Chapter Text
Someone Finally Noticed - A Harry Potter Tale
**OO**
A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz.
AU story, short and will be too fast for some. No apologies, as roller coasters can be fun. A little two shot.
No goblins were hurt in the making of this tale; BloodRage - I’ll hire you next time. Enjoy the jerky treats.
**OO**
Welcome to the fireside.
**OO**
Chapter 1
Harry woke up after the best night of sleep he’d ever had, except for the bad dream that had disturbed his slumber just now. It was early in the morning of Monday, September 2nd, 1991. He’d had a terrible nightmare that he awoke in Little Whinging, stuffed back into the cupboard under the stairs. His dreamself was having trouble sleeping for all of the things shoved into that space along with an, albeit slowly, growing boy.
Opening his eyes, and seeing the bed with the bed curtains proved he had not dreamed the last month: He was finally, truly, really here. Escaped from the muggles .
However, his dreamself had noticed that there were things around him. Reaching for glasses that hadn’t worked decently for him for many years, he examined his sleeping area.
To his astonishment, there was some kind of garment that seemed to be made of a silvery substance, as well as a small gold key on a leather lanyard. That hadn’t been on there when Hagrid presented it at the bank. Nor had he seen it since the goblins gave it back to the large man either. There was a huge stack of miniature books and one large tome with a strange leather binding. That book was set with gems, and a coat of arms in the middle.
It had to be at least ten inches thick, and two feet tall. But it wouldn’t open.
Harry needed to use the loo anyway, and thought to ask for Ron’s help in the early morning light. On his way back, he saw that the first person his age to be friendly to him was still deeply asleep and snoring. Loudly. However, Longbottom’s curtains were open, and he was getting dressed for the day.
Harry whispered a quiet ‘hello’ to the boy, and Neville’s eyes grew wide.
“Harry? May I call you that? Why do you have your grimoire and personal library here? You only have a standard trunk! They are not secure, at all. Anyone can get into those.” Neville informed worriedly. “See? Look at mine.”
His storage locker was larger, and clearly older, but somehow vastly more magical. Harry wasn’t sure how he knew that. Probably the same reason that magicals could sense when others were muggle or not.
“I wonder if my dad had one of these?” Harry murmured.
“You’ve got your vault key there. If you want, I could send my house-elf to go look for your father’s trunk in your vault. Or worse case, buy one for yourself. I know you can afford it.” Neville offered.
“House-elf? Vault? I only had wizard coins in there. There wasn’t any furniture or anything else.”
Neville pointed, clearly asking to join Harry at the foot of his bed. The boy was waved in, and he drew the curtains shut. All sound from the outside stopped.
“I think Weasley’s silencing charms need to be renewed,” Neville stated with a small giggle, “Yours seem to be working just fine. Clive?” Neville called.
A small being popped in, landing unsteadily on the soft surface. “Master? Clive so happy to be seeing you so soon. House missing you.”
Both Harry and Neville had instinctively held up their hands to steady the elf.
“Clive, this is Harry Potter. Harry, this is a member of my house. His kind get magic from us, though not much from me. I’m practically a squib. But I’m sure, if the Potter elves survived, they will find you here. They were likely banned from joining you at your muggle home.”
Neville had found out during the train ride that Harry, unlike what he’d been told, had been raised in the muggle world. His gran was going to be furious that Dumbledore had lied to her, and everyone else, about where Potter had been.
“I have members of my family around that know me? Gee, I don’t remember much from when I was a baby. I think we had a big black dog. And there was a pet rat, kinda like Ron’s. I’m sorry, I don’t remember an elf.”
“My gran says that Lily Potter didn’t much like high society things, and might not have had an elf when you were hiding at the Dumbledore cottage in Godric’s Hollow.”
“Dumbledore? Like the Headmaster? He’s the one that Petunia complained about all the time! She cursed that he was the one that forced her to take me in. My relatives don’t like me much.”
Neville knew where he’d lived as a baby? Harry didn’t even know anything about his parents! Or himself, apparently. Other than that Dumbledore clearly didn’t care about him.
“But how will I find the Potter house-elves? I will ask you about my family hiding later. The more I learn about me, the more I know I don’t know anything!”
“Gringotts will have a list of properties and belongings. Sorry, Harry. I know that Clive is a person, but because of our society weird rules, he’s considered property. I’m sorry about that Clive.”
“Not your fault, Master Neville. And you kindly, kindly wizard. Clive being blessed.”
“Clive, do you know any of my family elves?” Harry asked.
“No Master Harry, but elves like being busy. When Clive out shoppings, he be asking for you.”
Harry nodded, a problem to be solved another day. Maybe Professor McGonagall, who was going to help him get away from the Dursleys, would know how to find any Potter house-elves. Hmm. Was she the one to send him all of the goodies on his bed this morning, the boy wondered.
Harry looked at Clive in gratitude.
Neville asked, “He needs a trunk like mine here. Someone has dropped off several important family items. Can we ask you to get him that from his vault, or if he doesn’t have one, to buy one?”
“Mistress Alice has fine trunk in attic similar to Master Neville’s, and is being Master Harry’s godmother. Clive knows she started baby book for hims there…”
Clive turned away to blow his nose and wiped tears. For some reason, this made Harry wipe tears as well.
“Neville? Are we…related?” Harry asked in wonder.
Heir Longbottom nodded, unable to talk further.
“Clive, that sounds really nice, but I just met Neville, I don’t want to make him mad, using his family things…”
“No Harry, that’s fine. It’s a good suggestion, Clive. Please do that. In the meantime, I’ll show Harry how to open his grimoire.” Neville then turned to Harry. “She was planning on giving you that trunk when you turned eleven. The letter offering it to you was returned, saying you already had one.”
Neville didn’t say how rude the note was. Clearly, it was not written by this boy! Neville had originally planned to keep his distance from him on the train thinking that Harry wanted nothing to do with his godmother’s son.
But Harry had invited he and Hermione into the compartment –over Ron’s evident desire to keep Harry all to himself– and even shared snacks. Clearly not someone who wanted nothing to do with him.
Someone had been interfering with their relationship! That made Neville a bit peeved. He’d tell Harry about that later. Right now, he wanted to give Harry a run down on some of the books on the bed. But they were shrunken.
Harry solved this problem with a tap of his wand much to Neville’s amazement.
“What? They did this at the bookstore, and showed me how to unshrink them.” Harry shared.
“These are great books, Harry! They’re more than just supplemental guides to our classes. These are amazing. Wow! I don’t have all of these books.” His eyes lingered longingly on the Herbology book that he’d heard about and had asked for in the past.
Harry immediately offered to share, which Neville accepted with an eager nod and a grateful smile.
“Now, about your family grimoire; it's a repository for Potter magic. Most people would never risk taking theirs to school, but I know that Potter Keep in Wales was destroyed by Death Eaters, killing your grandparents. I think that was just a few months before Lily and James…oh, I’m really sorry about that. I meant you couldn’t keep it at your old manor. It appears that some of the books were saved at least.
“To open it, use something sharp to cut your thumb, and smear a bit of blood on the Potter coat of arms...”
Harry didn’t mean to be rude, but interjected, “Wait. I have a coat of arms? Only Dukes and Earls and stuff have those! Don’t they?”
“As far as I know, that is true, but you are the Earl of something, something, and you became Lord Potter on your eleventh birthday. Being the last living Potter and all. You probably gained some other titles as well. But where was I? Oh, claiming your family grimoire. Sure, it’s blood magic, but it’s about the only kind that families do anymore that isn’t illegal.” Neville shared. “Although, the aurors would never arrest us for using it to lock up a family trunk.”
‘And Dumbledore would like to ban even that use, but why was this book here? Very odd.’ Neville thought to himself.
Harry pulled out his quill sharpener and cut his thumb. The book glowed as he rubbed the blood on the coat of arms, but it still wouldn’t open.
“That’s weird. Try to say your name aloud.” Neville suggested exasperatedly.
So, Harry tried. Just his first name, then his full name, with middle name provided by Neville.
“Wow. You seem to know me better than I do!” Harry smiled, but Clive was back, and waiting patiently for the boys.
“Master Harry’s trunk be here. Perhaps someone tried to open Grimoire with Master’s blood who wasn’t a Potter. Book locked until proven Potter open it.”
