welcome back to another work in progress

the ancient house of Valenti is a more recent idea, and one that i haven't structured a full story for. pairings are open and please enjoy the story!

warnings for suicidal ideation in the first part of the story.

He didn't understand why he did it.

Honestly it was one of the more idiotic thoughts he'd had, but at the time he'd been so overwhelmed with everything going on around him that as soon as he was alone he just…started walking.

At first he simply wandered the halls of Hogwarts, its corridors empty save for the occasional ghost. Everyone is more concerned with the end of the triwizard tournament and the death of Cedric Diggory, as well as the subsequent reveal and kissing of Barty Crouch jr.

He supposed he should've gone to the infirmary as Dumbledore had urged him to after their conversation, the lingering pain from the cruciatus, as well as the deep gash in his arm from the ritual were ever present on the fringe of his mind.

But Harry didn't want to go to the infirmary, where no doubt Mrs. Weasley waited to coddle and worry over him. He loved her but that was the last thing he currently wanted, and since Sirius was asked to stay behind so Dumbledore could talk with him real quick, he wasn't obligated to go there immediately.

What he currently wanted was silence. And even in the empty corridors, Harry could still hear the whisperings of portraits, the grinding of stairs as they moved at random intervals.

So without much thought, Harry's feet carried him onto the grounds, and even further beyond into the forbidden forest.

Honestly he hadn't even noticed until the far away howl of a wolf. Making him look about in slight fear.

Only for the fear to subside as he felt a strange sense of calmness overcame him.

Maybe it was for the best, he'd done nothing but bring problems to his friends, and had even gotten someone killed just tonight; maybe the magical world would be better without Harry Potter.

Shaking his head of his morbid thoughts, Harry continued on, now looking about the moonlit forest in caution and mild interest, at some point he felt a weird shiver of magic and assumed he'd passed beyond what would be considered 'school grounds', a part of him wondered if he should turn back, if maybe his macabre thoughts were ones he shouldn't entertain while under such turmoil.

But those thoughts were thrown from his mind by the sound of a growl behind him, he whirled about, stumbling back a bit as he saw what looked like a giant wolf stalk out towards him, quickly he pulled his wand, adrenaline driving away the final bits of his fatalistic mood.

"Stay back." Harry commanded. Turning as another growl came from his left. He realized just how foolish he'd been as he started taking a few more steps back, a full pack of wolves were creeping towards him, 'Lumos!" he shouted, and his wand immediately lit up at the tip, causing the wolves to shrink back before slowly moving forward once more; forcing harry to back up as he glanced back to see if he had the room to run.

One of the wolves suddenly lunged for him and Harry bellowed "stupify!" the red jet of light slamming into its chest and sending it crumpling to the ground.

Immediately Harry took off, the wolves on his heels, every now and again he'd throw a spell behind him, but there were too many for him to take them all.

He tripped over a root and he was almost immediately swamped, he cried out in pain as the dogs bit and pulled on his limbs. Sharp fangs easily tearing and puncturing his flesh and leaving bloody wounds behind.

"DEPULSO!" Harry roared, uncaring that his wand wasn't even pointed at any one wolf, the adrenaline and pain overpowering his spell to the point the entire pack was launched back, allowing harry to stumble to his feet,his legs barely supported his weight, but he couldn't stay still, couldn't die here.

He needed to get away, needed to go somewhere safe, somewhere secure.

The wolves howled once more and Harry whirled around, wand up and magic flexing as the same thought ran through his mind over and over.

Somewhere safe, somewhere secure.

The wolves froze as a loud CRACK! Filled the air, cautiously approaching the spot they'd last seen their quarry.

All they found was a bloodied hand and leg. Which they quickly began fighting over.

A few moments later another howl filled the air and the wolves flinched and ran when another, larger pack came thundering into the clearing, snarling at the smaller wolves and chasing them away from Hogwarts boundary line, one found the shredded arm and leg and howled once more. A younger wolf came Pelting over and they seemed to have a conversation before the young wolf took off full tilt towards hogwarts.

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Albus Dumbledore was a man sobered.

He'd thought-foolishly, now that he thought about it-that Harry would've been fine taking himself to the infirmary, he had to speak to Sirius only for a moment about Grimmauld place and its potential as a headquarters.

The conversation hadn't taken even five minutes before Sirius was heading to the infirmary to see his god-son in dog form.

Only to find that Harry had never made it to the infirmary.

Of course it meant that the entire castle was once again on high alert, this time because a student had disappeared, the portraits had easily revealed Harry had made for the grounds and it was with slight fear and trepidation that Albus realized the trail led into the forbidden forest.

"We have to go find him!" Molly practically shrieked, "who knows what he could run into out there!"

