:-[Chapter 43]-:
"I am not gawking at them, my lady." Harry answered, trying to defuse the situation. "I have recently learned that Miss Alice is my godmother and I was just recently toldthat she was here."
Harry heard two sharp gasps. One coming from the old woman and another coming from behind her.
"H-Harry?" a timid voice said. "You don't sound the same compared to school."
The raven-haired boy turned his gaze toward the source of the voice and saw Neville Longbottom himself. The young boy was shyly hiding behind his grandmother.
"I believe we need to have a talk, Lady Longbottom." Harry said, removing his desguise.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Neville Longbottom was flabbergasted. It was one thing to see Harry Potter in the hospital looking at his parents, but to learn that the Boy-Who-Lived was the godson of his mother was something else entirely. Now, his classmate, himself and his grandmother were sitting in the living room in Longbottom Manor.
"Well, Mister Potter." started his grandmother. "How did you obtain the information about dear Alice?"
"Through my lawyer, Lady Longbottom. I have recently learned about Miss Alice about being chosen to be my guardian and I wanted to see her as soon as possible. The healers did not tell me any details about her and Mister Frank's condition, however." Harry explained.
"Understandable. Very few people have access to them, even in the hospital itself. While their... situations are known to the grand public, they are kept under strict supervision."
"Tell me, Lady Longbottom, do you know Tonks and Perkins?" Harry asked suddenly changing the subject.
"Why yes, they are a pretty good law firm, specialising in helping muggleborns, half-bloods and poorer purebloods. It was your grandfather, Fleamont and your father James who had given them their start up money. Any problems with dear Teddy?" Augusta answered, half-joking.
"Yes, indeed." his classmate said, to both their shock at the severity of his tone. "Mister Tonks has preferred to listen to the demands of another person, instead of those of my parents last will."
"How so, Harry? Neville asked, finding his voice for the first time.
"Good question, Neville." Harry started. "It seems that our esteemed Headmaster has put his nose in my family's business. He never told me about my parents last will. He apparently asked my own lawyer to not contact me at my relatives' house, keeping me in the dark about my family's legacy."
"No! Dumbledore would never do that!" the shy Gryffindor exclaimed.
"But he did, Neville. I learned today about my own godmother and godfather, Sirius Black, can you imagine?"
"Y-Your g-godfather is Sirius B-Black? Neville asked in fright.
"Indeed, and I intend to meet with him as soon as my lawyer does a little thing for me." Harry added, adding to the fright Neville already felt before looking at Augusta. "Lady Longbottom, could you show me how wizards move around without brooms?" the young wizard said, changing the subject abruptly.
"Certainly, Mister Potter." said the older woman with a wicked smile.
:-[T.A.B]-:
After an extremely violent ride in the Knight Bus, Harry returned to Diagon Alley to buy some stuff he needed to better himself as a wizard. He had around an hour before his uncle would come and get him to return to Surrey. Walking quicky on the cobblestone alley, the raven-haired wizard immediately went to Flourish and Blotts to browse the books.
Entering the bookstore, Harry saw an older female clerk sitting at the counter, waiting for customers to close the store for the night. Having no idea where to look for what he had in mind, the young wizard went to the witch for information.
"Hello, miss." Harry said, still wearing his baseball cap. "I need books on dueling, especially for beginners, please."
"Well, of course, young one." the woman said with a smile. "Do you know what style of dueling you are looking for, dear?"
"Uhh, no. I am fairly new at this to be honest. Maybe a book explaining different styles?" the young wizard suggested.
"Oh yes, there is the Flitwick Series of books. The true starting kit for beginners going to Hogwarts if you ask me." offered the woman. "Five galleons and it is yours."
"Flitwick as in Filius Flitwick? The charms professor at Hogwarts?" Harry said, surprised that his professor was a published author.
"Why yes, dear. The man is a renowned duelist and retire champion of the dueling circuit. He published quite a lot of books about dueling. You should ask him about them when you go back to Hogwarts."
"I'll take the series. Thank you for the advice."
:-[T.A.B]-:
The first week went by fast. Luckily for him, the Dursleys left him alone in his room for most of the day. Harry found out that his relatives were all terrified of him and decided to leave him alone for the summer. Good thing since he knew he would have flat out refused to do any slave labor for them. He was content to stay in his room with Hedwig for company.
Harry had already finished his homework in the first few days. He was now reading the Flitwick Series with a passion he never had before, even more than Quidditch. His professor truly had a talent to easily explain his craft to children. The young wizard would have to ask him more about this and would have to join the dueling club of Hogwarts.
