1,619A/N: Harry Potter and his world belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.
A/N2: Thank you all for the initial response to this story. It has been more than I expected. Because of that, I decided to release the second chapter early. I hope to keep you all entertained.
It also provides lots of inspiration to get a model of a Hungarian Horntail for Father's Day.
-oOo-
Chapter 2
-oOo-
February 5, 1994
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry was still coming down from his epic catch against Ravenclaw. Cho glared at him almost every time he passed her or saw her looking at him in the Great Hall. He hadn't meant to buzz her. He wasn't grabbing at her back side and he definitely didn't knock her off her broom.
He had turned his Firebolt suddenly. He had caught the snitch that was hovering just above the twigs on her broom. He had grabbed for her and kept her from falling when she screamed and almost fell off.
After landing, Ron had rushed him. "Harry! That was brilliant," Ron exclaimed.
Harry let it go for now, but he was going to have a talk with Ron later. Hermione and him had apologized to each other. Ron could too.
As he left the changing room and started up the path, he was surprised to see a small knot of Ravenclaw and Slytherin girls. Daphne turned to him as he walked up with the team.
"Come on, Harry. Party," George said wrapping an arm around him. Harry shook him off.
"I'll be up in a few," he told George.
He didn't notice the team stopping a dozen paces away. He was giving his goofy smile to Daphne. The dark-hair girl looked rather cute with rosy cheeks from the cold. The splashes of green in her dark eyes seemed to stand out more today. "Very nice catch, Scion Potter."
He bowed and for whatever reason possessing him he held out the snitch. "Thank you, Heiress Greengrass. I would just like to confirm our study time for Monday. I also hope this brings you as much luck as it brought me today."
"Harry, you coming," Fred called out.
He gave her his goofy smile again. A small smirk ghosted her face as she took it. "Thank you, Scion Potter. I think your team wants you." She nodded her head to the loudly wolf whistling Weasley twins.
"I'll see you Monday afternoon?"
A small smile broke her mask and stayed. "One-thirty in the library. Don't be late," she commanded.
"Never, Heiress Greengrass," he responded and turned back to the team. There was some giggling behind him as he walked up to the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Wood was looking at him like he was a loon. "Why the bloody hell are you talking with our competition and you gave her the snitch!"
"It was mine," Harry told him. Harry was allowed to keep every snitch he caught. The only one he had kept so far was the first one from first year.
Fred and George smiled like loons. "Has our young Harry found a crush," Fred started.
Angelina, Katie and Alicia just gave him knowing looks, like big sisters to a beloved younger brother. "Leave him be. He can give the snitch to whomever he wants," Angelina hit George before he could say anything.
"Oi! Woman! You going to beat me all day," George exclaimed and they all laughed at him. Which helped to cover Harry's red face.
"No more fraternizing with the enemy, Potter. We are going to win this year and I won't have the snakes pulling something on you." Wood looked dead serious.
Harry shrugged. He didn't see any enemy.
-oOo-
February 6, 1994
Hogwarts, Scotland
Sunday morning was cold and snow was falling outside. Harry felt tired. It had been weeks of five or six practices a week, lots of work and a party McGonagall had to break up about midnight.
Yawning, he picked at his hot porridge and a rasher. Not many were down yet, being just after seven, but Harry had a lot of work to catch up on for tomorrow. He had taken Friday off, mostly because Wood hunted him down wherever he was to keep going over strategies and to pep talk him.
Yesterday, nothing was getting done between the game and the party. So, today Harry had to pay the piper.
He had his parchment and Potions book out as he wrote about the properties and uses of beetle blood. He was halfway through when a snowy owl landed on the table across from him. Not looking up, he spoke to her.
"Morning Hedwig. I thought you would be sleeping with the snow?"
She squawked.
"I don't have any mail today. Maybe Hermione will later," he told her. He still hadn't forgiven Ron and would need to talk with him later.
She shuffled over to him before reaching down and nipping his finger.
"Ouch!" He dropped his quill and put his finger to his mouth. "What was that for?"
She indignantly squawked at him and held her leg out. He stared at the attached letter. He never got mail, except from Mrs. Weasley at times. His familiar just stood tall and regal waiting for him.
"Who is sending me a letter and did you go to get it?"
