Chapter 15
-oOo-
July 5, 1994
London, England
The Aurors hustled him into St. Mungo's as soon as they apparated into the alleyway. Over the summer, he was to meet with Healer Tonks once a week. The Aurors didn't relax as they waited in the line in the lobby and took up position outside her office when Harry was let in.
"Good afternoon, Harry. How has your summer been?" she asked with a smile.
"Good so far, though I could do without the wakeup calls from Sirius some days," he griped.
She laughed. "You know he is getting his jollies seeing you all so grumpy like that?"
"Figures," Harry muttered.
"My cousin has always been like that. Now, how are you coming along with your meditation and memory review?" Healer Tonks was often mostly business. Harry liked that.
"Getting better. I had a pretty good breakdown the night we got back to Grace Hall though," he admitted. She would probably see it anyway, so he might as well get it over with now.
"Care to talk about it before we begin?"
"Not really. Just some stuff I am trying to come to terms with. You said I had to do that myself before we could move onto the next step," he reminded her.
She nodded. "You do, but that does not mean talking about it with others cannot help as well. Sometimes finding someone you trust, even if it is just to get it off your chest, can help quite a bit."
Harry nodded. He had been talking about it. Mostly with Daphne, Hermione or Amelia, though he didn't think Daphne realized what he was doing - and he kept the worst from her. "I know. You and Anne keep telling me that."
She gave him a small smile. "Glad to see you are listening to us."
He shrugged. "I think I finally made progress in making a simple mindscape. It's helped to see Sirius the last few weeks."
"Good. You want to talk about anything else, or let me into your mind?"
He let out a deep sigh. "Might as well let you see," he responded.
She nodded and motioned to a cushioned lounge chair against a wall. He laid down and within a minute he had closed his eyes and tried to calm his thoughts. He had taken to this faster than Healer Tonks had thought he might.
In what felt like a blink of the eye, he was standing in the middle of a large field. The grass was almost waist high. Quidditch hoops, about a hundred yards apart, stood either side of him. It had a rather serene quality. The only odd thing about it all was the thousands upon thousands of bubbles floating around. They were all about three inches across and ranged in colours.
Looking at a yellow one as it floated by, he made out Hermione saying something. He couldn't tell what it was, but he knew if he reached out and touched it then he would relive the memory. Until then, it was contained in the bubble.
He knew instantly when Healer Tonks stepped next to him. It was apparent she didn't belong. Harry watched another bubble float by. This one was ashen looking. He didn't like this one. The boy in it was huddled under a thin blanket, fresh blood apparently staining the material where it touched his back.
"This is quite impressive," she commented, spinning around.
Harry turned to her. "I did what you suggested. Find a place that makes you happy and a way that lessens the impact of the memories. I wanted a full Quidditch stadium, but this is where I landed."
She nodded. "This is very impressive for the amount of memories you have isolated. Are you sure you have only been doing this for the three months we have been working together?"
He smiled at her praise. "It hasn't been easy." It really hadn't. Especially when all these repressed memories or emotions broke through, like when he got back for the summer.
"Doing something right is rarely easy. What do all the different colours mean?" She followed a memory as it floated by. This one was tinged pink. He knew who that memory would be about. Even though they were in his mind, and he could control things, he still flushed.
"Yellow seems to represent my friends. Anything that is grey or darker are mostly ones I don't like. Blue, it seems, are lessons or when I study. Red ones are when I am angry. White seems to be really good memories," he said.
"And these pink and green ones?" She quirked an eye at him.
Harry knew he had to be honest. A large part of these lessons was for him to accept himself, and one of the ways to do that was to be honest. "The green ones are ones I am not proud of. They are mostly ones I feel jealous or envious of someone. The pink memories are all about Daphne." His face felt like it was burning. He wouldn't be surprised if it was in reality.
She didn't judge or tease him. "Daphne Greengrass means a lot to you, doesn't she?"
As he thought about her, a pink bubble came towards him. It was one of the latest runs they did yesterday morning. He really liked the school shorts and t-shirt. She was also getting less self-conscious and in this one she caught him looking at her legs and the blush that came to her face also came with a smirk this time...
"Please don't say anything, but I really like her," he admitted.
She gave him a pleased smile. "It is healthy for a boy your age to feel that way towards someone. She is pretty. I notice you have a lot of your friends and family around us too. Are you coming to terms with your darker memories or are you using good memories to insulate yourself?"
He frowned. "A bit of both."
She nodded, making no judgement. "Just make sure you don't just surround yourself with the ones you really like. You have to come to terms with all you are, to get to the next level. What are you going to do with all these memories as you sort through them?"
He looked around, not really having thought about it yet. He was pleased to just get this far. As he looked at the grass, he had an idea. "Wild flowers? Maybe each one could be a flower?" he suggested.
She nodded. "Not a bad idea to start. I think you should work on that. Maybe a single flower for each memory. Put similar memories into patches or on the same plant. Once you can get that, we can work on the next stage."
A moment later, Harry was blinking his eyes open. His cheeks were wet. Healer Tonks looked away as he wiped his cheeks and sat up. "You are making incredible progress. I think it might be best if we only meet once a week for now. You need some time to sort through all this on your own. Right now, I can only guide you now that you have learned to isolate your memories."