"We have no idea which direction he went." Professor Sprout told Molly soothingly, "and it's too dangerous to send a large group out to look for him."

"I'll go.' Hagrid said gruffly, already loading his crossbow as he came stalking towards them from his cabin, "I shoulda seen him goin' out there, and i know these woods better'n anyone else."

"Let me go with you Hagrid," dumbledore said, striding forward with his old friend, "the rest of you, search the surrounding area as well as the route to hogsmeade, he may have doubled back!"

"Oh, why would he run away!" Molly wailed as Bill and Arthur tried to console her, "he could be injured! He could be dead!"

"Easy now Molly, I doubt anything like that's found him." Arthur said consolingly while Albus checked the device he'd grabbed from his desk.

It was a handy little thing, a simple orb with colored smoke inside; it was linked to Harry's blood and would tell him if the boy was injured or dead.

So far he was injured, but that wasn't too concerning, he'd been on his way to the hospital wing after all.

He and Hagrid headed into the forest, Hagrid calling out for him as Albus looked about, in the distance Albus could hear the sound of fighting wolves.

"Wild moved into the woods beyond the boundary." Hagrid explained to the headmaster, "the hogwarts pack has been antsy because of it, guess they finally came to blows."

Crashing coming from that direction had both Turning, Albus with his wand out and Hagrid with his crossbow ready.

He immediately lowered it as a large wolf came bounding towards them, almost level with Albus' chest and as wide around as Hagrid, the large beast came to a skidding stop in front of Hafrid.

"How are ye Ritchie?" The half giant greeted the wolfling, and Albus reminded himself that Hagrid had taken care of the Alpha of this pack over 40 years ago. Meaning he was practically family to them, "sorry but we're looking for a student-" he stopped as the wolf seemed to nod its head and turn around, whining as it sprinted to the foliage and back.

"Ya know where he is? Lead the way!" Hagrid urged, running full speed into the forest, Albus easily keeping up, his eyes widened when they reached a clearing, regular wolves fighting ferally with the large Hogwarts pack, neither sides showing signs of backing down, a bang from his wand had the encroaching wolves scurrying away in a panic. The hogwarts pack hot on their heels.

Only a few wolves stayed, one being the alpha.

Fenris had been the oldest of the werewolf cubs Hagrid had taken care of once so long ago, he was also the most intelligent; able to converse psychically with most humans.

Headmaster. The wolf bowed its head as the human approached, nudging the limbs he'd been protecting, we caught the wild pack attempting to attack a student; he disappeared before we could fully intervene."

Hagrid let out a roaring wail as he saw Harry's bloody arm and leg, punching a tree and felling it in his raging sorrow.

Albus slowly fell to his knees, for a moment grief overcame his senses until he remembered Fenris' words, "you say he disappeared?" He whispered hopefully, looking at the orb he'd brought.

It still flashed red, injured, but alive..

He turned on the spot and vanished, Fenris confirmed, leaving behind his limbs.

"He's alive, Hagrid, he's alive!" Albus cried, waving his wand in an intricate pattern. If he apparated then I should be able to track it, please, please! Albus felt himself deflate when the spell didn't work, "it's been too long, that or he is too far." Albus whispered, waving his wand to float and cover the bloodied limbs, "back to Hogwarts Hagrid, we must tell the ministry! Thank you Fenris; please, keep an eye out in case he comes back."

The large wolf bowed his head, anything for Hogwarts, and Hagrid. He said before howling, his pack returned and they thundered deeper into the forest.

Hagrid mopped his face as they walked, "where could 'e 'Ave gone professor?" Hagrid asked him mournfully.

"I don't know Hagrid," Albus whispered, voice full of sorrow, "but we will find him, that I promise you."

By the next morning the prophet was reporting the runaway of the boy who lived. Some speculated he'd cracked under the pressure, while others said he'd been responsible for the death of Cedric diggory and went on the run as a result.

The only thing Albus Dumbledore knew was that the boy he considered a grandson was missing. And that he wouldn't rest until he was safely home.

WVWVW

It was the aching pain that woke him.

He wasn't sure how long he'd been out, or what had happened during the fight with the wolf pack; all he knew was that his arm and leg ached and the rest of his body hurt.

Slowly he began opening his eyes, both hands coming up to fix his glasses, where he noticed the first thing wrong.

His hand was metal.

Harry shot up to a sitting position, groaning when it made his body flare in pain, but he ignored it as he stared at his arm.

Or rather, what should've been his arm.

Dull bronze gears inside tarnished silver paneling quietly clicked and whirred as he moved the appendage, gold threaded fingers clacked as he opened and closed the hand, the smooth opal in the center of the palm twinkling merrily at him; he couldn't feel anything from it, and he realized the pain he'd been feeling had been from where the limb had been attached at his whistled as he rolled it, grunting in discomfort but surprised to find it subsided the longer he moved it.