In his first year, Harry didn't really do what he liked. Sure, Quidditch was fun but also very dangerous and the young wizard would have to think about if he was to continue that sport next year. He loved flying, the feeling of freedom was incredible and Harry really understood why Hedwig love to fly so much, nevertheless, the young wizard was not sure that the violent sport was for him.
Suddenly, his uncle's voice resonated in the house like a bang.
"BOY! Get down here this instant!"
Sighing to himself, Harry petted Hedwig's white feathers and put her on the perch he bought for her as she absolutely refused to go into her cage anymore. Coming out of his room, the raven-haired boy went down the stairs and saw his lawyer, Theodore Tonks, standing in the doorway, looking uncomfortable.
"What is this, boy? Why is one of your kind here at my house to see you? School is done! I will not have this... this... this freakish stuff here!" bellowed the man.
"Uncle Vernon, you should think twice about screaming about my school. You know my kind does not like it when you scream about magic." Harry warned, his hands clasped behind his back.
Vernon blanched instantly at Harry's words. The fat man quickly indicated to Theodore to enter his house, looking outside for anyone who could be listening, Vernon closed the door with a loud snap.
"Well, what do you want, wizard?" asked the fat man, while his wife was holding their son behind her back for dear life.
"Mister Dursley, I am Theodore Tonks, lawyer at Tonks and Perkins, esquire At Law. My firm is currently employed by the House of Potter for an important task. Mister Potter? If I may?"
Harry nodded, understanding that the man wanted his permission to continue divulging his personnal information.
"I have documents here for Mister Potter. My client wants to be declared of age as soon as possible. In doing so, he would effectively be able to leave your house for good. As I have been told, you would not mind, wouldyou?"
Vernon's eyes grew bigger at the realisation that he could be relieved of the little freak and his freakishness. Rubbing his hands, his uncle indicated to Theodore to continue with a firm nod of his head.
"As I thought. The procedure for being declared of age in the wizarding world is fairly the same as in the normal one. The documents are already filled out and only need your signatures so we can go forward with this." indicated Theodore while putting said documents on the living room's small table.
"What else w-would you need from u-us?" Petunia said, her voice slightly unsure.
"As you are Mister Potter's muggle, or normal guardians if you prefer, a wizarding judge would have to come here..." the lawyer tried to explain but was interrupted by the fat man.
"Hell bloody no! I will not have more freaks in my house!" Vernon bellowed.
"Mister Dursley." Theodore said, his voice even. "I understand your fear of witches and wizards. However, you must understand, our laws are quite clear. Muggles cannot come inside our Ministry for the magic is too strong for you, even with charms to protect you, your brain would not be able to understand why you are there nor what you are doing. May I continue?"
With only a grumble from the fat man, the lawyer continued. "As I was saying, the judge will come here with some Aurors, magical policemen, to ask you some questions about Mister Potter. After all, your opinion of him will be instrumental in his declaration. It is possible, due to the fact that Mister Potter is a cele..."
"Mister Tonks." Harry said firmly. "When can we proceed?"
"As soon as Mister and Miss Dursley sign the documents here, here and here." Theodore answered, showing the places where their signatures were needed. "For the rest, I shall bring the documents to the Ministry tomorrowand from there, it should go pretty quickly, I think."
Harry's lawyer rose up to his feet, holding the precious documents in his arms. Theodore nodded to the family and looked at his young client.
"A word in private, Mister Potter?" the lawyer asked.
"Of course, Mister Tonks." Harry said, nodding to the man and showing the corridor with a small gesture of his hand. The young wizard didn't even look in his relatives' direction, only escorting his lawyer out of the living room.
"I hope it was to your satisfaction, Mister Potter." Theodore said, his voice hopeful about not losing his biggest and most important client. "I worked as fast as I could. Your hearing should be in a couple of days since your... high-profile nature."
"Thank you, Mister Tonks, and yes. Everything is going like I wanted." Harry answered Theodore truthfully. "Should I be scared about Veritaserum?"
"By Merlin, no! This potion cannot be used on children under strict laws. Your family however is..." the man wanted to say getting interrupted again by Harry's hand.
"That is not my family, but thank you for all of the information. Between you and me, the rest is part of the plan. Thank you again, Mister Tonks." the young raven-haired boy said to his lawyer.
:-[T.A.B]-:
It indeed took only two days for the wizarding official to come to the Dursley's. The judge was an old man, easily in his sixties or seventies. Adorned with a dark red wizard robe, the man was flanked by three other people. Theodore Tonks was there of course, but it was the two other people with him that caught the interest of the young wizard.
