CHAPTER 3:

NEWS FROM MAGICAL BRITAIN

Morgan was met near the door by Barghest, who had noticed the newcomer, and was watching. She bade the Fang Clan Fae to come with her, signalling discreetly to avoid any aggression. If what her other half claimed was true, Barghest was far better at obeying orders and being discreet than most of her clan. Even Wryneck had more faults than her.

Morgan approached the gate, and the woman standing near it, who was watching them arrive. It seemed she had noticed the Bounded Field, and was assessing the situation while waiting to be received. Good. Prudent and intelligent.

The woman was old with stern features, yet the concern in them, not against Morgan or Barghest, but towards Harry perhaps, seemed genuine. She wore robes, but thankfully did not have the pointy hat she had worn in the glimpses Morgan had of her in Harry's memories. Probably trying to be incognito. "Good afternoon," the woman asked. "I am Minerva McGonagall."

"For now, you may call me Vivian Rain," Morgan said. "This is one of my associates, Barbara Gawain." Her other half had told her about her intentions to dub her Tam Lin after Knights of the Round Table, with Barghest to be called 'Tam Lin Gawain'. "Can I help you?"

"I believe you can. In fact…the pair of you…you are Fae, are you not?"

Perceptive…and dangerously so. "And what of it? Please state your purpose here."

"…I am the Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," the older woman said, and Morgan hid her surprise at her claiming to be the headmistress. Was Dumbledore dead or else absent or deposed from his post? "I am searching for a former student of mine. My predecessor had means of tracking this student that were, until recently, blocked, with all that we were able to tell was that he was alive. I've come here to see if he is well, and…to find out what happened to him."

Her Fae Eyes indicated that McGonagall was not lying. Morgan frowned, considering this, before she decided to tell at least part of the truth. "If you are talking about Harry Potter, until recently, he was an amnesiac dubbed 'Tobias McGoohan', and cursed in a variety of ways, with his appearance changed and his memories blocked. This was done by Severus Snape, with the connivance of Dolores Umbridge after a sham trial. Umbridge was a senior member of your government, and Snape was not only a teacher at Hogwarts, but held the confidence of Dumbledore, despite the fact that he was a terrorist and an abusive nepotist for a teacher who held Harry's parentage against him. He is understandably wary of being attacked once more. So have you come alone, or have you notified anyone else?"

"…I have come alone, as foolhardy though it is. I just wanted to check Mr Potter's health and wellbeing, and I thought in coming along, I could avoid overwhelming him. But…tell me. Did anything happen with his scar? Anything unusual?"

Morgan's eyes narrowed. "It split open as he regained his memories and emitted black smoke with a screaming face. Why?"

To her surprise, McGonagall seemed relieved. "Thank Merlin," she said, to Morgan's irritation at the mentioning of that meddling Cambion. She knew why her Standard History counterpart hated him, even if she was less hateful towards her half-sister Arturia. "If what you said is true…then that is one less danger to Mr Potter's life."

"And what of Voldemort?" Morgan asked. "Is he dead?"

"…Yes, he is, and he should be gone forever, this time," McGonagall said, Morgan noticing her flinching at the warlock's name. "Miss Rain, while I do not wish to seem pushy, especially as you may be dealing with a traumatised young man…I need to see him, to see him with my own eyes. From there, we can discuss what to do next. I have failed him too many times, but I won't again."

Her conviction seemed true enough. Morgan eventually nodded. "Very well. He agreed to see you, as long as I was satisfied. And for now, I am. My apologies, but while Harry has worked at my estate for the past few years under my trusted friends, I have only recently arrived in Orkney. I undid the curse array placed on him by Snape not long ago."

"Very well. But…to be sure, I need to use a special detection spell on him. I won't harm him with it, I promise you that…"

Harry watched warily as McGonagall cast her spell. And when the results came back, she wept, though she smiled in relief. "Thank Merlin," she murmured, before meeting Harry's gaze. Their greeting was perfunctory, but now, McGonagall came over, and gently embraced him, in a manner she had never done to anyone. "I wondered how I would look James and Lily in the eye in the great hereafter, but…you're free of it."