Harry didn’t understand what the elf meant, and Neville was obviously pondering what Harry could do as well, so they turned to the trunk.
Neville shared, “The MacMurray clan, like many light families, has been reduced due to the fighting. My great-grandfather and grandmother are alive, but my grandfather was killed fighting death eaters. Sorry, just wanted to let you know that this is a family heirloom, and yes Harry, you are family. If you wish, after we are done with school, you can pass it along. I have an auror cousin we might meet, but my gran doesn’t let me visit often. He just got married. By the time any of his children were ready for school, we’d be done and out.”
Neville pointed to his mother’s trunk, “This is the McMurray coat of arms. I don’t know why they don’t have a seat on the Wizengamot, but…”
“Wizengamot? I don’t think I got all of the books I should have. And the History of Magic text doesn’t talk about that.” Harry interjected.
“Let me think of the best way to explain. It’s part of our government and laws, but they also hold trials…”
Neville was cut off as Harry picked up the only object inside the trunk. It was a baby book! It had a picture of him on the cover when he was a newborn.
“Aww, I haven’t seen this one before.” Neville couldn’t help but wave at the young Harry, peeping eyes open, squirming, and then going back to sleep.
The boys moved to sit side-by-side. Harry sat in awe to see his mother’s face for the first time since he was fifteen months old.
It was only the stirring of their roommates that startled the boys from their enjoyment of the family pictures that included both of them and their parents. Harry wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t want to share this with anyone but Neville for now.
Harry quickly put everything on the bed away in the new trunk, and locked it up with Neville showing him how.
Ooo, blood magic. He looked at Neville who nodded. Yep, probably close to illegal, but not for them.
**OO**
Minerva didn’t have much time before she had to be back for breakfast, even with borrowing one of the school’s time turners. She didn’t want to become over a hundred before her seventy-fifth birthday after all.
“Professor McGonagall! How can I help you?” the clerk at Wizarding Child Services asked.
“I have the paperwork here. I didn’t want to write down the address, in case anyone had duplicating charms on your desk. But I want to claim this child’s guardianship. He came to school bruised, malnourished, and dressed in rags. James Potter was my godson!” She had rights; rights that Dumbledore had convinced her to abrogate a decade ago.
“He’s been with muggles? Ma’am, I know this sounds prejudiced, but because of your relationship, you could have claimed him even if they were perfect parents as long as the child agreed he’d rather live with you.”
Minerva squirmed at the memory. Dumbledore reminding her of her own duties, and her age. Pointing out that Petunia was younger, and had a young child that age of her own. Much better to let her raise him. Albus convinced her Harry would be better off there. She couldn’t have asked the wee bairn his opinion! And she had never been as prejudiced against muggles as some witches were.
A memory of her asking the boy the night before if he would rather live with her at Hogwarts or return at the holiday to his family had shown the truth. ‘Ma’am? They aren’t family, not really. Just people I’m unfortunately related to and forced to live with. I never want to go back there; it was never my home. I was shoved into the boot cupboard, like the hoover. Just like that really. Only taken out to work, never cared for. Then shut back in.’
The clerk was crying. “Why didn’t we catch this sooner?” She tried and failed to find the file on the boy. There was none.
“He’s the most famous orphan of our time! I’m so sorry, Professor! I am. I’ll ask the aurors to investigate, and send a report onto Scotland Yard. Or maybe just let them investigate.”
“I think sending anyone magical out to Potter’s former home would likely result in death for the Dursleys; the dark side would do so, wanting to hurt Potter. The light side for them hurting Potter.”
The clerk nodded, wiping tears. McGonagall was congratulated quietly on her new family, and given a handbook if she wanted to adopt the child at some point.
“I’ll send the form to the goblins. I don’t know how much the stipend will be, but I’m sure that the Potters wouldn’t be stingy.”
“Just let Potter keep it, but definitely take it away from the muggles. Part of my salary is hosting any of my children at the school. The castle won’t suffer for feeding Harry over the summers.”
The administrator looked at the clock. Good. She found an empty lift, and left the building less than an hour before she entered it, to return to Hogwarts in time for breakfast.
When next she returned to her quarters, she found that the castle appeared to have approved her actions. There was a new bedroom added to her suite, with its own ensuite, that was decorated in Gryffindor colors. There was even a stuffie lion on the bed, and a quidditch style game on the table. There was an older wizarding chess set on the shelf above. All awaiting the new occupant.
**OO**
Ron appeared to be miffed that Neville and Harry were talking at breakfast, but he didn’t complain. Not having to talk gave him more time to eat.
“There was something I noticed from my baby book,” Harry forgot he was talking, and took a bite. He swallowed and wiped his mouth with a napkin before continuing. There was no way he was imitating Ron’s table manners. Petunia might have been harsh with Harry, but no one could impugn his deportment at table.
“I wonder if you noticed something interesting there.” Harry's green eyes sparkled.
Neville shook his head, and Harry whispered in his ear. “Your mum didn’t call me Harry!”
Neville looked stunned, then beamed, whispering back, “You’re right! Wanna try after classes?”
Harry nodded.
Ron was done being ignored. “What are you two whispering about over there? Aren’t best mates supposed to be in the know?”
Harry gave the redhead a look. As far as he was concerned, he was closer to Neville after this morning than he’d become with Ron over the whole train ride. And the Weasley boy seemed very possessive of him. Harry didn’t understand that, especially when the world seemed to know him, and wanted to be friendly to him.
A thought crossed his mind. Ron had to know at least some of the things that Neville had shared. Why hadn’t he said anything?
For some reason, Harry wanted to keep his grimoire private, so distracted the boy with the schedules they had been handed. “Look here, Weasley.” Hoping that Ron would take the hint that Harry didn’t return his ‘best mate’ feelings.
Harry proceeded to ask, “We don’t have very many classes. Why? What about English? I don’t see any science classes either. Well, potions. But what if we want to go to uni?”
Ron talked with food in his gob, gaining odd looks from all around, “Whatcha want to do that for?”
One of Ron’s brothers spoke up, “We know what universities are, but not many purebloods go. Hey, Angelina, what are you doing to keep up with your muggly studies.”
The beautiful chaser tossed a roll at Fred. Or was it George? She replied, “I’m taking correspondence courses for a few classes. I can show you how to sign up. I think the administrator is a squib, because I’ve never had a problem with the lessons.”
There was that word again. Harry didn’t want to embarrass Neville and ask him directly about it. It was clearly something that wasn’t good. He’d ask Angelina later, when Neville wasn’t around.
“It’s enough to get by. Hogwarts will give you credit for some classes, but not many cross over well. And if you want to do something that requires a NEWT for potions, start planning now. Either getting a tutor, a teaching portrait, or something. That Death Eater doesn’t teach. Just sneers, scowls and scorns at us.” Angelina concluded
“Ooo. Alliteration work in English today? Nice.” Alicia complimented. “But sadly, she isn’t wrong.”
Harry looked up at the staff table to see the dark professor staring at him again. Scowling at him. And again, his scar hurt.
“What did I do? Kick his puppy?” Harry asked.
Ron laughed. “You killed his master, the Dark Lord.”
Harry looked at Neville, “Snape’s mad because I supposedly killed Voldemort?”
All conversation stopped around him. Seamus looked at him in awe but Dean was confused.
“What’s the big deal?” the West Ham fan asked.
“There’s a taboo on the name. Death Eaters used to show up to torture and kill people who said it.” Granger said, happy to finally be able to contribute to the conversation. “Only one person was brave enough to say it all the time during the blood war. Professor Dumbledore.”
Unimpressed, Harry turned back to Angelina, “So, um. This is going to sound like a dumb question. If everyone knows he’s a Death Eater and served Vold…Moldyshorts…”
Harry had to stop while the chaser cleaned up the juice she had snorted through her nose. Then he continued, “If he was so bad, how come he’s here, teaching?”
Percy answered that, “He doesn’t. Oh, he’s in front of the class. But potions is just a monitored subject. Everyone has to learn on their own.”
Neville shrunk down, as the dark man now scowled at him.
Harry whispered in his ear, “Do you think Clive would be willing to go to the bank to see how much money I have? I want to see if I can hire someone to teach us.”
