Harry's tails twitched behind him as he hurried to catch up with the others. The feeling of the cool night air on his fur felt amazing. It didn't take long before he saw Neville waiting for him up ahead. Hopping over and landing on the badger, Neville gave a growl, before Hermione flew down and landed on Harry's back from the branch she had been perched upon.
It was comical; a fox on a badger and a raven on a fox as Draco stepped from bush he had been hiding within, opening his wings and trotting in place impatiently. Goyle and Crabbe were looking at the edges of the Malfoy property, acting like guardians even in the night.
The small, odd group of animals moved around the edges of the manor, dancing along the edges of the wards. Harry could see them, dim and calm, waiting for the time when they were needed; they took the shape of a dome of spider's webbing that pulsed faintly with magic.
And so the group started to play in their animal forms. Neville, Crabbe, Goyle, and Harry seemed to enjoy chasing each other, trading who chased whom every so often as they disappeared into the tall grass. Hermione and Draco took to the skies, raven and griffin disappearing into the clouds together but always within eyesight of the group.
Dancing in and out of the moonlit clouds, Harry and Neville continued to play, Neville giving a wicked grin as the large badger suddenly jumped onto Crabbe's crocodile form; that made the lizard panic and hop in place to get the little devil off.
Harry hopped onto Goyle's shoulder and gave a foxy snicker at the antics of his friend, as Goyle gave a happy snort. This was the sort of freedom Harry loved, feeling energized as he had friends to mess around with. Within him, his magic felt clear and free as he let it dance about his fox form, his markings faintly glowing in the night.
The group played together for several hours. Around them the moonlight shone, as if being a witness to the group of friends' shared happiness. When the moon climbed into the sky and the midnight hour began, Neville turned into his human form, causing everyone else to do the same and flop backwards into a circle. With his back on the dew-filled grass, Neville laughed.
"This is amazing. I've never felt so right." Neville said, looking up at the moon. Hermione agreed with a conspiratorial whisper, "It feels like there's a part of me I never knew of before."
Harry laughed. "I have been doing these runs since I was a kid. It really is wonderful."
Goyle's rough, yet quiet voice spoke up. "I never expected all of this. I always thought I'd just be in Malfoy's shadow all my life."
It was rare for Goyle to speak, as the others looked at him. Crabbe soon joined in, coughing a bit. "I expected to be nothing but one of a pair of bookends for Draco when my father told me to watch over him. Goyle and I were trained together to be proud and strong guards for the Malfoy family."
Draco winced at Goyle's comment. "Father always told me that the two of you weren't my friends, but my vassals. I never really thought about how the two of you felt. I always thought that you two were just there to make me look more important."
Crabbe shook his head. "I never really cared, to be perfectly honest. Being a guard of someone higher than you gives a sense of purpose. But now? Now that I've felt what life is like as a normal wizard, being a guardian feels even more important. When I look at the rest of you, I can picture us all as adults, and I'm proud to be a part of that group and protecting all of you." Crabbe's hands moved to rest behind his head, looking at the sky.
Goyle added his own thoughts. "I expected you to be as my father said, Malfoy. Arrogant, never caring about us, always ready to throw us aside. I didn't blame you, of course; I was told that I was a tool for you to use and nothing more thanks to the Malfoys being heirs to true magical nobility. We as the vassals of the Malfoy family would both protect and be protected by them. But I never really understood before now, I think? This feels right. Like where I should be. I want to be strong enough to protect all of you from anything that could harm you in the future."
Draco raised his hand towards the moon, as if clutching it. "All my life I was told that there are three types of people. Those above, those equal, and those below me. Crabbe and Goyle, you two were always meant to be my guards, but I guess ultimately you became my friends too."
Harry grinned, and piped up. "They're still ruddy good guards. They sometimes spot danger before I do."
Crabbe and Goyle both looked pleased at Harry's comment, as Draco snorted. "That's a good thing, considering half of what you don't see is what you cause."
Everyone laughed, as Harry grumped. "I get us out of trouble too!"
Hermione spoke up with a wistful sigh. "Being a witch is incredible. I always feel like lightning is running through my veins and burning through me. But when I let it out, it feels like I'm riding—"
Neville spoke up, seeming surprised. "Riding a beast, that is happy to be set free." Each of them nodded, agreeing with Neville's description. After a moment, Harry raised his hand towards the moon, and then Draco joined him. One by one, each of them raised their hands up towards the silver light of the moon.
