Remus Lupin heard from his neighbor that strangers were asking about him in the village. He debated the wisdom of allowing them to find him but decided it would be better to retreat to Black's Folly in the Hebrides. Thankfully Sirius had long ago given him a port-key to the uninhabited isle. It had been a saving grace many a full moon when he hadn't had funds for Wolfsbane or a secure location for him to change. He hated to go there since Sirius' betrayal, but he really had no other place to go where he wouldn't be a danger to others.
Remus was very skittish of others since he had lost his pack that long ago Halloween. He didn't trust anyone except Headmaster Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and Poppy Pomfrey. They were they only ones he trusted not to hurt him because they knew his secret and hadn't betrayed him.
....
Nicholas Flammel read the letter from young Mr. Potter. He shook his head. Would his old pupil never learn? It appeared not. Nicholas and Perenelle had learned before the end of their first century that control was at best an illusion because the only thing that they had control over was themselves. It appeared that Albus was still fascinated/obsessed with trying to control everything. Nicholas wondered how many lives Albus would damage or even destroy by manipulating people, trying to create his greater good.
He decided to think for a while before writing young Harry back, after all haste usually made for mistakes.
....
Harry stepped into the Atrium at the Ministry with an outward calmness he didn't feel. After his wand was weighed he was directed to the Reception area for the Department of Mysteries.
"May I help you?" the reception witch said in a nasally voice without even looking up.
"Yes, I'm here to listen to a prophecy about me."
She didn't know why anyone would bother. It was a big expense for something so subjective anyway. Most people never bothered. "Fifty galleons please. Hold on a sec." She took the money, and fished out a form from the drawer beside her, her gaze leaving her book only long enough to verify the amount of money was correct and the form was the correct one. "Fill this out, put a drop of blood in the box to verify your identity and put it in that slot. Then you go through the blue door it will take you to a viewing room. Someone will come and take you to collect it from the shelves. "
" Sure. Thank you."
"Whatever."
.....
Harry, after a few things got sorted out, had started spending time in the family vault reading the family grimoire for two hours a week followed by talking to his family portraits back at Potter Place. Most still wouldn't talk to him the main exceptions being the first Baron, the four greats grandfather who had been a Ravenclaw instead of a Gryffindor and oddly his Great-grandfather. It was from his Great-grandfather who had been in his portrait at the ministry during Harry's first visits that he found out why his grandfather had been unable to protect the manse.
"Charlus was absurdly powerful as a baby. He did accidental magic as easily as breathing. He had an absolute fascination with fire at three. He set the manse on fire one night. Fire suppression charms kept it from burning the house down, but Charlus had to be treated for burns and smoke inhalation. It was decided by me and my wife with my father's approval that we would bind his magic until he was older. So we did, but it wound up being a bad thing. As a baby it was predicted he would be a grand sorcerer, but due to the fracture of his magic that happened when his magic was bound he was only an average wizard, he wasn't even strong enough to work the more mid-level family magics. His dream of being an auror crushed, he mostly withdrew from wizarding life. He focused on building the Potter family fortune, something he did very well. He married Dorea Black when he was thirty, and it was eighteen years before James was born. Charlus pinned his hopes and dreams on James.
"It is sad when a parent pushes their dreams on their child rather than letting them find their own. But Charlus always did feel inadequate. I don't know if James was more of a hellion because he was spoiled, or if it was because it was his way of rebelling against the pressure his father put on him. I suspect if it weren't for the war and his father, James would have become a professional quidditch player rather than an auror. Charlus cared a great deal for James and was a kind and loving person in general but he was human and made mistakes as we all do."
Two days before Harry's birthday Harry found out what had been happening to his mail. His Aunt had given him permission to spend his birthday with Neville under Cassandra's supervision. Excited he sent a message to Neville and told Hedwig to wait for a reply.
When she came back she brought with her a house elf. As house elves went this one was a pretty pathetic specimen. He wore a dirty stained pillowcase, he showed signs of abuse and he was frantic to get the letter Hedwig carried away from her. Harry had suspected she was a snow phoenix but having her suddenly appear in his room in a swirl of snow toting both a letter and this strange elf clinched it.
The little elf was screeching, "Pretty owl must give Dobby letter, so Harry Potter won't go back to Hogwarts! Owwie! Owwie! Meanie Owl!"
Hedwig was actively buffeting him with her strong wings and had a good grip on him with her talons, as well as hissing at him between pecks.
"What do you think you are doing?"
The elf, who Harry noticed looked a little frostbitten and as if Hedwig had been very generous in her use of her talons and beak, cringed. It tried to pop out only to reappear in another swirl of snow. Harry was amazed by the snow in July, but rapidly came to his familiar's assistance grabbing the elf. "Who are you and what are you trying to do with my owl and WITH MY MAIL?"
* "Dobby sir. Just Dobby. Dobby the house-elf. Harry Potter sir must not go back to Hogwarts!Owwie!" He cried out as Hedwig pecked him again.
"Why not?" Harry hissed menacingly.
"There is a plot, Harry Potter. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year. Dobby has known it for months, sir. Harry Potter must not put himself in peril. He is too important, sir!"
"What terrible things?"said Harry at once. "Who's plotting them?"
Harry watched astonished as Dobby proceeded to try and bash his brains out against the wall. He pulled him sharply away. "What are you doing?"
"Dobby has to punish himself sir. Dobby almost spoke master's secrets."
"So your master is behind the plot." Harry said, "Give me my mail and consider me warned."
"Harry Potter sir will not go back to Hogwarts?'*
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