“You’re not getting your Gringotts statements? But that can’t be! Since you were eight…wait. You haven’t gotten a single bit of post yet.” Neville took a last bite of toast.
Fred winked at Harry, “When you do, you can give George and I all of the inappropriate photographs you’ll be getting from all of your fans. Just the witches, of course.”
Harry slapped his forehead, “No!”
Ron laughed at that, “We’d best get to class. Don’t want McGonagall mad at us.”
Harry laughed. Professor McGonagall did look a bit sour this morning, but her ire seemed to be directed towards Quirrell and Snape, not the Gryffindor table.
Harry, taking the opportunity to grab a snack for later, made himself a bacon sandwich, and snagged several pieces of fruit.
Percy, watching over the first years, noted how small the Potter lad appeared. And he knew from prior experience, that those without access to regular food would take extra from the table to save for later. Sometimes forgetting about it, to much sorrow when the mess was later discovered.
He would monitor the situation, but also make a report to the matron. He suggested that both Potter and Longbottom be scanned.
**OO**
Harry had paid for his overindulgence the night before during the feast by losing most of it mere moments after getting ready for bed. His stomach wasn’t ready for that much food after his long enforced ‘fast’.
He should not have tried to eat so much, so quickly. Especially so much heavy and greasy food.
This morning, he was much smarter. He’d taken a serving of porridge, with some sliced fruit, and a single piece of toast. While the sausages looked and smelled tempting, he decided to wait, the small bacon sandwich was for later. Once he kept this down.
He was so grateful to have food available to him, and was told that snacks were served on the sideboard for elevenses, tea, and after dinner nibbles.
He would never go hungry here, but had to work up to eating a full plate of food if he didn’t want to get sick again.
**OO**
Harry didn’t mean to be first in turning his match into a needle. But he had studied the spell, and had practiced the wand movements over and over. And he was well acquainted with that tool. The results were still stunning.
To the right of him, Neville was struggling. He hadn’t read the text before, but seemed to be doing the wand movement correctly.
On his left, Ron didn’t appear to understand that in order to cast, one had to perform the movements correctly. He appeared to be directing an invisible band, with great flourish.
Harry had to duck more than once to protect his, admittedly sad, eyesight.
Hermione in front of them gasped as she now produced a shiny match. Well, it did have a hole in it. But Harry wondered how often the obviously well-off girl had ever seen a needle?
Harry had plenty of experience. He would never admit it, especially around other boys, but he found mending and sewing on buttons soothing.
While Neville struggled without stopping, Ron stepped down as band leader angrily, throwing the ‘baton’ on his desk in disgust.
“This is stupid! Charlie’s old wand doesn’t work for me!” Ron shouted. Waving away the smoke from the now charred piece of wood, laying on his desk. The match was no more.
Professor McGonagall came over to check on them, giving points to Hermione. She asked Ronald if he would like to try some of the legacy wands she had collected over the years. She knew his family didn’t have the gold for a good matching one.
She didn’t take points for his temper tantrum, but assigned him to read the next chapter to calm him, which he took as a punishment. She then went on to Harry and was pleasantly surprised at his perfect needle.
“Well done, Potter! Five points. Now, why don’t you practice. Try for different colors and sizes.” She placed a few more matches on his desk.
Turning to the boy who was still trying, Harry went to help Neville. He had no idea that the professor was trying not to embarrass the boy by attempting to help someone who really shouldn’t be in a wanded class.
Augusta had made it clear to her that while the boy had indeed received a letter, the only thing he was good for was digging in the dirt.
Minerva didn’t have the same prejudice against squibs, but wasn’t going to try and make a child do something he couldn’t either.
**OO**
Harry got to lunch before Neville and was able to ask about squibs.
Ron, unfortunately, overhead as he came in behind him. “Oh, that’s really bad. When someone in a magical family doesn’t have a high enough Merlin…something. I forget. They can’t come to Hogwarts, and are banished to the muggle world. Terribly embarrassing for the family.”
Malfoy sauntered over and intoned.“You would know Weasley. Your mum’s cousin is a squib. But Prewitts aren’t smart enough to do what needs to be done. Not like some families who know you sometimes have to trim back the family tree to save it.”
Harry was appalled. He had really wanted to get along with Malfoy, too, as he seemed very knowledgeable about the wizarding world.
Granger was at the table, but for once was just listening. She too wanted to learn everything she could.
Harry had to ask, “Malfoy, I can’t believe I’m asking this. Are you saying that some families kill their squib children? That can’t be legal.”
Ron shook his head, “Dad is trying to make a law about protecting muggles. It’s considered bad form, and it is still illegal to use the unforgivables on them. But killing someone like that for cause? It’s a bit of a grey area.”
“Not grey. Smart. No one wants them.” Draco perked up. “And here’s the poster child of those who need pruning. Who did your grandmother bribe to get you sent here, Squib?”
Before Harry could say anything in his defense, Snape walked by, collecting Malfoy to return him to his table.
“Ten points from Gryffindor for insulting a classmate, Potter.”
Harry looked up and saw only Dumbledore at the head table. McGonagall was not there. He kept his mouth shut as Percy advised all the firsties do, when dealing with unfair points loss.
Later that afternoon, Percy gave him eleven points. Ten for not talking back to an adult. The Prefect refused to call Snape a professor. “And one point for demonstrating perfect manners to his little brother.”
Mrs Weasley had been sent two letters so far for her youngest son’s behavior. One from Percy; the other from Professor McGonagall.
The latter wanted the mother to come to Hogwarts over the weekend, and supervise her son’s eating. Arthur was welcome to come as well but not Ginevra.
**OO**
It was hard waiting until after dinner, but Harry agreed with Neville that it would be the quietest time in the room.
Harry had learned from his baby book that while his mother wanted to name him Harry, that was really his nickname . His real name on his birth certificate, an official copy was in his baby book after all, was Hadrian James Potter.
Nervously trying again, Neville and he sat on Harry’s bed, curtains closed. He’d even tapped the rune for privacy that Neville had pointed out.
This time, the book glowed, and opened a crack.
“And now, it is time for me to leave. You can share an individual spell with an ally if they swear not to teach it to anyone else, and only use it silently. As such, I will never be reading this book or learning all of your spells.”
Neville tapped his wand on the privacy charms of the bed, it took three times to get it to disengage, before opening the curtain.
Harry looked at Neville’s sad, old wand. His gran had given him no allowance, and he had no access to gold of his own.
“Clive?” Harry called. It was just the two of them still in their dorm room. When last seen, Ron was still eating in the Great Hall. Merlin knew he wouldn’t be studying .
“Yes, Master Harry?” Clive answered, popping in.
“Can you please pop Neville to Olivander’s.” Harry gave him twenty five galleons. Then added another twenty five. “Get him a better matching wand, and polish and everything. Oh, and Trevor ran away to the greenhouses. Get him his own pet.” Harry commanded.
Neville tried to object, so Harry pointed to the trunk he was borrowing from the family, “This would cost thousands. At least let me buy my godbrother a matching wand.”
The boy wanted to object on principle, but couldn’t. “We’ll bring you back some ice cream.”
Clive led Neville to his bed, and shut the curtains. “Then we’s can be popping back without anyone complainingings.”
Hoping that was the start of paying Neville back for all of his help, Harry sat down to read a very magical book indeed. But only until a beaming Neville returned, wand in wand holster, and handing Harry his own, a cat carrier and a cone of strawberry delight.
“Clive letting Master Spurnik know about issue with no getting anything from anybodys. He’s happy with me popping for you as long as I promise to be keepings yous secrets, Master Harry
Clive brought him a stack of sealed bank statements, and a confidential letter from Gringotts that he would read later.
With Neville back, it was time for homework. But first, they savored the ice cream and played with the lovely Lateefah.
Clive was sent back for a few more kitty toys and some catnip.
**OO**
Harry watched as Granger used her magical homework planner. He’d not seen that at the stationares, and thought it looked brilliant.
Ron, however, had something cutting to say, “No need for that. Revising notes, rewriting them? What nonsense!”
Harry hung his head. He really wanted to do well in school. Unbeknownst to him, Ron was having a Dudley moment, and Harry nearly bowed to the peer pressure.
Neville saw what was going on, and didn’t approve.