Idly he wondered why he wasn't panicking at finding out a limb had been replaced, coming to the conclusion it was shock.

Which wasn't good if he remembered right.

He forced himself to look away from the limb, his eyes landing on his legs.

Where panic truly began to set in.

His opposite leg had also been replaced, halfway up his thigh and with the same clock-work-like mechanisms to mimic joints and ligaments, Five diamonds were set into its side paneling.

His breath began to quicken as he clutched at his leg, "what happened to me?" He whispered hoarsely, looking around wildly, he was in a bed room, but one far out dated and dusty than any he'd been in before, blood was smeared on the floor leading up to the bed he was sitting in, "where's my leg? WHERES MY ARM?"

his exclamation had the door open and he froze as whirring, metallic footsteps filled the air.

"I daresay boy! You gave me quite a fright!" The figure cried as it lurched into the room, "I'd of thought you'd still be unconscious!"

Harry blinked.

Then he blinked again.

Then he promptly fainted as his mind processed the third most baffling thing that day.

The gilded automaton-made of clockwork and bronze with silver fastenings, hummed in thought as the boy he'd found in the courtyard passed out, "I do believe I should have, 'eased him into it' a bit." It said, looking at itself in a nearby mirror, it had been made to look like a Centurion, but its armor had fallen off, the panels that covered its cogs and circuits were crumpled and some were even open. And he looked like he needed a good oil bath, "perhaps I should also find a better model, one's first impression is the best one after all." The automaton shambled out of the room, muttering to itself about "proper appearances." And "the first guest we've had in ages!"

The next time Harry woke up, he was in a far nicer room, satin covers and thick comforters keeping the cold at bay and making him want to sleep forever.

Sadly the pain in his new limbs was back, and no amount of tossing and turning would change that. So he once again sat up, hanging his legs over the edge of the bed as he looked about the room, not much light was offered from the soft white orbs of magical light that sat in the corners of the room, he could make out wood paneling and paintings of some sort.

His prosthetic made a clinking sound as it contacted the dark gray marble, no feeling just like his hand. He was able to articulate it just as well as his flesh and blood limb, though with the added bizarreness or not really feeling it.

"Apologies for earlier!" That same voice called, making Harry jump a bit as he looked over.

The automaton now looked a bit more put together, though some of its panels were still loose, and the gold and silver wire beard it had looked far more wild than it probably should have, its Ruby eyes glinted in the now brightened lights of the room as it walked in from a side door, "I forget that I'm not exactly in the best of repairs."

"Erm, it's fine." Harry mumbled, "I uh…was just a bit overwhelmed.'

"Hmm, quite," it mused, its voice was proper, with that sophisticated accent that Harry would sometimes hear from the pureblood Slytherins, though it seemed to echo and creak, "it's not every day one wakes up without two of his limbs after all!"

"What happened?" Harry asked, "all I remember is being chased by wolves."

"Well there goes my hope of you telling me how you got here." It chortled, "though if you wound up here, I daresay you have a right to."

Harry tilted his head and the automaton chuckled, an odd sound coming from metallic vocal chords, "ah but it's been so long since we had a master." He sighed, looking at the boy, "and you do have the eyes…come, there's a way to settle this."

Harry stood up, and promptly fell over as his new leg went rigid and didn't extend fully.

"Oh my! So sorry!" The automaton cried frantically as it rushed to his side, helping him up, "your magic is still tuning to the limbs crystals. I daresay you'll always have a bit of a problem walking now; sorry old chap, but when you splinch yourself you have to get the limbs back within the day or your body won't allow the reattachment, and I'm sad to say it's been over two weeks."

"Can I still play quidditch?" Harry asked as they limped out of the room, trying to keep his panic down at the amount of time he'd been unconscious; his gaze looking around at the ornate hall with deep red wood paneling and white marble pillars, In between the pillars sat wooden stands, displaying different things such as vases or busts.

"I don't know what that is, but if you have to run, I'd say no."

"It's played on a broom."

"Oh then you'll do fantastic! Can I watch your next game? I do so love learning about new things." The automaton beamed.

"Er…sure, if we figure out how to get me home." Harry said.

"Oh that won't be a problem once we know exactly who you are!" Harry's brow scrunched in confusion, but his words died in his throat as they entered a large atrium, where shelf upon shelf of books sat. Braziers roared to life and a chandelier full of candles and crystals lit the room in a brilliant light that almost mimicked day.

