Fleamont paced around his office, his mind running a hundred miles per second as he finalized his plans.
Once Lord Potter was sure he had his thoughts in order, he grabbed a handful of powder and dropped it into the fireplace.
"Potter Cottage!" He called as he stepped into the green flames and felt them wrap around his body. Swirling with warmth while he spun and spun and then stopped.
Fleamont exited the fireplace swiftly, dusting off his robes.
"Master Potter!" An elf exclaimed in a high pitched voice, bowing his head and floppy ears.
"Keppy, where is Charlus?"
"Master is in the study! Master didn't knows you was coming,"
"Thank you Keppy, you may go now."
The elf bowed low once more before popping away with a loud crack sound.
Fleamont walked down the long corridor towards a closed black door.
The Potter cottage wasn't small by any means but compared to the manor it was certainly less impressive. Lord Potter placed his right hand on the door, allowing a wave of magic to seep into it and granting him entry. The doors in all the Potter homes were charmed to open only with Potter magic and thus had no doorknobs.
The door swung open, revealing a vast room with stone walls and floor. A fireplace was roaring in center of the room, light and warmth pouring into the otherwise dim sitting area. Bookshelves lined the walls and three emerald couches cushioned the ground where a tall and muscular man sat.
He had dark black messy hair, deep brown eyes with a fleck of silver and no glasses, unlike his brother. He wore expensive and lavish crimson robes. His tan and scarred hands turned over a page of a black leather bound book he was reading, "Monty." He greeted coldly, his eyes never lifting from the book he was consumed in.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Charlus continued, his deep voice cutting straight to the point.
"We have had a very interesting development in this family." Fleamont replied, walking towards the couch opposite of his brother and sitting down.
"I am assuming you have seen the tapestry?" Fleamont pressed further, locking his fingers under his chin and lifting his head to stare at his sibling, waiting for his response.
After what felt like hours of silence, Charlus eyes lifted from the pages of the book he was reading and met Fleamont's gaze. Charlus had cold and haunted eyes from years of fighting in the last war, a large but faint scar running from his jaw up to his left eye, from where a cutting curse nearly killed him many years ago.
Charlus sighed in response, his annoyance becoming apparent as he snapped the book he was reading shut.
"You know how I hate to be disturbed.. especially with matters that do not pertain to me." Charlus drawled, vanishing the book with a wave of his hand causing it to glide back into its home in the book shelf.
"Oh, if only it were that simple. As it stands, you are a main character in this latest chapter."
"Ah, do tell."
"I require your assistance with a delicate matter. I am thinking forging paperwork is where we should start. Harry Potter will need to be portrayed as your son."
"And why would I do that? The tapestry clearly showed the baby was James's. I always knew he was a troublemaker but this is certainly unexpected… even when he runs around with Sirius. I didn't think he'd let Sirius's ways cloud his judgement."
"Harry is not a baby. He is sixteen."
Charlus eyes narrowed in disbelief and anger, "What nonsense is this?" He spat, glaring at his elder brother for wasting his time.
Fleamont sighed and rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. His brother was always so short tempered and difficult to deal with.
"Time travel. James's son came from another timeline. One he cannot return to. One where James apparently died when Harry was a baby."
Charlus eyes narrowed further before his lips curled up into a smirk.
"This sounds like your problem, Monty boy."
Fleamont scowled, feeling a twitch in his eye at the nickname 'Monty boy' his late father had always used for him
"Charl, I can't introduce Harry as my own son and I certainly cannot tell the ministry that I have a time traveling grandson. They would lock him up and tear his mind apart with experiments, at best. I can't even fathom the worst case scenario of what they would subject that poor boy to. He has been through too much already. I see it in his eyes… he has the same haunted look that you share."
"Keppy!" Charlus called, ignoring his brother's patronizing tone.
The elf popped into the room and bowed lowly.
"Masters called for Keppy?"
"Fetch the whiskey," Charlus ordered as the elf bowed once more and popped away. In seconds the elf reappeared, a bottle of whiskey and 2 rather large glasses appearing in mid air. Charlus waved the elf away as he poured the whiskey into the glasses.
A full glass hovered into Fleamont's outstreched hand and he eagerly grabbed it and downed it in one gulp. Charlus raised an eyebrow as he sipped his own drink.
"I haven't seen you drink like that in many years. Merlin, this must be really bad." Charlus refilled his brother's glass.
"Once we get the paperwork sorted and introduce Harry as your son, we will need to have a cover story for his sudden appearance. I am thinking we should say he was privately tutored because he was a special wizard."
Charlus downed his glass of whisky before pouring himself more, taking a sip before speaking, "That won't be an easy task. We'll have to trick ancestry tests. It would be easier to use a potion to change his blood so when he is tested it will show that I am his father and Dorea is her mother. Perhaps blood adoption could work."
"So you agree to help?" Monty questioned, amused by how quickly his stern brother acclimated to the recent developments.
"Like a had a choice," he barked out, knowing his elder brother wasn't coming to negotiate but rather order his assistance.