Harry nodded. The first few weeks had been horrible. She had had to work with him to break down some massive blocks he had put in place. It had been almost unbearable. The first three lessons had gone almost three hours a piece and they met only once a week, not the hour she had expected three times a week. She wouldn't let him go until he had calmed enough not to fall apart or bite off the head of the first person that had talked with him.
"Thank you, Healer Tonks."
She nodded. "It's alright to call me Andromeda, Andi or Aunt Andromeda when you want. I have invited you, Susan, Amelia and Sirius over this weekend. Nymphadora will be there, so you can finally meet her."
"Can I bring my Firebolt?" he asked her. She had told him there were some fields behind her house he could fly in.
She snorted, trying to keep in her laughter, and shook her head. "As long as you don't kill yourself."
His smile was wide across his face.
-oOo-
July 9, 1994
London, England
Harry looked around the study. Amelia hadn't let him in here before. It had a very masculine feel to it. Dark stained wood. Bookcases and glass cases filled with vials, books, stuffed animals and creatures, a dragon's head and many other things.
"This was our father's study, then Edgar's. I haven't had the heart to change anything around," Amelia said from behind a large desk.
"Is that a real dragon?"
"A Welsh Green. At one time we had a small keep along the Tyne. One of our ancestors saved the town below it from that dragon. It is part of our history," said Amelia.
Harry nodded. "I wish I knew about my history like that."
She gave him a sad smile. "Take a seat, Harry. I may be able to help you with some of that, but I am afraid I have some bad news as well."
"What bad news?"
"Take a seat," she informed him. When he did, she took a large green-leather bound book with his House crest on the cover and put it before him. "I have worked with the goblins, Solicitor Tonks, and an accountant to go through all your finances, holdings and properties. This is a new ledger book cataloging it all. I have a copy as your regent, but that is the one linked directly to the book held by the goblins. My own copy will burn up the day you decide I am no longer your Regent. Like I told you over Easter, you are one of the wealthiest people in Wizarding Britain."
He took the book and ran his hand over the crest. "How wealthy?"
"Your vaults hold a little over three million galleons in raw currency. The heirlooms in the vaults are valued over fifty-million galleons. You own fifteen rental properties on the lands Potter Manor used to stand on, which brings in about five hundred and eighty galleons a month. Your investment portfolio is worth about fifteen-million galleons and brings in a little over eighty-thousand galleons a year, with half of that reinvested. We can go over all that, if you want. Otherwise, I would recommend what I am going to do with Susan and start you both on an estate management class that will be taught alongside your etiquette classes. Once you go back to Hogwarts, we have already arranged that to be bi-weekly, every Saturday afternoon from three to five," she told him.
He blinked a few times, lifting his head up from the book. His mouth was wide open. "The goblins said that they were paying four-pound eighty-two pee per galleon when we went over Easter." He tried to add what she just told him. "You are saying I am worth more than three-hundred million pounds?"
"Exchange rates have change to five-pound two pence, as of yesterday," she replied flatly.
His jaw felt like it wanted to fall to the floor. "I... I... how rich is that?" He knew it was a lot of money, but he couldn't really comprehend how much it was.
"You are very wealthy, Harry. You could live very comfortably off the interest of your investments if you wanted, without touching your main assets. Wealthy enough that I would recommend you understand your wealth. But let me and your goblin account manager to manage the money for now - maybe even when you get older, if you don't want to be a businessman," she recommended.
"Uhm, sure." He looked back down at the book again. "When the goblins cataloged my vaults, did they find anything from my parents?"
A gentle, knowing smile came over her face. "They did. We can go soon and see. I have something else to talk to you about though, something that is not as good."
Looking up from the book again, he felt a little trepidatious.
"I have been to Potter Manor. There is nothing left. The night your grandparents were killed, it was burned to the ground. The only things left on the property is some of the small town of Llangynidr, the fifteen rental properties and the old gate house," she said sadly.
Harry nodded. He figured his parents had moved to Godric's Hollow for some reason, and that was probably it. "I don't feel that is all, though?"
"Your parent's cottage at Godric's Hollow is in a bit of a legal quandary. The Ministry has claimed it as a war monument, but you still own the land and everything on it. The Wizengamot order does not supersede family claims, but your previous Regent illegally signed over the rights. I am working to get it sorted. Do you want the house and property?" she put to him.
Harry scrunched his brow a little. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. "I don't know. Do I have to decide now?"
"No. You can think on it. While you do, I will tell Ted to keep going to clean up the mess and make sure it's in your name," Amelia assured him.
Harry nodded.
"There were also two other properties the goblins found. One is an old keep that belonged to the Peverells. It's been abandoned for a long time and half of it has collapsed, the protective wards being so old they have failed. We can go and see it soon. There may be relics and heirlooms that only you can access. The old tower and annex are still standing, and the goblins cannot get in without a blood relation."
He perked up at this. "Really? That sounds wicked? When can we go?"
"I'm not sure. I have hired a curse breaker team from Gringott's to make sure it will be safe for even you to approach it. From the records the goblins found, it's been a few hundred years since anyone has inhabited it," she told him.
"Alright. You said there was another property?" Harry questioned.
"Yes. The Peverell's were related to a few of the Norman clans, and there is evidence they came over as battlemages with the Normans in the twelfth century. Because of those blood ties, you still have rights to lands and titles in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The titles will be like your Earl title, only recognized in the wizarding world, but it would give you a place on the Council that oversees the Bailiwick, if you wish to do anything with it. You own a small island that is still hidden from the Muggles, but the old villa and grounds are in ruins and the lands are fallow."