Dressed in full grey robes, these two were probably the Aurors his lawyer was talking about last time he was here. One was a woman who had fair skin and had red hair that was starting to turngrey. She had a strong square jaw and did not look to be messed with at all. The other Auror was a man with dark skin and a stylish purple robe.
"It this the house, Tonks? I wouldn't want to obliviate the wrong muggle." the old man said.
"Indeed it is sir." Theodore said. "Here is our young subject, Mister Potter himself."
"Mister Potter? The Mister Potter?" asked the woman Auror, shocked.
"Why yes, it is me." Harry said, slightly scowling at the gawking from the supposed adults. "May we start? I am more than anxious to finally be able to leave this place."
"Of course, Mister Potter." said the judge. "I am an official from the Wizengamot, Augustus Kettletop and will be presiding over all of this to ensure your capabilities of being declared of age.
"Greetings, Mister Kettletop. It is an honor to finally be able to meet you." Harry said, shaking the man's hand. The young wizard led them into the house, under the extremely vigilant eyes of his uncle. Dudley wasn't present for this since he was sent to one of his friends' house by his mother.
The foursome of witch and wizards entered the house, looking around for things Harry could not think of yet. They entered the living room and all could see the fearful couple trying to hide on the couch, but seeing that the man was obese, it was hard to do.
"Misses and Mister Dursley, a pleasure to meet you." Augustus said, his voice slightly pompous. "I am an official from the Wizengamot, Augustus Kettletop and I am here to ensure if Mister Potter is indeed apt on being by himself at the age of eleven and not with you. I am sure you understand, there will be hard questions on the matter."
"Anything to have your kind out of my house for good." Vernon said, ignoring the scowling face of everyone except his scared wife.
"I see." the official said, squinting his eyes. "Well, what is your opinion on Mister Potter becoming declared of age? Do you believe him ready to be so, despite his young age?"
"The boy was raised in being independent from us." Vernon started. "We believe in... a firm discipline, when it comes to him."
"Misses Dursley, would you mind preparing us some tea?" suddenly asked the official, changing the subject. "I am an old man after all and tea helps a lot with my health, you understand of course."
"O-Of course, sir." Petunia said, scampering off to the kitchen.
After a small time waiting, she came back with a full tea service. She fearfully approached the wizards and the witch and gave each of them a cup. Petunia gave a cup to her husband and kept the last one.
"Now, in the case of a young wizard wishing to be... liberated from his guardians, Veritaserum is required. We have brought here enough vials for two muggle adults." the wizengamot official said.
"I took a day off just to be sure that the brat would finally be gone for good. Being shot of him is the best thing that could happen to us." Vernon confessed.
"Very well. Auror Bones, you can administer the serum to Misses and Mister Dursley." Augustus said.
The female auror nodded in the official's direction and dropped two drops each into the Dursley's mouths. Suddenly, their gazes became cloudy and distant.
"Mister Dursley, do you truly believe that Mister Potter can live on his own, all by himself?" the official asked.
"I don't care if he lives or dies." Vernon said, shocking the magicals.
"I-I-I beg your pardon?" the old man said, shocked to his core.
"You won't have my pardon, freak." the fat muggle answered.
A heavy silence settled in the living room. Harry was slightly smirking, as he watched the adults in the room looking at each other with hidden meaning, his hands clasped behind his back. His plan to get rid of the Dursley's was well on its way.
:-[T.A.B]-:
"Well, Master, it worked." Hedwig said, perched on his shoulder. "You are officially free"
"We are, girl." Harry corrected his familiar, scratching her feathers. "You know I would never go anywhere without you."
Both were standing in front on Harry's new house, in London. Beside them, was his lawyer Theodore Tonks who was holding a large antique key.
"May I have the honor, Mister Tonks?" Harry asked, his hand extended, palm up.
"Of course, Mister Potter." Theodore said, giving him the antique key which glowed multicolored sparks immediately in contact with the young wizard. "You can now control the wards around your house. As I was the last guardian of it, I am still linked to them. I'll show you how to add and remove someone as soon as we are inside."
Harry nodded to the man. He could hardly believe he was now free of the Dursley's and was now a home owner, but there he was. The young wizard took the time to observe the house again. The external walls were made of brown bricks. The door was of the same color but made of wood and was adorned with two white pillars. The house had windows everywhere but the young wizard could not see what was inside. In front of the three story house were magnificent flowers.