"I wish Ron was here." Harry said after a moment. Draco let out a resigned sigh of agreement. "The Weasel really does add a bit of spice to the group, doesn't he? As much as I don't want to admit it."
"So we're all in agreement? When we go to Diagon next, we all get Ron a leaf. And then, he will be an animagus as well. As he should have been to begin with." Neville's voice was strong, as if challenging the others to deny the statement.
There were some glances of doubt among the group, but Harry shook his head. "I agree. Ron's a part of the group we formed on the Hogwarts Express. He's a loudmouth and hotheaded, but he's our friend. We shouldn't give up on him."
One by one, everyone lowered their hands as each of them spoke up in a unanimous accord. Together, their voices echoed out over the Malfoy Estate, the moon watching their pact.
"Agreed."
And so time passed, with Flamel teaching the group how to use their magic. They focused on releasing their inner magic and how to increase the power of it, as Harry saw the sparks of magic inside each of his friends building to a small flame. In their free time, Narcissa would show the group the garden, something Neville seemed rather interested in.
Neville and Harry spent time with Ron, as Crabbe would play against Ron in Wizard's chess almost every night, often while Harry read a book while idly watching the games. Almost every match would end in Neville's loss, but Harry heard from the Hufflepuff that he was working to get better.
Bipsy had attempted to tell Narcissa about the nightly excursions, but after Harry spoke to Dobby about it (and a bribe of Amber 'asking' for Bipsy here and there and giving the House-elf his freedom for a night or two) Dobby agreed to keep Bipsy quiet. Harry didn't quite know the specifics that the elf had said to Bipsy, but she held her tongue.
Two weeks passed, as the group had moved from basic exercises into releasing more of their magic from their bodies.
"Everyone has their own type of magic. This is called a magical signature." Flamel said as he began his lesson. "Magical signatures are always unique and never the same as anyone else's. Even using a different wand will not change your signature."
Conjuring a blackboard, Flamel wrote on it in big letters. "Order" and "Chaos"
"Magic naturally has ties with elements, but the biggest tie is between Order and Chaos. Magic that is ordered is far better for using with spells, while Chaotic magic is easier to be used with wandless magic."
"Chaotic magic is wild and free, while Ordered magic is controlled and refined. It is considered bad form to look too closely at another's magic, so that will be something you will have to find on your own."
"Now, I will begin to have each of you try to press your magic out of yourselves as much as you can. Try to force it into the apple I have on each of your tables. It's a simple exercise, but this is the next step after the different movements I taught you last week."
Hermione had tried to write notes, but the moment he had tried to the paper had burst into flames. Flamel laughed, "Sorry lass, as you already know, Merlin's Decree prevents any form of writing about what I tell you here even though it seems like it'd be too trivial to warrant the Decree's influence. Notes will not get you anywhere in my tutoring; you will need to memorize it all." The pouty girl had been annoyed, but finally focused carefully on listening and making mental notes instead of physical ones.
The lesson continued, with both Hermione and Crabbe having trouble pushing their magic into the apple. Ron and Neville, however, beat everyone else with how quickly they managed to do it. Ron's magic especially seemed to accept being pushed into the apple, as Flamel had stated Ron might have a talent for infusing magic into objects.
Soon enough, the lesson was over, and the group of friends walked out of the training room. "I can't believe I actually beat Hermione in something." Ron said as Flamel had let them out.
Hermione huffed. "Mister Flamel said it was merely our magical types that prevented it. Not that you beat me." Seeing Hermione's defensiveness, Harry gave a foxy smirk. "Iunno, Hermione. I think Ron has you beat this time."
Hermione's huffing turned into a full-blown pouting, the brown-haired witch flailing her hands against Harry's side. The sight of the two made the group laugh as they headed down the hall.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the manor, Lucius Malfoy was sitting in his study. The past year had been life changing for the silver-haired pureblood, in more ways than one. And now, on his desk was the rough parchment of the Gringotts letter he had been waiting for with bated breath.
Lord Malfoy,
Gringotts Bank received your letter and looked into the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black records at your request, and confirmed the current Heir. Due to actions by the previous Lord Arcturus Black, Sirius Black indeed was named the Heir. Upon his death, Sirius Black was named the Lord-Apparent, and his own will came into effect.