"How small is the island?"
"Around fourty-acres. The Peverells used to raise sheep with magical properties. There are only the remains of two barns and a Roman villa-like house. I went there about a month ago. There isn't more than just the stone foundations left," she told him.
Harry nodded. He had land, but really nowhere to call home outside of Grace Hall. "Amelia, I can stay here, right?"
"Harry, this is your home. Susan and I will never throw you out. If, and when you move out, it will be your decision, and even then, you will always have a place here," she promised him.
He nodded. "Thank you," he replied.
-oOo-
July 13, 1994
London, England
Amelia had them in more of a traditional Gi, like the ones Harry had seen people wearing when taking karate. She had them all lined up in two rows. "Today we will be going over the aegis shield and the basic knife forms I teach the Hit Wizards."
"What is the aegis shield?" Hermione asked, unable to keep it in.
"It is a relatively low powered shield that is designed to stop physical blows. It will shatter on impact by any spell, but will give you at least one free pass. The Protego Duo or Protego Maxima are far better and will block both physical and magical attacks, but they are advanced spells, that take a good amount of power or concentration, and draw a lot of power the longer you have to use them, or if you are blocking strong magic or heavy blows," she responded.
"Now, to cast it, it is a simple circle and then tap something. You need to picture a solid shield, up to a yard or so big. This spell is not for big shields. The incantation is Vocscutum. You are all wearing bracelets as part of your training uniforms, and I recommend you keep them on from now on. They will be good anchors for the shield. Like so," she said, exaggerating the wand motion and them tapping her own bracelet while saying, "Vocscutum."
A bronze shield about a yard across came into existence. "You can imagine any type of physical shield you want. I have always been partial to Greek mythology."
She smiled at them and most of them smiled back.
"Now, let's practice."
Neville and Ernie were flanking him in the back row. Hermione, Tracey and Daphne were before them, the others spread out down the line. Harry liked the bronze shield Amelia had used, but he had found an older iron reinforced wooden shield to be better. Neville tapped his wrist first. His casting was much more confident, especially with his new wand. A shield appeared. It was like an old knight's shield on many of their house crests. That was the only comparison though. It didn't look very strong and had a few holes. "Vanish it and try again, Neville," Amelia said. "Very nice, Susan. Repeat it ten more times. Hermione, when you conjure it again, imagine it lighter, but strong."
Hermione had let out a squeak of surprise as she almost toppled over with the circular iron shield she had summoned. Tracey giggled at her, and Daphne smirked. "I haven't seen you get it yet," Hermione snarked at Tracey, who snorted before trying to concentrate to cast the spell.
Harry tapped his wrist at almost the same time as Ernie. Ernie's shield was a round shield with a wooden back and leather front. Harry's was just like he had imagined. "Very good, Ernie and Harry. Now, vanish them and practice ten more times. Roger, you are imagining too literally, like Hermione. If you imagine it being light and strong, it will be," Amelia stated.
Daphne tapped her wrist for the second time and a shield similar to Neville's came out. It was a dark green and had the coat of arms of her house on it. "Nice, Daphne. Ten more times. Tracey, is that glass?"
Tracey was holding a translucent round shield. "Is that bad?" Tracey enquired.
"No, it's just unusual. Being made of magic, it won't shatter like glass. Blaise, you are thinking too hard. This should be something that you envision would protect you," said Amelia, walking down the line.
Daphne laughed at Tracey. "Isn't it usually a glass slipper?" she teased her friend. It was nice that they were all becoming comfortable enough that they didn't really act snooty around each other.
Tracey gave Daphne a glare. "Madam Bones said it could be anything we want."
"Alright, Cinderella," Hermione said from next to Tracey. Neville chuckled and Tracey gave him a look. Neville quickly started to cough, turning away.
"With friends like you...," Tracey grumbled, forgetting she teased them as much as Hermione and Daphne teased her.
After a half hour, everyone was getting a solid, light-weight shield. "Very good, everyone. Now, I want you to line up with the person before you and take out the practice knives I gave you this morning. Hold it like this," she demonstrated, holding it in her clenched fist – and getting the blades to face away from them when they straightened out their arms as they copied her. "I am going to teach some basic practice moves on how to thrust and slash while your partner shields."
Daphne turned to him, her eyes giving him a look that he shouldn't go easy on her. She had been upset with Harry on Monday when he pulled back on the duel they were having. Harry got so upset with her accusations that when they started again, she was disarmed and stunned within three spells. He still felt a little guilty about that, and got another glare when Tracey laughed at her. "Maybe next time you'll remember who was helping us in DADA," Tracey smirked to Daphne when she revived her. Daphne had given him another glare and demanded to go again. She lasted seven spells the third time.
"I'm going to get you Friday," she told him, as they copied the move Amelia was showing them. Amelia walked down the line to correct posture, how they were holding their knives or other techniques.
"Hannah, when you go to jab, you have to put your weight into it. Lean back and then lunge forward. Feel the muscles in your legs pushing," Amelia instructed.
"They feel like rubber," Hannah replied before quickly saying, "Yes, Madam Bones."
"I agree," Tracey muttered.
Daphne cast a quick sympathetic look to Tracey before she struck at his shield. Daphne was looking tired. Sirius had them increase the pace of their run today, and then do some weights before they stepped into the training rooms. Her hair was a bit unkept now, after all the activity. Harry thought her even cuter than normal.