There were books of all kinds, leather bound tomes that would look right at home in the Hogwarts library, scrolls of brittle papyrus and rice paper stacked inside their alcoves with care. Tables and desks interspersed throughout to allow the intrepid scholar to view the contents of the massive library.

"Welcome," the automaton began cheerfully, "to Valenti keep, home of the prized library of Valenti!"

"Valenti?" Harry breathed out as they continued on.

"Aye, an old family, a good family! Died out in the 1300's, very sad." He said conversationally, "they were warriors and scholars of high regard, why, I think only the Library of Alexandria boasted a more impressive collection of knowledge; and these books and scrolls are just a small piece of it. There's ancient artifacts from the world around;crystals from the ancient Canaanites that have records of thousands of pictographs and memories. Why, I do believe we even have a few cursed priests of Imhotep, bound to help any scholar in need. Used to be bound to help any royal advisor of the Pharaoh, but a bit of inspired spell work and it's open to the public! We also have muggle literature of all kinds-a handy spell we were allowed to place in several distinguished libraries across Britain that creates a copy for our own libraries. I find myself partial to muggle car manuals myself. The things they can come up with after eight hundred years!"

"This is…amazing, what Hermione wouldn't do to visit here." Harry said, a bit awestruck.

"A lady friend?" The automaton asked slyly, making Harry blush, "a learn-ed young lass who has caught your eye?"

"She's a friend." Harry said firmly. "But she is smart, this would be her sanctuary."

"Aye, it's been a sanctuary to many over the years." They continued on, Harry's eyes still roaming about the building, staring in interest at the display cases holding everything from gems to weapons, "what's this?" He asked as they passed a runestone almost as big as he was, gems of all kinds littering its surface, certain areas were blackened, and a few spots looked like their surface had been melted, ruining runes and gems alike.

"Ah, spoils of War, this is an Arkenstone from the Great Keep Hatafract in Northern Wales, a Goblin stronghold that had been kidnapping muggles for work in their mines. A Coalition of the Houses of Valenti, Malfoy, Black, Thatcher and Potter laid siege to the keep and broke its wards after forty days of hard fighting back in 1143. It would mark the last of the goblins' great keeps to be destroyed; and The House Valenti claimed the Arkenstone so that we might study its amazing properties. Arkenstones were like control consoles for Goblin defenses, wards and enchanted weapons could be controlled from this stone as well as the layout of the keep itself. Quite ingenious really."

"How'd they beat it?" Harry asked, hanging on the robots every word, Black's, malfoys and Potters working together to save muggles? It sounded too fanciful to be true.

"An inspired bit of rune work from the Potters," he said, "paired with the ingenuity of the Valenti's to launch the runestones at the keep under the guise of regular Siege weapons and the madness of the blacks to sneak in under the cover of dark to set the runestones properly. The Malfoys spent a lot of blood keeping the goblins ignorant and away from the work the Black's were doing. All of it culminated in the cracking of the Arkenstone and the liberation of the muggles. It also led to the Treaty of 1143 that restricted goblins to their underground cities and banned the creation of more Arkenstones."

"So the goblins no longer have an Arkenstone?"

"meh, they probably do; but to my knowledge they've never tried using them again after that harrowing battle."

"they have a lot of rebellions." Harry noted as they continued on, "there's three that I know of that happened from 1578 to 1852, that last one the goblins won the right to bank in the Wizarding world and handle all matters involving inheritance."

"quite the win." He said, "control the gold and inheritance and you basically guarantee your race's importance."

"They lost the right to use wands though, but I don't think they care about that.'

"Quite right, goblins are far better enchanters and runesmiths than they are wand workers. Ah! Here we are!" The automaton cheered, opening two double doors and leading Harry into what looked like a study. Only it was twice the size of Headmaster Dumbledore's office, and had at least two more stories he could see. This room had more artifacts and display cases, as well as work tables with half finished projects on them. Bookshelves filled all the unused space, blue prints interspersed between the typical books, tomes and scrolls.

Directly across from them was an official looking desk with a throne like chair with red velvet upholstery, and behind that. Was a family tree.

It was massive, easily reaching all three stories and curled at the bottom; hundreds of thousands of names covered it, each one interconnected in some way.

The last entry was a Lord Reginald Valenti, 1345-1401. Cause of death listed simply as 'the Fall'.

Quite a few of his relatives were also marked this way and in the same year.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

"We were betrayed." The automaton said sadly, letting Harry lean against the desk as it walked about the room, looking for something, "the house of Malfoy attacked our strongholds as well as the potters when they came to our defense; They were always a larger family, the Potters-quite obviously by the fact you're here-survived…the Valenti's were killed to a man, and our final stronghold-this library-was the only one of our dwellings that survived. Aha! Here it is!"