"Free of what?" Barghest asked. The Fae woman could best be described as Amazonian, her muscular body currently clad in shirt and trousers, which strained under the pressure of her muscles, and in the case of her shirt, her generous bust. She was tall, with a massive mane of golden hair reaching to her waist. Yet her face was surprisingly beautiful in a noble way, with blue eyes, one having a slight red tinge. Oddly, she wore a tiara.

"A vile magic known as a Horcrux. I only got the details out of Miss Granger and Remus, but…a Horcrux is a soul fragment, used to anchor the user to this plane. Your scar held an accidental one created by You Know Who."

"You mean Voldemort?" As McGonagall flinched, but nodded, Harry asked, "Is he gone for good?"

"To the best of my knowledge, yes. The Horcrux in your scar was the last…and Dumbledore, damn him, knew about it, for at least a few years. He claimed to have been planning a way to save you, as the only way to remove a Horcrux is to destroy it, but…never mind that. It seems you need to be brought up to speed, Mr Potter, on events while you were stuck here…"

And so, he listened. True, he hated what he heard, but he knew he was going to hate it regardless. At least knowing was better than not knowing. In cases like this, ignorance was the complete opposite of bliss. At least McGonagall admitted how she was able to track Harry: via instruments Dumbledore created.

In any case, the news wasn't that great. Arthur, Ginny, Charlie, and George were dead out of the Weasleys. So too was Moody, and Hagrid. Neville Longbottom was another victim. Umbridge had disappeared at around the same time he had, and the Goblins confirmed that she was dead. Fudge had been stood down, and was found dead while attempting to flee the country. And Dumbledore was dead, hence McGonagall now being Headmistress of Hogwarts. At first, people thought it was at the hands of Draco Malfoy, but Bellatrix Lestrange later revealed it was Snape who did the deed. This was after Voldemort was killed, by Snape himself no less, but Lestrange had scuppered Snape's ambitions to be lauded as the hero of Magical Britain. She had succeeded in doing so before she fell to Snape, ensuring his victory was a pyrrhic one.

His aunt and uncle had died, though his cousin had escaped by dint of being at Smeltings at the time the Death Eaters attacked. He'd joined the military soon afterwards, as McGonagall had kept an eye on Dudley. Dudley still wasn't fond of wizards and witches, but some part of him had felt gratitude towards Harry for saving him from the Dementors, and he asked McGonagall to relay that thanks should he ever find Harry. Harry felt ambivalent towards that gesture from his bully of a cousin, but decided that the Dursleys were not worth worrying about now.

Unfortunately, after Fudge and his successor Rufus Scrimgeour died, the current Minister was Percy Weasley. It said a lot about McGonagall, despite her affection for that family, that she sounded angry and disappointed at the officious redhead. And Harry's reputation was still in the shit, with many people claiming Harry ran away and hid while people were being murdered by Voldemort, Percy encouraging this for some reason, possibly to retain favour with certain voters.

Still, Hermione and Ron were still alive. Remus was too, and shacked up with that Tonks woman. And Hedwig was waiting to return to her human.

It was still overwhelming, and Harry was trying to keep calm.

After she spoke, Harry frowned. "…Professor, what about Sirius?"

McGonagall considered the matter, before saying, "Sirius got into a duel with Snape. He blamed him, quite rightly as it seems now, for your fate. Snape beat him, though not easily. But Sirius was left crippled, his arm taken from him by a curse. He later went off on his own when Voldemort raided the Department of Mysteries, only for Bellatrix to kill him. We demanded Dumbledore punish Snape after that duel, but Snape declared that he was too valuable a spy to be punished. They had a discussion behind closed doors, but I was never privy to it. Dumbledore claimed Snape would be held on a tighter leash…but it was not enough. I blame myself for not fighting Dumbledore more. He had a most marvellous gift for getting people to go along with his decisions…even his poorest ones. I was there when he left you with your aunt and uncle. I told him they were the worst kind of Muggles, and yet, his argument was logical. He later revealed to me that there was a blood-based protection over the Dursleys' home that would protect you from You Know Who or the Death Eaters, but…"

"It did little to protect me from the Dursleys," Harry said bitterly. He didn't want to lose his temper at McGonagall, someone he still had some small respect for.

