Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dumbledore looked at the people surrounding him in the large dining room at headquarters. So few of them left. The four Potters, James, Lily, Rose and Violet, were sitting together. Ted and Andromeda Tonks and their daughter Nymphadora. Narcissa Malfoy and her daughter Vega, who surprisingly had turned up at 12 Grimmauld place seeking protection from The Dark Lord after Voldemort killed Draco and Lucius for failing him. Diana Granger and her sister Hermione. All the Weasleys were there. Minerva McGonagall looking like she had lost everything in the world.

“We can’t win against them.” James was saying. “They can amass more people and use the darkest of magics against us. There are things that are so evil I can’t even bring myself to think about using it against another human.”

“I understand James.” Dumbledore replied. “I might have one last idea. I need to read a book in the library, Andromeda. Please bring me in there.”

“But what are you looking for Albus?”

“I am hoping to make a deal with a friend that I have staved off for too long a time I think.”

“Albus what are you talking about?” asked Lily. “What friend?”

“Perhaps nothing my dear. Perhaps everything.”

Andromeda Tonks led Dumbledore to the library and took him through the wards meant to keep anybody not of House Black out of certain books.

I’ll need the shelf along the back wall.”

“Those are the books even my uncle wouldn’t touch, Albus. You think what you’re looking for is there?”

“As sure as I am that I asked your Grandfather to put it there so I was not tempted by the power it could give me. And as sure as I am that it may be the only thing to save us. I only hope that it is not a case of using a dragon to protect us from the nundu.”

The older witch watched as the champion of the light began looking through books that just looking at gave her a queasy feeling in her stomach. The further through the shelf he went the worse a feeling she got.

“Ah-ha! There you are.” Albus pulled a heavy book from the shelf. “I had hoped to never look at you again. Far too many temptations. But when you find yourself surrounded with no good options you may as well use the option that will be a hell of a ride.” The old man gave a tired chuckle. He set the book on the reading desk and started to flip through the pages. As he read the descriptions he quickly discarded the first few rituals.

“Albus? What are you thinking of?”

“Desperate measures for desperate times. Ah. I thought it was in this one.” Looking over his shoulder Andromeda’s eyes got big as she read the name of the ritual, Advocans Famulum Mortis

As he read the instructions Albus mumbled under his breath. “Straight forward summoning circle… Red chalk… four red candles… five white candles… one black candle. A room with natural light. That’s a bit odd for one of these. ‘Begin that it is complete ere sol crosses it’s zenith’. That’s clear enough. Petals from five different flowers. Activated with the blood of 5 maidens freely given… I think it’s just a sprinkling not all of it. Once the arrangements are made… complete the summoning by extinguishing the red candles followed by the black candle with the blood of the negotiator. Hopefully that just means a few drops as well. I suppose making the deal is what is truly the hard part.”

“Albus.” Andromeda hissed as she spun him around. “What in the name of Morgana do you think you’re doing?”

“With any luck bargaining with a servant of death for a boon. I only hope that I can get a decent deal.”

“For what?”

“Nothing I am not willing to give so that others may live long and safe lives.” Albus shuffled toward the door of the library as if the weight of the world was riding on his shoulders.

Deciding that the best room for the ritual would be the front parlor, Kreature was employed to remove everything from the floor. Several inhabitants of the house were set to work cleaning decades of dust and dirt from the room so that no contaminants would get into the summoning circle.

“What are you filthy half bloods and blood traitors doing to my sitting room? Bring back my furniture you filth.”

“Madam we are trying to lay out a summoning circle so that we may hopefully get some help to win this war. A war that has killed most of your family! I need to make sure this circle is properly done or the last thing you will see is this house being burnt down around you! Now shut UP!”

Everyone working on the room had stopped to stare at Albus, as he lost his temper for the first time in anyone’s memory.

“You needn’t be so rude, young man.” the painting said in clipped tones. Looking around the room her eyes squinted into a corner where Tonks was cleaning. “Nymphadora dear you missed a spot.”

Dora spun around to glare at the portrait, her hair turning a flaming red. “I wonder if I can still get some muggle paint stripper and turn her into a flammable residue? I’m sure dad has some in the basement.”

“I believe I will be quiet for the time being.” came the response from a scared looking picture.

Everyone chuckled and got back to work.

Working from the inside to the outside Albus drew the summoning circle. It looked like a five pointed star in a circle. Inside another star in another circle. The smaller star points were touching the corners of the pentagon of the bigger star. On the smaller star were four red candles and a black candle furthest from where Dumbledore would be performing the ritual. At the points of the large star were five white candles. Between the points were small piles of flower petals.

“Alright ladies if you would take your places at the flower petals we will start the summoning.”

Tonks, Hermione, Diana, Vega, and Ginny stepped to position in line with their chosen petals and each held ritual daggers in their hands. All looked nervous about what they were trying to do.

“Please remember to only make the cut and drip the blood when I nod my head at the end of each line.”

“Yes, Headmaster, we understand.” said Hermione. “We drip the blood following the unicursal path of a star. Once the incantation is done the wounds should heal on their own instantly. And we must stay standing in place as the bargaining takes place. If an outcome is agreed upon we extinguish the candles to our right and that ends the ritual.”

Dumbledore began the chant beginning the ritual. As each line ended, he gave a nod. As the blood dropped onto the petals a candle on each of the stars lit on its own. The black candle was the last to light. The outer circle and star glowed a soft white. As Albus read the final line of the ritual the inner circle glowed an angry red.

“Finally someone calls for aid in a good way.” said the figure that appeared. “It has been centuries since I have been called like this. What have you need of?” The dark hooded figure faced Dumbledore from the center of the inside circle while leaning on a staff. The glowing yellow eyes cast enough light to illuminate the skull in the shadows.

“We come to ask assistance of your master. We fear that if we fail in our endeavors to win this war evil will spread through the world and destroy mankind itself.”

“So you wish the aid of the Master of Death to help you win this war? Death will come to all of you at some time. Why do you wish to fight against what is natural?”

“Many have died before they have had a chance to live. Parents have laid their children in graves and that in and of itself is not natural. Yes death will come for us all in our own time, but to die of old age, surrounded by loved ones is normal. Far better than innocents being senselessly killed in battle.”

“So,...You’re looking for a warrior of death… to fight with you till the war is over?”

Dumbledore was feeling a bit confused about what was happening. Mostly because the servant of death that had been summoned seemed confused as well.

“Yes that was the general idea.”

“And what was to happen to the warrior after the war?”

“Well I assume they would go back to where they came from. Wouldn’t he?”

The cloaked figure raised his hand to his face. If there had been skin on the bones he would have been rubbing the bridge of his nose trying to stave off a headache.

“Can I see the ritual that you used to get me here?”

With a confused look on his face Dumbledore turned to Minerva McGonagall and held out his hands for the book. He turned the pages till he got to the right spot and turned it so the being could read it.

“OK there’s part of the problem. The name is mistranslated. It’s not supposed to be Advocans Famulum Mortis. That means Summoning the Servant of Death. It should read Voca Servum, Mortem. Summon the Servant, Death. Punctuation is so important. Also for what you wanted it should have been the dried petals of flowers like the black dahlia, aconite, snapdragon, rhododendrons, and tansies. Those are for declaring war on someone. That would have summoned a spirit of death to bargan for a death warrior. As it is you used fresh petals of gardenia, alstromeria, orchid, sunflower, and tulip. So what you did was a ritual to summon Death, to ask for his masters assistance. And at the end he would be bound to this world and not sent back to his old one. Do you see the differance?”

“So you are Death?”

“Yes.”

“And the warrior would be a living being brought to this world.”

“He would be a warrior that sees his life as having no meaning anymore and wants to leave his world behind. There are a few like that. All they wanted was peace but the cost of that peace was too much so they go off and cease to exist. The Deaths of the various dimensions work to find places for them to go. Where they can get a do over or even just live the life they deserve.”

“I seem to be missing something. You said you came to bargain for your masters assistance what living being is the master of death?”

“You should know Albus. You’ve been trying to become one for the last eighty-seven years.”

“Merlin’s Beard.”

“Indeed. So long as his bonded remain, he will remain.”

“What bonded?”

“The ones that volunteered for the ritual. I am sure they will live a long time quite happily once the fighting is over.”

As the words sank in the “maidens” and their families broke out in shouts of anger and disbelief.

“WHAT ARE YOU...”

“I’M NOT GOING...”

“MY DAUGHTER ISN’T...”

“WE’VE LOST TOO MUCH...”

“NO I’M FUCKING...”

As Diana began to turn out of the circle Death slammed the butt of his staff into the floor causing a loud report to echo through the room. The sound drew all eyes to him. His cloak was waving in an unfelt breeze. The staff had become the trademark scythe of death.

“DO NOT MOVE! If any of you leave the circle before it is time I must take all your souls. Such is the path demanded of the ritual. Poorly and incompletely translated as it might be it is demanded by the demons who wrote it.”

“Demons?” squeaked out Dumbledore.

“Yes. Beings that travel from other dimensions. Some are horrific, others look like your neighbors. Not all are evil, nor are all good.”

“So what language was it originally written in?” Hermione asked half to herself.

“The demonic language for their dimension. Which was translated into Etruscan, I believe. From what I can make of this one it appears to have been translated then into Greek, and then Latin with some things left off or just not needed for what the translator needed it for so it was discarded. Or possibly the translator assumed the reader would know the variations. It is quite the fascinating study if you look closely...”

“Could we get back on point?” Dumbledore said impatiently.

Both Death and Hermione had embarrassed looks on their faces as they turned to Dumbledore.

“Sorry professor.”

“It’s so rare for me to have a decent intellectual discussion, but I do beg your pardon. Where were we... Oh yes bringing my master to aid you in your fight. What do you offer for my Masters assistance in planning and fighting in this war.”

“I offer up my life and my soul.” replied Dumbledore quietly.

“DONE!” shouted Death.

Before anyone could react Death swung his scythe at Dumbledore. A white light formed at the front of the robes that had been split down the middle. Shouts erupted from around them. The light shrank into a ball and impacted the elderly man’s flesh directly over his heart. Blue eyes went wide as the light seared into him. The smell of burnt flesh spread through the room. Dumbledore fell to his knees.

“I believe we have an accord. Once I have departed, seal the inner circle. Counting down from five as you do it.”

Dumbledore looked down at his chest and saw the brand that was put there. The symbol was familiar. A circle in a triangle with a line down the middle. A cold sweat had broken out on Dumbledore’s face. He looked back at the robed figure standing in front of him.

“This is one of my favorite robes. I suppose they will be nearly impossible to repair?”

“Please, it was hideous, besides, branding through clothing usually ends up infected. You have been marked as belonging to Death. No others may collect you. I return to you the life you have given to me. Use it wisely. When your time is used up I will collect your soul. The accounting of my life you live will decide what I do with it.” Turning towards each of the young ladies around the circle he spoke to them. “Each of you will bring something to my master. Please be understanding of him. He will need something you all can give without diminishing yourself. Farewell.”

With that the figure seemed to fold in on itself and disappear. Dumbledore brought a shaking hand holding a knife to his palm. And making a shallow cut began dripping onto the candles one at a time to extinguish them.

“Five... Four... Three... Two... One”

Chapter Text

Harry Potter was walking as straight as he could in his current state.

It had been nearly 3 months since the final battle of the war against Voldemort.

He had been congratulated and thanked hundreds of times.

For every thank-you he received, he had visions of the dead laid out in the Great Hall.

Remus and Tonks he had seen holding hands in death.

Fred with shrapnel wounds from a giant swinging at the castle wall.

Colin and Dennis Creevy both with looks of horror on their faces.

Lavender Brown with her throat torn out by Greyback.

Ron missing half an arm to a Deatheater’s curse.

Even Hermione had been killed by a hidden Dolohov after Voldemort fell. That he had Banished the man into a stone wall hard enough gelatinize his body couldn’t bring her back.

Too much had happened.

Too much had gone wrong.

Too many people that mattered were destroyed. Some physically. Others emotionally.

He was dressed in the nicest robes he owned. The ones he wore when he took his seats at the Wizengamot. The ones he hated because they felt wrong.

He first went to the Goblins and made sure to have a will made up.

“Just in case, Bloodaxe. You never know what tomorrow will bring.”

He brought Andromeda Tonks back to the Black family. Deciding to make her the guardian of his Godson. Naming Teddy as his heir as well as arranging for a blood adoption ritual when he reached 17 if he chose.

So much that could have been avoided by timely action. Or better information. Or even simply better understanding.

Harry lifted the bottle of amber colored liquor to his mouth and took another drink. It was only a quarter gone which wouldn’t have been too bad... if it was the first one he’d opened that night.

He was sure there would be a point when he wouldn’t see the dead anymore. But there they were, staring at him. Accusing him. Maybe he’d pass out and not be able to do what he was thinking about.

Reaching the telephone booth he went inside and carefully entered 6-2-4-4-2.

“Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please identify yourself and the purpose of your visit today?” the perpetually cheery voice filled the booth.

“Harry Potter. I have an appointment.” Harry ground out in the exacting way of the intoxicated.

“Please take the badge and wear it at all time. Once inside please register at the security counter. Have a wonderful day.”

Harry took the silver badge and held it in his hand as he was lowered beneath the streets of London. He pulled his invisibility cloak out of his pocket and threw it over himself. The door opened automatically and he stepped out into the atrium. The abomination that had been erected under Voldemort had been destroyed. There was a new construction going up. Harry walked over to the fountain and looked inside. A few coins were there but not many. He pulled out his money pouch and dumped it in.

Stumbling across the floor he made his way to the lifts and went inside. He pressed the button for level nine. He decided to have another swallow from the bottle while he was sinking lower in the ministry. Remembering three years earlier, when he thought he was going to rescue Sirius. Another death that could have been avoided with the right information. Another weight on his soul.

The lift rattled to a stop and he opened the grill. Walking down the black hallway to the door that Arthur Weasley was guarding when he was attacked by Nagini.

“At least he lived.” Harry slurred to himself.

Harry opened the door and entered the round room. He allowed the door to close behind him. When the room started to spin around him he closed his eyes. He waited till the whirling sound stopped.

“The Death room.” he called out. A door off to his left opened and Harry immediately walked towards it.

Pulling the door open he walked through. Standing at the top of the stairs he looked down towards the raised platform in the middle of the amphitheater styled room. Remembering Neville getting a broken nose over there. “At least he got a good wand out of it.” And over there was the stone arch where he’d last seen his Godfather. He put the bottle he was holding into one of his pockets and pulled out the Elder Wand.

Stumbling towards the spot right in front of the ‘veil of death’ Harry watched as the white wisps slowly moved around the opening. Never leaving the spot in between.

Harry cast a tempus charm and saw it was Jul 30, 1998, 11:58:23 PM.

“Seven years.” He mumbled. “Seven years ago in a dilapidated hut on a rock in a storm. I was counting down the time till my birthday.” His eyes unfocused as he remembered Hagrid coming through the door he’d just knocked off its hinges. The next morning when he got his first taste of the wizarding world. His first real birthday present, Hedwig. Tears flowed down his face as he thought of all the friends he’d lost.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope, addressed to Andromeda Tonks. And dropped it on the floor. For good measure he dropped the badge from the phone-booth on top of it. Someone would find it and ensure she got it. It had two words written in it.

I’m Sorry

Casting tempus again he saw 11:59:45. Fifteen more seconds.

Maybe he’d be able to see everyone he lost.

11:59:50. Ten more seconds.

Perhaps he could apologize in their dreams.

11:59:55.

“Five... Four... Three... Two... One... Happy Birthday Harry.”

And Harry stepped through the veil.

Chapter Text

Dumbledore was standing up, having just extinguished the last candle when a person suddenly appeared in the center of the circle. With gasps around the room The young man threw his arm in front of his eyes.

“Gahh. Why does the afterlife have to be so bloody bright.” he slurred.

Squinting he looked around him. The first person he saw was Hermione.

“’Mione!” He was reaching out to hug his friend when his hands reached the edge of the outer circle there was a loud crack and a flash that sent him stumbling back to the center again. “Bugger!” he spat out while flexing his hands. “Always wondered what Hell would be like. It’s seeing everyone you love but not being able to touch them.”

Harry reached up and pulled off his glasses and wiped away his tears. He replaced his glasses and took a breath to center himself.

“OK. Let’s get it started. Tell me how much you hate me for letting you die.” His eyes tried to focus on the women standing around the circles. His eyes came to a stop on Tonks. “Nym, before you start I just want to let you know I made sure to have Teddy looked after by your mum. I also made him my Heir. So Black, Potter, Peverell, and what ever else they can find will be his. Molly managed to take out the death-eater that killed you by the way.” Nymphadora’s hair went white.

He turned and saw Ginny. “Gin Gin. I should have taken you with us. Then those animals wouldn’t have gotten to you. I tried to let you know that I loved you in-spite of… of how they tortured you, but I guess it was too much.” Ginny’s eyes grew larger as her face paled. “I gave every single one of those bastards as messy a death as I could come up with as vengence. Took me a few weeks to hunt them down, but I’ll bet they won’t be touching any young girls for their next three lifetimes.”

Turning a bit more he came face to face with Vega Malfoy. He slowly ran his eyes down then back up to her face. He gave her a crooked grin. “Damn Draco. If I’d known this is what had you so wound up all the time I would have made time to be friendlier. It doesn’t excuse you from faclicta... facilicting, hang on that’s not it.”Harry took a deep breath. “... letting the death-eaters into Hogwarts. You deserved the broken nose.”

“I don’t know you.” Harry said as he turned to Diana.

“I’m Diana Granger. Hermione’s sister.”

Harry got a confused look on his face and turned to face Hermione.

“I didn’t know you had a sister.” he squinted back at Diana. “Especially one that looks like a young Bellatrix LeStrange if she had brown eyes.” Several people heard Narcissa Malfoy’s breath hitch in her throat. Harry leaned in closer to get a better look. His body gave a bit of a lurch to try to keep him steady, a spark and snap occurred at the end of his nose. “BUGGERING FUCK!” Harry exploded.

“Language!” chorused the Granger sisters.

Harry scanned back and forth between the two. He began to dig in one of his pockets.

“I thi… think… I’m… too sober… for this.” As Harry pulled the bottle out of his pocket he began to sway.

“Close the protections. We need to get him out of there.” Dumbledore demanded. The young women cut their palms and held them over the white candles.

As the last candle went out, Harry began to fall to the floor. Minerva had her wand out and shouted a summoning charm. Harry hit the floor like a wet sandbag. Everybody stared at her in confusion as she held the bottle in her hands.

“What? The young man is obviously responsible for his own condition. This however is a Fifty year old bottle of MacAllan scotch. I’m not about to waste it breaking on the floor.”

“Nor should you. One of the few things muggles got right.” came the voice of Walburga Black.

Fred Weasly was the first to snort in amusement. Most of the others followed suit.

Lily knelt next to Harry and slowly rolled him over. She watched as his face went through looks of terror and fear.

“Molly help me get him to a bed.”

The red headed witches used their wands to lift the unconscious man in the air and propelled him through the house and up to a bedroom on the second floor.

“Lay him on his left side with his head at the edge of the bed.” Molly advised. “He’ll probably get sick and we don’t need him dying on us. Kreacher.”

With a crack the old house-elf appeared at the side of the bed.

“You called Madam Weasley?” as Kreacher bowed he continued “Doing the bidding of a blood traitor, how mistress will punish me for this.”

“Kreacher,” Molly pushed past her annoyance “This young man is… ill. Keep an eye on him till he wakes and have a hangover potion for him.”

Kreacher looked over at Harry and squinted at the young man sprawled on the bed. After a few seconds his eyes got large and a look of happiness spread across the elf’s face.

“You have found Lord Black!”

“What?” Lily snapped. “What do you mean Lord Black?”

“This man has the Black family magic and the Lords magic as well. Other family magic resides in him too. But he is assuredly the Lord Black. Kreacher will stay and take care of him.” Kreacher sniffed a bit and looked Lily up and down appraisingly and continued. “Even if his mother is a mud-blood.”

A hand came off the bed and wrapped around Kreacher’s neck. Molly and Lily watched as one bloodshot green eye opened and seemed to bore into the elf’s eyes once they were looking at each other.

“I don’t care if we are all dead Kreacher, if you call my mother a mud-blood again I will take great delight in your screams as I run you through a meat grinder for eternity. Do you understand?”

Neither woman was sure if the elf nodded or the young man shook the elf.

“Good. Get to your duties.” The eye rolled to look at Lily. “Sorry mum.” mumbled Harry. His eye closed and he went back to the realm of Morpheus.

The two red heads stood there watching Harry sleep for a long moment.

“Lily, I don’t know whether to be ecstatic or terrified.”

“Neither do I, Molly. But I think we need to tell the others what we’ve found out. Kreacher, take care of Lord Black till he wakes up.”

“Yes, Lady Potter.” Kreacher rasped as he rubbed his neck.

Chapter Text

Harry opened his eyes slowly. Looking around he recognized the room as being in Grimmauld Place, but not the room he was used to sleeping in. Watching as the walls seemed to be twisting and spinning didn’t help. He put one foot on the floor and prayed to every deity he’d ever heard of to stop feeling the rotation of the Earth. He sat up on the edge of the bed and was silently arguing with his stomach about what it was trying to do. Suddenly a crack of elf apparition had him jerking up his head and his stomach began to rebel. He stumbled towards the en suite and made it to the toilet in enough time to empty his stomach. Flushing away the remains, he carefully went to the sink and turned on the cold water and splashed his face and rinsed the taste out of his mouth.

“So glad you made it there safely m’Lord.” came the bullfrog croak of Kreacher. “The smell tends to linger if it hits the floor.”

“Kreacher, could you get me a Hangover Potion.”

Kreacher said nothing but placed a small bottle with a light blue fluid in it on the edge of the sink. Harry stared at it for a moment. Opening the bottle Harry sniffed the contents and then dumped it down his throat.

“Not a bad formula.” Harry looked at the Elf. “Extra touch of mint to help the stomach?”

“Yes, m’Lord. A touch heavier on the headache remedy than the pepper-up portion that is more common. But I found it makes a more favorable Master or Mistress to be ache free rather then energetic.”

Harry thought for a second.

“Makes sense. I am going to shower could you bring in a change of clothing from my room.”

“I’m sorry, m’Lord, but you have no other clothing here.”

“Is there anything left in Sirius’s room? I’ll work with jeans and a t-shirt.”

“Of course Lord Black. Once you are ready the others are waiting for you in the dinning room.” Kreacher shuffled his feet for a few seconds. “M’Lord could I get your full name to properly announce you?”

Harry cocked his head in confusion. “It’s Harry James Potter, the same as it always has been. You’ve known it for the last three years.”

“I don’t mean to anger you Lord Black, but you arrived here through a ritual yesterday. Neither I nor anyone else here have met you before. You have apparently met several of them in your dimension before coming here. Here little Henry Potter was killed by the Dark Lord the 31^st of October 1981, over fourteen years ago. They will most likely treat you as a stranger.”

Harry stared at Kreacher for a full minute. Finally he began to empty his pockets and putting the contents on the back of the toilet. “Please get the clothing for me. Let the people know that I will be down in about 15 minutes.” As he pulled off the hated robes he handed them to the elf. “If there is clothing in the Lords Chambers, place it into a storage area and put those robes into the closet after cleaning them. Prepare the chambers for occupancy. I will need to go shopping later. How are the provisions for the house?

“Enough to last forty people for six months.”

“Within the next week I want you to double that. I’ll need to go to Gringotts later and see if I can arrange a bit of an upset. You said ‘Henry’ was killed fourteen years ago?”

Kreacher nodded as he watched his Master start to plan for the war that everyone said was coming soon.

“What is today’s date?”

“M’Lord it is the 23^rd of June 1996.”

“Really.”

“Yes m’Lord.”

As Harry stepped into the shower his face scrunched up in consideration.

“No, I shouldn’t give Dudley a punch in the face for his birthday. Tempting as it might be. Get on with what I’ve given you to do Kreacher. Provisions can come later but by the end of today I am going to need a clean bed and bedroom to sleep in.”

“At once Lord Black.” and with a soft crack Kreacher left.

After a quick shower and finding a shaving kit left on the sink Harry got dressed in jeans that fit his waist but he needed to cuff them to fit his legs. He shook out the t-shirt and grinned at the concert shirt he was holding. Black Sabbath, Koln Sporthalle, 09 April 1977.

“Cool!”

Pulling the shirt over his head he glanced at himself in the mirror. Dark circles under the eyes and the hollowed out face looked the same, but the eyes looked like they used to. He now had a chance to keep a lot of people alive.

“All I know, Albus, is that he called me mum. And the threat he made to Kreacher scared me more because he said it in an even tone of voice that barely went above a conversational level. He may as well have been talking about the price of rat livers in the apothecaries.” Lily was talking to Dumbledore as they had gathered in the dining room.

“What he said didn’t have the ring of a threat, it was more of a statement of fact.” Molly chimed in.

“We’ll simply have to talk to him and find out. When he arrived earlier it seems as though he was under the impression he was dead and in the afterlife.” Dumbledore said trying to calm everyone down.

“How are we supposed to deal with him if he is just that violent?” asked McGonagall.

“Obvious, Minnie. Challenge me to a duel and see who wins?”

All heads snapped to the door where there stood a young man with green eyes. Lilly looked between James and the young man.

“Circe’s baggy bum. You could use him as a shaving mirror, James.”

“Now comes Harry James Potter the Lord Black.” croaked Kreacher.

“Henry…?” Lily whispered.