Fleamont smirked mischievously before speaking, "The potion can't change his blood permanently and blood adoption wouldn't work for this matter. We'll need a solution that would change it only for a few years. Jamie is rather protective of his son already."
"I imagine so, his magic is likely responding to the boy. Why not blood adoption?"
"He was trying to argue against us telling everyone that Harry is his cousin. He wanted people to know he was his son."
"Ah, foolish boy." Charlus said fondly.
James, Dorea, Monty, Sirius and Articus were the few people Charlus would ever show fondness for.
"Indeed." Fleamont replied, finishing his drink.
"Dorea is at Black manor at the moment, she won't be home for a few hours but I doubt it will take much convincing. She has always had a soft spot for the James."
"I'll work on creating the potion, I haven't told Euphemia yet.."
"Oh that will be fun. Invite me when you do, I'd love to see you get knocked down a peg for dragging me into this." Charlus said in amusement, knowing Euphemia was going to be enraged with the news that they weren't going to keep custody of their grandson.
Fleamont glared at him before speaking, "Yes, I'm sure you would. I will need Dorea's help as well, there is another boy."
Charlus raised an eyebrow but said nothing, allowing his brother to continue speaking.
"Draco Malfoy is his name."
"Absolutely not!" Charlus roared, standing up from the couch, his glass knocking to the ground and spilling the reaming liquid on the floor.
Fleamont grimaced, he knew Malfoy was a long shot.
"Charl you must understand-"
"NO! The Malfoy's are a waste of space. I will help James's son because he is family but I will not help a blonde rat faced spawn of that disgusting bloodline!"
"Charl, be reasonable-"
"Absolutely not!"
"Charl-"
"That is final." Charlus spat, his magic slowly leaking out of his body at his rage. The fire in the fireplace dimmed before extinguishing completely and the air felt thick with animosity and magic. Suffocating and wrapping around Monty sending a shiver down his spine.
Fleamont feared this reaction as soon as he mentioned the Malfoy boy. He wasn't exactly fond of the idea either but he also wasn't going to subject a sixteen year old to live with a family of Death Eaters that he was so clearly against. Fortunately Fleamont knew his brother and knew he'd never agree… Dorea on the other hand? Ah yes, Dorea would have to agree to help a fellow Black who wasn't knee deep in Voldemort's schemes. All he needed was to get Articus and Dorea in the same room as Charlus and surely they'd talk him into it.
Charlus glared at his brother, seeing the gears in his head move as he was so clearly plotting.
"Return once you have the boy and the potion. I won't hear another word of this nonsense." Charlus dismissed, reinging in his magic.
Monty stood from the couch, nodding to his brother.
He exited the room and entered back towards the fireplace to floo to the manor. Step one has been completed. Now time for step two.
———
"You have gone too far, boy." Abraxus growled, standing over his kneeling son.
"Forgive me father, I don't even know which slut birthed the child."
"You dare ask for forgiveness?! Crucio!"
Lucius dropped to the ground with screams of pain from the torture curse. After a minute Abraxas released him and spat on the ground, "Pathetic."
"F-father. I will make it right. He won't be a son of mine." Lucius stammered, coughing and gasping for air from the effects of the curse.
"No he will not. He will be burned off the tapestry and you will never speak of this again."
Lucius slowly lifted himself from the ground, bowing, "T-thank you father."
—————
Draco, Harry and James arrived outside of the fat lady portrait.
"So there is where the Gryffindor common rooms are located," Draco muttered, staring at the hideous portrait.
"Password?" the fat lady's asked while being ignored.
"Yea and don't go telling any slimey snakes," James responded, eyeing Malfoy with suspicion.
Draco scoffed but kept quiet.
"Password?" The fat lady tried asking again.
"Honestly I'm surprised you never figured it out. I knew where the Slytherin common room was since second year,"
"You know too! I'm so proud, I bet you are a trouble maker like your old man huh?" James beamed, looking at Harry with pride.
"No, definitely not-"
"Don't even try lying, Potter. And what do you mean since second year?" Draco demanded, turning to Harry in anger.
"I mean since Ron and I polyjuiced as Crabbe and Goyle obviously,"
"You did WHAT?!"
"Just get in! I'm sick of hearing this! Coming back at this hour and making so much noise, I can't believe you foolish kids are even in this house, I'm going to talk to the headmaster and guard somewhere else" The fat lady ranted, swinging open and allowing the three teens to walk into a completely empty common room.
"It must be late," Harry said, ignoring Draco's anger.
"We are not finished with this, Potter!"
"Shh you're going to wake everyone. And it hardly matters, our timeline is lost anyway,"
"I knew Goyle didn't know how to read!"
"And yet you didn't realize it was Ron and I?"
"Shut the bloody hell up! Merlin, some of us are trying to sleep!" An exhausted Sirius yelled from the stairs. His normally tamed hair was sticking up slightly and his eyes had slight bags under them.
"Sorry pads!"
