Harry Potter and the Icemaidens

And time still marched on . . .

Harry's first full summer away from Little Whinging was spent at Beckery Hill while he trained hard in magic so that he could catch up to Rose. With Remus Lupin -- who had gained a NEWT mastery in Defence Against the Dark Arts back at Hogwarts -- and Severus Snape -- who was more than glad to lend his own considerable experience to the Potter siblings -- Harry soon was able to engage in duels with Rose using charms and curses right out of the standard first- and second-year D.A.D.A. texts. The Potter siblings were also taught the basics in Occlumency, though their magic still needed time to develop before they could shield themselves from Severus' mind-probes.

Many times would people who either lived at or frequented the Reevewick Somerset see two energetic children -- far younger than would be expected for a wizard and witch of their age in this part of the world -- fight each other on the slopes of Beckery Hill under the shadow of the Reevetor, engaging in bouts that would last until one or the other was tagged out. And then, much to the amusement of everyone else, the two would then put their wands away and engage in normal brother-sister things like rolling their bodies down the hill. Which made Bessie Bunter totally ecstatic when it came to all the times she had to clean their clothes, much less turned the normally stern Clare Phillips into a teary-eyed wreck when she saw the ripped-up landscape after Harry and Rose discovered the wonders of the Reductor Curse . . .

* * *

Beckery Hill, Friday 31 July 1987 . . .

"They actually LIKE it when you rip up the lawn like that?!" Vernon asked Harry when the Dursleys -- who had been given the chance to try out the Floo network for the first time on Harry's birthday when they came with the Mun family to celebrate -- got finished the incredible meal Bessie had made for everyone. Vernon, Petunia and Dudley had been treated to a demonstration of Harry's and Rose's skills with their wands when they had flooed into the Reevetor earlier in the day, after they had been given a full tour of the Reevetor and the Reevewick by their relatives.

Laughter filled the dining room. "They've always been like that, Vernon. Even when they're taught how to act and behave as humanly as possible," Napaeae answered as she held out her goblet so Tommy -- the house elves who worked for the Runcorns (Tommy, also known as "Thomas Drake"), the Ropers (Tanny, also known as "Tabitha Stevens"), the Muns (a handsome lad -- looking like a younger Yong'il Mun -- named Kaesomun, known to outsiders as "Kaesomun Youn") and Hamilton St. John (Florence, who, when she went out into the normal world, called herself "Florence Verney") had come to help the Potters' elves. She nodded to the redhead seated at the table beside Rose. "I think Lilian is the only one who can truly act as a human being."

"Though there I times I also get the urge to clean, Vernon," Lilian noted.

"She's right about that, Master Vernon," Tamara stated. Except for Bessie (who was busy in the kitchen, of course), the Potter elves were also enjoying the meal. "Every time someone comes through the Garden of the Galaxy, the magical surge that flows through all the wards here makes us all a little . . . " She shrugged.

"Drunk," Remus provided.

"Which is normal," Severus noted. "Every time I reset the wards at my home, all my elves start acting as if they had all dived into a big vat of Pepper-up Potion."

"Do you like being what you are?" Petunia asked Tanny.

The dark-haired elf paused as she poured the older woman some juice. "We were always this way, right from when the first elves were created long before the founding of Hogwarts, Mistress Petunia," Tanny then replied as she moved to refill Dudley's glass. "I personally find the amount of freedom and self-thought that Lilian can show quite frightening to be honest with you." She shrugged. "Was that the way we were created? I can't say. And personally, I don't care. Serving Master Hogan, Mistress Veronica, Master Harold, Mistress Sandra, Mistress Jane, Mistress Lynn and Mistress Anne makes me very happy." She gazed fondly on the Ropers, all of whom were sitting together on one side of the table along with the Muns. The Dursleys were quick to see the smiles on Jane's, Lynn's and Anne's faces when they sensed their servant (and unofficial governess) look their way. "My happiness strengthens my magic and that gives me power I need to serve them even better. We all feel that way, even Lilian."

"It's like a drug, in other words," Vernon noted.

"Pretty much so," Hamilton noted as he gazed on Florence, who smiled in return. "I even researched some ways of trying to help elves evolve into freer beings. The problem I found is that if we try to induce something in them that could break their need to serve, it badly damages their magic." A sigh. "Whoever created them literally created the most perfect slave race imaginable."

"Is there any type of abuse?" Petunia wondered.

"A lot of times," Lilian reported. "As a matter of fact, many of the Magical Sheriffs, if they detect any violent abuse on elves in their areas of patrol, will move to intervene, get them freed of their old masters, and then get them better masters." She closed her eyes. "Before I gained Lily's memories in the months prior to Rose's birth, Sir Glaston said I had been taken away from a very bad home."

The other Potter elves nodded. "Do you remember your life before then?" Severus asked as he gazed with concern at Rose's guardian.

A light smile, and then Lilian tensed on feeling Rose's hand slip into her own. "No. And I'm glad for it, Severus. I was curious at the start, but when Rose was born, all questions about my past had to be set aside. Her needs came first, so I had something I could live for myself." She then closed her eyes. "A pity I never really thought about Harry until Rose found out about him."

"It has happened, my dear. It is now in the past," Albus stated. "Let it remain where it belongs and don't let it haunt you anymore, Lilian."

A nod. "I will try."

"What about presents?!" Aesup Mun -- a raven-haired tomboy with dark brown eyes that seemed to sparkle even more than Albus' did -- then asked.

Everyone stared at her, and then they all laughed. "Okay! Okay! Present for big brother, over here!" Rose then said as she waved her hand.