Hermione had helped him on the train with Trevor. Ronald shouldn’t speak down to her. Neville spoke up. “Mind your manners, Weasley. Harry asked a question, and she answered. Unlike some who are just here for the food, Harry has a long line of ancestors who schooled here. Family portraits are here on the walls. Do you want him to fail? Can you imagine the reaction from his family? Or yours if you don’t do as well as you could?”
Harry rather thought the Dursleys wanted him to fail. They had tried to beat him out of doing well in primary. He had done his best there anyways. Surely, they had tried to beat the magic out of him completely.
It was rather a miracle he made it here alive, well and with his magic intact.
No one seemed to notice that Neville now had a six-week-old white kitten he was stroking. Harry was told she was an Egyptian Abyssinian.
Hermione nearly giggled, as he looked much like a James Bond villain stroking his white cat, only both of them de-aged. His menace level in dealing with Ron was pegged at Spectre level.
Harry missed what she had seen as he was involved with his own thoughts. ‘Why should he let Ron browbeat him now?’
Harry asked, “Miss Granger? If you would let me know what store you got that at, I would be most appreciative.”
“Why yes, Mr Potter,” she replied playfully, “I have a catalog, in case I need more ink or something. I’ll share it with you in just a moment.” The Granger girl smiled, trying to hide her overbite. As soon as she finished her thought, she went up to her room, and returned with the first magical catalog that Harry had ever seen.
Harry looked at Neville, and he nodded, “Anyone else want one?”
Harry was willing to use his vault key to purchase for people if they paid him back, and a group order was made.
“So much easier than paying for a draft.” “And cheaper too.” This is great.” “Thanks, Harry.” Everyone said, with the store's house-elf making the delivery mere minutes after making the order.
Harry was told that his House would be like his family. Luckily for him, so far, it wasn’t.
It was much, much better.
Maybe more like what a family should be like?
**OO**
While Harry was working on the group's magical shopping, Percy was speaking to the matron. “He has scars, Madam Pomfrey. And I don’t mean his famous one. And did anyone take him for a checkup, ever?”
The woman sighed. She had a note from Dumbledore excluding the Potter boy from any health check unless he was hurt. Some kind of nonsense about respecting his privacy.
What to do?
“I’ll take care of it, Mr Weasley. Off you go, and say nothing to anyone about this. Please?”
Percy nodded. He didn’t like Dumbledore very much. His mother had hosted the supposed ‘Great Man’ several times before the start of the new school year. Emphasized to him, first year Prefect, more than once the importance of allowing ‘the dear boy’ the freedom to explore his new environs without reprimand.
As if Percy would do anything but his best! Fifth years were given the first year group to watch over until they were in their third year. By the time the seventh years were gone into the adult world, the upcoming fourth years were without direct supervision. Until the world turned, and it was their turn as fifth years to watch over the little firsties.
And it was supposed to be all fifth years helping, with the head of house in charge. Hah. McGonagall was too busy with other things, so it was her prefects who monitored everyone.
Percy studied history, the real history available in the library at Diagon. Which reminded him he needed to tell the muggleborn students about that resource. The fee was reasonable, and they had multiple copies of the most important books.
He knew from experience that power corrupted. And Dumbledore had a bit too much, especially when it came to the care of the Potter heir.
The responsible lad wondered what the matron would do, but she had a secret of her own. And mentally agreed with Percy, that while Dumbledore could be a powerful protector, he was not doing his best to protect Potter.
**OO**
“Cousin Marius! What are you doing here?” Daphne asked, laughing briefly before putting her pureblood mask back on. It was her turn, and she was surprised to see him.
All the Slytherin girls waiting for their health check were stealing glances at the handsome blonde healer.
But he was far too professional to flirt with students, especially young students.
“I am helping with the mandatory health check. They had been suspended, supposedly for budget reasons. Well, your father found funding for them. Bless him.” He waved his wand in a familiar pattern. Daphne had a checkup just before school started. “You are the definition of health, but I will remind you to eat your greens at lunch and dinner, but not just them. You need good nutrition for classes. I need to get back to work now, but it is lovely seeing you. Adjusting well?”
Daphne nodded, “I miss Astoria terribly, but lessons here are much easier than at home.”
Marius popped his head out of the curtain to call his next patient in, “That is not necessarily a good thing, cousin. Please write to me. Ta ta for now.”
She gave him a brief hug before exiting the curtain. “Thank you for coming. Please be the one to check Potter. He is far too skinny and was wearing rags on the train. We treat our house-elves better than his guardians.”
Marius wouldn’t confirm or deny anything, but knew his report was going to stir up trouble for Dumbledore. He’s the one who claimed magical guardianship of the abused child.
Dear Cousin Daphne wasn’t the only one to have noticed the lad’s condition. Nor the only one who asked for help for the boy hero.
Severus himself had secretly written, and promised to pay with his own gold if needed. Then the matron contacted Marius.
What was Dumbledore playing at? The Ministry paid for these checks, not the school. Not that Lord Greengrass wouldn’t pay for a health check for the school if needed.
It was nice to know that the ‘pureblood princess’ had noticed Harry’s condition. Not that she was disappointed in his initial appearance. No! She was angry at the people who were supposedly ‘caring’ for him.
**OO**
Dumbledore was raging, “How could you betray me like this, Poppy? I don’t have his guardians' permission. For either boy!”
Poppy snapped her hand at the diagnostics, “Potter’s guardians have no say in the matter. As you know they won’t be his guardians after the Ministry processes the healers’ reports. And why would we bow to abusive people - muggles or magical?
“As for Longbottom, he’s slightly overweight, but nothing excessive. Once the binds on his magic were released” not that noticed or cared about the look of horror on the old wizard’s face at that pronouncement. She continued,“that problem will solve itself shortly. He might need a new wand, though. At least he's had his dragon pox and other vaccinations. Potter’s in for a rough weekend which is when his are scheduled. Or are you going to override Administrator Braithewaite on this? If so, be prepared for Potter to be removed from the school until you do give permission.”
“There is no reasoning with you on this! Harry’s privacy is at stake!” the headmaster coaxed.
“What privacy? That ridiculous boy-who-lived title and worse story books? How does everyone know what he looks like? Who leaked his pictures to the press over the years? I know of two people who knew where he was, and I know Minerva hasn’t been anywhere near him on your orders until a few days ago.
“She asked you many times over the years about the boy. You lied to her, to me, to all of us. And betrayed the boy you claim to care for.
“I think you should transfigure armor for the next few weeks and wear it.” Poppy pointed to one of the armored guardians in the hallway. “Minerva has sharp claws, and won’t be afraid to use them. Now, please remove yourself from my infirmary. Unless you need a calming draught?”
Albus huffed, but felt powerless. As much as some of his so-called friends teased him about being a dark lord in disguise, he never killed. Never. He tried to get his allies to do the same, well not killing in combat. And he certainly never ordered anyone taken out per se. Though, Sirius had done him some favors now and then. Which is why the poor boy couldn’t be allowed to face a trial. Too many secrets would have been spilt.
Neville’s magic being bound was for the greater good! He was the spare, and had to be kept out of the limelight. Now, it was too late, and everyone would now know the boy wasn’t just above a squib in terms of magical power.
As much as he wanted to imperius the mediwitch to do his will, Albus couldn’t. He wasn’t dark!
Besides, he didn’t want the backlash of her breaking any oaths. The punishment would go to the controller of said healer, as Death Eaters found out the hard way, trying to kidnap muggleborn healers from Saint Mungos.
And he had no cause to dismiss her, and might get someone worse forced on him. How dare that Death Eater, turned Healer, Greengrass, come to his school? Defy him like this?
Others would logically point out to him that if he hadn’t modified the wards to allow Severus in, this wouldn’t have happened.
Albus sucked on lemon candies, and tried to think of a way out of this mess.
He hadn’t noticed the Potter items missing from his office. Not yet. Minerva had ordered all such returned to the boy the first morning he was here.
He really should have followed Poppy’s advice about the armor. But when the attack came, it wasn’t from Minerva, but an old friend.
**OO**
While Albus was at the Ministry, trying to reverse what had been done to Potter’s guardianship, and being blocked at every turn, Minerva was busy in the third floor corridor.
Afternoon tea was being served to all the students in the Great Hall. Roll had been taken, and all students were inside. Even the prefects guarding the doors were inside the hall.