McGonagall could only nod in reply. "And…there was another thing, Mr Potter, something I only learned from Remus, who confided in me. Dumbledore had admitted to Remus that…a prophecy had been made, claiming that a child with the power to defeat Voldemort would be born at around the time you would be. It was Snape who relayed part of this prophecy, uttered by Sybil Trelawney, to Voldemort…yet he begged for your mother to be spared."

At this, Harry froze, before looking at McGonagall, rage and shock warring within him, more so than they already were. "Why?" he finally hissed.

"Because he was in love with her," Morgan said, discerning something. "Or perhaps I should say infatuated by her?"

McGonagall nodded solemnly. "I believe that to be the case too, in hindsight," she said, returning her gaze to Harry. "Your mother and Snape were good friends at Hogwarts, until he began making friends with would-be Death Eaters. After a certain incident involving your father and the other Marauders, she broke off their friendship, and refused to forgive him."

"…I was his friend's son…and he treated me like…like I was nothing more than a sack of shit!" Harry snarled, his rage surging forth. "And Dumbledore trusted him as a spy?!"

"To his peril," McGonagall confirmed, not even commenting on his swearing. "We don't know where Snape is now. The Goblins know that he is alive, but that is all. I know this makes you upset, angry, and rightly so. But I felt you would have had enough of secrets and lies, Mr Potter."

After a moment's thought, albeit with a touch of difficulty with the anger, Harry conceded the point, managing to get a grip on his temper. "…Thank you, Professor. I'm grateful someone gives a damn. But any news of Wormtail? As in Peter Pettigrew?"

"Peter Pettigrew has vanished. We believe Snape murdered him to prevent Sirius from being exonerated ever."

"Of course he bloody well has," Harry muttered. "Snape never liked anyone being happy aside from himself."

Eventually, McGonagall said, "Mr Potter…no, Harry, I will need to tell the people closest to you about this. If you really have only just regained your memories, you deserve some time to recover before I notify them of where you are. But they deserve to know you are alive and well, beyond what Dumbledore's instruments told us. And the Goblins at Gringotts will eventually need to be notified of your whereabouts. Despite attempts by certain parties to claim it, your fortune has been kept safe by them, and as you have come of age, you now have full access to it. However, once you do access it, it may be that those certain parties, namely certain Purebloods and the Ministry, realise you are not only alive, but in a fit state to claim your fortune. The Goblins will keep your new residence secret, but I suggest more security measures like the Fidelius. And that's without going into certain parties of the Moonlit World wanting to secure Fae as specimens. While I don't doubt that Miss Rain is a capable magic user, more than most I have met, I am under the impression that she'd prefer to avoid conflict."

Morgan said, "Unnecessary conflict, yes. But while I would prefer a peaceful and quiet life does not mean I am unwilling to defend myself or others, Professor. In undoing the curse array Snape placed on Harry, I saw his life unfold. You may find it hard to countenance, but I know what it is like to be shoehorned into the role of a messiah, only to be treated like excrement by the very people that were being saved. I am not just a Fae, but rather, one from another timeline. If you require proof…is the name of Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg known to wizards?"

Given the way McGonagall's eyes widened, she recognised the name. "Indeed. He is one of the few Magi who garners much respect in both parts of the Moonlit World."

"He visited while my comrade was writing a certain fantasy novel series, The Tales of Tonelico," Morgan said. "The series is semi-biographical. My comrade trusts him."

"She is right to do so. Indeed, Miss Granger recently accepted an apprenticeship with the Wizard Marshall," McGonagall said. "Not long after she graduated, she began a correspondence with Zelretch, who had recently returned from an expedition. A fortnight ago, he offered an apprenticeship. Of course, the Wizard Marshall is known for working his apprentices hard, even breaking more than a few, but those he breaks are those who deserve it, arrogant young Magi who think they know everything, or desire power. Miss Granger should be fine."

"I can contact Zelretch. Totorot has his contact details."

McGonagall nodded, before she seemed to realise something. "You said that The Tales of Tonelico are semi-biographical? I read them myself on a whim to see what the fuss was about. You are Tonelico?"