More laughter filled the hall . . .

* * *

And time still marched on . . .

Harry and Rose enjoyed the rest of the summer of 1987 as they continued to practice magic, learn everything they could about wizarding society and begin to learn Gobbledegook thanks to Erlking. The goblin banker, who always visited the various Reevewicks and Reevetors to ensure their finances -- which benefited Gringotts as well the various Magical Sheriffs and those who lived under their protection -- were always in top order so no one could be defrauded, had been more than pleased to accept the Potter siblings' request to learn his native language. He even agreed to teach them free of charge, which made him later lament to Cyllarus that if his late mother ever learned he was doing something without being paid, she would curse him to the lowermost mines in the Earth under Gringotts and keep him there for the rest of his years.

That earned him a -- as Remus had come to address it now -- Patented Rose Potter Righteous Rant of Wrath: "Uncle Erlking!" she yelled loud enough to be heard all over Beckery Hill and sharp enough to even make Erlking wince. "Stop saying such horrible things about your mother! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Later on, Erlking would ask Remus, "Does she have goblin blood in her?!"

"I wonder if Sir Glaston had goblin blood in him!" the werewolf mused.

A hum. "A good point, Mister Lupin. A good point."

* * *

As Harry and Rose learned the very harsh and guttural language, they also got a chance in mid-August to visit Gringotts' main English branch in Diagon Alley, where they (with Remus and Hamilton accompanying them as their official magical guardians even if neither were registered as such with the Ministry of Magic) met Erlking's boss, Chief Director -- "Grand-Uncle" to Rose -- Ragnok, the master of all goblins in the United Kingdom. One of the most feared of all his kind, Ragnok was the type of being that even intimidated the most passionate "primate supremacist" like Raven Malfoy's father Lucius (even if the patriarch of the Malfoys of Cumbria would never admit to fearing such a "lowly being" as a goblin even in private).

Which, of course, made Remus and Hamilton gape on seeing the totally gobsmacked look on the elder goblin's face when Harry and Rose both bowed to him and greeted him with the ritual forms . . . and in accented but still quite clear Gobbledegook. "<<Lord War Leader Ragnok, we mere children humble ourselves before thee and bid thee most sincere greetings this beautiful day,>>" they had chanted together as they clasped their hands together over their hearts, averting their eyes from his face and speaking with their teeth as invisible as possible so as to not insult their host. "<<May your gold always flow, your enemies fall before you and may you feast on their hearts, drink their blood and seize all their gold as war booty to shower over you and yours.>>"

Silence.

More silence.

Still more silence.

And then . . .

"Erlking?"

"Yes, Chief Director Ragnok?" Erlking asked.

"When was your last raise?"

A blink. "Um . . . about twenty years ago, Chief Director."

"And how much was it?"

"Ten galleons an hour, sir."

Ragnok blinked, and then he snorted. "Feh! You're salary will be increased by fifty galleons an hour and a bonus of five hundred thousand galleons will be in your vault today! Any goblin that can teach wizards how to speak like THAT deserves it!"

Now it was Erlking's turn to be gobsmacked, his jaw flapping open and closed as his mind tried not to crash from the praise the chief director just gave him. Seeing that, Harry and Rose exchanged a smile as they reached for each other's hand . . .

* * *

The meeting at Gringotts soon produced the Potter family will, which stated that Harry had automatically inherited his place as Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient Magical House of Potter of Taunton Deane on the death of his father James, but would not be permitted to fully exercise that right until the minimal age allowed by wizarding law (when Harry would being his education at Hogwarts, which was not affected by the oath he had taken a year before in Reevetor Somerset to swear magical fidelity to the Queen).

Until such time, a regent could be elected to take his place when it came to the Potter seat in the Wizengamot. Since Ministry of Magic laws forbade a werewolf from acting as regent of an underage head of house (even if said werewolf was not pretty much free of all Ministry rulings that were set down against his kind since such were in clear contradiction of the laws set by the Parliament of the United Kingdom since the days of the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights of 1689), those James Potter had listed in his will would have to be consulted. And the list was ultimately useless:

Sirius Black was currently incarcerated in Her Majesty's Prison Azkaban.

Peter Pettigrew was dead.

Franklin Longbottom was currently a permanent resident of the Janus Thickey Ward of Saint Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Edgar Bones was dead.

Milton Rivers was currently Her Majesty's Magical Shire Reeve for Kent, thus was disqualified to act in any capacity within the Wizengamot.

Hogan Roper was Her Majesty's Magical Shire Reeve for London.

Orion Matthews was Her Majesty's Magical Shire Reeve for the West Midlands.

Brian Spinks, Herodotus Runcorn, Cyrus Greengrass and Malcolm Parkinson, as the current lords of their families, could not hold voting proxy over another seat of equal rank or greater inside the Wizengamot. To do that would then be viewed by their fellow lords -- in polite words -- as being in a conflict-of-interest. This was especially true since the Greengrasses and the Parkinsons were traditionally "Dark" families (though neither of them had allied with Voldemort in the recent war) and the Runcorns and the Spinkses had not made an appearance in the Wizengamot in three centuries.

This would also eliminate the last name on the list: Albus Dumbledore.

The Chief Wizard of the Wizengamot -- like the Speaker in the normal Houses of Parliament -- could only add his vote in cases of a tie. Since Albus was seen as the head of the Noble House of Dumbledore, that would make his being given the Potter proxy questionable (a Noble House ranked three steps below a Noble and Most Ancient House). Under normal circumstances, Albus was not allowed to use his house vote in the Wizengamot.

"So what can I do in this case, Grand-uncle?" Harry asked.