The castle had created new bathrooms for young witches and wizards, as if approving what the Deputy was doing.
Hagrid could be heard shouting, and there was loud growling, but the noise disappeared abruptly after Percy cast spells at the doors.
“I think we lost our chance at solving the cause of the ‘most painful death’, brother mine” George whispered.
“Too right. Any chance of us getting up there to collect spare bits left behind by the Cerberus?” Fred asked. “He didn’t sound happy leaving his kennel.”
“Doubt it. Anything good will be snatched up by Snape.” George opined. And he wasn’t wrong.
The ceiling above them showed a phoenix flying overhead for a moment, before flashing away.
“I wonder what that was about? And if it had anything to do with what the three-headed dog was guarding.” George queried.
They would never hear about it, but indeed, Fawkes was helping Minerva, and returning the borrowed stone to its owners. The eternal bird had been the Flamels’ companion when they were teaching here, just as he was now Professor McGonagall’s companion.
The castle had been tricked to hold a dangerous item that would tempt the dark lord to try and get into the inner sanctum. The only problem with that was the hundreds of students living there. Didn’t anyone care about their safety?
Well, no matter now. Everything was being put to rights.
Minerva just wished she had stood up to the headmaster sooner.
**OO**
The dinner announcement was no surprise to him, really. The stone was no longer in the castle. The third floor corridor was now open. If students wanted to try to challenge a giant chess set, they could.
Apparently, McGonagall had found the controls had been messed with and she returned them to their non-lethal nature. Spoilsport.
So too was the troll gone. So sad. It would have been fun to let him out to play with the muggleborns.
Riddle repeated to himself again; the stone was no longer here. Where was it? Too late now. He didn’t have to take her word for it; he could feel it. What was he going to do? He should have dismantled the curse before coming into the castle! He didn’t think that Quirrell would be so impacted.
The possession seemed to be affecting Quirrell even faster. Voldemort had two choices. Start to drink unicorn blood, which would likely curse him forever, or abandon Quirrell, and find another way to return.
His horcrux! The diadem was here! Maybe wearing that would solve his problems. He had to try.
He didn’t realize that the curious Potter boy had an invisibility cloak. Or that the child and his friends had been playing with it. Nor that he was being followed after dinner. Not just by the Potter lad himself, no. He had Granger and Longbottom with him.
The trio of friends were trying to figure out what he was up to. He had been acting so oddly.
**OO**
“I need to find the diadem, I need to find the diadem, I need to find the diadem.”
The three young people watched from an alcove as the turbaned professor sing-songed in front of a blank wall across the way from a very odd tapestry. And then a heavy door just appeared in the wall of the castle.
Seeing large new loos being formed recently had a mere door appearing, seeming so old hat.
The children could see inside. What a huge pile of junk! But the man seemed sure of where he was going in that mess. Unsure of whether or not to follow, knowing they had no way of keeping quiet, they retreated and remained outside as the door. They moved until they were at the far end of the corridor and had several avenues of escape.
Harry-hunting had taught the boy to be wary of his circumstances. Alastor Moody would have been proud. Being caught in a cul-de-sac didn’t feel wise.
“Did you see all of those books? Why would someone hide books away?” Hermione asked, once it was safe to whisper.
“Did you see all of the broken stuff? If we could get permission to fix and sell it, we could make enough money to buy food and clothes and…” Harry kept forgetting about his gold. It still didn’t feel like ‘real’ money to him yet.
Neville too was in awe, “I wonder if that is the Room of Requirement?”
“Oh, like in ‘Hogwarts, a History’? I think you’re right, Neville! We should…”
The banging of the door slamming open and painful screaming made all of them stop and crouched down.
A figure appeared before them, weaving, and seeming to be dissolving before their very eyes. His hands seemed to be trying to remove a crown from his head. His shrieks let everyone know that he was in great pain.
But then, suddenly, so was Harry.
**OO**
A/N: Story recommend: Pack by mjimeyg; Jurassic Park and Harry Potter crossover. Complete, and fun.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13391615/1/Pack
Chapter Text
Someone Finally Noticed - A Harry Potter Tale
**OO**
A/N: Thanks to my wonderful Beta, LtsHrIt4ThBoyz.
AU story, short and will be too fast for some. No apologies, as roller coasters can be fun.
**OO**
Welcome to the fireside.
**OO**
Chapter 2
Minerva was in her office, marking, when suddenly, the wards notified her there was something strange happening on the seventh floor corridor. The painting over her desk had a new occupant.
“Oh dear! Someone is screaming like a banshee! Near where the trolls are attempting ballet! Please come!”
Before she left her office, Minerva hit a ward that would notify the students to return to their common rooms. And alert her fellow professors.
Better to have the students in the best warded areas of the castle, and have it be for nothin’ than not react to an emergency.
Donning her pointed hat, she left her office to track down this mystery.
**OO**
The pain in Harry’s forehead drove him to his knees, but unlike Quirrell, he was not shrieking, just quietly crying. He’d been trained ‘well’.
Neville and Hermione tried to keep the cloak covering him, but Harry needed air, so he’d pulled the cloak down, exposing his head.
Just then, Harry’s scar burst open, and a black mist flew from Harry’s head, straight into the diadem on the man’s head.
Other bits of mist joined it over the next minute or so.
Just as the pain from Harry’s scar reduced to merely throbbing, he suddenly couldn’t see through his new glasses; the ones that Madam Pomfrey had just gotten him. Just trying to see through them gave him an immediate headache. He grabbed them off his aching eyes and wondered as the world came into perfect view!
Automatically dropping the glasses into his pocket for safekeeping, and pressing a pocket handkerchief to his head, to stop the blood oozing into his eye, some instinct made him pull the cloak back over himself.
Professor Quirrell stumbled and collapsed just feet from the still open door. His attempts to remove the crown weakened as his screaming slowly diminished. His skin bubbled, and suddenly the silence was awful!
To the shock of the already traumatized children, another figure emerged from the room. The mysterious door shut behind him. The man seemed to debate for a moment, but went forward.
It appeared to be a younger man, dressed in older styled robes. His features seemed still indistinct but before their very eyes, he seemed to come into sharper focus; he was handsome, perhaps middle aged; mahogany haired with just a touch of grey at the temples, with vivid blue eyes that immediately turned to a malevolent crimson.
The figure stooped over the professor, reaching for the crown now resting on the stone floor. “Oh, so sorry Quirrell, not to be able to fulfill my promises to you. Such a shame, but you, sadly, are dead. What’s a man to do?”
The figure crowned himself, standing up straight, tall, majestic; the three children felt his power, but this was no benevolent ruler to welcome.
The figure laughed and proclaimed, “Lord Voldemort lives! No wonder the books said only one was needed. Well, there goes that curse on Defense Against the Dark Arts. Maybe Dumbledore will keep me on.” the man laughed again and then tossed off all humor; becoming deadly serious. “I need to find that Potter brat, kill him, and gather my followers.” And he was looking down the corridor where they hid when he said it!
Harry knew that somehow, this being knew he was there, under the cloak!
Neville was anchored there in fear. Hermione wasn’t sure what she had just witnessed, but was quite sure that this was without doubt the most evil being she had ever seen.
Harry knew he had no defense against this monster. He whispered his plan and begged Neville to get the witch to safety. Hermione tried to stop him, but he pushed them down the corridor. Both of his friends were still within his cloak. He commanded. “Run! Don’t stop!”
Harry stepped out into the corridor in front of his enemy. He didn’t have his wand in his hand.
“Go ahead. Kill me. But you will not kill my friends.”
After a diatribe of how foolish Harry had been to try and defy the Dark Lord, the killing curse was hurled his way.
The boy didn’t dodge, didn’t move an inch. And, just like before, it failed to kill his target.
The boy had love in his heart; there was no hatred, or sense of revenge. He just wanted to protect his friends.
The curse bounced off the rune on his forehead, and reflected straight back towards the wizard who’d cast the curse.
Strings cut, and no horcruxes left, Tom Marvolo Riddle, aka the great Lord Voldemort, was cut down yet again. This time, for the last time.
**OO**
Simultaneously to Voldy reforming…
Severus looked at his arm in horror where the hated tattoo suddenly and painfully darkened; signifying the return of the nightmare being that had burned the abomination into his flesh. NO!