Due to the will put in place by Sirius Black before his incarceration, Sirius Black stated that his Heir would be his 2nd Cousin twice removed, Harry James Potter and not his closest living male relative, Draconius Lucius Malfoy. Due to this, the Primacy Contract agreed upon when you married Narcissa Anastasia Malfoy nee Black will beholden your family to the current Lord-Apparent of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, Harry James Potter.
Thank you for your request, and hopefully this clears up all matters of confusion over the Primacy questions you had of your family and that of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black."
Please let us know if you have any further questions,
Gringotts London
Lucius flopped back into his chair, tossing the parchment back onto his desk after he read it twice more. The Black family was nearly defunct, but even with its decline it still had status that he was relying upon. When others hear his son is not the Heir he will have issues in the Wizengamot, especially with the current coup brewing in the Traditionalist faction.
But Harry Potter. Harry Potter was the key to it all.
Lucius Malfoy found himself delighted he had told his son to make friends with the boy. He had not known his status at the time, but with this letter it confirmed that Harry Potter was the heir to not one, but two Most Ancient and Noble families. With each of them having four seats on the Wizengamot, Harry Potter controlled almost a tenth of the seats on the Wizengamot by himself.
Lucius had been devastated when he heard that Draco would not have the inheritance and future he had planned. But, ever the Slytherin, Lucius knew one thing. Draco would have a fine future as the close companion and ally of Harry Potter, and the Malfoy Family would retain its reputation for good connections by being a subsidiary of the Blacks.
Lucius shook his head, reaching up and pinching the bridge of his nose. No, Potter was not the issue. What worried him was the second letter upon his desk.
Lord Malfoy,
As you requested, I have done research into the Most Noble and Ancient House of Potter's seats on the Wizengamot. It appears all four seats currently are being held under the jurisdiction of the Chief Warlock in lieu of the boy's Magical Guardian, who has been using his votes to further the Progressive Faction. With what you have told me about the boy's actions, I am unsure if he understands that someone is voting in his place.
Currently, the law states that the Chief Warlock may appoint a proxy for a House should all members of the House be incapacitated or otherwise unable to fulfill their duties in the Wizengamot. Thanks to these laws, the four seats are being represented by Lord Dedalus Diggle.
I cannot express how much I believe young Heir Potter should understand that he has rights and duties within the Wizengamot that are fast approaching when he reaches magical majority. If you could, please inform him when you are able.
Sincerely,
Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic
Lucius sighed, leaning back in the chair gifted to him by that muggle, Dursley. Things have changed in the past year, and now he was doubting the fundamental tenets of the Traditionalist group.
Seeing the key to his secret warded area, Lucius sighed. Not even that had been safe from Harry Potter. Yet when suddenly he had a way to remove Lucius permanently or blackmail him into compliance, the boy had instead treated the man normally after discovery. The boy had obviously known some of those objects were Dark, and could easily be reported to the Ministry. Even a first-year in Hogwarts would have seen them.
That was perhaps the most surprising thing to the silver-haired man. The boy didn't think ofDark magicas evil, as his parents had. No, to Harry Potter, magic was magic. Lucius even thought that the boy might dabble in Dark magic himself in the future.
Sitting up in his chair, the man picked up his key and headed down the hall. Making his way back to the secret room was simple, though the Malfoy patriarch never realized a pair of inquisitive eyes were following him from the shadows.
Making his way to the warded room, he took out the key and inserted it into the lock. He waited for the oppressive feeling of the wards to recede before stepping into the room.
Everything was there, the dark artifacts in storage having been reduced in the months since Easter. However, the books remained there, too valuable to sell. Certain ancient books were excluded from Merlin's Decree, due to being written before the spell was put into place. Such books were worth fortunes, not that Lucius ever had any intention of selling them.
These books were old Black Family tomes, a small fragment of the Black Library that had been kept here in the Manor. Whether it was intentional by Arcturus Black or simply the man not remembering they were there, they happened to pass to the Malfoy family when they gifted the manor to them.
"Potter really is the Heir to the Black Family." Lucius finally allowed himself to say. The powerful magic in the books had never allowed him to open any of them. He had hoped to gift the key to Draco on his majority, though he wondered if the books had made the key fall from his pocket in the first place. Was it fate? Or something else?