Harry blinked when he heard a weird rattling, his eyes widening when he saw it pull out a cane from a collapsed pile of books, a bony hand still clutched to it, "let it go Tiberius, you're lucky you still have a hand!"

"Erm…tiberius?' Harry asked carefully as the bot shook the hand off, giving the offending appendage back into the pile of remains he'd partially pulled out of the booms.

"Yes, a Malfoy, the only one to break into the Library, lord Reginald killed the boy before succumbing to his wounds. I figured a proper burial was too good for the traitor.' He spat on the remains, walking back over to Harry, "Here you are;don't worry, it's a Valenti relic, Malfoy was planning to steal it before lord Refinald struck him down."

That definitely wasn't the reason he was wary of the cane that a skeleton had been holding. But Harry took it with a quiet 'thank you', looking over it as he marveled at how well it was preserved, the gold handle was in a typical L shape and the shaft seemed to turn from gold to a rich mahogany.

"Anti-slip and anti-summoning charms as well as stabilization enchantments, it has a bit of an attunement to magic so you can use it in a pinch if you don't have a wand, and a blade hidden in the handle."

Harry looked up at him, "I can't accept this." Harry said softly. "It's too much."

"I daresay I've already given you something far more important." He said gently, looking meaningfully at his prosthetics, "and anyways-if I'm right in my thoughts-then all of this is your birthright!"

"My birthright?" Harry asked in confusion, "but I'm a Potter, not a Valenti."

"But only a Valenti can gain access to this library." He retorted, "the Potters may have been the only ally to come to our aid during the fall, but they would not have been able to use the emergency rites to bring you here."

"Emergency rite?"

"When a Valenti is in trouble, all they must do is turn on their heel and think of somewhere safe and secure, and they will apparate to the Library of Valenti." He said proudly, "it was deep family magic that only affected those of the blood-as well as anyone holding on to them as Tiberius found out-but I digress! Only a Valenti can find this place."

"But…but…" Harry stuttered, looking at the family tree, "but Reginald died childless!"

"Only one way to find out." The automaton said, taking a step back to give Harry some room, "cut your hand on the blade in the cane, then press it into the family tree. If you are a Valenti, it will update and you will be named head of the family; if not, then it may expel you back to where you were picked up from. Possibly a fluke of Magic, but only one way to find out.

Harry hesitated, then took the cane in his prosthetic and began limping over to the family tree, licking his lips as he approached the ancient paper.

"Just twist the handle and give a tug!" The magical bot called from behind him, "the blade will come free!'

Harry stopped a foot away from the heirloom, hesitating as he looked at the cane again, with a twist he pulled the blade out, just slightly shorter than the length of the cane, single edged and ending in a fine point. Scroll-work ran across the length of the spine, a few runes interspersed within.

He took a deep breath and put the blade on his palm, pressing into the edge until beads of blood began to appear, then he removed the blade and put his hand on the paper.

He pulled his hand back after a moment, leaving a bloody handprint on its surface.

And the handprint began to ripple and move apart, lines and names began appearing as if written in his blood; three lines suddenly appeared from Reginald-one linking him to a Sabine Malfoy, and two linking them both to a pair of children. A small black dash next to their names; from them more lines began branching out, each name having a small black dash next to their names. They continued on through the years until one by one they began to die out again: ending in a single branch remained at the bottom

Jack Evans 1937-1976 (heart attack)

Evangeline Evans(nee Smith) 1937-1982

Petunia Dursley(nee evans) 1956-

Dudley Dursley 1980-

Lily Potter(nee evans) 1960-1981(blood war)

Harry Potter 1980-

"Incredible!" The automaton cheered, making Harry jump, "why, who would have thought that Lord Reginald would've not only had children with Sabine Malfoy-sworn enemies I'd there ever was one-but they were also squibs! I daresay had magic not returned in your mother then the line would've never reactivated! Tell me, does your cousin show any aptitude for magic?"

"No," Harry said distractedly, still reeling at finding out his mother was from a squib line and not a muggleborn, "in fact, the Dursleys hate magic."

"Ah, pity, but do keep an ear out in case any of his progeny are magical. You'll still be the primary head of house, but this will also be their birthright." The automaton smiled, his cheeks creaking from the movement, "now I can properly introduce myself," he said, giving an elegant bow-or as close to one as he could with creaky metal limbs,"Theta-5, guardian of Valenti Keep, servant of house Valenti, at your service."

"Good to meet you, Theta-5." Harry greeted, smiling warmly at the living mannequin, "now, can you get me to Hogwarts? It's been over two weeks and I'm sure the Headmaster is going spare looking for me."

"Ah but of course! But of course! With me!" He cried, running out of the room, running back in with an abashed look, "sorry, forgot you can't do that."

