Friday 23rd December 1988.
Albus Dumbledore arrived with a resounding crack, the air peeling forcibly away as his body burst into place.
With a subtle shift of his eyes, he noted all the people up the Alley turning to look at the source of the sound as it echoed its way to the Leaky Cauldron entrance, awe evident on most of their faces. Normal people didn't apparate into the centre of the Alley itself, let alone do it so forcefully.
Years of practice kept his face from betraying the slightly guilty joy he felt from being looked at with such reverence, and with a turn on the heel of his buckled boot, he beheld the towering marble monstrosity that had caused him so much difficulty over the past several decades.
Albus tucked his beard into his belt and straightened the most garish pair of robes he owned and ascended the stairway with a speed that belied his age. Not even pausing to acknowledge the scowling guards, he swept loudly into the wide atrium and once more every eye in range turned to him.
In the early days following the war and his old friend's defeat, such staring had made him uncomfortable. People looked at him with awe and a glimmer that he soon learned was their desire for him to protect them from themselves.
He had naturally shied away from such attention, but through his many years had come to see the wisdom in it. He was one of the oldest, certainly the wisest, and undoubtedly most powerful magical beings alive. He had decades of experience in so many fields that he was easily considered the foremost expert in a great many of them.
Heads of State would often ask his advice and while he always gave it in riddles that left the onus squarely on their own shoulders should it fail, he had gathered even more praise in his years since Grindelwald's defeat than the act itself had garnered him.
And yet, none of that seemed to matter inside these walls. While witches and wizards looked on in unconcealed disbelief at seeing the pinnacle of their kind standing before them in all his glory, the other occupants were not so pleased.
Every goblin eye in the atrium was fixed on him. Some bore dark expressions that made him wonder just how depraved the mind of a goblin might be. There wasn't a guard in the space that hadn't tightened their grip on their weapons and shifted to have a better line to his position.
In their minds, his relationship with one who had so harmed them made him their enemy as well. He was sure that it was only the treaty with the Ministry itself that kept them from acting on it.
With the same centred state that kept him from smiling at the worship of his general public, Albus quashed the desire to scowl at the little mongrels in return. It was they who had wronged him. Taken his heart from him after he had already broken it himself.
But that was irrelevant today.
He had business here far more important than his many years of antagonism with the Nation. Word had reached him much faster today and he had immediately leapt into action. No scrying spell was needed when seven of his most trusted portraits could confirm the location for him.
However, when the message had arrived, he had been in a bath, and the time he'd spent dressing his best for today's events had cost him it seemed. Looking to the far end of the Hall he noticed the one group of people not fixed on his entrance. A gathering of Ministry officials appeared to be arguing with the Head Teller.
Knowing his needs today superseded anything the Ministry could be here for, Albus surged forward, keeping his stately appearance right down to the stride and surged through the gathered group, splitting them down the middle with his presence until he reached the now silent desk.
"Greetings, I am here to collect a ward of the state and bring him to Hogwarts, where he can be kept safe," Albus stated, ignoring the whispers now breaking out amongst the assembling crowd behind him.
"As I was just informing the new Minister here, there are no wards of the State currently housed within Gringotts." The scowl on the goblin's face widened as its gaze flickered between Albus and the freshly elected Cornelius Fudge.
Before the reddening Fudge could speak, Albus cut over him. "I have it from the most reliable of sources that young Harry Potter, an unfortunate orphan due to the horrors of the past war, is within these walls as we speak. Under the authority of the Lineage Protection Act passed during said war, I must take the role of his guardian until such time as one can be appointed officially. Given this will be our first meeting, there will be a lot to discuss, so I must ask you to make haste in bringing him forth. I will have little time for idle chatter today."
Albus pulled himself to his full height, which was impressive for a man of his age and allowed his aura to bulge slightly. He could hear the gasps from the assembled Ministry wizards and even Fudge appeared to have lost his building bluster and was looking at him with the typical awe.
"You wizards and your ever-changing laws." The Head Teller grumbled as he ignored Albus and looked at a fresh piece of parchment that had appeared in his In tray with a large black wax seal. He quickly divested the parchment of the seal and his eyes widened as he read the missive.
Albus let his defences lower in order to use his passive mental abilities to try and read the goblin in its clearly shocked state. Whatever was in that missive unnerved the creature far more than his impressive display had, which miffed him slightly at the wasted effort.
"I really must insis…" Albus broke off as a clangour of metal rent the air and grew louder as it approached. Most of the magicals in the atrium drew closer to the high benches, even those assembled in lines waiting their turn shifting away from the open floor. Albus too recognized the sound, though none had seen the sight that accompanied it since the forties.