Ragnok smiled. "You are still quite young to consider these things, Harry. Anything you do -- say, for example, ask your sister's godfather to act your voting proxy -- would be blocked immediately. Healer St. John is a muggleborn and -- despite his more than considerable credentials and accomplishments -- would not be seen as fit for the position. Even if you asked him to do that after you start Hogwarts . . . " He shook his head. "No, Harry. You might be better off waiting for a while."

"Until when, Grand-uncle?" Rose asked.

"Until after your brother goes to Hogwarts, Rose," the elder goblin stated. "Keep them guessing. They want fresh meat to feast on so they can continue to play their games and get away with it. Putting down an inexperienced child would make them feel superior, even those who would do it and say they were acting in Harry's 'better interests.'" A snort escaped him. "Don't let them do that to you, Harry."

"They're bullies, you mean," Harry noted.

Ragnok's eyes narrowed. "Yes, Harry. They are that."

* * *

And time still marched on . . .

Harry returned to school in September 1987 in the third year, the first year of Key Stage Two, which would last until he passed his sixth year and would then (were he a normal and not a wizard) move on to Key Stage Three, or "secondary school" as it was often called. As in the previous school year, Harry was soon centred out for his intelligence and was asked by many teachers to help tutor those of his classmates who were having trouble with their material. He remained best friends with Simone Hawkhurst, which earned him a little hazing from his male classmates. After all, girls were very strange and icky things to most boys their age and needed to be kept at a distance. Harry didn't care about their feelings, though he had been confused when Simone's brother Donald, now attending Glastonbury Secondary School in his seventh year, came up to him and said, "Don't break my sister's heart. Okay, Harry?"

Harry personally didn't understand what that meant, so he sought out Remus that evening and asked what it was all about. A blushing werewolf then tried to sputter out an explanation, which eventually got Harry sent over to Hamilton St. John to get a much more clearer explanation. On hearing what he had to say -- which was laden with words of such high complexity even for Harry that it just gave him a headache -- the young third-grader shook his head before he sought Elaine Buckshire at her private apartment near the community hall in Reevewick Somerset. On hearing what Harry had to say, the Cornu university student took a deep breath, muttered something about "idiot men who can't be bothered to give a straight story!", and then she sat Harry down and began to give him the Mundus Magicus version of the tale of the birds and the bees.

Harry was blushing right to his toes for a week afterward.

But at least he came to understand Donald's desire to protect Simone.

After all, he felt the same way about Rose.

In thinking that, Harry hoped that Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle would feel the same way about Rose's friends . . .

* * *

As the year progressed, news came from Little Whinging: Petunia was pregnant again and would be expecting twins this time. Letters flew between Somerset and Surrey as Dudley kept his cousins up-to-date with the news, not just of what his parents were expecting from their soon-to-arrive siblings, but also what was happening with Albert.

Anne Mary and Violet Elizabeth Dursley were born on 24 April 1988, a Sunday. "At least it's a holy day for them to be born, Pet!" Vernon had laughed as he followed his huffing and puffing wife into the birthing theatre at Frimley Park Hospital.

Petunia was not really in the mood to say anything about that; this was going to be very hard for her. Fortunately, both Joanna Spelthorne and Hamilton St. John were there to keep an eye on her and ensure all was well. It eventually came to the necessity of a Caesarean section; one of the twins had been caught in a breech birth and somehow, the umbilical cord had got wrapped around the other twin's neck. As they watched the bright young gynaecologist get to work in freeing Anne and Violet from their mother's womb, both Hamilton and Joanna were thumbing their wands, ready to leap in if something went wrong and get Petunia to Reevewick Somerset so that Florence could be brought into it and a proper magical birth occur. Fortunately for them -- Reginald Spelthorne just HATED to do obliviations! -- the Caesarean section was done correctly and Anne and Violet were soon in their tearfully and madly grinning father's arms while everyone got to work healing Petunia from what had just happened to her . . .

* * *

A day later, Albus Dumbledore discretely visited Petunia's ward room to deliver even more good news. On hearing that her daughters were also due to embrace a special destiny in Scotland in eleven years time, Petunia then asked, "How, Professor?"

"How what, my dear?" Albus wondered as Joanna hurried around to help hasten the healing with some wonderful spells she had learned long ago at Plymouth.

"How is it possible that Albert, Anne and Violet are magical and Dudley isn't?"

A tired sigh. "Most likely, it was because of James' spell on you all that such came to pass," the headmaster stated. "That, I must warn you now, my dear, is just a guess. It would take some research to prove or disprove it." He then closed his eyes as he looked out the window of her room at the surrounding cityscape. "Now I find myself truly regretting not moving to check on you after I left Harry in your care back in 1981. I could have noticed the presence of such curses and charms quite easily. Perhaps . . . " He shook his head before he gazed tiredly at Petunia. "I am a human being, Petunia. Beyond all my power and all my experience, in the end, I am simply a human being. I make mistakes like everyone else does. And with my experience, I fear that my mistakes tend to be far, far more worse than other people's mistakes."

Petunia looked at him, and then she sighed. "Don't blame yourself, Professor. You've always seemed to strive for better things. Lily once told me that no other professor at Hogwarts would have written back to me after I wrote you in her first year, hoping I could attend." She then closed her eyes. "I just pray that as time goes on, there doesn't develop a chasm between Dudley on one side and Albert and the girls on the other side. History does have an ugly way of repeating itself . . . "

"As long as you maintain your bonds with your relatives, Petunia, I believe such will never happen," Albus assured her with a smile . . .