He knew he should have spoken up when Dumbledore came up with the ridiculous plan to host that Philosopher's Stone. He knew this would happen. In the bottom of his heart, he just knew it.
And now Potter was in danger! A mere child.
At no point did he ever feel that anyone other than Lily had been responsible for his former master's demise. However temporary.
He ran not to Dumbledore, but to McGonagall. The woman controlled the wards. They had to do something to contain this monstrosity. His little snakes were in danger! Potter was in dire danger!
He tried but couldn’t summon the happy thoughts needed to send a patronus; his swift feet were nearly as fast.
**OO**
Portraits had reported screaming, but it had taken time to gather forces together.
They were close enough to hear when the fatal words ‘ Avada Kedavra ’ were cast. Followed by an agonized scream of “NOOoooo!” And the sound of two bodies hitting the stone floor. Some of the staff stopped, but Professor McGonagall kept going, a flying phoenix keeping up with her; Severus Snape suddenly faltered at her side.
They arrived just in time to see the fallen man and the Potter child laying in the corridor. Just beyond the adult, there was yet another body. Or rather, a puddle of revolting goo.
Suddenly, the feeling of oppression that Severus had been fighting in coming to Potter’s aid, was gone. He was free. He didn’t even need to check his arm to know it.
That terrible tattoo was gone; from his arm, mind, heart and soul.
He stared at the man at the end of the corridor; the Dark Lord was dead. It had to be him.
**OO**
“Oh my goodness? Was that Tom Riddle?” the animagus bounded forward.
A message patronus reached her just then, “Intruder in Gryffindor! Captured.”
While she sent a return patronus to acknowledge Angus Wood’s message, Flitwick stopped to talk to Potter for a moment.
Severus went to cast diagnostic spells not on the puddle, but on the downed wizard. The puddle was human shaped, with clothing, but clearly no longer living. The other wizard had an ancient looking crown lying next to him.
**OO**
Flitwick wasn’t as proficient as a healer but had learned a fair bit on the dueling circuit. “How are you feeling Mr Potter? You’re clearly alive. You weren’t hit, were you?”
Harry sat up as he spoke to the kind Charms teacher. “I feel tired sir. Please? Are Neville and Hermione okay? That spell was awful, but I don’t think it went right. I mean, the green light bounced right back and hit that man! Is he okay?”
Filius had to sit down next to Potter. He felt a bit dizzy all of a sudden.
Minerva, finished with her message, came over to check on her ward. “Are ye alright? Your head? Oh dear, and you Filius? Are ye are alright? Why don’t ye both go down to the infirmary. Here, Sinestra, Take Potter and Flitwick with ye. I can’t form words right now Potter, but we’ll talk.”
“Please ma’am, call me Harry. And I’d like that.”
She’d heard what the boy said about the confrontation, but her mind couldn’t comprehend it. No wonder Albus sent the boy to live with the muggles! Easier to do that, than confront what had happened that terrible Halloween.
At least she had no desire to do any such thing with Harry, except get him seen. “Oh, and call that Greengrass boy back. I want a full healer workup.
“Filius? Please, stay with the boy until I get there. Oh my! What a time for Albus to be gone. Juniper?”
The head elf of Hogwarts popped in.
“Please ward this corridor until the aurors get here. No one, not even Albus, is to disturb anything there.”
Filius offered Severus a drink from a small flask. The grog was not something he drank often or on duty, but a sip would work for both calming and pepping up.
Severus jumped a bit, looked at the downed dark lord, and growled. “You said there was an intruder to take care of, Headmistress?”
Disregarding his turn of phrase, Minerva was Boudicca incarnate. She was ready to face whatever danger awaited.
“Fawkes! Take Severus and I to Gryffindor!”
She had no idea that she was about to run into yet another ‘dead’ person in Gryffindor tower. A living, if recently beat up, Peter Pettigrew.
**OO**
There were many scowls seeing the unwanted Death Eater in their common room, but the older students noticed that his entire demeanor had changed.
Ron quickly explained the situation, before he was even asked, “We were just playing chess here in the common room, when my pocket tore open, and Scabbers, my rat, turned into a man. For no reason! And he was sitting on me!”
Percy continued, “I stunned him, but not before several people hit him, thinking he was a danger.”
“Did anyone summon an auror? No? Percy, use the floo in my office, and get Mad-eye up here. Ye know him?”
“Yes ma’am. He actually eats dinner with us. The family I mean.”
“Shows he counts yer parents as friends. Ask him to bring two teams. Severus, could I bother you for a bit of Veritaserum. I can’t help but be curious why an old Marauder like him would fake his death, and masquerade as a child’s pet for how many years? I remember Percy bringin’ him his first year.”
Ron wanted his moment of fame. “Oh, he had him first; Percy found him when he was five!”
Severus observed, “Ten years; that tracks. Dittany? Please, meet me with my kit in Minerva’s office. No need to traumatize the children any further with whatever exploits this person has been up to.”
The administrator added a few bindings on the animagus, and stunned him again just to be sure.
Turning to the other Prefects she requested, “Please escort any children overtly affected to the infirmary, otherwise keep the rest here until we can get some additional healers here from St Mungos. Understood?”
At the acknowledgement, she cast mobilicorpus on the rat animagus and with the potions master, started to make their exit.
At the door, Snape turned to the assembled Gryffindors. “I think you will find Potions classes greatly changed from what they have been. I have been released from something that was comparable to an imperius. I will likely explain more later. Prefects? You may gently summon my personal elf Dittany to relay any food or drink requests to the kitchen until the lockdown is lifted.
“You had an unknown wizard show up unexpectedly. All of you responded in a manner that befits the bravery of your house. Ten points. Each.”
A returning Percy couldn’t help it. He started to clap. “Thank you, sir. And good luck!” The rest of the house joined in the applause.
Minerva remembered, and asked Percy to check on Neville and Hermione to make sure they were there. And send them to the infirmary if so.
Just then, the two first years came running. “Professor! Professors! We need help!”
“Fash yerselves, students. All will be well. Mr Wood? I mean Angus? Can you please escort these two to the infirmary? Bless ye for learning the patronus.”
Turning back to Neville and Hermione, she gently explained, “Mr Potter will already be there to meet ye. Go along now!”
The professors continued to Minerva’s office, a little smile appeared on the cat animagus’ face.
‘Good. When I do take over, I don’t have to immediately fire our resident potions master.’ She thought to herself.
Wishing to be in three places at once, she happily accepted the truth serum from Severus.
What she was about to do was illegal for the Ministry . But she had to know what this man had been up to in her school.
**OO**
Minerva couldn’t believe what she’d been hearing. Other than petty theft, the rat had stayed with the Weasleys for the food! Well, and to be in the family of an Order member and keep an eye open for the Dark Lord to return.
She was grateful that she had turned the rat over to Alastor Moody, as within minutes of the respected auror’s leaving, Minister Fudge himself showed up.
“What is this nonsense I’ve been hearing? Dark lords and three-headed dogs? Peter Pettigrew running around? Where’s Dumbledore?” Fudge demanded.
Minerva had dealt with this poser when he was a teenager trying to get a date; he had no power to ruffle her feathers. “Minister Fudge, you are always welcome at Hogwarts. How nice to see you.”
The wizard blushed at his bad manners, and pulled off his hat, “I apologize, Minerva. Do you know where Dumbledore is?”
The woman pointed to a chair in front of her desk,“Shall I call for refreshments? Oddment? Tea please?”
Once delivered, she poured the ill-dressed wizard a cup just how he preferred before pouring her own. “Albus told me that he was heading to the Ministry to remove me as Harry Potter’s guardian. I presumed that he was there, but he still isn’t back.”
“The boy should never have been put with muggles. Lucius offered to take the Potter lad in…”
“I am a witch of House Potter, in good standing, Minister. I was James’ godmother, or did you forget that? I know that I was on the Potter will. And no. When James was setting it up, he would ne’er have muggles on it. Never! Please tell me that you’re not takin’ any of Albus’ babblings seriously?” Minerva’s eyes narrowed, pinning him to his chair.