A full phalanx of armoured soldiers marched loudly into the atrium. Several of the patrons covered their ears at the noise, and others their eyes in fear. Albus was now shifting from annoyance into true anger at the display of strength the goblins were bringing forth.
He was about to turn and give the Head Teller another more forceful piece of his prodigious mind when he was stopped dead by what he saw in the midst of the shining assembly of warriors. A pale young boy with messy black hair.
"Harry, my boy." He called, using his magic to ensure his voice carried over the sound of armour and weapons clashing as the phalanx came to a halt. "What perfect timing. Allow me to introduce myself."
Stepping forward, Albus smiled serenely at the boy as he turned to face him. "My name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin, First Class. Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot of Great Britain. And duly appointed Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards."
Albus laid it on as thick as possible, knowing his full set of titles would impress not just the seemingly scared lad, but his entire audience. "It's so good of the goblins to return you to us now you have been found. As your currently appointed guardian, I shall take you somewhere safe, so that we might become better acquainted."
Finishing with a wide-armed flourish that decades of teaching had taught Albus put children at ease in the presence of strange adults, he watched the lad closely. Harry was the spitting image of his father at that age except for the absence of glasses. Already well on his way to becoming a tall fit young man. He looked well-fed and cared for, except for the typical Potter hair, a trait that had only gotten worse through subsequent generations of that ancient family.
But the thing he couldn't take his eyes off was Harry's own. While his body was every bit James Potter, the eyes staring at him were absolutely his mother's. Not only were they the most incredible green he'd ever seen on a human, but they also held that same analysing quality as hers had. Albus had always felt as though Lily Evans could look right through him, taking extra care in her presence as a result, and her child had the same chilling effect on him now as she had all those years ago.
The boy had not moved an inch since he'd laid that penetrating gaze upon him and Albus suppressed the shudder his body craved as he closed his mental shields against the feeling of intrusion. It would not do for the lad to see his mind if he had been gifted with some natural talent in the mind arts. Although this also kept him from reading the boy at all either, Albus was unconcerned. He would have plenty of time for that later once he had the boy alone. The lad probably knew nothing worth digging for anyway, at his young age. Nothing of what Albus was interested in, at the least.
Harry's head cocked ever so slightly to the side before he pulled his gaze away and Albus let out the slightest breath of relief. While Lily had felt like she could see his thoughts, Harry felt like he was analysing his very soul. As if the child could see his very magic. The boy turned to face the tall goblin to his right and Albus noted Ragnok standing there smirking. He pressed some parchment into the boy's hand and gave a subtle nod.
Resisting the urge to scowl at the meddling old goblin, Albus stepped forward, extending a hand out to young Harry, despite the wall of heavily armed goblins between them. "Come, Harry. We've much to speak about."
Harry looked once more in his direction and Albus ensured he was displaying his friendliest expression. Only for it to shatter into shock as the boy vanished in the sudden swirl of an activating portkey. A growl of frustration rumbled in his chest as Albus stepped forward again only to be greeted by the sharp tips of a dozen poleaxes aimed at his face.
"Where have you sent him goblin? Harry Potter is an orphan of the war, he is my ward and I will not stand here and let you kidnap him."
Albus was furious and allowed his full majesty to show. He had been humiliated by these beasts in front of everyone. But more importantly, his way to the Stone had just vanished in front of his eyes. Taken away from him again by the goblins.
"Where he requested we do so. Now if you don't mind, Mister Dumbledore, I'm a busy goblin. I've no time to deal with your nonsense today." Ragnok signalled the closest warriors to him, those in a different uniform to the rest and turned, heading back towards the opening the army had entered from.
"Ragnok! We're not finished. I demand you tell me where you have sent my ward, or we shall have to sanction the goblins for violation of the treaty."
Albus felt something brush past him and glanced down to see Fudge had resumed his red colouring and was building up his own tirade to throw at the goblin Chief.
"How dare you little monsters. We are the duly appointed representatives of the Ministry of this land. We have the right to take the boy and you will hand him over this instant."
Albus heard Ragnok give a sigh as he turned to face them once more. Though he looked far more resigned than the anger he had expected at having been outmanoeuvred on this matter.
"Your ward doesn't exist. The boy, as you call him, who just left here is the Head of the Potter family." Albus paled heavily. "He was concluding business with Gringotts at his own convenience and had other duties to attend to today. At Gringotts, we respect the wishes of our customers, so long as they back it up with payment. Had we handed him over to you as you are demanding, we would have been aiding in your attempted kidnapping."