“So far as I know it’s always been Harry. But I know My Great grandfather was Henry, and called Harry. My grand parents were Charlus Potter and Dorea Black, hence me being able to become Lord Black back where I was. Rather put Draco Malfoy’s nose out of joint.” He walked around the table till he was opposite Lily and James. He stared at them and fought a losing battle with tears as he looked at his parents in the flesh for the first time. “My parents were James Charlus Potter, Lord Potter and Senior Auror, and the one who was on tap to replace Amelia Bones as Head Auror when she moved to the head of the DMLE. And Lily Jean Potter nee Evans, Contract enchantress who was booked out seven months in advance when she went into hiding to protect her family. Both Died at the hands of He-who-must-not-be-named, on 31 October 1981. But, I assume since a fifteen month old wouldn’t actually be able to stop him, due to enchantments, fueled by their sacrifice, the dark wanker, when he tried to use the killing curse on me, had it deflected and his body disintegrated. Thus leading to the end, more or less, to the first blood war.”

Harry looked at the younger Potters sitting next to their parents.

“Apparently if my parents had lived I would have had some siblings. I guess I would be your older brother Harry. What are your names?”

The older sister looked at Harry with narrowed eyes as if trying to see through a disguise. The younger was trying to hide but not at the same time.

“I’m Violet. This is my big sister Rose.”

“My birthday is 31 July 1980, what’s yours?”

“Mine is 21 March 1985. I’m eleven.”

“Oh, an equinox birthday. I’ll bet you are going to be in Gryffindor like your mom and dad. Not in Ravenclaw like your sister.”

“You can’t know that.” yelped Rose.

“My dear little sister, you are still trying to calculate how much you can trust me.”

James began to snicker, only to stop when Lily slapped him in the back of the head.

“How close to being a hat stall were you?”

“I needed another 15 seconds.”

“I knew it would be close. When’s your birthday?”

“13 July 1982.”

Harry looked at Lily as he did a quick calculation.

“You were pregnant when he attacked?” Lily nodded. “I’m glad you survived.”

Harry looked around the room and started walking towards the head of the table.

“Most of you I know from my previous life…,existence…, however you want to look at it, there are two other people here I have no knowledge of.” Harry continued towards the head of the table but stopped next to Vega Malfoy. “To make the proper introduction I’m Harry James Potter, Lord Black, may I know whom I have the pleasure of addressing?”

“Vega Narcissa Malfoy, Heiress of House Malfoy, Daughter of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, twin sister to Draco Malfoy.”

“Well that explains why I thought I saw Draco in a skirt when I made my less than stellar entrance to this world... dimension... whatever it is I’m in.”

Taking a few steps further down the table he stopped across from Diana and Hermione.

“I know my recollections of yesterday might be a bit off but the Hermione I knew didn’t have an older sister.” He held out his hand to the black haired witch. “Harry Potter nice to meet you.”

“Diana Granger.” She shook Harry’s hand. “So why didn’t I get the introduction that Malfoy got?”

“Correct me if I am wrong, but you were raised Muggle like Hermione right?”

“Yes.”

“Then why would you want me to polish a perfectly good ‘Hello’ with pretentious pureblood bullshit?”

Bill, Fred, George, Ron, Rose, Violet and Tonks, broke out in laughter. Molly and Narcissa looked scandalized. Vega and Ginny were looking anywhere but at their parents trying to hide their blushing grins. James and Arthur both looked like they were choking so as not to earn the ire of their spouses.

“I think I’m going to like you.” Diana grinned at the wizard in front of her.

“Considering the links I can feel between the six of us I should hope so.”

Several quiet gasps were heard around the table.

Harry continued to where Dumbldore was sitting, at the head of the table. Coming to a stop next to Dumbledore seated at the head of the table , Harry pause for a few seconds.

“Mr. Dumbldore, as I am recognized by the Black family magic as Lord Black here, you are in my seat. Move.”

“How dare you talk that way to Professor Dumbledore!” Shouted Molly Weasley.

“Probably because of the Professor Dumbledore that I knew!” Harry shouted back at her.

Looks of surprise spread around the room as shock spread over Molly’s face.

“So tell me professor, do they know the prophesy?”

Anyone watching Dumbledore’s face saw the look of surprise flash across it.

“I don’t think that…” Dumbledore began.

“James, what was it that sent you into hiding?” Harry interrupted. “Just before your dark lord attacked you and killed your son?”

“Dumbledore came to us with a prophesy, given to him by a seer. It could have been either you or Neville Longbottom. We all went into hiding. Frank and Alice were at Longbottom Manor when they were attacked. They got killed when Vol…”

“James!” yelled Narcissa, startling the whole room. “The Dark Lord has had the Taboo placed on his name again.”

Every one was staring at Narcissa. James looked like he was about to throw-up.

“Thank-you for that information Lady Malfoy.” said Dumbledore. “We should tell the rest of the order about this so they can be safe. We should then try to find out what their plans are…”

“So that you can capture them and turn them over to the proper authorities?”

“Of course. We can not hold ourselves as being in the light if we ourselves stoop to dark tactics. Everyone deserves a second chance to make the proper choice.”

“You shouldn’t need a second chance to know that killing someone is wrong, Albus. Unless it is in self defense or defense of others. How many marked death eaters got away with their crimes saying ‘Imperious’?”

“Many have come back to being productive members of society after the fall of He-who-shall-not-be-named. I must say that the Imperious curse is capable of making even you do things you wouldn’t normally do.”

“Actually it isn’t. I have had all three of the unforgivables used on me at some point.” Harry looked over at Andromeda and Narcissa. “Bellatrix LeStrange hit me with the Cruciatus on several occasions.” Hearing their sisters name mentioned caused them to flinch. “I’ve had the Imperious put on me by Moldy-shorts most loyal Death Eater and the Dork Lord himself. I managed to fight it off every time.” Harry pulled back his hair to display the now healed but still visible scar on his forehead. “And Here is where I have been hit with Avada Kedavra twice. So don’t tell me about the Imperious LIE!”

Everyone around the table stared at the young mans anger.

“Where is Neville Longbottom?”

“His guardian has him at Longbottom Manor. He was possessed several days ago by the Dark Lord.” Albus explained. “Once he threw off the possession he collapsed. He has been at Longbottom Manor ever since. There were several people captured at that fight who were supposed to be reformed Death Eaters.”

“I lost too many people to those ‘reformed’ Death Eaters. The Carrow twins. McNair. Crabbe. Goyle. Lucius.” Harry looked at Vega when she gasped at the revelation. “He tried to AK me in my second year.” Harry looked around the table. “You all do realize what has to be done to become a marked Death Eater don’t you?”

“I don’t think that is a discussion we want to have around anyone underage.” Molly scowled at Harry. “They are too young to hear about such things.”

“Really? Information is the single most important thing that anyone can have at this point. If my Dumbledore had given me all the information that he had about he-who-needs-sunlight I can think of several people I wouldn’t have lost. If more people would have listened to me when I tried to tell them things over and over and over again I could have been raised by my godfather after third year and not my mother’s magic hating sister and her abusive husband and their vile spawn. If I had the information that Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore kept hidden, even after he was murdered, I could have ended the Second Blood War before it got so bad that Hermione OBLIVIATED all knowledge of herself and magic from her parents and had them move to Australia to keep them safe.”

Diana and Hermione both went pale and grasped each others hands.

“So here is information. To receive the dark mark you must murder someone. Preferably a muggle or mudblood. And willingly vow to follow He-Whose-Name-Is-Hyphenated. And at the time they get branded like cattle, they must willingly and consciously accept the mark. Have I missed anything Narcissa?”

The Malfoy matriarch had a greenish tinge to her normally pale complexion. Her gaze, however, was steady when she met his eyes.

“Just one thing Lord Black. My other sister was one of only two marked female Death Eaters. They had to offer up their bodies to the inner circle of the Dark Lords followers in any manor of their choosing. Usually on the nights when each of the men would kidnap and bring a muggle woman for use by all. Once Bellatrix was marked she would often share the bed of the Dark Lord. And no other would touch her out of fear of him.” Her eyes darted towards Diana and back to Harry’s.

“How dare you tell this to children. They shouldn’t know about things like this at their age.” Molly began to tell off both Narcissa and Harry.

“Molly as much as I respect you trying to mother everyone, SHUT UP!”

Molly’s mouth opened in shock that anyone would talk to her like that.

“I forgot to ask, Lady Malfoy, where are Lucius and Draco?

“Dead. They failed in the mission the Dark Lord gave them and he punished them.”

“Still think information would be useless?” Dumbledore was just sitting closed mouthed with a stubborn look on his face. “Obviously I am going to have to have a bit of a demonstration. Everybody stand up.”

Everyone slowly stood up wondering what was going to happen.

“Over on that wall could I have George, Ron, Bill, and Lady Malfoy.”

The four moved to stand where Harry pointed.

“Opposite them I need Albus, Lily, James, Fred, Hermione, Ginny, Ted, and Nymphadora.”

“Don’t,” Tonks began.

“… call you Nymphadora!” Harry joined in. “So noted, Dora.”

Tonks grumbled under her breath about cheeky gits as she joined the others who had been called.

“Lastly over here I would like to have Molly, Arthur, Minerva and Andromeda.”

“Here is the breakdown of these groups. The ones with Lady Malfoy are maimed with unhealable injuries. The ones with James are all dead. Truth be told I think Rose and Violet should be with their parents. I suppose I belong with that group too, because right before I came here I stepped through the veil of death in the department of mysteries. Congratulations you four survived with nothing that Madam Pomfrey or other competent healers couldn’t sort out. Diana and Vega didn’t exist, to my knowledge so they are just here, but odds are one of them would be dead the other has a fifty/fifty chance of being either maimed or fine. The fact that Diana is considered a muggle-born I’m betting raped to death the most likely scenario.”

“So now you know what lack of information can do. I need information. I know what I would need if I were at this point on my own world. But I was over two years past this point when it just became too much. So I waited until I reached my eighteenth birthday and ended the torment that was my life.” Harry flopped into the seat at the head of the table. “But it seems Death has a different plan for me. I don’t even know why.” Harry buried his face in his hands as his carefully held facade broke.

Violet broke away from her mother and ran to Harry. She wrapped her arms around his neck and began to cry into his shoulder with him. Lily came over next followed shortly by Hermione. Soon most of the women had him surrounded as his grief flowed out of him.

Chapter Text

The next morning Harry was sitting calmly at the head of the table and he looked out at the people he hoped to save from Death Eaters. He felt a connection with five people very strongly. Almost to the point he could close his eyes and point to them.

“Okay, I need to know what tools we have in the box. I’m going to give you some names and I need you to tell me if they are alive in this world. Also which side of the war they will fall on or if we can get them to at least stay neutral. Don’t editorialize just let me know alive or dead, from there ours his or neutral. Ready?”

At nods around the table Harry took in a deep breath and began.

“Sirius Black?”

“Alive, and ours.”

“Thank Merlin. Amelia Bones?”

“Alive, and ours”

“Good. Remus Lupin?”

“Alive ours.”

“Alistor Moody?”

“Dead.”

“Shit, okay, Fleure Delacour?”

“Alive, just started working at Gringotts.” Bill said with a confused look on his face.

“Good! Bill, be sure to ask her on a date. I want to see your wedding when it isn’t interrupted.” The eldest Weasley child’s eyes lit up and a smile spread across his face.

“Kingsley Shacklebolt?”

“Alive. Ours. Head Auror.”

“Lord Nott?”

“Alive, his.”

“Severus Snape?”

“Alive, his.”

“True or False Albus?”

“True, I’m afraid. He turned on us this past year.”

“Damn Vincent Crabbe, well the Crabbes in general?”

“Alive, his.”

“Gregory Goyle?

“Umm, you mean Geraldine?” asked Rose.

Harry just blinked at his sister.

“She’s a sweet girl. Don’t see what she sees in Vincent to be honest with you but she’s nice enough.”

“Is it possible to obliviate an imaginary image from my mind? Please?”

“Not really. Sorry son.” James chuckled at Harry.

“At least tell me that Geraldine is built more like Lavender Brown than Crabbe.”

The school age boys shivered.

“She’s a bit bulky but she keeps it in check with exercise.” Vega stated firmly. “She’s quite intelligent but she tries to hide it a lot. She’s neutral and won’t fight unless she has to. At which point hope it stays magical, She will make you hurt otherwise.”

“Think she’d come over to us?”

“Probably not but she won’t go over to the others either.

“Good enough. Hmm, Luna Lovegood?”

“Alive, ours.”

“Her father?”

“Died nearly six years ago.” Dumbledore put in.

“Her mother?”

“Alive and still publishing the Quibbler in honor of her husband.”

“Cool I always wanted to meet her. Lord Greengrass.”

“Alive Neutral, but we might be able to get him on our side.”

“The man will do anything to protect his daughters and I believe I saw her sneak in from the Slytherin dorms to join us in fighting at the battle of Hogwarts. Ron I’d suggest learning some manners at the table so as not to offend either one of the Greengrass ladies.