Minerva didn’t know why, but the minute that Albus was at the Ministry, Hogwarts had transferred the wards to her. Something that she thought that Albus had done while he was absent. He had done so before. The castle lent her a bit of power, and sitting on her chair, looking at the Minister, he felt he had made a mistake in coming here.
Cornelius sipped his tea, and was worried for a moment that he was about to earn another detention from this woman. Then he remembered he was not only out of school, he was the leader of their world! Well, at least in Britain.
“Of course, Professor. You would make a fine guardian. I’m sure Lucius will have his hands busy with just the one boy. And you’ll be very busy at school. The boy won’t be out and about until he’s older.” Clearly the Minister was talking himself into her point of view.
“Thank ye for stopping by. Now, I have some things to take care of. Oh, and please let me know when Sirius Black is getting a trial. Clearly, he either ne’er had one to begin with, or was put into Azkaban for nefarious purposes.”
“Black, yes, well. I will have to…don’t want to make the Ministry look foolish.” Said the man with the lime green bowler.
“I’m sure the Ministry can survive a bit of truth. Think of the photograph for the paper. You and I standing proudly with the Boy-Who-Lived and his sworn godfather. As long as it's a fair trial, there’s nothing to worry about. Or it might just be the three of us if he’s guilty. But if he’s not, you become the child’s hero. That is something Dumbledore could never become.” Minerva shared.
“Yes, well. I’ll…get that arranged, and of course you’ll be my special guest. You and the boy-who-lived. Good, good. Thank you for working with me in this endeavor, Professor. Well, I need to find Dumbledore, and find out what he’s been up to. Good day.”
Minerva nodded, and went about her multiplied tasks. She promised herself to stop using the time turner tomorrow; just as soon as she got a bit of sleep, got caught up on everything on her desk, and finally had that talk with Harry Potter!
She never did worry about Albus, as he was constantly disappearing for days, weeks or even months. The woman touched base with the various aurors in the castle, rearranged priorities, and went to see Harry sooner rather than later.
**OO**
Fudge searched for Albus in a night-quiet Ministry, never thinking of asking an elf for help. He hadn’t checked everywhere, just the obvious places before giving up, leaving a note at his secretary’s desk to summon Albus for early the next morning, and went home.
What neither Fudge nor McGonagall knew was that Albus had been kidnapped. Well, birdnapped.
**OO**
Minerva had no idea that Fawkes had grabbed Albus from the Ministry as his wand was being tested, and flamed him to a cell in Azkaban – the high security section. He was left there with only his emergency portkeys, a partial bag of lemon drops, and no wand. At all.
And the portkeys wouldn’t work through Azkaban wards!
He did worry about his wand. It gave him power. The Elder Wand. The school wards too gave him power, and he couldn’t feel them. He should be able to, even from here. Oh no! Was that dementors? He had never been able to do many things wandlessly. Just a few parlor tricks. Certainly nothing as demanding as a patronus. No!
Memories flooded him; one of casting the fidelius for James and Lily, making a marked Death Eater the secret keeper. He saw Arianna’s death over and over as another hit. Gellert rejecting him for the love of a woman. It was awful! All of it.
But there was no reasoning with the monsters of Azkaban.
The eternal bird wanted Justice – for Harry, for Hagrid, for Severus. All of the people Albus had hurt with his manipulations.
And maybe even a bit of justice for a little boy that might not have been a dark lord if Dumbledore had tried to help him, and show him love.
**OO**
When Minerva made her way to the infirmary, it was to find Severus making a list for Poppy.
“Headmistress. I have potions to make for Harry and Neville. And before you scold, please know that both boys requested that I call them by their first names.”
Hermione piped up, “Me too! Oh, it’s happening again. Sorry! It’s the potions. I will try to be quiet now.”
“How are they?” Minerva asked.
Harry giggled, “We’re fine ma’am. Just fine. I got an owl message here. Isn't it great that we use owls? Hedwig is so amazing. You’re my new guardian, officially. Thank you ma’am. Thank you.”
“I think the medicine to dim the trauma is reacting badly to the calming draught. They’re all a little loopy right now.” Severus explained.
“I’m keeping them here. Are the aurors gone? With their treasures?” Poppy asked.
Neville giggled. “Voldemort was all ‘I’m King of the World’ with that crown. Didn’t wear it long now, did he?”
Hermione and Harry shouted. “Nope!” in unison. And they all giggled again.
“Where are Neville’s Gran and Miss Granger’s parents?” Minerva asked.
“Please call me Hermione too, ma’am.” Hermione requested with good cheer.
“Parents? Well, guardians? I knew I was forgetting something.” the matron admitted.
“In the morning, Poppy. Please delegate, and get that arranged for tomorrow. The children are in no danger now. Let’s cancel classes tomorrow, that will give us the weekend. Find out who saw what, clear the air. I will not be able to teach for a time…”
“I know the contact floo for the ICW Education Department.” Severus offered.
“Well done, Mr Snape. Twenty points to Slytherin. That gives me an idea. Miss Tonks was a genius at Transfiguration. Even if it is just for a few days, we should get her here to teach at least the younger years while we recover from this…event.”
She then went to sit next to Harry, and just read to all three children for a bit. This helped them relax enough to sleep.
Her elf brought her tea, still warm in its cup, and the woman took two minutes to look at her godson’s son, and just enjoy a moment of peace after a day of chaos.
**OO**
The next morning, Mad-Eye Moody came into the infirmary. He left Pettigrew transfigured as a ferret in a cage. Since it wasn’t his natural form, he couldn't escape.
Once the rat was convicted, Moody planned on transfiguring him into something larger that couldn’t easily escape Azkaban. Or maybe just changing him into a rat, and leaving him in an unbreakable cage.
Alastor planned to ask the young ones for ideas of what they would do to keep the rat trapped.
Mad-eye introduced himself, and got all three children’s statements about what had happened. He took a memory, but the potions they had been given made it nearly impossible to watch. He had been warned by Minerva, and took a calming draught before talking to the children.
“That crown has recently had a nasty bit of magic in it. We’re going to be sending a curse breaker here to make sure you’re alright. But Healer Greengrass knows his stuff.”
“He’s been here sir. No dark magic. At all.” Hermione nodded.
With that, the older wizard handed out presents that the aurors had gotten the trio, and included a gift basket of treats for them to share. They all clapped, and acted younger than they normally would, as they still had potions in their system.
At least they didn’t sound so loopy.
“Thank you, sir. It’s nice to meet you.” Harry shook his hand.
Neville and Hermione too exchanged handshakes with the famous dark wizard catcher.
“I’m not in trouble, am I sir?” Harry asked.
“Nay Potter. If he’d lived, he would likely have been executed for treason. Good job. You might want to look up classes you’ll need to be an auror. You’d be a good one.”
“Once I trained up a bit?” Harry asked a bit cheekily. “Thank you sir. I want to learn everything .”
**OO**
Classes had been canceled but the hadn’t been released from the infirmary until nearly dinner.
“Harry? Do you want to go through your trunk? Look through those books you got?” Neville suggested.
Hermione wanted to see new books too, but none of the three of them were anxious to go near where Voldy had been. Not that they could yet.
It was still being processed, and the castle elves didn’t want any students upset. Well, more than they already were.
Back in Harry and Neville’s dorm room, the three friends sat on Harry’s bed. Inside the stack of books there were several expensive and rare tomes. One was for potions interactions that hadn’t been published in years.
Apparently, permission of the owner of the copyright was needed in order to print more.
“Harry!” Hermione practically screeched. “House Potter! Fleamont Potter wrote this book for his potions classes. They need your permission to print this again!”
Harry looked at the book, and pulled out the catalog from the second hand shop that specialized in rare books.
“Hermione? This cost a hundred galleons when it was first printed. It was meant to be a library resource. Now? They go for ₲2,000. At fifty galleons per pound, that’s still…”
“Backwards sir. Fifty pounds per galleon .” Hermione corrected, going through the History Book that was self updating, and had more than goblin rebellions. “At last! An explanation of the Wizengamot!”
“No way! That would be a hundred thousand pounds! I wonder how much normal textbooks cost? There has to be a cheaper way to mass produce books.” Harry mused.
Neville made some notes. “Buying your own magical press?”
Hermione looked through the book, “Look Neville, Harry. None of the pictures move; there is just print. I think this book could be done as fiction, you know? At a normal publisher. Print your own?”