* * *

This time, Marge Dursley didn't come to visit until several days after the birth, long after the Potters and their guardians had returned back to Somerset from helping fix up the second bedroom at 4 Privet Drive to ensure the twins could fit in.

THIS time, Vernon's sister didn't say anything about Harry or his parents, much to Vernon's and Petunia's relief and Dudley's happiness . . .

* * *

The cycle continued as the days, months and years marched on. From September to June, the Potters continued to go to school at Millfield Preparatory, getting good grades and making good impressions with their teachers, learning all sorts of wonderful things, meeting new people, making new friends and living life as two pretty ordinary kids among a group of ordinary kids attending a private school outside the town of Glastonbury. Of course, Harry and Rose knew neither of them were ordinary -- this was pretty much the reason they always strove to NOT invite their friends over to their home on Beckery Hill; whenever people got too inquisitive, Remus quick got in there and did a little memory-alteration to ensure it wouldn't happen again -- but that was their special secret, one that often made them look at each other and giggle, which made their friends stare at them as they tried to figure out the joke.

In July and August, they would remain confined to Beckery Hill as their magical education was pushed forward with speed and diligence. While Remus Lupin and Lilian Evans both wanted their charges to be prepared for what could be facing them when they finally entered the wizarding world full-time, they also knew not to push it too much. Harry and Rose understood what could be facing them in the future. The former to face the man who had tried to kill him when he was a child, had nearly condemned his sister to death before she was even born and still scared so many people that no one dared speak his chosen battle-name. The latter to face the destiny forced on her when a good man sacrificed his life and magic to keep her alive, thus forcing her to prepare to fully step into his place when she became of age and thus become the guardian of all in Somerset, magical and non-magical, from the Mundus Vetus and the Mundus Magicus alike.

And as the years rolled on, Harry and Rose came to make friends that would be with them when they went to Hogwarts finally in 1991 and 1993 respectively. The Runcorn sisters: Achelois, Cassotis and Albunea. The Mun sisters: Aesup, Aemi and Aejang (their older brother Yongjang would graduate from Hogwarts in 1991, the summer before Harry would begin his first year). The sisters of one of Her Majesty's younger Magical Sheriffs: Brianna and Anita Spinks (their brother Jordan, who had started Hogwarts in 1983, left after his OWL year in 1988 when fate forced him to assume the post for Norfolk). The Rivers siblings: Marian and Luke. The Roper sisters: Lynn (who would be a year ahead of Harry), Jane and Anne. And the Matthews siblings: Charles (another one who would be a year ahead of Harry), Camellia, Phil and Lilibet.

And time continued to march on until one day in the summer of 1991 . . .

* * *

Beckery Hill, Wednesday 31 July 1991 . . .

"Big brother! Letter for you!"

Harry looked up from his advanced potions book -- a present from Severus Snape for his tenth birthday the previous summer -- and then he blinked as he walked into the living room to see Rose standing by the window, a very beautiful owl perched on her arm with a letter tied to one of its legs. "Hello, there," Harry said as he drew out his wand and conjured some owl treats in his hand to offer to the beautiful avian. "Was it a rough flight?" he asked as the owl quickly dipped its head and began to eat.

The owl looked up, and hooted a negative before continuing to eat. Finally, it finished, and then offered its leg. "Thank you very kindly," Harry said as he untied the letter from the owl and took it into his hand. "You can go back now; we have our own means of sending a reply to Hogwarts. Please have a safe flight."

Surprised that this human would say something like that to it, the owl fluttered onto his shoulder, gave him a playful nip on the ear, and then soared out of the Reevetor, angling northward towards Scotland. Harry and Rose waved as it went off, and then both looked at the envelope that had just been delivered:

Mr. H.J. Potter

The Living Room

The Tower on the Hill

"I guess the wards here really are good," Rose said.

"Yeah," Harry replied as he sat down on the couch and moved to open the envelope. Soon enough, two folded sheets of parchment were pulled out, and then unfolded so that the Potter siblings could take a look at the covering letter:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin First Class; Grand Sorcerer of the United Kingdom; Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot; Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva M. McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Harry blinked, and then he felt his eyes tear. "It's the letter."

Rose nodded. "It's the letter." She then looked at him before she smiled and leaned over to draw him into her arms. "We made it, big brother."

He blinked again, and then he laughed. "Y-yeah," he stuttered out before staring at her. "It's gonna be weird," he then said. "We've been together for five years now, but now . . .!" He then stopped before breathing out, "Darn!"

"What?!" she asked.

"Why couldn't we have been born twins?!"

Rose blinked, and then she shrugged. "The prophecy said that only one child was to be born to deal with the Dark Dunderhead," she reminded him. For the last few years, the younger Potter had dreamt up of all sorts of interesting nicknames to give to Voldemort in preparation of her brother and her entering a society where saying the name would elicit a lot of needless screaming and pleas of, "Don't say his name!" "Dark Dunderhead" was Rose's insult for the man THIS month. "Not two."

Harry considered that, and then he laughed. "Yeah, that's true!" he said before standing up. "I better get a reply written up right away," he said as he walked to the stairway to get to their bedroom so he could talk to Remus and Lilian before he would send his reply, and then get letters sent out to other people . . .

* * *

Hogwarts . . .

"So all the booklist letters were able to go out early this year," Severus mused.

"Indeed so," Albus replied. Everyone was enjoying a late lunch in the Great Hall. "We were quite lucky to get Quirinus back, not to mention have him fill in as the D.A.D.A. teacher. I expect we should have a quiet year this year."