She preened and hooted with a certain dignity. Harry chuckled at her. "I love you too," he told the snowy owl. She was the only one in the world that he had ever said that too and he felt she returned the feeling with the same unreserved sentiment. He took a few bits of sausages from a platter and put them on his plate.
"Here you go. Thanks," he rubbed his hand over her head and looked at the letter.
-o-
To Scion Harry James Potter
Hogwarts, Scotland
-o-
Turning it over, there was a large wax seal. It was a dark red, almost black, wax with a crest and a large 'G' in it. There was a similar crest like that at Gringotts. He remembered because he had seen it dozens of times over the summer during the few weeks he stayed at the Leaky Cauldron. While eating at Fortescue's, he had studied it one afternoon, having nothing better to do.
Harry had a small tinge of panic. There were only two things that made sense to get this letter. Either Neville's gran had found a way to talk to the goblins like he said she would, or the vault his parents had left him was suddenly empty. He had no idea how he would survive if that happened.
With slightly trembling hands he opened it. There were a few parchments and a ring fell out. It looked sort of like Neville's, with a crest he didn't recognize on it. Since Neville had shown them his, Harry had seen a few dozen other boys, some older, some younger, with them. Harry picked up the ring and examined it for a moment before slipping it on.
The crest looked like an old shield with two crossed wands held by a griffin. In his fingers it felt cold and smooth, like any metal that had been outside for a while. Once it was on his finger, it felt warm and fit perfectly. He liked the feel of it.
A few others had come down, but sat in other areas, not disturbing his notes.
Hedwig gave him a hoot and took off.
"Thanks, Hedwig," he called after her.
Looking inside the envelope, he found another one that was sealed with a forest green wax and a crest, like on his ring, pressed into it. There were also several muggle envelopes and one loose parchment.
He took the unsealed parchment first, which had a nice flowing script.
-o-
Dear Scion Potter,
Gringotts has recently received permission to unseal the Potter vaults and retrieve and enact any documentation that would pertain to the disposition of your family valuables. In vault eighty-two, an executive copy of the Will of James and Lily Potter was retrieved.
Please find enclosed one official copy of the Will and scion ring that was to have been presented to your person at the age of eleven, as executed per the will. A copy has been provided to the following named Guardians or other personages named in the will:
Lord Sirius Black, Godfather (Guardian)
Madam Amelia Bones (2nd Guardian)
Madam Augusta Longbottom
Mr. Remus Lupin
Lady Minerva McGonagall, nee Ross
All other members of the will have either been deemed deceased or uncontactable.
An audience with a Senior Will Executor and Account Manager is recommended at your earliest convenience,
Goretusk the Large
Senior Will Executor, First Tier Accounts
Gringotts Bank, London
-o-
Harry read the letter three times before looking around. It was still pretty deserted, being nearly eight now on a Sunday. Only Professor Flitwick and Babbling were at the table and none of his friends were here. His hands were shaking.
Harry grabbed his stuff, shoved it into his bag and turned towards the door of the Great Hall. He needed someone, anyone to show this to and understand what it was. Ron and Neville would probably still be asleep. They didn't usually wake until nine on Sundays.
He didn't trust Seamus or Dean enough. This was too personal.
Hermione was usually up by now, but many times she would wait in the common room for one or both of them. Harry had gotten up too early for her today and left the common room before she had come down. Hermione was who he needed. He didn't trust to go to the other names on the letter until he knew what the will was.
As he ran out of the hall, a very familiar voice said, "Good morning, Scion Potter."
Harry skidded to a halt to see Daphne, a younger girl that looked like her, Astoria he thought. Then there was Tracey and the larger girl, Millicent Bulstrode. A very quick mental debate occurred. Go to Hermione, his best mate, or ask this new girl he had only been studying with for over two weeks?
The debate was over almost before it began. Hermione was his best mate, but Daphne had been the one to first call him Scion and probably knew far more about this than his brilliant brunette friend. Only Neville might be better.
"Daphne, I need your help. Can you come with me," Harry asked striding over to her.
All four girls looked shocked for the moment. He was sure it had something to do with his agitated state. "Please," he begged her.
"Is everything alright," Daphne asked concerned.
"I just need your help. Just for a little bit."
Her eyes tracked his wildly moving hands and after a few seconds she said, "This needs to be private. I will be with you in a little bit," Daphne told her sister and friends.
"Daphne, you shouldn't be alone with a boy," Astoria whispered as though it was the worst thing in the world.