Morgan nodded. "I haven't read through them yet, so I cannot tell you how accurate they are, but knowing Totorot, she will have made it somewhat accurate. The name Tonelico comes from your Japanese for ash tree, and I was known as Aesc, which translates to ash tree in our equivalent of Old English. A girl with substantial knowledge of the Japanese language told me what the Japanese for ash tree is."

"…I see. Then if they have any truth to them, it seems you and Harry have much in common after all, Miss Rain," McGonagall said. "But, that aside, why do you wish to harbour him?"

"Even before I learned the truth, he had been rejected by the world for little reason," Morgan said. "My comrades, no, my oldest friends thought him to be worthy of protection. I need no greater reason than that. Now, I have even more reason. I know not what part or place I have in Harry's life yet, as we have only met earlier today. But as someone who has gone through his misery and pain, even if it be a fraction of my own, I feel that he deserves someone who can soothe that pain, to help him regain his footing at least. If you worry about what recompense I desire, while I have knowledge of what you would call Proper Human History, I need a guide of sorts to this world. Thankfully, the ritual I used to send myself and my friends and comrades to this timeline has protected us from this era's technology, normally a bane to the Fae. Harry, being a native of this time and this land, can help me acclimate, especially as I have knowledge of the Magi, but not as much of your variant of magic-users."

"And your own reason for living here?"

"…To live," Morgan said simply. "Whatever I do from now on in this world will be entirely my choice, on my terms. I do not intend to rule or conquer. I will harm nobody who has not attempted to harm me or those under my protection first. Of course, I know from bitter experience how ephemeral words and their meanings are, how promises and oaths can disperse like smoke in the wind. I intend to prove myself by my actions, and those of my friends and comrades. Does that satisfy you?"

"For now. In truth, if Harry has a happy life with you, then with You Know Who gone, then who am I to disagree? I do wish he would come back to finish his schooling, but he has three years to catch up on, and it may turn out that, as with Miss Granger, Clock Tower may have more to offer him, or even your own knowledge."

"I will consider that, but it is Harry's choice, not mine or yours."

Harry nodded in agreement. In the end, Harry was glad Professor McGonagall had come to see him, and alone. Despite the ill tidings, it was better than ignorance. And she also seemed contrite about failing him, though he blamed Dumbledore far more. And Snape, of course. There would be no forgiveness or mercy for him.

But for now, Harry just wanted to rest a little, come to terms with his new situation, his new life, and what had passed him by. What that meant, now that Voldemort was dead, and Dumbledore wasn't dictating his life, he had no idea. But at least now, he was somewhat free…

CHAPTER 3 ANNOTATIONS:

So, McGonagall has related what has happened, having had an infusion of rationality.

This version of events galvanized Dumbledore to get off his arse sooner. He also tried to lay down the law to Snape after his duel with Sirius, finally threatening him with letting him be sent off to Azkaban if he caused more trouble. Snape had already decided to be absolutely self-serving (which really is what he is in canon, no matter what Rowling claims, or else he would have tried harder to be decent to Harry), so while he publicly acquiesced, at that point, he decided that Dumbledore would die with Voldemort.

Dumbledore then enlisted Hermione to help him track down the Horcruxes, as well as Remus. They managed to finish them off sooner than in canon, and so Dumbledore faced Voldemort at the end of what would have been Year 6. Snape backstabbed them both, albeit discreetly, though Bellatrix discerned the truth. The other people who died was not during Year 7, but mostly during Year 6, though Arthur died to Nagini in what would have been Year 5. Oh, and Snape murdered Umbridge to ensure she wasn't able to blab about Harry to Voldemort. Unfortunately, when erasing the 'hatred curse', Totorot removed Snape's tracking charm. Don't worry, we'll see him again.

I chose McGonagall because, despite a few blips in canon, especially in Year 5, she tries to be helpful as much as her strictness can allow. I don't get why some people (like Sinyk in Harry Potter and the Daft Morons, for example: as much as I love it, it gets too much with the bashing at times, and Harry becomes unlikeable almost too often in that fic) bash her. Her main fault, like so many characters, is being beholden to Dumbledore. So here, she actually not only does things rationally, but also gives reasonable strategies to deal with his friends, loved ones, and finances.

No numbered annotations this time.