Many of the teachers stared at him, most with incredulous looks on their faces. "Albus, haven't you read the Daily Prophet recently?!" Septima Vector demanded. "We KNOW this is the year Harry Potter is scheduled to come to Hogwarts for his first year! I saw the student list; he was there!" She then sipped her tea. "I think with him coming here, things will certainly NOT be quiet, especially since he upped and vanished on us five years ago, without a trace of his whereabouts!"

"Not that people didn't try to track him down even after the Wizengamot called off the search back in '86," Minerva added before sipping her tea.

Severus snorted. "Just like his father," he automatically lamented. "Always wanting to be the centre of attention!" A snort escaped him. "You watch him. He'll be stuck up, arrogant and totally uncaring when it comes to the rules of the school!"

"Now, Severus," Albus chided. "No need to . . . "

A bust of flame then exploded near the ceiling of the Great Hall by the main entrance, causing everyone at the head table to look up in shock. Before they could comprehend what was happening, a squeal of delight heralded the arrival of a very lovely avian, carrying an envelope in her beak and several others tied to her legs. "My word!" Filius Flitwick gasped. "It's a phoenix! Albus, you're not . . .?!"

"That's not Fawkes, Professor!" Rubeus Hagrid warned.

Silence fell as the bird soared down to land on the table right between Minerva and Septima, her head cocked towards the transfiguration mistress. Minerva blinked before she smiled. "Is that for me?" After the phoenix nodded, she reached up to take the envelope from her beak. "Thank you very much. Would you like something to eat?"

As the staff watched spellbound, the phoenix nodded in delight. Minerva moved a platter of bacon over to her, which allowed the beautiful avian to take several slices into her mouth and gobble them down. Albus then pushed over a bowl full of grapes, which the phoenix -- only three people at the table knew the phoenix's name, much less the two people she was currently bonded to -- gladly partook of a whole branch of before she crooned her thanks, lifted herself off the table, and soared away before vanishing in another burst of light and energy from the Great Hall.

"Merlin . . .!" Charity Burbage gasped. "Who owns a phoenix?!"

"Charity, no one OWNS a phoenix," Albus reminded her, his eyes twinkling madly as he sipped his tea. "No doubt, our delightful visitor selected some very lucky lad or lass to bond with and become his or her familiar, just as Fawkes did to me."

"So who is the letter from, Minerva?!" Irma Pince demanded.

Minerva smirked. "Harry Potter."

Silence.

More silence.

Still more silence.

And then . . .

"HARRY POTTER?!"

EVERYONE had screamed that one out.

Minerva smiled as she held up the envelope, which read:

Professor M.M. McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hogsmeade, Perth and Kinross, Scotland

"Dear Merlin!" Severus exclaimed. "You're actually saying that Harry Potter is bonded with a PHOENIX of all things?! And he uses the poor creature as a POST OWL?!" He then shook his head as he crossed his arms. "Truly, truly . . .!"

"Now, Severus, that's enough!" Minerva growled; she had opened the envelope and extracted the letter -- a piece of muggle lined stationary paper, the sharper-eyed of the professors noticed -- from it. "Here's what it says," she said before reading:

Dear Professor McGonagall,

I pray that this letter finds you and your co-workers well.

Having received the notice your office sent out concerning an opening to come attend Hogwarts just this very day, please be advised that I humbly accept your kind invitation to attend school there. As I have known the truth of myself for the last five years after I was forced to depart my relatives' home, I have long looked forward to receiving that invitation and hope I will do well when I do come to school.

There is no need to send out someone to assist me in the obtaining of my supplies in Diagon Alley. For the last five years, I have been cared for by alumni of Hogwarts and am fully aware of what is to happen to me between now and when I board the Hogwarts Express on 1 September 1991 at King's Cross Station in London.

Again, I pray that this letter finds you and your co-workers well.

I look forward to classes at Hogwarts this year.

Yours sincerely,

Harold J. (Harry) Potter

P.S. Please excuse Lucy, the phoenix that will bring this letter to you. I do not possess a proper post owl as my guardians advised it would be unwise to have one that could be tracked by those arch-traitors to the wizarding world that were responsible for my parents' deaths in 1981. I will acquire one as soon as I can so that I don't cause undue attention to myself or to those who associate with me.

Silence.

"A very articulate young man," Filius mused, nodding in approval.

"So polite," Pomona added, also nodding.

"I can't wait for him to come here," Irma said.

Mutters of agreement from around the table. Severus remained silent . . .

* * *

"Professor, are you sure we shouldn't be trying to do something for Harry?"

Albus blinked before he stared at Hagrid. The groundskeeper had caught up to the headmaster near the entrance to his office. "My dear boy, did you not hear Minerva read Harry's letter?" Albus wondered as Minerva and Severus walked up to join them. "He is not totally helpless when it comes to navigating our society even if he has not lived amongst us since he was a baby. Be assured, he'll be quite fine."

A shrug. "Well, still . . . "

"Rubeus, you've every right to be concerned about young Mister Potter. You were the man who rescued him from Godric's Hollow, after all," Minerva noted. "But even if we don't know who it was that took him away from his relatives, Mister Potter did state that they were all Hogwarts alumni and would see to it he is properly prepared."

The half-giant took that in, and then he sighed. "I suppose you're right, Professor." He smiled. "It'll be good to see him again, though. I wonder how he's grown up all these years." He then gazed on Albus. "I'll be heading on down to Gringotts to take care of that problem you wanted me to handle, Professor."

"Thank you, Hagrid," Albus said with a nod.