"Alright, that is enough for the day," she called about twenty-past nine. "Dispel your shields and let's do some stretches."
Blaise gave a disgruntled face and Tracey let out a soft, "Thank Merlin."
"It's not that bad," Daphne put to her and Harry cast her a side long glance.
"It really isn't," Hermione agreed.
Hannah and Susan had come closer to them. "Daddy says I have to do this. Can't we just practice spells?" Hannah asked.
"What if we can't use spells?" Neville countered.
"Auntie has been teaching me all this for years. I will be able to defend myself if anyone comes after me or my family again," Susan said determinedly.
"Alright, you lot, you can talk when we are done," Amelia barked at them.
Harry concentrated on the stretches.
-oOo-
July 14, 1994
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry stood at the entrance to the chamber. A dozen goblins, a few Aurors, and half his professors were on the floor of the chamber looking at the carcass of the huge basilisk. It looked about as fresh as the day he killed it a little over a year ago.
Amelia hadn't left his side. "Seeing it in person is different than seeing it in your memories," she commented.
"I just want it gone," he told her.
She nodded.
"Albus never told us what you did that night to save Ginevra Weasley," Headmistress McGonagall said, the awe and fear prevalent in her voice.
Harry frowned. "It's not a pleasant memory."
One of the goblins walked back to them and they waited for him to climb the ladder. "The specimen is in better shape than we hoped, though Ripclaw is certain the blood has all congealed. Given the size and shape, I have been authorized to give you a ten-percent bonus to our offer."
Amelia nodded. "That is acceptable. Harry will still get twenty-percent of the skin?"
"Yes, Madam Bones. Scion Potter, would you like to come and claim the first hunk? It is your right as a warrior," the goblin offered, its teeth bared in a feral grin.
He shook his head. "Is Ginny or Ron getting any money from this?"
Amelia looked at him. "We had not discussed that. Since you slain the basilisk, it is yours by conquest."
Harry looked at the big thing as the goblins started to poke and measure the beast. As much as he had his issues with Ron right now, he had raced down to save Ginny with him. "I would like them both to get some of the money. How much is the offer?"
The goblin looked down at a ledger. "Gringotts was originally estimating the proceeds should exceed two-million galleons. The deal is for you to receive sixty percent of all sales. Ten percent is to be given to Hogwarts. All other moneys to Gringotts. The estimate is now over two-point-two million."
Harry's eyes widened. His current accounts had over three-million galleons. This would grow that by over a million. "Is it fair to offer Ginny, Ron and the others that were petrified two-percent of my cut?" That would be over twenty-thousand galleons each and leave him half of everything.
"If that is what you want," Amelia said.
"Offer them enough hide to make a cloak or something if they want also. Do you mind if I go back home?" he asked. Harry wouldn't run if he was presented with the same situation, but it didn't mean he wanted to relive it by looking at the Chamber.
"I'll take you back. Aggrod, do you need anything else before we go?"
"No, Madam Bones. Headmistress, would you allow us to take in two more teams of twelve? Gringotts would like to render this beast and get it to the auction blocks within two weeks," the goblin asked.
"I just want this out of my school, and ensure there is nothing else that will harm the students down here," McGonagall responded.
The goblin nodded. "If we find anything else, we will let you and Madam Bones know. Good day."
"Potter, I don't think two-hundred points would be enough for what you did here," McGonagall stated. "You saved the entire school."
Harry shrugged. "What else was I going to do?"
Both women looked at him, knowing most would have run and just left the Weasley girl to die.
-oOo-
July 16, 1994
Redhill, England
Harry was starting to get tired of the Aurors. They were not that pleased to take the Knight Bus, thinking it was too open, but Harry didn't want to apparate. It was better to try to avoid bruises as they shifted around than the awful feeling of being squeezed through a straw.
They were let out at the end of a road full of cobble and stone town houses. They all looked rather upscale with expensive cars and SUV's either before the houses or in driveways. Harry figured he shouldn't be surprised with how Hermione talked about her parents being dental surgeons and that they dealt with rich clients and friends, but he was a little. All the town houses looked relatively new and double wide to those in Privet Drive. Uncle Vernon would have Harry over here and using his 'freakishness' to befriend the people around here if he had known. Everything about this place screamed wealth.
He snorted to himself that he would think of his relatives that way. Of course, their trial next week probably had a lot to do with that.
"Please don't stand about, Mr. Potter," the thin Auror said next to him. All his guard had been a little jumpy the last few days. There were rumours that Dumbledore had been spotted in London.
Harry rolled his eyes and started to walk. Hermione's house was the third on the left. As he walked up he noticed the camera looking at the yard and front door. He knocked and a moment later he heard someone rushing down some stairs.
"Harry," Hermione exclaimed happily as the door burst open and she moved to hug him.
"It's not like you didn't just see me yesterday," he laughed at her.
She just squeezed a little harder and then stepped back, a big smile on her face. "This is the first time you have been to my home."
"Yeah, sorry I had to cancel over Easter," he apologized.
She waved him off before looking over his shoulder at an Auror that stood just a pace away looking at her. Two others had their backs to them as they looked around the street. "You have three now?"
"Can we come in, Ms. Granger? It isn't safe for Mr. Potter to be in the open right now," the Auror behind him stated.