Harry couldn't help himself, he laughed.

"Now follow me! We'll get you dressed and to Hogwarts before you can say 'quidditch' heh, love that word now."

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Harry wasn't sure what the particulars of the travel room were, theta had tried explaining it to him, but the technical jargon hadn't made a lick of sense to him until Theta dumbed it down for him:

"Its a room that allows us to walk into key places throughout magical Britain, many of its let outs have been destroyed, but there should be one-aha!" Theta cheered triumphantly as he opened the eighth door in the large circular room. On the opposite side was a familiar looking disheveled house

"The Shrieking Shack?" Harry asked in surprise as he hobbled into the dusty and destroyed living room, looking back to note that the travel door was the decrepit closet, which went back to being a decrepit closet as soon as Theta walked through, looping a key on a leather necklace around his neck.

"Shrieking shack? This is Valenti manor!" He said disdainfully, looking about, "though I would describe this place as 'shrieking' now that I can see the way it looks, good lord did a fight happen here?"

Harry shook his head, "there was a student who went to Hogwarts who had lycanthropy, the headmaster charmed the Manor to be inescapable save for a hidden passageway. They would bring the boy here so he could transform away from the other students."

"How utterly barbaric." Theta sniffed, still glancing around, "Lord Reginalds uncle had been looking into Lycanthropy, poor Estanoss, his daughter had been bitten by a wolf when she was four; wasn't the poor chaps fault, he tore out his own throat when he came to his senses, and Estanoss worked for the rest of his life trying to find a cure. Came close a few times…but I digress, he learned much, and one of the first things he found was keeping the beast caged-whether in the mind or in a Manor house-makes the transformation far more violent."

"Professor Lupin did say things got easier when my father and his other friends became animagus to help them."

"Did they really? Good chaps, honestly locking him up in a manor!" He griped.

"Is the research at the library?" Harry asked eagerly, "maybe if we cross reference it with the wolfsbane potion we can figure out a cure!"

"Wolfsbane? Hmm, haven't come across that yet."

"Its a recent discovery, two years maybe."

"I'll have to go check our potions section when I return-but we are wasting time! Shall we continue to the school?"

"Oh, right!" Harry said, leading Theta to the secret passage; it was a bit of a hassle climbing down into it with his prosthetics, but soon they were on their way. "So, why was the headmaster able to use Valenti Manor? Did the family gift it to hogwarts?"

"Doubtful." He said, "though no one had lived there for a good fifty years by the time Reginald passed, and with the Valenti family being largely defunct, it doesn't surprise me that Hogwarts decided to Annex it. I'm just glad it went to a worthy cause. Despite the barbarity of keeping a child locked away, I can understand it was done as the only option." He peered ahead, "I think I see the exit.

"Careful, there's a whomping willow planted above it." Harry warned.

"Ah, that's an ingenious way to protect a passage out of the castle, and good fun for the children."

He didn't know a robot could be so sarcastic, but Harry ignored that so he could press the knotted root that froze the tree in place, "lets go." Harry said, moving forward, only to be held back by Theta.

"Allow me to go first, young lord." He said, "that way I can help you up."

Harry nodded his agreement and soon he was out and on the grounds of hogwarts, the morning mist still lingering over the green fields. With surer steps Harry began walking towards the castle. Theta right beside him in case he slipped on the sloping ground.

"It really doesn't change, does it?" Theta asked, "bit more grimier than I remember, but still."

"Its what I love about this place." Harry said softly, pulling the soft blue cloak he'd been given tighter around his body as the morning chill bit at his limb, wincing as it gently pulled at the wolf bites that littered his body, "that and the magic that seems to permeate the air."

"It is quite enjoyable, isn't it?" Theta mused, pushing the doors of the front entrance open with barely any effort.

"Hello!" Harry called as he entered the empty great hall, looking about before heading back out into the entrance hall and down the corridor, his cane clicking against the stone floors, "Hello! Professor McGonagall? Professor Flitwick? I'm back! Mr. Filch?"

"Perhaps they are out of the castle." Theta suggested, keeping a few paces back from him as he waves at a few portraits who waved back, stunned.

"Mr. Filch is here year round, and as far as I know at least a few professors stay here over the summer, HELLO!" Harry called again, nearing the stairs.

"Easy." Theta warned as Harry started limping up the steps, "the prosthetics may be strong but they won't take kindly to a tumble!"

"I'll be fine, we just need-"

"POTTER!"

Harry whirled around, nearly slipping were it not for Theta steadying him.

"Professor Snape." Harry said in relief as he saw the dark potions professor stalking towards him, "you have no idea how good it is to see you!"

Snape paused, his righteous anger at the boy fizzling out as he took in the bandages and the prosthetic holding a cane just under his cloak.