Ron opened his mouth to say something.

“You say one word about them being ‘slimy snakes’, evil, dark witches or wizards, or anything else along those lines, I will body bind you and have everyone in this room that Reginald put in Slytherin or thought about putting in Slytherin, kick you.”

Ron’s mouth snapped shut.

“I thought I was the only one who asked the sorting hat what his name was.” Narcissa commented with a smirk.

“It’s easier to threaten someone when you know their name.” replied Harry simply.

“You threatened the sorting hat?” Dumbledore sounded amazed and amused at the same time.

“Sorry Lady Malfoy, but your son and I didn’t get along at all. I told the hat to keep me away from Draco or I’d cut him up and use him as toilet paper.”

“Brilliant!” said the Weasly twins together.

“Effective.” Diana nodded towards Harry.

“Do I have to guess where it was thinking of sending you?”

“Slytherin, Gryffindor, or Ravenclaw.”

“Not to Hufflepuff?”

“It said I would implode the house if I ended up there.”

James started laughing.

“You too Lord Potter?” Diana asked.

“It said they would need a mind healer on staff before it would put me in with the puffs.”

“I’m sure Regent Bones could have kept you in line James.” Ted grinned at James.

“Speaking of Amelia, I just recalled, in my world she was attacked and murdered sometime this summer let her know to be on her toes. War wards or a Fidelius Charm would be a good idea.”

“I’ll floo her right now.” Lilly said raising up out of her chair.

“Who else…” Harry pondered as he looked at the list of people he had made. “Cedric Diggory?”

No body said anything. Harry looked around at the confused looks on their faces.

“Did Amos Diggory not have a child here?”

“Not named Cedric.” said Minerva with a slight grin.

“What did they name him here then?”

Tonks snorted and several others chuckled as well.

“Her name, Harry, is Celeste.” Molly said her voice cracking over a chuckle.

“Whats so funny about that?”

“She’s Percy’s girlfriend, mate!” Ron exploded in a belly laugh.

The rest of the table broke out in laughter.

Harry closed his eyes and thought hard for a few seconds. His eyes opened and he smiled.

“Well if Celeste is as beautiful as Cedric was handsome, I think Percy will be very happy. Glad she’s alive.

“I want to prevent any and all deaths I can. Most of the deaths in this room could have been prevented with the proper information. Now that I have an idea what the tool box holds, I need to see how the blueprint matches. Headmaster, what happened in this 91-92 year at Hogwarts?”

“That year Intelligence reached me of someone trying to steal my friend, Nicholas Flamelle’s, Sorcerers Stone. I sent Hagrid to retrieve it from Gringotts. The professors and I placed it behind several layers of protections.”

“What were they, which students went through them?”

“It was both Miss Grangers, youngest Mr. Weasly, and Neville Longbottom. The first was a cerberus, then a patch of Devils Snare, a flock of enchanted keys…,”

“Who caught the key?”

“I did.” Diana Granger said with a bit of challenge in her voice. “Why? Don’t think Slytherin’s seeker is as good as Gryffindor’s”

“Miss Granger, you didn’t exist in my world, to my knowledge anyway. Wait a second, Slytherin?” At Diana’s nod he shook his head. “Huh. I’m surprised Flint would let a girl on his team.”

“Why wouldn’t he let me on the team? I tried out and did better than the guy they had.”

“Marcus Flint was decidedly misogynistic when it came to his team. I faced Terrence Higgs and Draco as Seekers, I know I was better than them.”

“How long did it take you to make the team?” James asked excitedly.

“My first flying lesson, first year.”

“But first years aren’t allowed to bring a broom to school.” Hermione said with a bit of temper about the breaking of the rules.

“Minerva, let’s say you are in your office watching your first year Lions having their first flying lesson, year of 1991. You see Madam Hooch lead an injured student away and another student jumps on a broom and flies fifteen meters into the air. One of your Lions jumps on a broom, one of the jankey school brooms mind you, and gives chase. The first student gets panicked and throws a small glittery object, probably breakable, in one direction and speeds away in another. Your Lion sees where the thing is going dives fourteen meters snatches the thing a hairs breath from the ground and lands without a scratch. What would you do?”

“Hmm. Ninety-one. Ugh. We tried Cormac McLaggen for seeker that year. We got flattened by every other team. But if I had seen that I think I would have arranged getting a waiver for that rule and a decent broom.”

“I didn’t let him on the team sixth year either. He was too Narcissistic to play a team sport.”

“Wait! You were seeker and team captain?”

“Youngest player in a century, seeker, and team captain sixth year.”

Harry looked over at Diana.

“I figured you’d have been in Ravenclaw. The whole muggle raised/born thing.”

“First muggleborn Slytherin in a century and a half. The hat told me I’d need to make the proper connections to be great. I know the Claws like Hermione here are great for learning things, but they were usually solitary. For my ambitions I needed to get properly connected to the ‘right’ people. As far as I could see that was going to be the Slytherins. After I broke Flint’s jaw, they left me alone.”

“Explains why he let you on the team. Who was your magical first contact?”

“Professor Sinistra.”

“Mine was Hagrid.”

“HAGRID?” Most of the adults and many of the older children all exploded at that bit of information.

“Hagrid was a full professor in your world?” Dumbledore asked happily.

“Only starting third year.”

“Then why would the other me have assigned him to introduce you to the wizarding world?”

“He thought I was already knowledgeable of the wizarding world. Where as I didn’t even know that magic was real till Hagrid told me. Apparently due to the prophesy you thought I would need to be a willing sacrifice to kill Tom on a permanent basis. After destroying his Horcruxes. So every summer I went back to the Dursley’s to recharge the blood wards, and to get my annual dose of abuse and neglect.”

“Oh dear.” Dumbledore seemed to collapse in on himself.

“Professor?”

“I’m sorry, Harry. So very sorry.”

“Does Neville have an attachment? Encapsulated in a scar?”

“Yes. Do you know what it is?”

“I believe I do but first tell me about Neville’s second year.”

“A young lady was given a cursed object. It began to possess her. It used her to open the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts. Several people were petrified as well as one of the ghosts. Mrs Figg’s knezel was killed outright.”

“Wait Arabella Figg is at Hogwarts?”

“Yes. She’s the caretaker.” Minerva said looking confused.

“I wonder what happened to Argus Filch?”

Albus and Minerva stared at Harry. The others were looking back and forth between each other.

“Thant name sounds familiar.” Arthur said.

“Never heard it.” Lily shrugged.

“Ohhhh! What do you know about him Harry?” Hermione asked excitedly. “He was one of the few Magical serial killers in the early 60’s. It would be so interesting to hear about the him from another world. He would find low income mixed magical homes and wipe out the whole family. The last one was the Umbridge family in 1962. He killed the father, mother, and two children. When he finished h…”

Hermione stuttered to a stop as she found everyone but Harry and Diana staring at her in horror. She looked back and forth as she realized what she was saying.

“Hermione.” Diana wrapped her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Not everybody has a fascination with true crime like you do. You need to remember that. What does mom tell you?”

“’Find out if they are into the same thing before you start talking about it.’ Sorry about that.”

“Mom was thrilled to find her playing with the dolls when she was six. Until she realized Hermione was recreating a crime scene she saw on the telly saying it didn’t make sense.”

“Well I was right, wasn’t I”

“Yes. But being right doesn’t make it right.”

“Clever though.” Harry acknowledged. “But back to second year. How did it all end?”

“The young lady was brought down to the chamber. Where the cursed object was going to finalize its possession of her when Neville and a friend of theirs tried to rescue her with the aid of our Defense against the Dark Arts professor…”

“Let me guess, Lockhart?”

“I suppose that is going to be a universal occurrence. Pity. Neville killed the beast and used its fang to destroy the cursed object. They made their way out of the chamber and everyone went on their way.”

“What was the object?”

“A diary.”

“T.M. Riddle on the cover?”

“Yes.” Dumbledore’s eyes grew large. “How did…”

“Have you found the ring yet?”

“I have an idea where it might be.”

Harry waited for a few seconds. Before he slammed his hand on the table.

“Albus in less than a year on my world you are DEAD! Because you had to be the be all and end all of being right. To hold all information until it is too late. You sent me Hermione and Ron on a year long scavenger hunt to find all of Tom’s Horcruxes because you didn’t want the information to get out about how the snake faced cunt survived.”

Harry closed his eyes and took deep breaths trying to calm himself down. It wasn’t working. Visions were parading through his mind. Dumbledore falling from the tower. Hermione getting nearly cut in half. Remus and Tonks. Colin and Dennis. Fred. Ginny. Sirius. Moody. Hedwig. Narcissa holding a cloth to staunch the blood flowing from her ruined eye. Bill with his face ripped open by Greyback…

He felt arms around his shoulders and flinched, trying to throw them off.

They tightened instead.

“It’s okay, Harry your safe.” Vanilla and peppermint. “We are safe.”

“I’m here for you Harry.” Apples and cinnamon, “We are here for you.”

“We’ll help you through this Harry.” Sandalwood and saffron.

“You are safe with us Harry.” Citrus and more peppermint

“Calm down and I’ll take you flying.” Imperial Leather and bubblegum. “Don’t look at me like that, mum. I’m rubbish at feelings.”

Several minutes passed as Harry absorbed the reassurances and logged the scents of the women surrounding him. It slowly brought him back down and the thoughts stopped swirling.

“Circe’s buggered bunghole I hate that.”

“What happened Harry?” Lilly asked softly.

“Psychological ghosts.”

“I don’t understand.” Said James.

“I’m sure you do, you just don’t know it. Everyone has a trigger that reminds you of the most traumatic thing you’ve experienced in your life. Mine revolves around who I’ve lost. Who I might have been able to save. Right now I am only three months past fighting a war and loosing friends and people I’ve cared for.”

Harry took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

“Maybe I’ll tell you all about it at some point. For now I need to talk to Sirius and Neville. Mainly because Magic here has recognized me as Lord Black so I need to know what is going on since I still have this.” Harry lifted his hand and the Black Lords ring appeared. “Also this.” The ring switched to the Potter Lords ring.

James looked down at the ring on his hand. He walked next to Harry and compared the two.

“They’re identical.” James said. “I can feel them pulling at each other… like magnets. It’s almost like they are arguing.”

“Are you willing to name me your heir James?”

“My heir? Merlin I have an heir again.”

“I beg your pardon Father?” Rose raised her eyebrow.

“We’ve talked about this. Because of how the family charter is written you would have to marry someone who was willing to become a Lord Consort and take your last name. When or if you had a son he would be Lord Potter when he came of age. If it didn’t happen for you or your sister the name Potter would be subsumed into another family.”

“But that’s not fair!”

“I know it’s not but I can’t change the charter.”

“Rose.” Harry looked at his sister. “Is there a boy you really like that you would marry in a heartbeat if he asked?”

“Yes.”

James’ eyes flew open wider than he thought possible.

“Who is he? Have I met him? Has he tried anything with you? Have I met his family? Do I even like his family?”

“James, just relax. She knows that she has to allow us to meet anyone she wants to date before she goes out with them. And she can’t go on a date till she is 14…” Lily’s face dropped. “Which is in three weeks. Who is this boy? When are we meeting him and his family?”

“Hang on. Rose do you think that boy that you like would give up his family name for you?”

Rose looked at Harry and her eyes slowly grew wider and began filling with tears.

“Do you want to find a wizard that would only be interested in taking you as a second wife? Or would you like to marry the person that you care enough about to love forever? Ask Andromeda about making that choice. I did.”

Roses eyes flew to Andromeda Tonks’ and locked in on the older woman. Andromeda gave a gentle smile to the young lady sitting in front of her and nodded.

“I was kicked out of the family I was born into because I fell in love with… What was it Walburga called you Ted.”

“I believe it was a ‘Jumped up, unprepossessing, mudblood’. Was that the one you were looking for dear?”

“That’s the one. I married him anyway. Because I knew that he didn’t love me for my name or my dowry or the political capital he would gain. He loved and married the knutless Andromeda no name and gave me his name and a daughter. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

Ted came up behind Andromeda and wrapped his arms around her, kissed her on the top of the head, and nuzzled his face into her hair.

Rose smiled and wiped away her tears and looked at Harry

“But what about you Harry? From what I can tell you are bound to five women. What about what they want?”

“I can feel the connection between us. What that is going to mean is up to them. Right now what I would do is negotiate with each of them to give them the best protection I can legally. Two of them are the only remaining children in their family. I would be willing to negotiate Line Continuation Consort contracts with them. One is the only daughter of her family but with six older brothers I believe she would make a wonderful Lady wife and I would be willing to pay a decent brides price if requested. The last two are supposed Muggleborns. I think we’ll be going to the goblins to truly find out. Either one would make a fine Lady for my other Lordship and the other would get a Line Continuation Consort contract for New House Granger.”

The Five were looking at each other. Not really knowing what to make of the declaration for the rest of their lives.