"Prongs?" Sirius asked, his eyes suddenly turning awake as a small formed on his face at the sight of his best mate.
"Padfoot, Prongs, be quiet and get up here and go to bed!"
"Sorry moony!" James and Sirius chimed. James began racing up the stairs leaving Draco and Harry to follow after him.
"Sorry professor!"
"Don't call me that Harry!" Moony snapped.
"Professor? I'm going to use that one," Padfoot laughed while James held his sides and nearly felt down the stairs in laughter.
"Professor Moony!" James called between his gulps and laughs.
"SHUT UP! SOME OF ARE TRYING TO SLEEP!" Yelled a group of girls from their dorm before slamming the door shut.
"Salazar, I am going to curse that bloody hat. Slytherins are so much more calm," Draco whined as the boys entered the dorm room.
The room was large, larger than Harry had remembered. It must've grown to accommodate Harry and Draco's arrival. Two empty beds were in the back of the room. The walls were red and gold and had Gryffindor banners hanging up. Peter was asleep in his bed, seemingly unaffected by the noise and wrapped up in blankets like a burrito. His trunk was wide open with his books and quills scattered across his side of the room.
Moony glared at the three teens before stomping towards his bed and shoving the curtains shut. His trunk was closed and his side of the room was very clean and organized.
Sirius bid Harry and James a quick goodnight before walking to his bed and closing his curtains, not wanting to piss off Moony again so close to the full moon. His side of the room was also very clean but had a few leather jackets laying on the ground along with some devices that looked suspiciously like prank items.
"Goodnight son," James said, pulling Harry into another unexpected hug before ruffling his hair. He quickly stripped down and changed into his pajamas before climbing into his own bed. His side of the room was as neat and clean as Remus's was.
Draco and Harry both silently walked towards their beds and climbed into them, not having any night clothes to wear yet. Come to think of it, they didn't even have trunks or anything they needed for school.
"Malfoy," Harry whispered, yanking on Draco's curtain.
"What do you want Potter?" Draco spat in irritation. Still enraged that Potter knew where the snakes slept.
"We don't have anything for school." Harry replied like he was speaking to to a toddler.
Malfoy scoffed, "Yea and that's your bloody fault seeing how you burned that bridge with Dumbledore."
Harry felt his blood boiling and anger washing over him, "McGonagall, we will talk to her tomorrow." He growled before shoving his curtains closed and slumping onto his mattress.
Sleep did not come easy for Harry Potter or Draco Malfoy that night.
—————————-
So maybe Malfoy had a good point. Burning their bridge with Dumbledore wasn't his brightest choice. He did learn about the Horcruxes throughout the 'training' he had in his previous timeline and he was aware of how many there were but he knew nothing of their locations or their objects other than the diary and the ring that cursed the old man. Harry wanted to trust Dumbledore, he wanted to believe in the headmaster but he couldn't bring himself to. He had withheld the prophesy, ultimately lead to Sirius death and kept him imprisoned in his old home after his escape from Azkaban.
Dumbledore never tried to get a trial for Sirius, he never attempted to help him clear his name and Harry couldn't help but feel suspicious. He knew he needed to learn Occlumency and quick too because he wouldn't put it past the headmaster to break into his mind to try and get information on the lost timeline. It was strange being back in another timeline but what was even more strange is that the connection Harry had with Voldemort seemed to have stopped. He didn't feel headaches, no visions, no sudden emotions flowing through him even though Voldemort existed in this timeline. What was his weird connection with Voldie anyway?
Harry tossed and turned before sleep finally took over.
Draco stared at the ceiling, deep in thought with a scowl on his face. Potter had once again beaten Draco at something. The bastard knew where his common rooms were for years! Not even Draco could figure out where the Gryffindors stayed and he certainly had tried. Everything was Potter's fault. He should've been more upset about being thrown in time but he was shockingly accepting the new reality. No longer having to stay in a house with the Dark Lord, no connection to his emotionally unavailable and cruel scheming father, no longer having to abide by the rules and expectations of the Malfoy family. Draco knew his grandfather would just blast his name off the tapestry and move on, he had seen it happen too many times before but this time it was working in his favor.
This time Draco wouldn't have to follow the Dark Lord despite his mark still being tattooed on his arm, it no longer hummed with the cold and unnerving magic of his previous master. Didn't burn with pain. It was odd, he was certain his mark would react in this timeline. Even when the Dark Lord didn't call, his presence always lingered on the skin. Perhaps it is because the mark wasn't created by the same Dark Lord of this timeline. He had planned to share his memories with the old goat so he could prevent himself from being summoned and having to act out on the Dark Lord's behalf, even if it meant turning spy. But now that the magic no longer lingered, perhaps it was a good thing that Potter didn't agree to share anything. If only there was a way to get rid of the mark…
The last thought that lingered in Draco's mind before sleep took over was the realization that he was no longer heir Malfoy but just Malfoy and he had no money. Oh bloody hell, he was poorer than the Weasles. Salazar have mercy. Stupid old hat!