Still, it wouldn't do to make the boy think he was relieved to see him.

"You foolish boy." Snape sneered, "splinching yourself while trying to apparate, were you so exceedingly ignorant that you thought you could do it without any formal training?"

Harry felt a flash of anger, "there goes my relief to see you," Harry quipped, "I didn't apparate on purpose, turns out there's an emergency rite that apparate's members of the family away to somewhere safe when the need arises."

"How very much like your father, dismissing the worry and effort grown wizards have wasted to find you-"

"-I daresay it's not wasted if it's in pursuit of one of your charges." Theta 5 huffed, "I found the boy bleeding out from multiple bites and gashes, as well as missing two limbs! You should be far more worried about him."

"And what," Snape sneered, "are you?"

"A monkey's uncle." Theta said dryly, "I'm obviously an automaton tasked with protecting the young lord here."

"Well, automaton, had he not decided to run away into the forbidden forest then he would not have been in that position." Snape snapped, lip curling in disdain, "brash, foolish, idiotic-"

"Now that's quite enough!" Theta 5 growled, "where is the Headmaster, I doubt it's you."

"The headmaster is currently in the forest with the rest of the professors, attempting a locate spell-"

"-then contact him and tell him his missing student is at the castle you blithering moron." Theta 5 sneered, causing Snape's hackles to raise, "or are you going to allow him to 'waste his time' further?"

Harry grinned at the furious look on Snapes face as he flicked his wand and a Silver doe appeared, "tell headmaster Dumbledore the Potter brat is at the castle." He spat, and the doe took off out of the castle, "to the headmasters office Potter."

"I'll help you up the stairs." Theta said, Harry nodded his head gratefully as they went.

"He doesn't need coddling." Snape grunted.

"I said he lost two limbs you idiot!" Theta snapped, "if he has one real arm and one prosthetic holding a cane, then what other limb do you think he lost?"

Harry wasn't sure what was funnier, Theta's words or the look on Snapes face as it seemed to dawn on him that the robot was right. They headed the rest of the way to the headmasters office in silence; the gargoyle jumping aside to let them in as they approached.

"Sit and be quiet, Potter." Snape grumbled as they entered the office.

"He's been quiet the entire walk up here. I do hope you're not hearing voices." Theta said with faux worry. "It wouldn't do for Hogwarts to keep the employment of one who's mental faculties are…slipping."

"Why you tarnished bucket if bolts-:

"Not a single bolt was used in my construction, you uncouth vagrant! I am clockwork and artistry!"

"You're the insipid mechanical monstrosity of a bygone era."

"Insipid? Insipid!? THATS IT! have at thee you cur!" Theta cried as he pulled a bronze Gladius, Snape's wand was already beginning to move.

Suddenly the doors to the office burst open and Albus Dumbledore strode In, his eyes zeroing in on Harry almost immediately, "Harry, oh my boy you're alright!" The old man almost sobbed as he hugged Harry, much to the younger boys surprise.

"Y-yeah, I'm alright professor-er-a bit more right than I meant to be at least…"

Alnus pulled away and for the first time noted the prosthetic arm and the cane the young boy held, his other arm was bandaged up to his knuckles, one finger likewise mummified and crooked.

Only his clothes were in a decent sort of way, the blue cloak he wore was a bit dusty, but obviously well made, the white tunic and brown trousers were clean and well fitting, and the boots were only slightly scuffed.

He was a bit surprised at the coat of arms on the brooch that held his cloak closed, bronze with a stylized V And the image of an owl perched in its center. "My boy, what happened?" He asked gently.

Harry shifted uncomfortably under the old man's eyes, "i…I'm sorry Headmaster." He said quietly, head bowed, "i-i didn't mean to-I mean, I only meant to walk the grounds, I didnt…I wasn't…" he swallowed and cleared his throat, "I wasn't trying to run away. I didn't want to, I just…" he stopped as another hand silently clasped his shoulder, he looked over to find Professor McGonagall smiling sadly at him.

Something in and Harry started to sob, wet, heaving things that made his injured chest ache, "I'm sorry." He croaked out as McGonagall hugged him, "I'm so sorry."

"There, there potter-harry, it's okay." She soothed,"you went through a trying ordeal, it's only natural to want to get away for a bit, I'm just so happy you're alive."

"As am I, Mr. Potter,'

Harry sniffled and pulled away from McGonagall as he turned to a new face, she had a square jaw and brown hair tied back in a tight bun. Her blue-gray eyes shone with a bit of kindness, "I'm happy you were able to return on your own Mr. Potter, mostly in one piece."

"Thank you ma'am." Harry said, wiping away another tear, "I'm sorry, I don't know who you are."

"Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement." She introduced herself, "I was here as witness for the ministry while the professors attempted the locate spell."

"I'm sorry for the trouble I caused."

"In light of the recent tragedies, I daresay we can overlook this one moment of weakness Mr. Potter," she said kindly, "though I'd love to hear the story about the Automaton who looks like he's about to run Professor Snape through."

"oh!" Harry gasped, turning around to stare at Theta 5, who was indeed creeping towards Snape with sword at the ready, the professor himself still had his wand out and looked ready to blow the robot away, "Theta 5! Stop trying to fight Professor Snape!"

",he's an insult to the title." the automaton sniffed disdainfully, but put the sword away. Snape sneered but stowed his wand away as well, "but I will be the bigger man, since the man child won't be able to."

"excuse-" Snape started angrily, only to shit his mouth with an audible the look of warning mcgonagall shot both of them.

"Theta 5?" Albus asked, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder, as if to reassure himself the boy was really there, "what a peculiar name for a peculiar automaton."

"why thank you sir." theta beamed, "but please, allow me to introduce myself fully." He once again performed a semi-elegant bow, like he had when he'd first introduced himself to Harry, "Theta 5, guardian of Valenti Keep, and Servant of house Valenti, at your service."

"House valenti?" Flitwick gasped in shock, "why that house has been extinct for over seven hundred years!"

"Thought extinct, but no longer!" Theta 5 said proudly, "after all, the young lord has proven his heritage and claimed !"

"Claimed his title-harry?" Albus asked in shock, looking at the boy.

Harry chuckled a bit awkwardly as every adult in the room stared at him, "let's just say the reason I was able to apparate wasn't because I was actively trying." Harry said lightly, "it was an Emergency Rite in the Valenti family magic, took me somewhere secure.c

"Where I was reactivated to receive him." Theta said a bit smugly, "alpha 4 thought he'd be the one, but I sure showed him!"

"Theta said I was unconscious when I got there, I'd been attacked by a wolf pack so I'd gotten mauled pretty good."

"Not to mention he was missing two limbs, thankfully I know the old technomancy books inside and out."

"I just woke up today." Harry continued, "as soon as Theta confirmed I was the new head of house, he got me dressed and got me here. Again, I'm so sorry."

"I'm just happy you're okay harry." Albus said genuinely, hugging him once more, "and I'm glad you were able to find refuge in such a dangerous situation.:

"Agreed," Amelia said, "well, I think it's safe to say this case . Mr. Potter, you may find yourself summoned to the ministry to officially recount everything, but I believe that can wait until you've fully recovered."

"Thank you ma'am, can you tell Susan I said hi?"

"Of course, albus." She said in way of parting, nodding to the other professors as she walked out.

"Well I think that's enough excitement for me." Professor Burbage giggled, "I think I'll kip off to the kitchens, Septima would you like to accompany me."

"Alright,' the arithmancy professor said begrudgingly, offering Harry a small smile, "it's good to see you back Mr. Potter."

"Heal up well." Professor burbage added, Professor Babbling offering her well wishes before likewise leaving.

"I daresay you gave us quite the scare Mr. Potter, quite the scare." Flitwick tutted as he walked up to Harry, gingerly taking his real hand and patting it comfortingly, "if you ever need someone to talk to, my door is always open." He said kindly.

"Thank you professor." Harry said, feeling his eyes sting a bit with more tears.

Flitwick nodded his head with a smile, then turned to Snape, "perhaps you'd like to accompany me to my office, severus? I think a finger or two of Brandy would do us some good."

Snape grunted and moved for the door, flitwick following with a final wave goodbye.

"We should get you to Poppy." McGonagall said, slowly guiding Harry to the door.

"But-" Harry started, looking to the headmaster, who hadn't moved from his spot.

"Its alright Harry." Albus reassured gently, "we can reconvene once we've made sure you're healthy and that your new prosthetics are properly in place.

"Of course they're properly in place." Theta 5 sniffed disdainfully, "I'm a Valenti automaton, not a Malfoy."

McGonagall stared at the bot in confusion, "Malfoys betrayed the Valenti's, it's a ." Harry confided in her.

"All the same," Albus said genially. "Go see Madam Pomfrey, rest, eat, I will contact the Weasleys, Ms. Granger and Sirius and let them know you have been found-I daresay they'll be here within the hour-we can discuss everything once you've fully healed."

Harry hesitated, then nodded, "yes sir, thank you." He said, before limping out with Professor McGonagall.

"Will you not go with your young charge?" Albus asked the automaton.

"I will catch up." He said, "but first there are matters with which I need to discuss with you, chief among them a particularly nasty bit of Dark Magic currently latched on to my ward."