“Before you get to the point you want hang me by sensitive parts of my body let me tell you what I know of your alternates. Two of them to the best of my knowledge didn’t exist in my world. However one of those was raised by the same people who raised one of the three I did know. That one had been my best friend for years and was a wonderful woman I considered spending my life with. One featured heavily in my teenage fantasies, but she married someone else and had a child before they both died in the final battle of the war. And one started out as a fan girl but eventually got to know the real me. I would have married her. Unfortunately the Death Eaters had damaged her to the point where after we made love for an entire night, she left to go home the next morning. I got informed her family found her hanging in their orchard with a note that said ‘I just needed to know what it should have felt like.’ Needless to say none of the Death Eaters she told me about survived when I caught up to them. The only one I didn’t kill was the one who cut his own throat rather than face me.”

Harry’s eyes went distant as most of the people in the same room paled at the information he just gave them.

Every head snapped to the doorway as they heard the Floo connection go off four times.

A tall trim man with a short beard and mustache came through with three other people coming up behind him.

“Well, Well, Well. Looks like a battle planning meeting is happening and I wasn’t invited. Rather rude considering it’s my house.”

A tall sandy haired man with a scarred face, who was bringing up the rear, smiled.

“I say we blame James and join in the fun. How about you love?”

A woman with short black hair and a high collared shirt glanced around the room. She sniffed the air a bit and spoke with a lilting Irish accent.

“Well I say we find out who the stranger is, what his plans are and decide what to do after that.”

“Good idea Tabby. So I’ll ask first… Who the bloody hell are you?”

Chapter Text

“Good idea Tabby. So I’ll ask first… Who the bloody hell are you?”

James decided he would step in and make introductions. As he was opening his mouth he was interrupted by Harry.

“Hold on James he should already have and idea who I am.”

“How the bloody hell am I supposed to know who you are? I’ve never met you in my life.”

“Use your senses, mutt. You have better than average eyesight, superior hearing and knew which witch to hit on for a broom cupboard rendezvous while at school. I’m certain that you actually have met me, or at least my counterpart from here so it should be stored in that brain of yours.”

Sirius’ eyes focused on Harry. He sniffed the air a few times. Everyone was watching as emotions began to war with each other across his face. He suddenly went pale.

“It can’t be. James? It can’t be. What is this? Am I going mad?” Tears were running down his cheeks. “He’s d-d-dead. He can’t be here.”

Harry got up and walked to the shocked man.

“Glad to see you again, Unca’ Pafoo’.”

Harry caught him in a hug as all the strength left Sirius’ body.

“Not real. Can’t be real.” Sirius was whispering it to himself over and over. Harry supported the man and sat him on a chair.

“I guess the prank went a little flat. If it makes you feel any better, for me you died just over two years ago. I guess this time line it would be six days ago.”

“The Department of Mysteries? The fight there?” Sirius grabbed his hand. “How did I die there?”

“You were fighting your cousin, the Psycho one.”

“Ah Bella. Poor girl.”

“I don’t think she was fighting to kill you. She hit you with a stunner while you were standing in front of the Veil of Death and when you fell over you went through the archway. That was the same night I first tried one of the unforgivables.”

“You what!” Harry wasn’t quite sure which of the adults yelled, but he was certain his mother and Molly were involved.

“She had just killed the closest thing I had to a father and then went dancing off laughing about it. I wanted her to hurt.”

“Moody.” Remus breathed.

“Hows that, Mooney?” James asked.

“Moody. He saw Bellatrix casting at Sirius. Siri got hit with a stunner but Moody shouldered him out of the way. Alastor got hit with a banisher and pushed into the veil. He’s the one that died. But you,” he pointed at Harry. “I can feel my pack with you. And Sirius is right you are supposed to be dead. Mooney is circling my brain trying to come to terms over the pup that died but is remembered. How are you alive?”

“Albus made a deal to bring me from where I was to here. I was important to you where I was from. So important you and your wife made me Godfather to your son.”

“I’ve been terrified to have a child. My wife and I are both, uh… werewolfs…” Remus mumbled the last word.

“And of course you are both evil murdering assholes that need to be put down for everybody’s safety.”

Remus’ eyes flashed to amber. Before anyone could react he had Harry by the shirt and up against the wall.

“You dare threaten me? My wife?”

“I didn’t threaten you. I merely called you on the bullshit you’ve been sucking down for so long you think it’s right. I know you are a good man. I also know Mooney and your friends want you to get the FUCK over yourself. I’m pretty sure your wife would like a child. Mostly because family and pack are the most important things to wolves. Greyback was a sadistic son-of-a-bitch who liked to hurt people. Mostly kids. He would have been that way whether or not he was a werewolf. He didn’t embrace his wolf he surrendered to it. Glad he died.”

“He’s not dead. He’s been evading the werewolf patrols.”

“He was killed in two years, at the battle of Hogwarts. A friend of mine named Seamus Finnegan cut his head off with a nasty and painful spell. Unfortunately he did that after his girlfriend got her throat ripped out. Yet another death I hope to avoid having on my soul.”

“You’re trying to change the future? But everything that happened has already happened. You can’t change what has already happened.”

“And in this reality I died almost fifteen years ago. But here I am. Apparently Death really wants me to be alive. So in-spite of being hit with the killing curse twice and then giving myself an eighteenth birthday present of jumping through the veil of death… here I am.”

Remus slowly let go of Harry’s shirt and stepped back. His face was red and he looked like he couldn’t decide what to do next.

“So if you are here, where is my son?”

“I decreed in my will that he would be my heir, for all my houses. I also left everything he would need to complete a blood adoption ritual. I named his grandmother as his magical and mundane guardian as well as Regent for Houses Potter and Black.”

“Wait a tic.” Eyes flashed over to where Dora was sitting. Her hair was cycling from green to white to red to brown as if it couldn’t make up its mind as to how she was feeling. “You said when you got here you left Teddy, I’m assuming that is the name of my son, with my mum and had made him your heir. You also just told Remus that same thing. You mean to tell me I was married to Remus?”

“Yes. You married next autumn and Edward Remus Lupin was born 08 April 1998. Less than a month later you were both dead in the final battle along with most of the ones I told you died last night.” Harry poked Remus in the ribs and said in a stage-whisper, “I think you put a little too much cart before the horse.”

“But he’s so old. How did we even…”

“You two fell in love. There’s no shame in it. Just the stigma at the age difference and him being a werewolf. But I think I know part of the factoring here. You both met as adults in my world. You, Dora, were sick of men that would ask you to look like the women they actually fancied. And you, Remus, were trying your best to work around anti-werewolf laws that were passed that made it nearly impossible for werewolves to be anything but second or worse class citizens. Most couldn’t earn enough money to afford the Wolfsbane Potion that allowed you to be safe in your wolf form and survive day to day.”

“When did this come to happen?” asked Dumbledore.

“In my world about ten years ago. It was slipped in under the control and regulation of magical creatures listing werewolves, centaurs, veela, merfolk, and a few others as creatures of near human intelligence. Basically it fined employers for hiring ‘dangerous half-breeds’.”

“Near human intelligence half-breeds?” Remus’ wife asked incredulously.

“I’m sorry Mrs. Lupin, I never met you in my previous existence, Harry James Potter.” He held out his hand.

“Tabitha Hazel Lupin Née O’Malley.” She shook his hand. “Call me Tabby.”

“I will so long as you call me Harry.”

“So who even suggested these shite laws? I’d like to find out more about them.”

“According to the younger Miss Granger, she is not in any way shape or form going to be a problem in this… reality.”

“I haven’t said anything.” Hermione squeaked.

“Yes you did. Before they showed up.”

“But I was talking about a magical serial killer.”

“One second.” Harry leaned over and whispered into Sirius’ ear. When he was done he asked, “What was the name of the daughter of the last family he killed?”

“Delores Jane Umbridge, age 3.”

“Padfoot?” Remus asked hesitantly.

“It’s what he said. Didn’t give her age though.”

“That’s because when I knew the pink toad she was the absolutely worst DADA professor we had. And yes Albus that includes Quireill and Lockhart and the disguised Deatheater in fourth year.”

“Deatheater?” This time he was sure all parents of school age children were involved in the shouting.

“In my defense even Alistor said it was like watching a perfect duplicate of himself.”

“And in your usual fashion you kept the information as secret as you could.” McGonagall stage whispered.

Albus seemed to wilt a bit as more and more it was shown to him how much a secret could harm rather than help the cause.

“Back to the point. Remus you are a man who is happily married to a woman, who if I might say is really attractive. The fact that you have the same furry little problem and probably will pass that condition on to your children is no reason to not have a continuation of a family. Have you ever thought there might be a cure found? Or how about a better treatment than the nasty tasting Wolfsbane Potion. You are a powerful and smart wizard. Use your mind. The only way to pass on lycanthropy is a bite on the full moon from fully transformed wolf. Sounds like it is a body fluid exchange born pathogen. There are already treatments for it. Find a Healer who can do research for you and work with them on a potential cure.”

“The Healer part is really easy.” Came a half barking laugh from Sirius.

“How’s that?”

“Tabby is an awesome healer. Fixed me up a few times before I gave up on being an Auror.”

“Well that’s definitely different.”

“How do you mean?”

“I mean the reason you weren’t an Auror just before my parents were killed was because you were a Hit Wizard. Aurors had to follow too many damn rules.” Harry saw several wide eyes looking at him. “His words not mine.”

“Um, no. I decided that I really didn’t want to hurt people. I mean I can still put enough holes in them to take them out of the fight, but after I got out of Azkaban I really don’t like hurting people.”

“Why were you in Azkaban in this world?”

“Oh, ah, people thought I was James and Lily’s secret-keeper and I was put in Azkaban for six months due to suspicion of being a hidden death eater. No trial or questioning. When your parents finally woke up from the coma they were in and told the right people that Peter was the secret-keeper I was released. Even six months with those things were horrible.”

“It was twelve years on my world.”

“Twelve… How sane was I?”

“Surprisingly well adjusted for the amount of time you spent there. The fact that you were innocent was not a happy thought so the dementors couldn’t take it from you. And I guess you spent a lot of time as Padfoot. Dementors don’t feed on animals so they were less effective on you.”

“That makes a bit of sense. Never thought of that. And the Animagus transformation is all focused inward so it doesn’t get affected by the magic dampening wards. That is too cool.

“So what are you doing for work now?”

“Working at getting my mastery at Transfiguration. I figure I’ll take over for Minnie once she retires.”

“Might be faster than you think.”

“Mr. Potter I have no intention of retiring any time soon.” Minerva scowled at him.

“But you might just be getting a new job. Once we take care of snake face and his pole swallowers Albus can retire and you can take over.”

“But first we must defeat Tom. And to do that we need to know how many Soul Containers he has made, find them and destroy them.”

“Which is why I wanted to talk to Neville.”

“About time someone remembered me.”

Harry looked at the slightly younger version of his Godbrother. Except this was not the more timid version he was familiar with. This Neville looked like he was raised to be a fighter. Tall, well muscled, and looked like he lifted weights to help keep in shape.

“Neville Francis Longbottom. Are you still Heir Longbottom or did you take up the Lordship?”

“Still the Heir. Gran won’t let me take it up till I’m seventeen.”

“Did you have to participate in the Tri-Wizard Tournament?”

“Yes.”

“Then you are emancipated already and can take up your Lordship.”

“How…”

“I may be wrong but I don’t think I am,” Harry started in his best imitation of Dumbledore. “Participants had to be of age to enter into the contest right?”

“Yes, but I didn’t want to participate. Someone else put my name in under a fourth school.”

“And the powers that be decided your name came out so you had to participate. Ergo you were of age. An adult. From the second you started the first task.” Harry cocked his head in thought for a second. “Mine was dragons what was yours?”

“Dragons, Welsh Green, Swedish Short-Snout, Chinese Fireball, and a Norwegian Ridge-Back.”

“You got the Ridge-Back?”

“Yes. You?”

“Hungarian Horn-Tail. Forty footer.”

“Norberta was on her first clutch. She was only about 18 feet.”

“Wait. You got Hagrid’s little Norbert?”

“It was the funniest thing you’ve ever seen. I used an Herbology spell to speed grow some Asian Tangleweed. While Norberta was fighting with it I got right next to the clutch and had snagged the golden egg. When I turned to run back to the opening my ankle was caught by a runner off the tangleweed and I face-planted like ten feet from Norberta. I looked up and watched as she inhaled through her nose. I thought I was about to be roasted. Suddenly it was like a light came on and she leaned in and started to sniff me. Next thing I know she’s licking me like a dog would and nuzzling her head into me like I’ve seen Crookshanks do to Hermione.”

“You were helping Hagrid with her when she was a hatchling.”

“Yeah me and Hagrid were the first two she saw after she hatched. Best I could figure she thought I was one of her parents or something.”

“I need to see the memories of that It sounds like it was hilarious.”

Rose jumped up and glared at Neville and Harry.