"I think Scion Potter is safe enough," Daphne told her sister.
"Please," Harry asked again. She hesitated for a moment. "I'll go find Hermione."
He turned to head towards the main staircase and Daphne reached out and grabbed his arm. "Go," she commanded the others. "Harry, in here," she said. He didn't even register the use of his first name.
She pulled him into a door next to the Great Hall. There was a passageway behind it that led to another door. "Where are we?"
"This connects the antechamber to the Great Hall. What are you so agitated about?" she asked, standing a few feet apart.
He focused on her. "My parents will," he told her.
She looked at him as though he was barmy. "What of it, Harry? Why would you get so upset over it? It should have been read years ago."
Harry stepped to her and rammed the first parchment at her. She rolled her eyes as though he was being a silly child. It was then that he realized she didn't have her mask up and that she had called him Harry, not Potter or Scion Potter.
"Just read it," he told her.
"We hardly know each other. Is it really appro...pri...ate...," she trailed off as her eyes scanned the parchment. His stomach was roiling.
"Oh, Merlin," she said under her breath. Looking up, her eyes were wide. "The will was never executed and you did not receive your Scion ring on your eleventh birthday?"
Harry shook his head.
"This is line theft! The executor of the will can be walked through the Veil for this," she told him.
"What's the veil and what is line theft?"
She looked at him, her dark eyes wider than he had seen before and her mouth open. "Line theft." It was obvious she thought he should know what she was talking about.
"Line theft," she repeated to his clueless face. "Harry, if the will hadn't been found and you had not claimed your Scion ring by seventeen, your vaults and everything your parents left you could have gone to the Executor of the Will or the Ministry if there was no other possible Scion or Heiress by the time you turn twenty-one."
It was his turn to look at her wide eyed. "What? You mean... you mean I do have other vaults and such and someone tried to steal it! Sirius Black," he spat.
She looked at him and then the letter. "I don't think he could have," Daphne said carefully.
"He's trying to kill me and already got into the school once this year!" He started to pace and make aggravated growls, unable to iterate anything coherent at the moment.
"Harry, that is not what I mean! To magically be a godparent you take an oath. It is an oath that you will rather die than hurt the one you swore to protect. Magic will either steal all your magic or kill you if you ever do anything intentional to harm your godchild."
Harry stopped and turned back to her, his mouth open and brain just totally shot. "Sirius Black wants to kill me," he told her after a few seconds.
"Black may want to kill someone, but he could never willingly kill you. He would do everything in his power to protect you, like he was your own parent," Daphne told him.
For months Harry had been running from the crazed madman. He had been told to stay safe. People had protected him. McGonagall herself said he was his godfather and had been the one to betray his parents the day he had snuck to Hogsmeade. No wonder McGonagall still sounded so shocked and disbelieving.
Harry looked at her. He really didn't have much of a reason yet to trust this girl, but something in him said she was not lying.
"A magical godparent really can't hurt their godchild?"
"No. Not if they took the oath. This probably means he's innocent."
"Bloody hell," Harry cried out before leaning against the wall and sinking down to the floor. He put his head in his hands. "Daphne, how could he have let Voldemort kill my parents? He was their secret keeper."
She gasped. "That isn't possible! Mother and father have said it is like an unbreakable vow."
Harry sat up and hit his head against the wall. "I take it that's a magical vow that you can't break," he groused before meeting her eyes.
She was looking down at him. Her eyes looked confused. "You either do what you promised or you die. It can't override any previous oath, and no oath after it can override it. A godparent oath is much the same," she explained as though he should already know this.
"Bloody hell," he exclaimed again. He just sat on the cold flag stone floor for a moment while she just regarded him.
It was a few minutes before she asked, "Is that the will?"
Harry pulled his head up and moved the envelope and the will so he could see them. "I don't want to know what it says," he told her, afraid it would have other revelations that would rock him as hard as this one. "Daphne, if what you said is true, then Sirius Black didn't betray my parents."
"Then who did?" she asked.
There was a squeak and some scurrying. Daphne screamed as a rat suddenly ran down the hall. Her wand was out. "Diffindo!" She pointed her wand at the rat and the white spell raced down the hall, cutting the rat in half. It let out a foul screech before going silent.
Daphne was shaking and Harry got up. "Daphne," he said softly.