"Of course. Mum and dad should be in the kitchen. You are all welcome to come inside," she offered.
They all entered into a hall that had a staircase, a small receiving area and a few doors. Pictures and paintings lined the walls and a small rack of shoes and a can holding umbrellas were next to the door. It was neat and tidy, but not the almost OCD style of Aunt Petunia.
When Hermione led them past a formal parlour, a large dining room and a sitting room, she opened the door at the end of the hall. The Grangers were sitting at a glass table next to a large pair of French doors. As soon as they saw Hermione and Harry enter, the adults got up. "I didn't hear you ring the doorbell," Mrs. Granger said. She looked very much like her daughter. Curly, almost bushy hair, bright brown eyes that looked very intelligent, a broad smile and slighter build.
Mr. Granger was a man that still looked healthy and muscular for his age, but obviously older than his wife. He was wearing glasses, that he took off as he put a magazine down. His eyes were more of a hazel and his face not as kind as he looked over Harry's shoulder. "Who are you?" the man asked.
"Auror Wilkins, sir. Part of Mr. Potter's detail. Would you mind if I just scan the house?" the man asked.
Both Grangers looked a little taken aback. "What are you scanning for? Hermione, you didn't mention this," her father stated.
Hermione looked a little abashed. "I told you Harry had someone escorting him."
"Is this related to your old Headmaster?" Mrs. Granger asked.
"Ma'am, please, do we have permission to just check your house? I must insist," Auror Wilkins pressed.
Mr. Granger pursed his lips. "Yes. This is not what I thought when you said an escort. Aren't the Aurors the magical police? Amelia hasn't mentioned any of this either."
"Yes, Mr. Granger. If this is too much, I can leave," Harry offered. Hermione looked worried.
Mrs. Granger came up to him as the Auror started to wave his wand about. "Nonsense. You are welcome. Hermione has told us a lot about you. Should we be worried about Hermione?"
"Head Bones has already taken care of that, Mrs. Granger. This is just an extra precaution."
"What do you mean that was already taken care of?" Mr. Granger asked. "Amelia said she would leave a guard down the street. I haven't seen them, but was told they were there."
"You have two dissolutioned Aurors monitoring your House. Ms. Granger's magical guardian has approved the changes. You will have to contact Head Bones for more details." The Auror got done and then moved to the wall next to the door and crossed his hands over each other.
The man pursed his lips. Mrs. Granger looked a little concerned but seemed to want to focus more on the fact Hermione had a guest. As such she gave a look to her husband that clearly said 'we will talk of this later'.
"It's so good to see one of Hermione's friends over. Daphne and her mother and Hannah and her mother came to pick Hermione up over Easter. I take it you are all good friends?"
Hermione took her mother's cue and gave a big smile. "You know we are mum. Harry, Neville and Susan are going to join us in a few weeks at Lightwater Valley."
Harry perked up. "I can't wait. How much do I need to bring?"
"Nothing. It's our treat. We did invite you. Is your aunt coming?" she asked.
"Amelia said she would. She wants to know what I am so excited about," Harry said with a smile.
The woman smiled before shaking her head. "I like the rollercoasters. Dan will take the merry-go-round."
Harry chuckled. "Is that where you get it from?"
"Shut it," Hermione nudged him. "If you don't mind, we were going to go up to my room. Can we bring up some popcorn?"
"I don't want your door closed," her father told them.
"Dad," Hermione almost whined in embarrassment. "We aren't like that. Besides, Harry likes someone else."
"Hermione," he hissed out of the corner of his mouth.
Her mother raised an eye at them. "Daphne?"
He gave Hermione a glare, who had the presence of mind to look a little abashed. "I didn't mean to tell her," she whispered back. Her mother found it amusing as her father still glared at him.
"Go. Do the movie marathon you wanted. I would like to come see what you are all doing one day though," Mrs. Granger told them.
"I'll let Amelia know, Mrs. Granger. Would you like to come one morning too, Mr. Granger?" Harry offered.
Her mother shook her head. "I don't like this Mrs. Granger stuff. Just call me Jane."
"Yes, Jane," Harry said to her.
"Come on," Hermione took his arm and dragged him away. Auror Wilkins followed them and took up outside Hermione's door. Her room was larger than his, with a large bed, a small sofa and chair that looked at a television that had dozens of VHS tapes. Another wall had some built-in bookcases that were full of books. A wooden chest was at the foot of her bed, and it was covered in stuffed animals.
Hermione was chewing at her lip as he looked around. "Not what you expected?"
"It's brilliant! Is that your wall of art," he teased, looking at the obviously childhood made art still on the wall next to her bed.
She flushed. "Mum said I should keep it."
"I like it. It's nice to know Hermione Granger isn't just a bookworm," he commented and laughed as he shielded himself as she hit his arm.
"You prat. I do like doing other stuff than study," she scolded him.
He was still chuckling. "You mean when you don't read just for fun or a 'little bit of light reading'?"
She scrunched her face. "Well, it's not like I can just curl up on a couch and watch a movie or listen to be music. I get bored and need to keep my mind busy."
"I'm not judging, just never pictured this side of you. So, what are we watching today?"
She huffed. "Have you ever seen the Nightmare Before Christmas? Mum got it for me while we were at Hogwarts."
He shrugged. "You know my relatives never really let me watch anything."
She smiled. He could tell she was trying to ignore his comment. "You'll love it."