As Hagrid headed off, Albus waved the two teachers inside. Once the door was closed, the headmaster whispered, "Kyojun: Officio Impervius!" His guests waited for the spell to go into effect, and then they relaxed. "Severus, don't you think you were just pouring it on a little too much back in the Great Hall?" Albus asked.

Severus grinned as he and Minerva took their seats. All three of them had been taught how to use the Shield of the School version of the Kokujun by Napaeae Runcorn's husband Herodotus when he had been teaching here (he had taken his cousin Albert's place as D.A.D.A. teacher for the 1987-88 school year; he would be forced out at the end of the year due to an accident with his magical leg which forced him to seek a replacement at Saint Mungo's). After taking the time to analyse what had been created almost sixty years before, all three had to conclude that the Kokujun had to be one of the best area spell transmission systems ever devised; with it, one didn't need a wand but just had to give a bit of their magic to the nearest rune stone (which, on the grounds of Hogwarts, had been located under one of the bridges connecting the academic and the living wings of the castle). "I have something of a reputation I must keep, Albus. Besides, Remus and I discussed this matter with Harry. If I show any sort of latitude towards Harry -- and when she comes here, Rose -- it will be noted immediately by those of my former companions' children and reported back to them as quickly as possible."

A sigh. "Unfortunately so. With Cornelius now as the Minister for Magic, those allied to Lucius are gaining ground in the Wizengamot when it comes to the legislative agenda." A shake of the head as he conjured up a tea set for his guests to enjoy. "I doubt what recently happened to Lilith Mulciber will deter them."

Minerva and Severus grimly nodded. Not a month before, Lilith Mulciber, the older sister of one of Severus' classmates when he had been attending Hogwarts in the 1970s, had been found dead and crucified in Knockturn Alley, exposed as a Death Eater (one who had not even been suspected as such back the wake of the events of Hallowe'en 1981). Albus and his current guests later learned that Lilith had been contacted by the Carrow siblings to try to finish the mission Daniel Rosier had tried to do seven years earlier. Thanks to Jordan Spinks, she never got anywhere close to any of her targets, including a girl who would be coming to school this year, Hermione Granger. This time, however, the Magical Sheriffs had decided to take it one step further; since the Carrows lived in Norfolk, Jordan managed to get into their home sometime after Lilith's body had been moved to Knockturn and obliviated both Amycus and Alecto of all their memories of the list they managed to get from the Roll Book. No doubt, when Lucius Malfoy learned what happened with his friends, his desire to continue to try to cleanse the "mudbloods" from the wizarding world had died a very quick and painful death; there had only been a minor squawk of protest raised on the floor of the Wizengamot.

But it was only a matter of time, Albus feared . . .

"Have you prepared your parts of the defence for the Stone?" he then asked.

Both teachers nodded. "We should think of using Ryuuji's system to assist us in protecting the Stone, Albus," Minerva proposed. "It's far better than any warding system anyone else has ever designed. Even if Filius is not aware of the true nature of what protects the Roll Book here and all of Little Whinging, he's admitted to me several times that it's the best warding system he's ever seen."

He considered that for a moment, and then shook his head. "No, Minerva. The temptation is there, but we must remember that Tom is a very intelligent man. And I fear -- and Nicolas agrees with me -- that he will come directly for the Stone no matter what." A sigh. "Part of the Kokujun's overall effectiveness is that it IS an unknown system to the average wizard. I think, especially for the sake of all our friends who serve the Queen directly, that the more we keep it secret, the better."

"Agreed," Severus said, nodding. "There are problems in keeping it secret, but I believe unnecessary exposure brings forth a much greater risk." He then smirked at his friends. "So what are you two going to get Harry for his birthday this year?"

Both of the older teachers laughed. "Well, before we think of visiting Harry and Rose, let's see what their plans for today are," Albus mused as he drew out his wand. Once Minerva had taken the letter Harry had sent her out of her robes and placed it on the table, Albus pointed at it with his wand. "Ah, what was the code phrase for this month . . .?" he mused before nodding. "Ah, yes! Dark Dunderhead!"

Severus laughed as the words on the letter instantly changed over:

Grandpapa, Aunt Minerva and Uncle Severus,

Plan for today:

Harry and I will meet with Aesup, Achelois, Brianna, Marian, Jane and Camellia to go into Diagon to get supplies. Mama will be with us. We're prepared to come full out with what Grandpa Glaston did for me, keeping all the usual stuff hush-hush. Uncle Moony will be busy with Aunt Nancy and the others in the pack as a delegation of representatives from the State of Gom will arrive in the Garden later today to meet with Grand-uncle Ragnok; I should be back there just before then if the crowds aren't too bad. Because of that, Bessie and the others are going to be resting for the first part of today. Lucky thing Uncle Hamilton finally devised that potion elves can take so they don't get too drunk on the power of the Garden.

Big brother should be back on the Hill by later today for his birthday party.

Bring lots of presents!

Love,

Rose

P.S. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia will bring the twins to the Hill today when they come with Dudley and Albert; it'll be their first time here. Uncle Hamilton will do the Neuwied Test on Albert and the twins then.

"You know, if Riddle was still around and heard all of Rose's insults towards him . . . " Minerva muttered to herself, shaking her head.

"Given the amount of training she's got so far -- and WILL receive in the next few years -- I would definitely bet that it will be the Dark Lord himself who will fall short," Severus noted with a smirk as he gazed on his fellow head-of-house.

Minerva and Albus nodded . . .

* * *

London, the Leaky Cauldron . . .

"Good morning," Tom Dodderidge called out as three people walked through the entrance of his tavern from Charing Cross Road. He then blinked as his magical senses quickly picked up on something very odd about the red-haired woman currently accompanying the young boy and the slightly younger girl, both dressed in normal muggle civilians yet wearing hooded cloaks over their heads. "My word! You're a . . .!"