“It was NOT hilarious! It was the single most terrifying experience in my life and if you do anything NEAR that stupid again Neville Longbottom I’ll… I’ll…” With that Rose broke into tears and ran out of the room.

Lily stared at the doorway her daughter just ran through.

“Definitely a mom problem.” She walked out of the room following the sound of a slamming door.

For a few seconds everyone was looking around the room at each other.

“Lord Potter I believe the answers to your earlier questions are: Neville, Yes, Highly Doubtful, Yes and Yes.” Narcissa said Breaking the Silence.

“What about me?” Neville asked confused.

“Neville,” Remus began, “if I asked all the single ladies in here if they fancied you, in any way shape or form, how many do you think would say yes?”

“Um…” Neville turned his head to look at all the women there. “Two, maybe.”

“Help me out ladies?”

Every unmarried girl raised their hand, with the exception of Violet and Tonks.

“You’re cute and all Nev, but you were a firsty the year after I graduated.”

Violet was cocking her head from one side to the other looking at Neville.

“What’s up Violet?” Asked Sirius.

“I don’t know if he’s cute or not. I think I’d rather have a Knezel.”

James picked up his daughter and hugged her.

“Good. Just keep that attitude for the next twenty years.”

“Not to worry James, she has an older brother to threaten her boyfriends with.” Andromeda grinned.

“So, Harry, how are you going to handle Neville and Rose?” James gave a grin to his son and Godson.

“Easy. Neville I know you’ll treat Rose with dignity and respect and with love. If you hurt her you’ll wish my Hungarian Horntail was coming after you.”

“Not a problem.”

“Neville §can you understand me when I talk like this§”

Most of the room was staring at Harry as if he revealed Magic to the Muggle world.

“No I didn’t understand that. It was Parseltongue, right?”

“Yes it was. How did you get into the chamber?”

“Padma Patil’s great uncle was a Parselmouth. We figured if Slytherin left a chamber for his heirs it would be opened with a Password in Parsel so she asked him to record a few Phrases we could use to open the passageway. Was a filthy slide to below the school.”

“I remember. I figured out later that Slytherin would have been to dignified to slide down a pipe. If you said stairs in Parsel it would do the reverse of the girls dorm stairs and form stairs out of the slide.”

“How is it that you can speak Parsel anyway?”

“I always thought it was from the attachment in my scar. But my newest theory is that it is simply a recessive family trait that happened to pop up. Kind of like Tonks’ Metamorphmagus ability. Any other questions?”

Everyone in the room looked at each other trying to think of questions.

“Great! I think James and I need to go to Gringotts. Diana and Hermione if you’d care to join us… actually all five of the ladies should come with us. That way as soon as I am back among the officially living we can get you all protected as legally as possible. And to make it more palatable, we are going to need to go shopping for an entire new wardrobe fit for the lord of an Ancient and Noble House as well as an heir to several other Ancient and Noble houses. Unless I miss my guess this… world… I really need to come to a decision about what he hell this place should be referred to as.”

“I believe Death referred to it as a different dimension.” Dumbledore put in kindly.

“Thank you. This dimension is similar enough to have you, James, followed by me, being the most direct descendants of several high level houses, to include Peverell, Gryffindor, and Potter. Why haven’t you taken those up?”

“I could but then I’d have to take another wife or a consort to reestablish the line. I don’t want anybody other than your mother.”

“He really doesn’t.” said Sirius. “When Lily slapped him across the face when they were firsties, he never sought out any other women.”

“I never actually heard that part of the story. Just that for him it was love at first sight and for her it took him deflating his head during sixth year to warm up to the point where she was willing to give him a chance.”

“There is soOOOooo much more to it than that.” Sirius said in a sing song voice.

“Far too much to be telling right now.” James interrupted.

“Oh come on James don’t you want to tell your son how you introduced Lily to your parents when they picked you up for Yule Hols that year?” Remus joined in with teasing their friend. “What was it again James? ‘Mum Dad I want you to meet the smartest witch I know and the future Mrs. Potter.’”

Everybody broke out in laughter at James’ mortified blush.

“At least I wasn’t caught in a broom cupboard with Giovanna DeLuca cussing me out.”

“Oh come on James. Everybody like me has a time or two like that.”

“I don’t recognize the name.” Harry said his brow furrowing in thought.

“Her married name is Zabini.” James told him.

“Giovanna Zabini?” At James’ nod he continued. “I did meet the woman. Blaze’s Mother? She could make a pair of pants stand up on their own.” Harry looked over at Sirius. “What do you mean like you?” Harry asked.

“Well shit.” Sirius got a terrified, sick look on his face. “I did attempt… relations with a few female friends at Hogwarts. Some I’d be dates for when people we had no real desire for asked us out. You know ‘oh sorry Jane I’m already going with Marleen.’ And we’d have each others back and talk each other up to the school if any one asked. Apparently Giovanna believed the hype and decided to pull me into a broom cupboard to check the abilities of Sirius Black. She was verbally cursing me and yelling at me when I failed to live up to her expectations. I found her attitude to be so off putting that I couldn’t perform in the slightest with her.”

Harry stared at Sirius for a few seconds while he digested this new bit of information.

“So… you’re gay? And a lot of the women you ‘dated’ in school were your beards?” he paused and waited while some more information processed into his mind, and sifted through his memories.

“Yes. We were each others beards so to say.” Sirius looked like he was waiting to be hit.

“Remus you um…”

“Yes, Harry. I appreciate the attractiveness of both sexes. I figured him out after his incident with Giovanna actually. Her attitude my have been atrocious but she could get a blind monk excited. I was happy to have a friend I didn’t have to hide my desire for.”

Harry raised his eyebrow at Tabby.

“My husband was very open about himself when we first met. Took a while for Sirius to trust me but we make this work.”

“Well that makes a few things make a lot more sense.”

“Like what?” Remus asked.

“Like why Sirius is completely indifferent to the fact that I am apparently Lord Black here.”

“You are? Oh, I guess I did hear you mention that. Good on you kid.”

“Are you currently the designated heir for the Black family?”

“Yes.”

“Looks like you’ll have to come to Gringotts along with us. Merlin there’s a pile of paperwork to go through.”

“You can have it. The only reason I didn’t want to give up the heir-ship is because it would have originally defaulted to Draco Malfoy. Sorry Cissy but there was no way I was going to allow Lucius to have control over the Black accounts.”

“He was trying that in my dimension as well. Thankfully the goblins told him where to go and what to do with himself once he got there. As well as what would happen if he tried to do any more than what he was allowed as the guardian of the Heir secondary.”

“He didn’t even have that to fall on here.”

“How come?”

“I named Nymmie as heir secondary.”

Andromeda and Nymphadora both spun their heads towards Sirius.

“And when exactly were you going to tell us this, Cousin?” Andromeda squeezed out of tight lips.

“On my death bed.” Sirius mumbled.

“Oh, Siri,” Dora purred, “you look a little pale. How about a nice lie down in that bed you were just talking about.”

“The point, Sirius, is that I could walk into the bank and ask to speak to the Black family account manager and take up the Lordship as the family magic has already recognized me as such. Or you could name me your heir and renounce your heir-ship at which time I as Heir Black can take up the Lordship. Convoluted but it serves the proper legalities the Wizengamot would insist on for me to take the role.”

“That would tie it up in a neat little bow wouldn’t it?”

Harry pulled out a couple pieces of parchment and began writing two letters that were nearly Identical to each other requesting a meeting between the Potters and the Blacks and their account managers that afternoon for which they would be properly compensated. He Sealed them with the signet rings he still had on his finger.

“Kreacher.”

With a pop the old house-elf appeared next to him.

“You called, Lord Black?”

“Would you take these to the Potter and Black account managers and wait for a reply. If they are involved with others wait till they are through before delivering the letters. Let them know it is going to involve close to twenty people.”

“As you wish m’Lord.”

“One second. Lady Malfoy.”

“Yes Lord Black?”

“Am I correct that, with the death of your husband and son, you would be named Regent Malfoy?”

“That would be correct, My Lord Black.”

“What about the heir-ship due to your son’s death as well.”

“The rules regarding Vega’s marriage are very strict. No muggle-born, The Malfoy name must be carried on.”

“Do you think the Lord of one of the founders would be of high enough stature?”

“Yes I believe that will cover most of those.”

“Then would you please write a letter to the Malfoy account manager to join the Black and Potter managers this afternoon in discussions about the future?”

“What time?”

“Two o’clock.”

“Certainly, what are we going to be doing until then?”

“We are going to visit my favorite tailor. I do need to look the part if I am going to impress the goblins and the wizards of the Wizengamot.”

“Twillfit and Tattings?” Narcissa asked.

“Francis’s Fancies.” replied Harry.

“But he’s just a custom sewing shop at the back of Vertic Alley.”

“Trust me. Madam Malkin’s and Twillfit and Tattings take ready made items and fit them to you. Francis takes blots of cloth and will make clothing that will not fit anyone other than you. And the charm work he puts into his clothing, self adjusting, thermo-regulation, plus Auror grade spell protections.”

“Why haven’t we heard of this place?” asked Ted.

“Francis has the same interpersonal interests that Sirius has.”

“So he’s gay too?” wondered James.

“You won’t ask once you meet him.”

“Here is the letter, Harry”

“Thank-you Narcissa. Kreacher, take these three letters to the respective account managers and ask them to arrange for a meeting room that will seat… at least thirty. And If they can, arrange for a healer.”

“Why do you need the healer?” Tabby asked

“Goblin healers have knowledge of things that humans throw their hands up and say it can’t be done. And besides it’s not for me.”

“Who is it for?” asked Dumbledore.

“The one walking through here with an accidental Horcrux in his head.”

Neville swallowed hard when he realized Harry was looking at him.

Chapter Text

Harry and the rest were walking down Vertic Alley towards a small shop that had animated manikins displaying fashionable clothing in the front windows. Harry went in and waited for a few seconds after the small bell rang as the door closed behind the others.

“I’ll be with you in just a second.” came a voice from the back work area.

The man who came from behind a curtained off section of the shop was wearing burgundy shirt with a light blue ascot. The pants were charcoal gray. He had dark hair that was combed back into a ponytail held in place with a ribbon that matched the ascot.

“Oh, my, my, my. So many beautiful people in my shop. Hmm, Looks like the Potter Family, Lord and Lady Potter, welcome. Lady Malfoy and her gorgeous daughter, oh the things I would love to see you wearing. Heir Longbottom, looks like your Grandmother is still being the extreme conservative. Heir Black, oh, the ideas you put in my mind. But I think Remus keeps you entertained, pity. Tabby how’s my favorite Healer? Not sure about you two but the fashion says mundane born. I do, however, have a few items that I think you would look scrumptious in. And you, darling, how do you get your hair to be that natural looking with pink dye? It usually drys mine out. And you, young and ginger, what I could do with that color hair. But I digress, how can I help you today?”

“I’m going to need an entire wardrobe. First item to be completed a conservative set of wizards robes fit for the Heir apparent for multiple families, so as not to embarrass myself in front of the goblins.” Harry checked his watch. “It needs to be ready to go in an hour and twenty minutes. If you can do it in less than an hour I’ll give you the name of someone you know who I think is interested but is just a bit to the shy side when expressing themselves.”

“And how do you know he’s interested?”

“I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

“Darling you are on! Behind the screen strip to the bare necessities and stand on the box.”

A double snap of his fingers and a measuring tape sprung to life and a quill jumped to attention on a form. Once he was standing on the box wearing only his boxers and undershirt, the tape began measuring while the quill was writing.

“Okay, let’s get you started with styling…”

“Base design would be duelist robes but cut and fabric should be able to blend properly in with going to a semi formal affair at the ministry. Preferably without a tie.”

“We can do that. Are you expecting to do a lot of fighting while you are dressed up?”

“Where I’m from there was a bet on how long it would take for me to be put into near death situations during the school year.”

“What’s the worst thing you’ve faced?” Francis asked curiously.

“Controlled circumstances or uncontrolled?”

“Controlled.”

“Hungarian Horntail.” Seeing the look on Francis’ face Harry turned slightly. “See the burn scar on the back of my left arm?” Francis nodded. “Dragon fire hurts.”

Francis swallowed and asked “Uncontrolled?”

Harry held out his right arm showing the purplish scar tissue by his elbow. “If you get bit by a 60 foot basilisk… be friendly with a phoenix.”

“Noted. Anything you’d like added?”

“Yes hand me the pants from the robes I wore in.”

Harry held up the pants and lifted the inner waistband revealing a runic array stitched in silver.

“I’d like that array stitched into every exterior article of clothing. It will keep it mostly clean and wear free. As well as stop most common 6^th year and down spells. Until it gets overloaded.”

“I’ve been working on something like this, but it seems to short out when I try to do the initial power up.”

“You can copy this one, but I want 3% of the net profits you get for it.”

“Most people would want 20%.”

“I’m not most people. I insist on being unique. Now for the fun stipulation, if they want that array they must vow that they are not followers of, and will never be followers of, Tom Marvolo Riddle.”