She had him sit on the sofa and soon plopped next to him. "So, how was dinner with Daphne?"
"It was with her whole family. Astoria is a right pain. She's worse than Hannah and Susan once you all leave," he told her. Daphne and her family had made it a habit of asking him to stay on Wednesdays after their lessons. Next week he had been told to invite Daphne to Grace Hall.
Hermione laughed as the trailers on the tape started. "She seems so quiet the rest of the time."
He snorted. "Like I said, when everyone else isn't around. It's like it's her mission to embarrass us."
Hermione laughed again. "So, it's 'us' now?"
He scrunched his brow. "You are getting to be as annoying as Susan."
"She isn't that bad. Hannah said she was going to send me an invitation to her cotillion on August nineteenth. Are you going?" Hermione asked.
He shrugged. "I don't know. I think Amelia wants me to, but she has said if I don't this year, that is alright. Next year I have to, and she is going to put me on the rolls the year after, when I turn sixteen."
"I can't wait to be fifteen. September nineteenth," she commented.
"Why are you so excited about that?"
"Why shouldn't I be? That means only two years until I can use my wand whenever I want, and get my apparition license. I really don't like the Knight Bus. It also means that we can register to the Ministry that a magical lives here, and I can put in an application for a floo connection," she went at her normal fast clip. "I will have to take mum and dad with Madam Bones to Gringotts too, so they can approve the few wards that will be needed to make sure only those I want can use it, and probably shut it down when we are at school. Anyways, are you going to go to the cotillion? I know Daphne would like an escort."
"I don't know. Her mother and her have started to give me dance lessons. If I do, Amelia said I should wait until the invitation comes out, and that is usually three weeks before. Should I go?"
"Yes," Hermione instructed him.
He shook his head. "Am I supposed to watch this movie?"
She gave him a look and he knew she knew he was changing the subject. "Fine. We can talk about this later."
Or not, he thought to himself.
-oOo-
Same day...
Cleasby, England
Neville felt nervous.
He had been standing in the entry hall, looking at the fire, for at least twenty minutes now. His gran came from one of the halls and looked at him. "How long have you been standing there, Neville?"
"Long enough," he said a little shyly.
She eyed him. "Did I see all your summer work lain out in the private dining room?"
"Yes, gran. Tracey was invited over to work on our summer assignments and what our tutors have given us," he replied.
She shook her head. "I am very proud of this newfound drive, but it is your summer also. Maybe you can take Ms. Davis out to the orchards, or something else that would be fun. She can be invited over Tuesday or Thursday for you to work together."
Neville tried not to flush. "Yes, Gran."
She shook her head again, and almost looked to be laughing. He knew she was proud of him this year. Proud enough that she had decided to give him an award. Neville was holding it in his pocket. He had asked for a second wand and found it hummed in his hand, unlike his father's. His father's was in his other pocket, but he liked his new wand more.
His Gran still seemed to be chuckling to herself as the fire flared green. A second later a slightly short blonde girl stepped out. Her blue eyes found him before she started to brush the few ashes off her robes. Neville had worn just a nice pair of trousers, shirt and vest today. Maybe he should have put some robes on as well, he just liked the more Muggle-type clothes.
Tracey smirked before her mother came through the green floo flames. Lady Davis was a little short herself, with a similar build to her daughter and the same brilliant blue eyes. "Good afternoon, Maria. Welcome to Longmarche," his gran greeted Lady Davis. Tracey hadn't taken her eyes off him.
"Thank you, Augusta. It is nice of you and Scion Longbottom to invite us. Tracey has been looking forward to this," Lady Davis responded. "Good day, Neville."
"Good day, Lady Davis, Ms. Davis. I am glad you came," Neville greeted as he gave them both a little bow.
"Thank you, Scion Longbottom. It is my pleasure," said Tracey as she curtsied.
"Neville has been looking forward to this as well. Unless you would like to invite my grandson and your daughter to tea, I would recommend them to just go off," his gran recommended.
"I don't have an issue with that. Where are they working today?" Lady Davis requested.
"It is a nice summer day. I told Neville I don't want him working today. Tracey is invited over on Tuesday again. They can do their summer work then," said his gran.
Tracey perked up at that. "Can I come over again Tuesday?"
Her mother nodded. "I think that can be arranged. Otherwise, Neville can come to Churchill Place."
"That is fine. Whatever they would like. I have a lovely Darjeeling tea on brew," his gran offered.
Soon it was just Tracey and him left in the main atrium. "Would you like to leave your bag here or where I had set my stuff?"
Tracey just smiled at him. "I would just leave it here."
"Right. Would you like a tour?" he offered.
She rocked on her feet for a moment. "I put the flowers you gave my family in my room. Do you have any more I might be able to put with them?"
He perked up a little. "There is maybe another one or two that would go well with them. Are you sure you want to go into my greenhouses?"
She rocked forward and skipped over to him, taking his arm. "How about you take me on that tour, and we end at your greenhouses?"
"I could do that," he said distractedly, looking at her arm hooked into his.
Tracey just about dragged him through his own manor as he gave her the quick tour, only really pausing when they made it to the large ballroom. Tracey stepped out and spun around. Neville laughed at her. "Do you like not being at Hogwarts? I have noticed you acting more free this summer."
