on the move. Join me on Discord and read through Chapter 85 for free. Just find "The Hunters Lounge" or add me on Discord OrionB15. You can also read through the end of the story for just 1$ on Pat(reon).