As Lucius Malfoy stood with his fingers trailing over the ancient books, a small hand grabbed the thin black book near the entrance of the room, before disappearing into the shadows.
"Today we will be taking a break. There will be no lessons for the rest of you. Mister Potter, come with me." Flamel said, his hands held behind his back. As Harry nodded, the rest of the group left the room with excitement, happy to get a free day.
Flamel took Harry's shoulder and guided him into another room, opening the door for Harry and quickly closing it behind him. Flamel's magic once more danced out and silenced the room, sealing the door as well.
"Now, Mister Potter, we will be going over your duties as the new bearer of the Philosopher's Stone, and what you can and cannot do." Flamel said, holding his hands behind his back once again. Harry gave a resigned sigh; he knew this had been coming, he was just surprised it hadn't been sooner. With a resigned nod, he moved to sit down.
Before he had taken two steps, Harry found himself standing in the middle of a forest; a familiar forest he had once visited before. Startled, Harry fell over and landed on his rear as he immediately recognized the forest where he had found his Animagus form.
What was he doing back here?
"An interesting stonescape, Potter." Flamel's voice said from behind Harry.
Harry jumped back up and turned around, expecting to see Mister Flamel standing there. Instead, what he saw was a large, slender man with skin as white as snow, pointed ears poking from hair that was somehow even more pale white than his skin.
"W-who're you?!" Harry stammered quickly taking a step back.
"Nicholas Flamel, of course. This would be my animagus form. Or, perhaps you could call it my true form." Flamel said, the man's eyes like a pair of burning coals. Unlike normal human eyes, the sclera were dark, with a ring of blue that starkly contrasted with the darkness of the eyes.
"M-mister Flamel?" Harry was surprised, but calmed down a bit. "Where are we?"
"We are within the stone. A Stonescape, if you will. This is a place unique to the bearer of the stone; a sanctum for bearers of the stone to use as they see fit. Here, all magics that hide the self are stripped away, and the place becomes an ideal haven for your true form."
Harry looked around. "I found my animagus form here. Why was it here?"
"Indeed? Curious. Very curious, Mister Potter." Flamel said, a slender hand reaching up and rubbing his chin. "I assume you did not use the normal method of gaining an animagus form, then. And if you used the Old Ways, then I assume you had a reason."
Harry was surprised at the accurate statement of the man before him. Giving a slight nod, he was a bit worried, especially at Flamel's next question, "So you were a Feral Shifter, then?"
Harry felt his heart beat a bit faster. What could he do? He couldn't lie about it. Taking a deep breath, Harry nodded once more. Flamel closed his eyes and gave a nod, holding his hand up in a placating gesture. "Do not worry, boy. I will not tell your secret. Feral Shifters are rare, but not contagious. They are merely a fact of life, a condition that affects some with Wild Magic. I should have understood that you would have had such difficulties."
All was silent for a moment as Flamel considered. "I believe the stone lent you its power. It could be that you would not have found your animagus form without its assistance. I could be wrong, however. The stone is almost alive. It feeds off your magic and amplifies it. It wishes to be useful, much like an animal seeking attention from its Master."
Flamel turned around, and gestured at the lush forest around them. "This is what you must understand. The Stone is an artifact of incredible power. No one must know you have it. The Stone can keep you safe in dangerous situations, but it cannot stop all danger from befalling you. Especially from those who desire its power."
Harry nodded. He had never really thought of the Stone as something to get him out of trouble. "Will I ever be able to tell someone that I have it?"
Flamel laughed. "I anticipate that some may already believe you possess it, or at the very least knowledge of it, by my simple act of making you my apprentice. Beware of those who would attempt to wrest secrets from you, Potter. The closest friend can make the most bitter enemy."
Harry nodded. "I don't think I have to worry about that from any of my friends, sir. We're really close."
Flamel frowned, closing his eyes and speaking softly. "I believe your parents thought similar, Mister Potter."
Harry went silent at Flamel's comment.
"It is always good to be aware of your friends around you. Not everything can go as perfectly as we desire, or this would truly be a perfect world." Flamel said softly. Harry was silent, but after a moment gave a small, tenuous nod.
-Author's Notes-
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you're interested in early access and beta-ing the fic!
Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling, not me.