"You have no idea, Neville. I hate having to be so stuffy all the time. I've really enjoyed our summer so far," she said, stopping a few paces away. "Why haven't we ever been here? This ballroom is larger than the Abbott's."
Neville shrugged. "Gran hasn't ever mentioned wanting to host anything. Uncle Algie said we used to host the summer cotillion, before my grandfather died."
"Mother told me. She remembers coming here before being presented at the first cotillion at the Abbott's. You should host a ball or something. I love the ceiling," she told him, looking up at the vaulted ceiling. Frescoes of dancers were moving about. Neville looked up to watch them. He had had hours of ball room dancing in this room, as required by his Gran and tutors.
"I always felt like I was forced to be in here," Neville commented, thinking of his tutors.
"Do you feel like I forced you?"
He shook his head. "No."
"Why were you forced to be in here?" she asked and he looked down to her. Were her eyes even bluer than before? He felt a funny feeling in himself he was unfamiliar with.
"My gran required me to learn all the normal dances. I'm sure you have also," he said.
She gave a broad smile. "Oh, we all have. I used to really enjoy it. Father always insisted on being my partner when he would be home. It was better than dancing with Roger."
Neville laughed at her inflection at the end. "You don't like your brother?"
"I love him, I just didn't want to dance with him," she stated before rocking on her feet again, like earlier. "Neville?"
"Yeah, Tracey?" He followed the sway of her body as she rocked, not realizing he was doing so.
"Would you dance with me at the Abbott's cotillion?" she put to him, stopping and leaning towards him slightly.
He smiled, feeling very nervous before his training kicked in. He gave her a little bow. "Ms. Davis, it would be my pleasure. Though, shouldn't I be asking you?"
Her smile was wider still. "Probably, but I wanted to ensure I got a dance, or few, with you before anyone else caught your eye or asked."
He felt his face flush a little. "I can fill your entire dance card, if you want?" he asked shyly.
Her eyes looked bright as she curtsied, "If the Scion Longbottom wishes, I will have to inform all others that I am otherwise occupied that night."
"I will pass your wish along to my gran," he told her, knowing it would have to be decided and approved by his gran and her father.
She spun again, obviously happy, before bouncing over and taking his arm again. "I would like that. Now, you said there may be another flower or two that would go well with the others I have?"
He still felt a little flush as they made their way to his greenhouses.
-oOo-
July 18, 1994
Surrey, England
Harry was quiet as Amelia and Mr. Tonks escorted him into the courthouse. It would be the first time he saw his relatives in over a year, and the last time he had was his uncle trying to grab him as the Weasleys rescued him.
All the others were at Grace Hall doing the training. He would prefer to be there, instead of here.
It wasn't long before he was sitting in the observation section. "If they call you to the stand, are you willing to go up?" Mr. Tonks asked.
Harry wanted to see them all get locked up and experience what he had, but the second he saw his uncle, Harry felt like the small boy again being shoved into the closet. It took him a moment before he got his breath under control. It was a moment more before he realized the man was handcuffed, and then another to realize he had lost some weight and didn't look as threatening.
"If you need to take a walk out into the hall, let me know," Amelia said from besides him.
Harry shook his head as the man was led to the defendant's table. As Uncle Vernon sat, Harry met the man's eyes for a moment. There was a brief flash of hatred and then the man turned away.
Someone came up and handed a sheet of paper to Mr. Tonks. He read it and then frowned. "There has been a complication."
"What complication?" Amelia asked.
"They have made a plea deal. I think someone in the Ministry got to them," he said, handing the paper over to her.
"What does it say?" Harry asked.
She frowned. "Five years? That is all they will get? I've had to recuse myself from these cases, but this sounds ridiculous."
"Less possibly. Harry won't have to go up," Mr. Tonks pointed out.
He let out a breath. Harry would have sat on the stand if needed, but he really didn't want to. "Why have they made a plea deal and what does that mean?"
Amelia's lips were pursed. "It means that your cousin is going to live with Vernon's sister."
"Would you excuse me for a moment," Mr. Tonks excused himself and exited the court as the proceedings started.
"I thought you said they would stand trial and go to jail?"
"They are going to jail, just for less time than we thought. Harry, you will not go back or ever have to see them again," she assured him.
Harry nodded, a frown marring his face. He watched as the solicitor and judge went back and forth. It was a good ten minutes before Mr. Tonks returned with a parchment. "It looks like there was a deal cut."
Harry looked between them as Amelia took the paper. He watched her as she read it and then her eyes gleaned. "Finally got you, you old bastards," she muttered.
"What happened?"
"It would appear that Dumbledore was not the only one involved in your kidnapping and improper custodianship. I have to talk with my Aurors, once we get you back home," she told him.
"My Aunt and Uncle are going to jail, right?"
"Yes, Harry. I wish I had known about this yesterday. If I ever find Dumbledore, he will wish he never crawled out of whatever hole he is hiding in."
Harry nodded and turned back as his Uncle was led out. The man glared at him, but for once didn't say a word. Harry let out a shudder, hoping that was the last time he would ever see the man again.
When his Aunt Petunia was led out, she looked liked a broken woman.
-oOo-
July 20, 1994
London, England
A tall man in grey robes stepped into her office. Amelia looked up from her papers to look at the man. The only people in the Ministry allowed to step into her office without warning or prior appointment was any Unspeakable and the Minister.
The nondescript person just stood there.