She jumped back as he put a hand on hers to lower her wand. "I hate rats," she yelled bitterly. "I hate the Slytherin common room and being in the dungeons! That's the third one this week."
He just looked at her as she watched the rat to make sure it wasn't moving. The pool of blood around it was a sure sign it wasn't going to move anymore.
"Right. No rats. I hope that wasn't Ron's," he said with a small nervous laugh.
She shuttered again. Harry found himself doing something he had never done before. Slowly moving in, he pushed her wand arm down. When she didn't resist, he moved in a little closer. He had never done this willingly before, but something told him this was the right thing to do.
His arms moved up and he pulled her in for a hug. Daphne stiffened for a second before shuttering again and then relaxing into his hug. It didn't last long and when he let her go, she didn't move away from him. A tear was on her cheek. "I wanted to be a Ravenclaw like mother and father."
She used the back of her hand to wipe the tear off her cheek. When she looked at it, her cheeks turned the pink he thought was cute on her. She gave him a sharp look. "You ever repeat what I just told you and I will haunt you until we leave this place."
Harry backed up, holding his hands up in surrender. "Mum's the word," he told her.
The door to the entry hall suddenly swung open. A serious set McGonagall was standing in the doorway. "Potter, there you are. Professor Lupin and I have been looking all over for you. Ms. Greengrass, what are you doing here?"
Her mask was up and she was holding herself tall and prim. "Scion Potter had a matter of House business to discuss, Professor. There was no impropriety."
Professor McGonagall gave Daphne a stern look. "I didn't say there was, Ms. Greengrass. I can take your word, Potter?"
Harry tried to stand as tall as he could. He had no clue what Daphne and McGonagall were talking about. "No, Professor. We were only talking."
"Greengrass, run along to your friends. Potter, follow me," McGonagall ordered, turned and started to walk off. He cast one more glance at the rat and followed Daphne out. She took off for the Great Hall and he followed McGonagall.
-oOo-
Professor Lupin's Office...
Harry sat in Professor Lupin's office with a cup of tea and saucer in one hand. It was a small office with a grindylow in a tank and a hinkypunk in an enchanted cage. Professor Remus had transfigured his desk into another chair. Harry sat in one, McGonagall in another and Professor Lupin in his normal seat.
"Do you know why we asked you here?" Professor Lupin asked.
"I assume it's the letter I have in my hand," Harry responded, the will still sealed with the green wax.
The man gave a sad smile. "Yes, Harry. Have you read it yet?"
He shook his head.
"Did you know it hadn't been read yet?"
Harry shook his head again.
"Did that ring come in the envelope?"
McGonagall suddenly looked at his hand with the teacup.
Harry nodded.
"We have notified the DMLE about receiving the will. I am sure Amelia Bones, the Head of the DMLE, is storming through the Ministry right now with what was in the Will. Would you like me to read my copy to you?" Remus suggested.
"Remus, the boy should know," McGonagall said.
Remus held up his hand. "Harry looks a little overwhelmed at the moment. Harry," the Professor called and he looked back up at Professor Lupin.
"Harry, I can read you my copy of the will, or I can read you yours. Mine will have all the important points, but it may miss any letters or exclusive binding for you," Professor Lupins said calmly.
"Sirius Black didn't betray my parents, did he?" Harry asked.
Professor Lupin frowned. "It would appear not. I was not aware he had made a godparent oath. There are already people working on that, but in the meantime, it is important that you understand what your parents left you."
"I never should have doubted. Sirius loved James like a brother," McGonagall lamented.
"Which copy would you like me to read?" The man ignored McGonagall.
Harry held out his copy. If there was more in his, then mind as well get it over with now. "Can you please open it? Only the recipient can do so," Professor Lupin requested kindly,
Harry did so and handed it to Professor Lupin.
The Professor opened the envelope and took the will and put a half dozen or more small letters off to the side. "Are you ready?"
No, he wasn't. "Please," his damned Gryffindor courage said.
-o-
September 3rd, 1981
The Will of James Fleamont and Lily Jane Potter
This is the last will and testament to be read should our son, Harry James Potter, survive us.
First, Lily and I would like to tell our son how much we love him. He is the bright star in our life, the flying terror of Jingles and the bane of an unsuspecting Padfoot. Lily still laughs about that time he almost pulled Padfoot's ears off. It brings a smile to my face as we write this.