"Is it me or is the house being taken care of by someone?" Harry asked, seeing the perfect state of the house.
"Come with me, "Theodore started. "I will introduce you."
"Introduce you to whom?" Hedwig said.
The lawyer entered the house second, and followed his young client. Once inside, Harry looked at the magnificently decorated interior. The floor was made of a dark wood that contrasted with the white walls. Arriving in the living room, the young wizard saw a hearth with a fire in the middle of it, giving the room a nice cozy feeling. There was no tv, not that Harry minded at all. Two couches and one armchair were also in the room.
Suddenly, a small high-pitched scream broke the tranquillity of the house. Harry never saw it coming, even with all of his training with Ser Barristan Selmy. A small foot got in touch with his cheek, violently putting him on the floor. A small figure was moving so fast the young wizard could hardly see it. The small blur kicked the back of Theodore's right knee, effectively putting him also on the ground. Hedwig started flying to avoid being either attacked or crushed by Harry.
"HI-YAH! Who is you trying to break into my Masters house?" the owner of the high-pitched scream said with authority.
Harry was too shocked to say anything. In front of him was a small figure all dressed in black and in a stance ready to fight. The small thing barely reached his knees but had enough strength to put him on the ground. The young wizard looked in Theodore's direction and saw that he was laughing.
"Mister Potter, may I present to you, your house-elf. Marcy." the lawyer said, after having rose up to his feet.
The newly named Marcy snapped her fingers and made her black ninja clothes disappear, letting Harry see what she was for the first time. The little creature had large, bat-like ears and bulging blue eyes the size of tennis balls.
"Young Master Potter! Marcy exclaimed. "I is so sorry, but you need to be alert at all time!"
"I'm sorry, but what in the bloody hell is going on here?" Harry asked to both of them.
"Marcy here is a house-elf, Mister Potter. She is bound to your House until she dies or you free her by giving her clothes. I'll let her explain the details to you once you are alone. Marcy, could you show us the way to the ward core, please?"
"Master Fleamont has given express order to Marcy to not bring any no-Potters there." Marcy said, crossing her skinny arms on her tiny chest.
"I understand Marcy, but like we explained last time, Harry was too young to operate the ward by himself. It was either me, or a member of the Ministry." Ted said, making the house-elf grumble something about 'Fishy human'.
Marcy snapped her fingers once again, making all three of them appear in a small room. The walls and the floor were made of the same materials, which was granite. In the middle of the room, was a small pedestal with a blue crystal that was humming.
"This is your family's ward crystal. I have been its guardian with Marcy here for the last ten years or so. I am going to transfer the power to you. Redde potentia originis!"
Harry saw threads of magic coming from the crystal stick to him like a leech but felt no pain whatsoever. As the time passes, Harry felt the power within the crystal. It was strangely the same kind as the one found inside the crypt in Moat Cailin. The threads left him after a moment and the young wizard felt everything around his house. It was like he could see but without being there. He could feel every subtlety, every room, be them secret or not.
"The crystal has now bound itself to you." the lawyer continued after the spell stopped. "You now have the power to stop anyone from entering your house. Marcy will also explain all of this to you later on. I will leave you three together. Send Hedwig to me, if you need anything."
Marcy snapped her fingers and all four of them found themselves in the lobby, near the door.
"Always quick with the snaps, Marcy." Theodore said before opening the door. "Please, enjoy your stay, Mister Potter."
"It is Harry to my friends, Mister Tonks." Harry said, holding up his hand.
"Ted, for mine." the lawyer answered, shaking his client's hand.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Thank you everyone for reading Chapter 43 of The adventure begins! Please let a review in the comment, letting me know what you think about my story or what you would like to see.
Criticism is always welcome as long as it is constructive.
Thank you to abarai72 for his amazing help in developing this story!
To modelbuilder1fan1: Not currently in plans, The basilisk being a pet or familiar is pretty classic and I want to try something different once we are in the Chamber.
To joharasbel, BioHazard82 and Mark1: Thank you once again for reading each week!
To Claudiomir: Gracias por la reseña. ¡Espero que te guste el siguiente arco!
To rajeshkont: Oh! You meant her heart. Yes, but do no forget, it was a simulation and not thew real world. I hope you like Year 2 at Hogwarts!
To rmw5763: I hope you like this chapter my friend! Please telle me what you thought about it.
To ssiribas: I agree with you with Catelyn, she is the cause of many problems in the North but she is also a great character to write.
To Ptool: Thank you for you support!
To Blaze1992: Oh yes, karme is coming for Dumbledore!