"Unless you are going to drag me in for questioning, I recommend you remove your hood and have a seat. I'll be with you in a moment," she said dryly, turning back to the request forms she was going through.
The Unspeakable moved and pushed his hood back before going to a side cabinet and helping himself to a healthy tumbler of scotch. When he sat, he just leaned back in the chair and sipped at his drink.
When she was done, she put the forms into her outbox. It was not cheap protecting Harry and those around him, or to supply her Aurors with what they needed for other operations, but after Dumbledore's escape and the finding it had been an Unspeakable to help them, she was finding it easier to get those funds.
The man looking back at her had blond hair that was going white and blue eyes that missed very little.
"So, is this a personal call or business?" she asked.
The man smiled. "We entered the school with the team your ward led to the Chamber of Secrets last week. I have to say it was very impressive - and I think we have only scratched the surface of what Salazar Slytherin left down there."
"All of which belongs to Harry as spoils of conquest. He defeated that basilisk and the heir. The Chamber is not on Hogwarts' ground," she stated.
He raised his glass. "Do not worry, Amelia. Only those things regarded as 'State Secrets' will not be returned. You know the policy."
"I do. So, did you find one, Croaker?"
The man took a sip of her scotch. It was top end scotch. Croaker was about the only one she would allow to do as he did. She owed him about as much as he owed her.
"Not in the Chamber, though we found some stuff that might be even more valuable than the potion ingredients in that monster," Croaker said.
"I want a full report and accounting of everything. What do you mean not in the Chamber?" she questioned.
The man gave a broad smile. As he did, she could see the relation to the Longbottoms. "There are secrets at that school that I doubt we could even figure out without the right clues, or talking to the right residents." He gave her a grin.
"I don't have time for these games today. There is a mound of paperwork, and the Wizengamot goes into session again next week," she told him.
"Oh, you'll like this story," he told her before spinning her a yarn about house elves, a secret room that had hundreds of years of detritus and finding Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem.
"It was a Horcrux. It was also the source of the hex on either keeping some positions open at the end of each year or staffed by incompetent people," he finished. "It wasn't just Dumbledore trying to dumb down the school."
By now, she had her own tumbler of scotch in her hand. She tipped it back, emptying half of it in one gulp. "Dear Merlin. Do we know how it got there?"
"We have gone over Dumbledore's memories he kept stored in the Headmaster's office. It's how I can give you these," he said, taking a box out of a pocket that obviously had an extension charm on it.
"Is it safe?" she asked him.
"The Horcruxes have been removed, but not without some damage to the items and the permanent stripping of any charms or other magics, I'm afraid."
She opened the box. Inside was a black, leather-bound diary with a large hole in it and what looked like black ink in a blood splatter pattern. Next to it was a ring with a green gem. The gem was cracked and dull. Around both of them was a battered looking tiara. The three gems in it were also cracked and some of the silver around them melted.
"Three?" she asked in wonder and fear.
"That makes four now, counting Harry Potter. By our calculations, we expect there to be enough soul left to have two or three more pieces before he breaks himself," Croaker commented casually
Her hands were gripping the box. "Are you telling me he ripped his soul into six or seven pieces?"
With a small nod to his head and a slight quirk to his mouth, Croaker commented, "Up to eight, if you count the original soul fragment. The point is, Amelia, he has got to the point that if he does it again, there won't be enough left for himself to say he is Voldemort or Tom Riddle, whichever name he chooses to go by."
She looked up to him, her brow scrunched. "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that there is a possibility the original soul shard won't have enough left to consider him human. Any other shards out there could now be adrift," he said.
She pondered that for a moment before her eyes widened. "Are you telling me if he sunders his soul one more time then each piece will now be mortal? Including the original?"
"Got it in one," Croaker toasted her. "Of course that depends if he has split his soul six or seven times already. Our arithmantic projections say there can be no more than seven soul fragments, including the original, before he breaks himself. Right now we can account for over half of the power he should have had in those containers."
"I hope you are right. You-Know-Who cannot be allowed to return. I believe the man will go after Harry," she stated as fact.
"That was why you requested me to spread that rumour about the prophecy ball?"
"I want the old goat to know the prophecy doesn't matter anymore, because it doesn't. I don't think I care if the other one knows either. It may keep them both off of Harry, and if we are lucky, they will take each other out," said Amelia hopefully. "Otherwise, I will take them out myself."
Croaker laughed. "Never anger a badger. I am surprised how many forget that."
She toasted him this time. Many forget that. It was partly why she was in her seat. "Have you heard anything about Dumbledore? Not even my best informants have heard anything."
The man seemed to ponder the question for a few moments. "We have some information that someone is buying potion ingredients. Ingredients that would help someone recover from a large magical drain or to regain health, especially in those of elderly condition."
She leaned forward. "Who?"
"We aren't sure yet. We have designated the person Unidentified Number One. Whomever it is has been using proxies or the types that don't blab about their clients. As soon as I know anything, I'll let you know. Now, I should get back. I am going to keep those until we can conclude our investigation," Croaker said as he stood up, placed the empty tumbler on her desk and closed the lid on the box.
"You are sure all the taint has been removed from those things?"
"Absolutely."
"Next time you bring the alcohol," she told him.
He snorted before raising his hood. "Mine is not as good as yours."
"That's only because you buy the cheap stuff," she retorted.
The Unspeakable chuckled as he left her office. She leaned back in her chair, going over everything the man had just said.