"An elf," Lilian supplied as she bowed her head to him. "I apologise for the disguise, but since my mistress lives mostly among the muggles . . . " -- She tried not to make a face on saying that word. -- " . . . it would be far more intelligent -- and less taxing on the Obliviators -- to look human."

Tom blinked, and then he nodded. "And you do a good job! But I must confess, you look the spit and image of Lily Potter herself! May I ask . . .?"

Lilian chuckled. "Well, believe it or not, there is a reason I look this way, Tom," she said before gazing on the boy. "Harry?"

Tom -- not to mention all the other people who had gathered in the Leaky Cauldron this day -- all froze as eyes locked on the young boy with Lilian as he slipped off his hood to reveal a messy head of black hair, a pair of reading glasses over the eyes the green of the Killing Curse and a very familiar lightning bolt-shaped scar over the right eye. "A pleasure to meet you, Mister Dodderidge," Harry Potter then said as he held out his hand to the elderly bartender. "You were classmates with Ryuuji Hirosaki and Glaston Tore back in the 1930s, were you not?"

Tom blinked several times as his mind threatened to totally crash from what he just learned, and then a look of joy crossed his face. "Good Lord . . . bless my soul . . . Harry Potter," he whispered before grasping the outstretched hand. "Welcome back, Mister Potter! Welcome back! It's so good to see you're well!"

A nod. "Even if I don't remember living in the wizarding world full-time -- I was just a baby when I left -- I will say it's good to be back, sir."

"Indeed it is," Tom said as he let go of Harry's hand.

"Do you serve orange juice here?"

"Certainly, dear boy!"

"Two glasses, please? We're meeting friends here."

"Right away, Mister Potter!"

As the bartender got to work, other people quickly came up to shake the hand of the Boy-Who-Lived-And-Vanished. "Doris Crockford, Mister Potter," a white-haired witch said as she grasped his hand. "I can't believe I'm meeting you at last!"

Harry blinked, and then he grinned. "You were two years ahead of Grand-uncle Ryuuji and Grandpa Glaston!" he blurted out as he moved to hug the now-totally gobsmacked Doris. "You helped Grand-uncle Ryuuji with the Desidero Infantis spell!"

"Desidero Infantis?!" Dedalus Diggle demanded. "What's that?!"

Doris pulled away from Harry as people focussed on her. "Oh, it was some insane idea Ryuuji and Glaston came up with in their OWL year, just before I did my NEWTs," she confessed. "A sort of 'ultimate sacrifice of magic' spell. I helped them with some charms research, but personally, I thought they were stark raving mad for even thinking up such an insane thing! Imagine it?! A spell you use to literally drain your magic and your life to try to save someone else! Who would ever make use of it!"

"Actually, Grand-aunt Doris, it HAS been used."

Doris blinked, her eyes tearing as her hand floated up to her mouth. "He called me 'grant-aunt' . . . " And then what Harry just said hit her. "WHAT?!" she turned, staring wide-eyed at Harry. "What do you mean that spell was used?!"

Harry smirked before he stared on the crowd around them. "Well, I know you all like to call me the 'boy-who-lived,' right?" As people around him nodded, he moved to his companion and drew off her hood, causing everyone there to gasp in disbelief. "May I present the 'girl-who-lived.' My younger sister, Rose Jamie Potter!"

"Hi, everyone!" Rose said with a friendly smile.

Silence.

More silence.

Still more silence.

And then . . .

"How's that possible . . .?" Dedalus gasped, his jaw now on the floor.

"Well, Mom was four months pregnant with me when the Dark Dunderhead came to our house in Godric's Hollow," Rose explained. Around her, peoples' jaws dropped on hearing her speak of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named with such a ridiculous title. "As soon as he sensed Mom was in danger -- after the Fidelius got broke thanks to that backstabbing berk Sirius Black! -- he apparated there, getting there right in time to see the Pale-Skinned Albino get Dad with the A-K!" On hearing THAT insult, some of the more brave souls there started to laugh while others shook their heads, muttering that the poor girl had to be a little touched in the head to tempt the Fates by insulting the Dark Lord so openly and brazenly. "Since he knew Mom was pregnant with me -- he met up with her before she went under the Fidelius and sensed it -- Grandpa Glaston used the Desidero Infantis to keep Mom alive even after the Slit-Eyed Wombat got her with the A-K." More laughter followed from the crowd. Rose then sighed, looking down, which make everyone quickly sober up. "Grandpa Glaston died because of that, but Mama here . . . " -- She looked over to Lilian. -- " . . . and his other elves took care of Mom where we live now so that she could give birth to me."

"Mom died after Rose was born," Harry added.

Silence fell as people took that in. Sobs then broke out among many of the crowd around them as people immediately took off their hats for a moment's silence. "What a noble sacrifice!" Dedalus then declared as people straightened themselves, though many were still dabbing their eyes with handkerchiefs.

Tom nodded as he placed the glasses of orange juice on the bar for the Potter siblings. "A fine wizard, indeed!" he declared. "I never knew the man myself -- I was a Hufflepuff while Ryuuji was in Ravenclaw and Glaston in Gryffindor -- but dear God!" He shook his head. "To do something like that . . .?! A true Gryffindor to the end!"

"You can definitely say that again, Tom!" Rowland King, a former member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team during the 1960s, called out from his corner booth.

"The man deserved the Order of Merlin for that!" Hestia Jones then stated.