Times are dark. We are in hiding and keeping Harry safe is the most important thing we can do. Sirius and Alice took the godparent oaths as soon as they could after Harry's birth. My sister, Padfoot and Moony look on him as though he was their son too. Lily expects Neville and Harry will grow up close as brothers. They already act that way.
Lily and I can't tell Harry how much we love him...-
Harry was sniffling. There was so little left of his parents. Harry couldn't wait to ask, "Who is Jingles, Moony and Padfoot?"
Professor Lupin looked very sad. "Jingles was Lily's familiar. A sleek black cat."
"I have a picture with me chasing Jingles. What happened to Jingles?"
"I don't know," Professor Lupin replied.
"And Moony and Padfoot?"
"Myself and Sirius Black."
Harry just nodded before the big shocker hit him. "Did that just say my dad had a sister?!"
"Alice. The poor dear. Her and Frank. At least you have Neville still," Professor McGonagall told him.
Harry just blinked at her. They were all acting as though he should know Neville was his cousin.
His shock must have been taken that he didn't have more questions as Professor Lupin went on.
-…Second, Lily, Harry and I have gone into hiding as of August 23rd, 1981. A safehouse with guards has been setup to protect our secret keeper, and in turn we are secret keeper to him. We can never thank Peter Pettigrew for helping me to protect Lily and Harry...-
"Why would they name Pettigrew," McGonagall asked confused. "I know he was close, but what of Sirius or you?
"I was under suspicion at the time and hadn't seen them since shortly after Harry was born. I am sure they thought Sirius was too high profile."
-…As for our worldly possessions, they shall be parsed out as such:
Harry gets everything, except the few allowances made on the attached sheets. The goblins have been contracted to maintain the few residences that are left and the accounts.
On Harry's eleventh birthday, he is to be presented a Potter scion ring. On his seventeenth birthday, he is to be declared Regent or Lord Potter, depending on the state of the Wizengamot.
To see him raised with love and into the man he should be, we name the following as his Guardians, in order:
1. Lady Alice Longbottom, Godmother (to be shared with Lord Frank Longbottom)
2. Sirius Black, Godfather
3. Ms. (or Mrs.) Amelia Bones
4. Any other Potter relative that is magical and does not serve the Dark Lord
Executors of the Will
1. Lady Alice Longbottom
2. Sirius Black
3. Ms. (or Mrs.) Amelia Bones
4. Gringotts should any not be able to
Signed,
Regent James Fleamont Potter
Witnesses...-
"Dear Merlin! Minerva looked at the witnesses," Professor Lupin softly exclaimed.
His mind was trying to process everything. There was no mention of the Dursley's. No mention of him living in Little Whinging or to be stuffed under the stairs for a decade. He was supposed to live with his father's sister, not his mother's! They wanted him to be loved.
They wanted him to be loved!
Harry looked at Professor Lupin. "I'm not supposed to be living at the Dursley's?"
The man frowned and looked back down at the parchments. After a moment, Professor Lupin sighed. "Harry, I do not know why you have been placed with your mother's sister. I can say we will sort this out."
"What happened to my Aunt Alice?"
"Has no one ever told you?" Professor McGonagall asked. He shook his head, still processing what was going on. McGonagall frowned. "Alice and Frank Longbottom were tortured into insanity about a week after your parents were murdered. They are still in St. Mungo's. The Healers haven't been able to find a cure for those tortured like that with the Cruciatus curse."
So many thoughts were roiling in his head. "Oh," he commented. "Professor Lupin, how did you know about Jingles? Why did you get a copy of the will? Why would my parents call you Moony and refer to you?"
There was a look exchanged between his Professors.
"Harry, when I was at Hogwarts, Lily, James, Sirius and Peter were my best friends. I was there the day you were born. Lily grew to be my best friend."
This was just one too many things to suddenly be piled on him. His eyes bored into the man. "If you were their friend, why didn't you get this earlier and why didn't I know! Why didn't you ever visit me!"
"Harry, understand that..." Professor Lupin started.
It was too much. Harry grabbed his bag. "Understand what? My parents wanted me to go live with people they trusted and I ended up in a cupboard instead! If you were their friend, you could have checked in on me!" Harry yelled at the man before rushing out of the room. Where were all those people the years he went to bed hungry or beat!
"What does he mean by a cupboard?" he heard Professor McGonagall.