“And who, pray tell, is that?”

“The dark wanker himself.”

“I can agree to that. I’ll work the vow into the fine print of the sales contract so when they sign for their clothing it goes into effect.”

“Were you in Slytherin?”

“Ravenclaw but, between you and me, the hat was thinking about putting me in with the snakes until I said not to.”

“That’s how I ended up in the Lion’s Den. Quite a few people I know could have gone in so many different directions.”

“Oh don’t I know it darling. So where have you been? I know you have to be related to Lord Potter but The only boy he had was killed fourteen years ago.”

“If I told you I was his son from an alternate dimension would you believe me?”

“I’d try to keep you busy till the Aurors got here to haul you to St. Mungo’s.”

“So, I’ll just let you know about an old squib line that finally popped hot again.”

“That I’d believe. Looks like I have another thirty minutes to get this knocked out.”

“Think you’ll make it?”

“Please I have four very skilled House-elfs that are already working on the basics for you. I’ll go back in a few minutes to do the main alterations and adding my personal styling. I think I can get the array done up in about ten minutes.”

“I’ll let you get to that.”

Eighteen minutes later Harry was wearing his new robes. Dark blue, a deep red dress shirt with mandarin collar, slightly darker blue pants and black dragon hide boots. The length of the robes was slightly higher than normal so that it wouldn’t get tangled at a run. And the back was split to allow it to hang closed but allow for a full range of motion.

“A muggle style blazer and I’d blend in with the young business crowd around the London Exchange.”

“That could be arranged.”

“I’ll be back later today,” Harry thought for a few seconds. “Or possibly early tomorrow to pay for the rest of the complete package. Mostly it’s so I can figure out which account the money is coming from. For now I believe Sirius can cover it.”

“Why me?” Sirius asked in surprise.

Harry quickly flashed the House of Black lords ring to visible. “Because I’m not sure I actually have access to the funds that this gaudy trinket is supposed to grant me. Yet.”

“Oh good point.”

Once Sirius signed for the total the group made their way out of the shop and headed to Gringotts.

“Greetings teller Hookknife, may your enemies fall before you.” Harry greeted the first open teller he saw.

“May their blood raise your fortunes. How may Gringotts help you today Wizard?”

“We are here for a two o’clock meeting with three of the major account managers.”

“Yes, right this way sir. I must say we have a wager as to what is going on for this.”

“What’s the main wager?”

“That Henry Potter didn’t die and has been brought out of hiding to arrange things for his future.”

“Truth is much stranger than fiction, as the saying goes.” Hermione commented.

“Especially when magic is involved.” Diana responded.

“And here we are.” Hookknife said as he knocked on the doors he had led them to.

“Enter if you have business.” came the response from inside.

“If that’s not Bloodblade I’ll eat Sirius’s doggie bed.” Harry said with a smirk.

“Hey!” Sirius said with a hurt look on his face.

The door opened and the party entered into the conference room. Seated at the head of the table were three goblins.

“Greetings Lord and Lady Potter.” said the one in the center “May your fortune ever grow.”

“Greetings, Bloodblade, may your foes tremble at your name.” responded James

“May I inquire as to the reason for this meeting and why so many of us are involved?”

“First things first, the young man with us needs a lineage and inheritance test done.”

The goblin snapped his fingers and a silver dagger, parchment, and a crystal bottle, appeared on the table in front of him.

“The two young ladies over my left shoulder as well.” Harry added without looking.

Bloodblade raised an eyebrow and snapped his fingers again. “Anyone else?”

“We’ll know more once the lineage test is done.” Harry replied. “How many drops?”

“Seven.” replied one of the other goblins.

Cutting the pad of his thumb Harry allowed seven drops of blood fall into the bottle.

Hermione went next followed by Diana.

Bloodblade handed the bottles to the other goblins and they each made a thirty second chant and they watched as the bottles filled up. Once they were filled the respective goblin with practiced ease flipped the bottle over and slammed it on the parchment in front of them. Everyone was watching as the liquids were absorbed into the parchment. A slight green glow surrounded each of the pages as writing appeared.

The top half appeared to be a five generation family chart with just the numbers on the lines for individuals.

“First person is Hermione Jean Granger.” Bloodblade handed a chart to the witch standing to Harry’s left. Her eyes went large as she read:

Hermione Jean Granger Lineage

AGE: 16

1 Hermione Jean Granger Born 19 Sep 1979 Witch

2 Daniel Raymond Granger Born 28 Jun 1953 Squib

3 Monica Rose Granger Née Wilson Born 27 Mar 1954 Mundane

4 Raymond Geoffrey Granger Born 16 Apr 1929 Squib

5 Margaret Elizabeth Granger Née Lewis Born 10 Jan 1929 Mundane

6 George Reginald Wilson Born 26 Sep 1931 Mundane

7 Rosemary Anne Wilson Née Morgan Born 31 Oct 1931 Mundane

8 Joseph Hector Granger Born 31 May 1899 Squib

9 Elizabeth Angelica Granger Née Charbeneau Born 31 May 1900 Squib

10 Roger Stewart Lewis Born 31 Dec 1892 Mundane

11 Collette Geniveve Lewis Née Mal Foi 31 Dec 1892 Mundane

16 Hector Gerald Dagworth Granger Born 21 Jun 1862 Wizard

17 Abigail Siobhan Granger Née McBride Born 10 Mar 1877 Squib

18 Henri Pierre Charbeneau Born 20 Aug 1870 Squib

19 Angelica Celestine Charbeneau Née DuBois Born 29 Feb 1864 Witch

Hermione Jean Granger

Inheritance Report

1 As the last surviving magical member of the line of the Head of Minor House Granger, Hector G. D. Granger, The witch may take up her Head of House duties and shall inherit all vaults entrusted to Gringotts, London.

Vault 476 Money

Vault 529 Heirlooms

Vault 602 Investments

Please contact Account Manager Axeblade for a full accounting and legal requirements and paperwork associated with this account.

2 As the last known living decedent of the lineage of Rowena Ravenclaw the witch may take up her title and duties of Honored Lady of The Most Noble and Illustrious House of Ravenclaw. Doing so will activate her seat on the Wizengamot. This will also allow her access to the vaults associated with her house entrusted to Gringotts London.

Vault 3 Money

Vault 62 Heirlooms

Vault 64 Family Library

All deeded properties for the line of Ravenclaw shall be converted to her name.

Please contact Account Manager Ragnok XII for a full accounting and legal requirements and paperwork associated with this account.

“What the bloody fuck.” she hissed.

Diana’s eyes went wide as she heard her sister swear.

Harry, Ron, Fred, and George, got gleeful smiles on their faces. They couldn’t have timed it better if they practiced it.

“Language Hermione!” all four said, promptly bursting out in laughter.

“Bugger off! My father is a squib. If he knew about this and has been hiding it I’ll wring his neck.”

“I just might help you with that.” Diana Granger huffed at her younger sister.

“You are Diana Helena Granger?” asked Bloodblade.

“Yes.”

“I must ask you Miss Granger if you know… um,… that you are adopted?”

“Yes. My parents never hid the fact that I was adopted. They took me home when I was only two months old. I found out when I was seven, after one of my older cousins said I wasn’t really a Granger.”

“Oh, daddy was so furious. Told Uncle Ryan to teach his children manners and they won’t get a broken nose.” Hermione held her hands to her mouth as if afraid to see the image again.

“Made me feel better after I punched Melanie. Of course Uncle Ryan was plenty mad at Aunt Carol for even telling his kids that I wasn’t really a Granger.”

“Well this is going to show you something I don’t believe anyone was expecting.”

So saying Diana, Harry, and Hermione, looked at the parchment that was handed to the oldest Granger.

Diana Helena Granger Lineage

AGE: 17

Name at Birth

Delphini Druella Riddle

Adopted via Magical Vow 30 August 1978

by Daniel Raymond Granger

1 Diana Helena Granger born 30 Jun 1978 Witch

2 Tom Marvolo Riddle Born 31 Dec 1926 Wizard

3 Bellatrix Drizella LeStrange Née Black Born 31 Oct 1951 Witch

4 Thomas William Riddle Jr. Born 14 Jun 1905 Mundane

5 Merope Sylvia Riddle Née Gaunt Born 21 Jun 1907 Witch

6 Cygnus Regulus Black Born 13 Jan 1929 Wizard

7 Druella Drizella Black Née Rosier Born 16 Nov 1932 Witch

8 Thomas William Riddle Sr. Born 01 Jan 1872 Mundane

9 Mary Elizabeth Riddle Née Strickland Born 08 Aug 1883 Mundane

10 Marvolo Morgan Gaunt Born 31 Mar 1864 Wizard

11 Sylvia Melissa Gaunt Née Gaunt Born 04 Jul 1887 Witch

12 Pollux Cygnus Black Born 16 Feb 1912 Wizard

13 Irma Wilhelmina Black Née Crabbe Born 15 Jun 1910 Witch

14 Andrew Edmund Rosier Born 29 May 1904 Wizard

15 Drizella Aribella Rosier Née Tremaine Born 02 Sep 1910 Witch

20 Morgan Morfin Gaunt Born 15 Oct 1832 Wizard

21 Nesmi Lilith Gaunt Née Gaunt Born 17 Jul 1840 Witch

22 Geoffery Oswald Gaunt Born 21 May 1941 Wizard

23 Melissa Meredith Gaunt Née Edgecomb Born 24 Mar 1850 Witch

24 Cygnus Phineas Black Born 16 May 1889 Wizard

25 Violetta Margaret Black Née Bulstrode Born 31 Aug 1894 Witch

26 Victor Allen Crabbe Born 05 Aug 1870 Wizard

27 Wilhelmina Agnes Crabbe Née Goyle 21 Mar 1872 Witch

28 Edmund James Rosier Born 27 Oct 1880 Wizard

29 Helena Giselle Rosier Née Dubois Born 17 Mar 1881 Witch

30 Johnathon George Tremaine Born 22 Sep 1876 Wizard

31 Aribella Marie Tremaine Née Lobosca Born 16 Apr 1878 Witch

Diana Helena Granger

Born as Delphini Druella Riddle

Inheritance Report

1 As the last known living blood decedent of the lineage of Salazar Slytherin the witch may take up her role of Lady Regent of the Noble and Illustrious House of Slytherin. Doing so will activate her seat on the Wizengamot. This will also allow her access to the vaults associated with her house entrusted to Gringotts London. Upon her marriage her husband shall become Lord Consort of Slytherin. The first of her male children shall be named Heir Apparent, and upon reaching his majority shall be named Lord Slytherin. All Cadet Branches of House Slytherin shall fall under the auspices of this main branch.

Vault 7 Money

Vault 22 Heirlooms

All properties belonging to the line of Slytherin shall be converted to her name. Please contact Account Manager Ragnok XII for more information regarding actions and legal necessities required.

2 As the direct blood relation of Bellatrix Lestrange Née Black and not having been convicted of any crimes against the Wizarding World nor the Goblin Nation the witch is allowed to have access to her mothers vault. As the only child to be born during the marriage of Bellatrix Black and Rudolphus Lestrange she is also to be named Heir Apparent for the house of Lestrange. Any challenges for that title will be settled in the appropriate manor. Restricted access to the Lestrange Family Vault is allowed.

Vault 65 Bellatrix Black Personal Vault

Vault 132 Lestrange Family Vault

3 As a member of the Black family of good standing The witch is entitled to a Family Educational Trust as well as a Family Stipend Vault under the determination of Lord Black.

“I… I’m the …” was as far as Diana got before her eyes rolled up and she was crashing towards the floor. Vega, who was standing a bit behind her, managed to snag her left arm and guide her down.

“How the hell did this happen?” Sirius asked, voicing the question on everybody’s mind in a hushed tone.

Narcissa sniffed and tried to maintain her pure-blood mask. Honestly she looked like she wanted to throw up.

“Bella used a sleeping draught and lust potion combination. She wanted to do for the Dark Lord what none of his followers could. Once she knew she was pregnant her mind began to clear. She realized that she couldn’t tell him about it.”

“How did she end up in the muggle child services system?” Lilly asked pointing at Diana.

“Would you like to view my memories of that night?” asked Narcissa.

“I shall have a barristers pensive brought in.” said Sharpclaw, the Malfoy Account Manager.

“I’m a little more interested in how my squib father adopted her by magical vow.”

“Squibs have a tiny bit of magic in them. They can see magical creatures, the Leaky Cauldron and other places that are magically blocked from muggles. Extended life expectancy. They don’t have enough magic to cast wanded spells. But might just have enough magic to make a vow.” Dumbledore explained.

Soon everybody was watching the images as they hovered above the stone basin.

Not many in the sanctuary paid attention to the woman carrying a basket into the church at this time of night. Usually it was those who didn’t want to be seen by their neighbors that came in. The priest came over and as he was entering he heard a woman say a single word, and then there was a crack sound. As soon as the sound happened a baby started to cry. Because of the sound nobody was watching near the exit doors when the woman appeared near the front doors and seemed to disappear from view. Later questioning by police reveled that nobody could agree what the woman looked like. Most said she was beautiful but all had differing descriptions. Everyone questioned had the same basic story. She came in and went into the confessional.