Harry didn’t understand what she meant, but Hermione made a note to write to her mother.
“She was just here! I should have…no, I didn’t know about this book yet. I can ask her to look it up how to get this republished for me. For you” Hermione offered.
“In return, you can use this book. But only in this room or the common room.” Harry offered. “I really don’t want to lose it.”
Hermione squealed, and hugged Harry.
He froze completely.
“Harry? Harry? Oh no! Did I hurt you?” Hermione worried.
“Was that a hug? Is that what it’s supposed to feel like? All warm and nice and…warm?” Harry asked.
Hermione blushed red, but was saved by a white avian at the window.
“Hedwig! She’s here to take your letter, Hermione.” Harry informed her, petting the smart owl, and letting her know just how brilliant she was.
Neville shook his head, reaching for the Herbology text. “Oh, oh! This is gorgeous! This one has magical pictures, but is also out of print.” He looked on the back, and saw Harry’s great grandmother’s name as the owner of the copyright.
“Potter? You will republish this, just as soon as possible, right?” Neville demanded.
“Yes, sire. Anything you say, sire.” Harry bowed, but saw Neville frowning. “Too soon?
“Just a bit. Give me a couple of weeks.” Neville asked.
“When we do get into the…” Hermione looked around and whispered. They all agreed they had to keep the room a secret.
The boys nodded.
“There are going to be rare books. What do you say? If the copyright has expired, we could publish old books. Have our own bookstore.” Hermione’s vision was just starting.
Harry nodded, “I like it, I do. But we also need to repair that junk and sell it for real money so we can buy food.”
“Why not sell things for gold, and exchange for muggle money. My Uncle Algie is complaining how the Ministry has rules about buying overstock of muggle money at the bank. They always have too much.”
“But don’t magicals eat regular food?” Harry asked. “I could swear that I saw a guy in a purple cloak in Little Whinging once who waved at me. I wanted to ask him who he was, but he disappeared. I would like to have had his help.”
Neville patted Harry’s arm. The trauma was bringing up old trauma, just as Healer Marius predicted. Right, focus on the positive. “Except for dirigible plums, and other magical fruits and vegetables, most magical families eat regular food. You don’t see flying cows here, now do you?”
Hermione looked up from her reading with alarm, “Is that a thing?”
Neville laughed and shook his head. “No, I was using it as an example of what we don’t have.”
Harry was back to smiling. “ So, we can sell things for gold or sterling, and buy food with the regular money and sell it for gold.”
Neville shook his head in confusion. “Wait, I thought we were going to buy food with muggle…oh, right. That’s going to take some time for all of us. I think of gold as normal, you think of, what is it? Stones, no pounds as normal.”
Hermione was writing down ideas, as was Harry. They needed to overcome their fears before they graduated, and get into the Come and Go room long enough to reprint any out-of-date books.
**OO**
A peek of the future…
Later on, before third year, when Harry was trying to decide his electives, he approached the headmistress and asked a favor.
“Ma’am? Have you seen any old houses with attics, and the really old ones have tons of furniture? Some broken, old, worn out.”
“Yes, Harry. I’m guessing you found Hogwarts furniture attic?”
The handsome young wizard nodded, “Yes ma’am. I was thinking. If I brought this stuff down to the old dueling room, we could spread out. Have firsties practice their reparo. Older students could practice color or other charms. Fix things up. Sell them in a shop. You know that Sirius bought that shop in Hogsmeade. He wanted to put a prank store in there, but the city council won’t let him compete with Zonko’s.”
“A second hand store? With students clerking there, during the summers at least. Maybe weekends. I like it.”
“I thought profits could be shared with one third going to Hogwarts for the stuff to begin with, one third to the fixer, and one third to the shop to pay people.”
The Headmistress pondered, and disagreed ameliably, “Half to the shop, and a quarter each to the fixer and Hogwarts would be more than fair.”
“You knew!” Harry accused.
“The castle knows, and also knows that none of ye are thieves. Well done, m’lad. Now. What do ye need to get started?”
Harry tilted his head. “I’ll get with Neville and Hermione, and we’ll let you know. Oh, Fred and George will likely ask to work with us, just to earn some pocket money.”
“Keeping the twins out of the castle during their OWL year? And offering a job or jobs to others? I’m proud of ye, son. I am.”
“Thank you, professor. See you at dinner.” Harry winked, snatching another biscuit from the plate as he stood.
“Scamp. See you then.”
Professor McGonagall had only given him rare hugs and smiles, but her approval made his heart sing.
Oh! And maybe the shop could sell some of the self-published books that didn’t need magical pictures.
Everyone was clamoring for more of those.
**OO**
Back to Hogwarts, Harry’s first year…
With Pettigrew’s capture, it should have been easy for the Ministry to admit there was a mistake. It took time, a few blackmail threats, a few more bribes in terms of public appearances which Harry had suggested. In all, Sirius Black was finally freed.
Finding Voldy’s old wand on Pettigrew was just one of the many reasons the rat gained a one way ticket through the veil.
The man who had set him up to be the Potter’s secret keeper, who arranged for Harry to be kept ‘humble’, and had done a myriad of other crimes had been found at the prison, and returned to the Ministry for a trial.
He was given a one-way ticket back to the holiday paradise of Azkaban.
There was one complication. Pettigrew’s capture would mean that McGonagall’s guardianship was about to be challenged. By the person it helped the most.
Sirius Black.
So, Minerva did what she does, and compromised.
**OO**
The castle added a suite of rooms next to hers with a door connected to Harry’s bedroom, but not her suite.
She had to endure that Marauder for seven years. She wasn’t inviting pranks into her life and private rooms.
After some health treatments, Sirius was offered to teach the lower years potions. Which meant that Severus and Sirius had to get along.
It wasn’t long before Remus Lupin, aka Moony, was also brought on staff to teach DADA. Remus was going to be staying in a warded dungeon basement somewhere safe on the nights of the full moon.
Severus and Sirius would publicly duel to see who got the privilege of substituting for him, and turned it into quite a learning experience for the student audience. No dangerous spells were allowed, though after the duck suit with pink tutu and ballet slippers, Filius decreed that there would be no more prank spells that embarrassed anyone.
Severus pouted at that, and tried to argue that Sirius was cute in that get up.
Snape really had been cursed to be nasty to Gryffindors, and highly toxic to everyone. Somehow, the Dark Lord had found out that Severus had betrayed him, and was trying to get him fired. And away from the safety of Dumbledore’s protection. But then he’d killed the Potter parents, and tried to kill Lily Potter’s son.
Making the mistake not once, but twice. Well, he was out of chances. No more coming back for Moldyshorts, as Harry called him.
School settled down, as much as a magical school for preteens and teens could.
Our young heroes learned love, laughter, and how to run away from pranks.
Fred and George named their firstborn children after Moony and Padfoot. Which would have been okay, except Fred’s first child was a little princess, and Angelina was Not Amused.
But that too was in the future.
**OO**
Yule break, train ride to London
Neville sat on the train home for Christmas. With a matching wand, and doing lots of spells everyday, the boy was fit, trim, and ready to celebrate Yule with his family and friends.
“Doing anything special for Christmas this year, Harry?” Hermione asked gently, knowing it was going to be the first with his extended family. People who liked him.
“Yes I am, Hermione. I'm going to revise my notes, read up for next term, get all of my homework done…”
“Prat!”
“Hey! The Headmistress of the school is my guardian! Do you think I want to be late on anything? Or get an ‘A’ when I should get at least an ‘EE’?” Harry asked.
Neville and Hermione shared a look, before the young witch sighed, “You’re right Harry.”
“Gotcha! Padfoot. Moony and I are going snowboarding, and doing something boring on Boxing Day.”
Neville stuck his tongue out at that, as it was his family inviting them both to Cherry Hill for a family party.
And Christmas would be a good one for them all. Harry didn’t mind riding the train, only to turn around, and return to Hogsmeade. They were going to get a Christmas tree, and decorate it. His very first that he remembered.
The holiday was wonderful, as was the rest of term. In fact…
They all lived happily ever after.
-fin-
**OO**
*Grog was used without permission, found in RobSt’s Harry Crow. My first ever fanfic, and one of the best ones I have ever read. Please read if you haven’t!
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8186071/1/Harry-Crow