"Actually, Hestia, Sir Glaston's sacrifice was recognised by Her Majesty when she learned of what happened and he was posthumously awarded the George Cross. Rose later received the award on Sir Glaston's behalf," Lilian said.

People looked confused. "George Cross? What's that?" Hestia asked.

"The second-highest bravery decoration awarded in the United Kingdom," Lilian explained as she sensed a familiar elf presence approach from down Charing Cross Road, accompanying a familiar witch presence. "It's meant for those civilians who act with unusual valour in a situation during wartime -- and Her Majesty did recognise the Dark Lord's rebellion against Her Ministry as a war -- as well as military personnel who also performed bravely in a non-combat situation."

"Since Grandpa Glaston wasn't a soldier, he couldn't get the Victoria Cross," Rose stated as she reached over to grasp Harry's hand.

"Oe! What's with the convention, Harry?!"

Eyes turned as Aesup Mun walked in, accompanied by Kaesomun. "Hey, Aesup!" Harry called out as the Korean-born witch joined them, her elf falling in beside Lilian. After sharing a hug with his friend, Harry gazed on the owner of the Leaky Cauldron. "Grand-uncle, do you have apple juice? Aesup can't drink pumpkin juice."

Tom blinked, and then he started to cry. "He called me 'grand-uncle' . . .!"

"With your permission, Master Thomas, I'll be pleased to get Mistress' drink," Kaesomun then offered as he gave the bartender a helpful look.

Tom shakily nodded. Kaesomun popped out of sight just as the front door opened again, this time allowing Jane Roper to walk in, accompanied by Tanny. "Hey, guys!"

People watched as Harry and Rose embraced her, and then realisation dawned on many of their faces. "Um, excuse me, ladies . . . but were you . . .?" Dedalus began after Jane pulled away from Rose and reached over to hold Aesup's hand.

Jane beamed. "My dad was one of the ones who helped free Harry and his relatives from that stupid curse Harry's dad put on his uncle and aunt."

"Really?!" Hestia breathed out as Kaesomun popped in with Aesup's apple juice.

"Do you know him?" Doris asked as Rose moved to comfort Tom, who was still weeping at the idea of Harry Potter calling HIM "grand-uncle."

"Same year as Harry's and Rose's parents, Doris," Hestia explained. "A few years after me, in fact. Hogie was really good with charms."

"Damn!" Dedalus gasped. "He comes here every once in a while to have a drink and walk around the Alley! I see him here all the time! I'll buy the man a drink when I see him next! Who else helped out with you and your relatives, Mister Potter?!"

"Aunt Napaeae, Grant-Aunt Wilma and Uncle Reggie, Mister Diggle," Harry replied.

"What about Mom, Harry?"

Harry smirked as Achelois Runcorn and Tommy stepped in. "Everyone was asking about who got rid of Dad's curse that hurt Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, Achelois."

Achelois nodded. "Oh! Can I have some pineapple juice, please?"

Tom was STILL crying. Seeing that, the Runcorn's elf gazed in understanding at the bartender. "With your permission, Master Thomas?"

Another shaky nod from him. As Tommy popped out, Hestia's jaw dropped. "You're Napaeae Runcorn's daughter, aren't you?!" she said as she pointed at Achelois.

Achelois nodded. "That's me! Soon as Brie, Mary and Melli get here, we'll go into the Alley to get our stuff, then head out to go celebrate Harry's birthday!"

Hearing that, many of the people there gaped, and then they cheered before Tom -- who was slowly regaining control of himself -- led them all in a very loud and raucous version of "Happy Birthday" as more people came over to shake Harry's hand or hug him. Cameras also came out as people got pictures taken of themselves with Harry and Rose. By then, three girls Harry's age came in, they accompanied by very handsome young men that some of the people inside the Leaky Cauldron sensed were also human-shaped house elves. "Brie! Mary! Melli!" Harry called out as Brianna Spinks, Marian Rivers and Camellia Matthews walked up, and then he embraced them in turn.

"Happy birthday, Harry," Brianna declared as she leaned in to kiss him on the lips before backing away as Camellia hugged him. Brianna was a quite mature girl for an eleven year-old, with wavy reddish-blonde hair that trailed down past her shoulders (and was partially held down by a headband), hazel eyes peeking out of her face. "We got all your presents lined up and ready to go when we get back to your place!"

"I know!" Harry said with a laugh as he wrapped one arm around Camellia and the other around Marian. "I could hear Rose cracking the whip all last week!"

"Hey!" Rose yelped.

A roaring laugh echoed through the room as many of the people exchanged happy smiles and looks. All of them could sense it. They were living a moment of history. This was a wonderful day for the wizarding world. Not only had the Boy-Who-Lived-And-Vanished finally returned to where he belonged, he had also come with his very own sister -- who, if Glaston Tore had NOT been there that horrible Hallowe'en evening ten years before, would not even be ALIVE today! -- to introduce her to her native society. And here were a whole group of very bright young witches already flocking around him, having obviously been friends with their saviour for years, helping him keep links with his true home so that, when he did return, he wouldn't be lost amidst them.

"HARRY!"

Everyone jolted on hearing that booming voice, and then spun around to stare at who just walked in from Charing Cross Road. Harry blinked, and then he grinned. "Grand-uncle Rubeus!" he whooped as he moved through the crowd to hug Rubeus Hagrid.

The half-giant blinked, and then his eyes moistened. "Ye . . . Harry . . . ye . . . ye called me . . . 'Gr-grand-u-u-uncle' . . .?" he sputtered before collapsing to his knees and bawling as he nearly crushed Harry with a bone-shattering hug . . .

* * *

To be concluded . . .