After trying to talk to the woman for several seconds the priest exited his side of the confessional and opened the side she had entered. There in the basket everyone had seen her carry in was a newborn baby. She had been wrapped in a blanket and had cloth diapers. There was a note stuck to the handle of the basket.

Please take in my sisters child. My sister is in no frame of mind to take care of a child and the child’s father is a criminal of the most violent sort. My family are in no ways able to care for the child ourselves. It is better all around that her father have no knowledge of her. Please see her placed with a loving couple that will love and care for her. Do not try to find us.

A Loving Aunt

Narcissa Malfoy made her way back to the groundskeeper house on the estate border. Coming back from placing her niece as far from her parents as she could imagine in the time she had. Her face was a mask of pureblood calm in spite of the fact she was anything but.

“Did you do it, Cissy? Is she away from us?”

Narcissa looked at her sister with sadness.

“Yes, Bella. I left her in a muggle church. I don’t know why…”

“Because I can feel my mind slipping away.” The woman looked like Narcissa remembered her from before her marriage. Clean, clearheaded, and sane. “I remember reading about some women suffering gestational psychosis. When their bodies are going through so much they go insane.” Bellatrix snickered about that. “Of course I had to be different. My crazy arse had gestational sanity. How I’ve managed to keep this hidden is beyond me. As long as I keep away from Delphini she’ll be safe. Now you need to do the last thing you promised.”

“Bella I can’t…”

“You have to Cissy.” Bellatrix said as she stared into her sisters blue eyes. “If HE finds out about her…,”. She took a deep breath to gather her thoughts. “If the Dark Lord gets his hands on our daughter, he will warp her to the point I may as well have killed her before she was born. You must remove all knowledge of her and my pregnancy from my mind before my thoughts are no longer my own again. Had I known what that bitch Walburga put into the betrothal contract I’d have cut her throat before she browbeat uncle Orion into signing it. Cissy I beg you to do this for me.”

“I am going to hate myself.”

“But love the knowledge that you saved my daughter, PLEASE!”

“I’m so sorry Bella.” Narcissa drew her wand and pointed it at her sister. “OBLIVIATE!”

After the memory ended Narcissa took a deep breath. She gathered the silvery memory and slid it back into her temple.

“I never told Bellatrix what I took from her. I told her and the rest that she had a head injury that took her memories of the nine months she was pregnant. Even getting pregnant was taken from her.”

“What the fuck did my mother put into her betrothal and marriage contracts?” Sirius asked looking like he wanted to commit murder.

“That her mind and personality, would conform to her husbands desires. That she wanted to become pregnant by, what was it you called him Harry? The Dark Wanker?” Narcissa grinned. “It feels good to have that freedom again. That should tell you why Bellatrix and Rudolphus never had any children.”

“Sorry but Rudy is ugly enough to make me straight.” Sirius said with no hint of humor. “I did hear a rumor that he and his brother had a thing for each other though. Eeew.”

“So the reason she was bat-shit crazy was because of her marriage contract?” Harry asked incredulously.

“Magic can be a two edged sword, Harry. The wording in a marriage contract that in most cases would guarantee one couple to get along famously well, would cause another to become complete lunatics.” Dumbledore explained.

“I’d like to see my report now, Account Manager.” Harry politely asked Bloodblade.

“I must say there have been very few Lineage and Inheritance reports such as these.” the goblin stated as he passed the sheet to Harry. “I do hope you can shed some light on what causes it.”

Harry James Potter Lineage

AGE: 18?

1 Harry James Potter Born 31 Jul 1980? Wizard

2 James Charlus Potter Born 27 Mar 1960 Wizard

3 Lily Jane Potter Née Evans 30 Jan 1960 Witch

4 Charlus Victor Potter? Born 8 Apr 1918 Wizard

5 Dorea Violetta Potter Née Black? Born 14 Mar 1920 Witch

6 Michael Robert Evans Born 14 Jun1935 Squib

7 Rose Emily Evans Née Tarrent Born 7 Dec 1937 Mundane

8 Henry Daniel Potter 30 May 1885 Wizard

9 Nicole Caroline Potter Née Rosier Born 2 Feb 1895 Witch

10 Cygnus Regulus Black Born 4 Oct 1889 Wizard

11 Violetta Agnes Black Née Bulstrode 4 Oct 1889 Witch

12 Robert John Evans born 18 March 1896 Squib

13 Maria Christina Evans Née de Fonzo Born 1 Sep 1896 Mundane

14 Harold John Tarrant Born 2 Dec 1899 Mundane

15 Hyacinth Rebekah Tarrant Née Ellison Born 6 May 1903 Mundane

16 Daniel George Potter Born 4 Dec 1858 Wizard

17 Emiline Matilda Potter Née Fleamont Born 23 Nov1861 Witch

18 Frederick Charles Rosier Born 12 Jul 1860 Wizard

19 Isabelle Claudette Rosier Née Fortesque Born 24 May 1864 Witch

20 Phineas Nigellus Black Born 6 Jun 1847 Wizard

21 Ursula Annette Black Née Flint Born 27 Oct 1850 Witch

22 Pierre Paul Bulstrode Born 9 Sep 1856 Wizard

23 Nicholette Katrina Bulstrode Née Philippe Born 25 Aug 1857 Witch

24 Thomas Howard Evans Born 15 Feb 1856 Squib

25 Afsoon Evans Née Aimaldad Born 26 Apr 1863 Mundane

26 Dino Alberto de Fonzo Born 16 Oct 1859 Mundane

27 Juliana Antonia de Fonzo Née de Michelle Born 17 Mar 1863 Mundane

Harry James Potter

Inheritance Report

1 As a direct male descendant of Hardwin Potter the wizard is able to to assume the title of Heir of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter. This will also allow him limited access to all vaults associated with his house entrusted to Gringotts London

Vault 11 Money

Vault 63 Household Accounts

Vault 72 Heirlooms

Vault 413 Investment and Returns

Vault 687 Educational Trust

Please contact Account Manager Bloodclaw accompanied by Lord Potter for information regarding actions and legal necessities required.

2 The wizard, recognized by magic, as the Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black the wizard is able to assume the duties of Lord Black. Doing so will activate his seat on the Wizengamot. This will also allow him full access to all vaults associated with his house entrusted to Gringotts London. The Heirship will remain with Sirius Arcturas Black III until a suitable heir is born.

Vault 17 Money

Vault 24 Household Accounts

Vault 37 Heirlooms

Vault 398 Investment and Returns

Vault 451 Educational Trust

All Black properties including those in contractual default shall be converted to his name. Please contact Account Manager Axehandle for more information regarding actions and legal necessities required.

3 The wizard being a direct descendant of James Maximilian Potter the last Lord Peverell the wizard having come of age may take up the mantle and duties of Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Peverell. Any challenges for that title shall be handled accordingly. Taking up the title will activate his seat on the Wizengamot. This will also allow him full access to all vaults associated with his house entrusted to Gringotts London.

Vault 10 Money

Vault 29 Household Accounts

Vault 93 Heirlooms and Family Library

All Peverell properties shall be converted to his name. Please contact Account manager Ripfang for more information regarding actions and legal necessities required.

4 As the closest direct descendant of Magnus Godric Gryffindor the last Lord Gryffindor the wizard having come of age may take up the mantle and duties of Lord of the Most Noble and Illustrious House of Gryffindor. Doing so will activate his seat on the Wizengamot. This will also allow him full access to all vaults associated with his house entrusted to Gringotts London.

Vault 6 Money

Vault 96 Heirlooms

All properties belonging to the line of Gryffindor shall be converted to his name. Please contact Account Manager Ragnok XII for more information regarding actions and legal necessities required.

“That’s pretty much what I was expecting. For mine anyway.”

“How could you have been expecting this? Why are there question marks on a lineage test? Why does it say your great uncle and aunt are your grand-parents?”

“It’s one of life’s great mysteries. Why are the ones that would welcome death the ones that live so long? Why do people insist on making money from someone’s tragedy? Why does someone label certain spells Dark or Black because of the intent of the caster?”

“Are you trying to tell me there is a philosophical reason for this?”

“You wouldn’t be able to find where I’m from, if you scoured the planet. There are a few things different here than where I’m from, but it is pretty much the same. Everything on that lineage test is correct. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I am two years older than I technically should be. I was identified as Lord Black when I showed up, while being blind drunk, by a house-elf that hates pretty much everybody. And although I am eighteen years old I technically have never met any of these people surrounding me before yesterday, not even those indicated as my parents. There were a few titles and head of houses that I was entitled to that did not show up because here I didn’t do what happened where I am from.” Harry scowled for a second. “What would happen if I, lets say, went through the veil of death wearing a Lords ring?”

“Gringotts would receive a notice of destruction and based on the availability of an heir would forge a new one, for an appropriate fee, of course.” replied Sharpclaw.

“Oh good. Teddy should be getting those when my death becomes official.” Several strange looks were passed around.

“Do you mean to tell me that you are already dead ?”

“Well, I was trying to take my own life when I ended up here. Where I am from I figure I will be listed as dead. But, as you can see, I am very much alive through no fault of my own.”

“How…?” began Sharpclaw.

“A ritual that pulled me from where I was to where I am.” Harry scowled a bit in concentration. “I wonder if I could break the Department of Mysteries by telling them that the Veil of death is actually a tool to bring people to a place they are wanted?”

“I don’t recommend it.” Remus said chuckling. “They tend to get upset when you take away the mystery.”

“Well, could we get the Gryffindor Lord’s ring, The Peverell Lord’s ring and the Slytherin Lord Consort ring brought up so I can try them on. And while we are waiting for those could we get a goblin healer to have a look at Neville.”

“Right, I was wondering who the healer was for.” Sharpclaw grumbled. “Healer Goldwynd, it is your turn to work.”

“What is it that I am to be examining that his usual wizard healers can’t fix.” The word wizard was said with a scathing tone.

“The most famous scar in the wizarding world. I’m not going to tell you what I think is in it. You need to have no preconceived notions about it.”

“Well then Mr. Longbottom, lets see what I can find out about the scar.”

Harry watched as the Healer pulled out a set of crystals from a pouch on her waist. She looked at Neville and got a scowl on her face.

“Either sit in a chair or kneel down boy, I’ll not see anything with a crick in my neck.”

“Sorry.” Neville said as he knelt on the floor.

The healer mumbled to herself as she held several crystals to her eye and peered at the scar above Neville’s eye. Switching through several colors she seemed to get more and more frustrated. Goldwynd stepped back and was muttering as she counted things off on her fingers. She got to a point where she stacked a yellowish crystal and a green one together and took another look.

“Meriadar help us.” she gasped the crystals falling from her suddenly slack hands.

“Goldwynd?” Bloodblade looked at the Healer in concern.

“He’s a Horcrux. But it’s contained to the scar.”

The other three Goblins paled at the news. Sirius swore. Narcissa hissed.

“Again not unexpected.”

“Any one want to tell me what a Horcrux is?” asked Neville nervously.

“A soul container.” said Dumbledor sadly. “The blackest of magics, and there is no way to remove it.”

“No way known to wizards. Which is why I needed to talk to a non-human healer. Healer Goldwynd, what do you think will do the trick here?”

“There is a ritual we can do that will remove a malevolent spirit.”

“How soon to optimum effect?” asked Harry.

“Hmm. Full moon was the sixteenth. Solstice was the Twenty-first. So those are out. The next power day will be the first of July. Again middle of the night. We’ll have five days to prepare the ritual chamber. Get an appropriate vessel. That should do it. Come back here just before midnight on the thirtieth of June and we’ll have that fragment out of you by four thirty in the morning and have you recovering.”

“You can remove a soul piece from a living being?” Dumbledore said his mouth hanging open in surprise. “It shouldn’t be possible.”

“Our rituals are ancient and were used by many magical beings. Wizards got to the point where they believed if they couldn’t do something it couldn’t be done.” explained Goldwynd. “Many of our rituals require blood to work them. But because practitioners of Black Magic felt a life sacrifice was needed for power rather than less than a half cup of someones blood, all blood rituals are now banned, and labeled evil or black.”

“How much blood for the extraction?” asked Hermione, her eyes burning with curiosity.

“About an ounce. Mostly to tell the ritual what to leave alone. That way it only attacks a foreign soul or spirit.”

Dumbledore stared at the goblin healer. Another immutable foundation that he knew was supported by all magical wisdom was shown to be false.

“I would have gladly donated a pint of blood for a ritual over what I did.” Harry mumbled under his breath.

“What did you do?” Goldwynd asked.

“Took an Avada Kedavera to the head.” Harry deadpanned. “I could show you in the pensive if you’d like.”

Everyone agreed, watching the green spell come right at them from Voldemort was...disturbing.