Albus was both concerned and livid. He had once more been outplayed by the goblins and this time it had been in public. How could the boy have possibly come into his majority so early? He was only eight years old.
"You shall regret interfering in Ministry matters, goblin," Fudge growled, moving to gather his supporters and head towards the doors to the bank.
"I think not, Minister," Ragnok growled, his skin darkening in what Albus knew to be anger. "Yet again you seem to have come into Goblin territory assuming you had the upper hand. It concerns me that your Ministry keeps allowing you to deal with us when you are clearly not privy to the treaty that binds our two nations.
"Instead of assigning it as reading to some junior assistant to spoon-feed you when needed, you might consider taking the goblin approach and educating yourself. Given it is the backbone of every interaction between our peoples, your continuing ignorance of its contents is becoming insulting. We made it required reading for all goblins in their first year of schooling. So that we never have a teller violate it and start a war."
Fudge deflated like a balloon and yet still tried to bluster and prevaricate his way around the situation. Albus though had no time for this foolish back and forth. He needed information and access to the boy.
"Chief Ragnok," Albus wrenched out, attempting civility. "I would request a meeting with the young Master Potter. There are truly vital matters which I must discuss with him. Urgently."
Ragnok glared at him and it took every bit of his not inconsiderable willpower not to react in kind.
"As Mister Potter has taken his place as Head of his family, and all that such a position entails, he will be a very busy young man for the foreseeable future. But, perhaps we could attempt to arrange a meeting with him on your behalf, for the usual price as an intermediary."
The goblin smiled viciously and Albus took a deep breath to calm himself before responding. "That would be agreeable."
Ragnok nodded in response and the pair both turned away at the same moment. Albus found himself staring at the disbelieving faces of those who had minutes before looked at him as a veritable god among them. Now they saw behind the curtain so to speak. Getting a glimmer of the fact that he wasn't as infallible as they believed.
His day worsened as the low conversation taking place behind him reached his aged ears.
"Remind me to have one of the junior members of the Wizarding Liaison Office contact Mister Potter to arrange Mister Dumbledore's meeting request. Given they never have much to do, what with the incompetence of the current Moronistry, it'll give them some experience in dealing with the better side of wizarding culture."
Albus silently fumed and noticed Fudge doing similar as he gathered his own sycophants and stormed from the building. Albus managed to get himself back under control before following the angry wizard out, wondering how things had gone so wrong, and how he could fix them.
ϟ
Harry was very glad Pops had been at the portkey drop-off point.
Wizards must be a bunch of morons to willingly travel via such a horrible method every day. His head was still spinning wildly when he arrived back in his room at the Manor and Pops guided him over to his bed. He was very grateful that, if the stone now once more securely around his neck ever activated again, he would be unconscious for the nauseating journey.
"Rest, master. We can speak to your parents later." Pops said, snapping his fingers and changing Harry into something more comfortable for sleep as he tucked the covers about him. Something he'd not done in years.
"Thank you, Pops. You're a good elf. I'm proud to call you family." Harry mumbled, causing the elf to blush. "Is Hermione ok?"
"Yes, Master Harry. Rest now." The old elf brushed his unruly hair out of his eyes and Harry felt himself give into the exhaustion he'd been feeling since the ritual had completed, dropping into a deep dreamless sleep.
It was several hours later when he woke with a start to find the room in darkness, indicating just how long he must have slept. Harry found his thoughts full of the image he'd seen upon leaving the bank.
He understood the goblins' desire for him to be publicly seen leaving so that the Ministry wouldn't violate the treaty by arriving to take him with force, but now he had a face to put to his nightmare. A nightmare he'd thankfully been too exhausted to suffer today.
Albus Dumbledore, a man of far too many titles it seemed, and who had an aura about him that Harry immediately mistrusted. Thinking back on the scene he now realised why. The man was drenched in the same magic he had felt pulling at his own a few days earlier.
Dumbledore was indeed the one who had been searching for him.
Today the man had immediately treated him like a stupid child, one he'd been talking to as such for years, despite it being the first time Harry had ever laid eyes on the man. His memory of his first year was splotchy compared to his normal superior recall, but he couldn't ever remember seeing that face before.
The cold blue eyes were devoid of the care and kindness his smiling face had promised and Harry shuddered as he recalled it. How could anyone be so dead inside? He had felt nothing from the old man, and it chilled him.
It left him feeling dirty, and Harry dragged himself into the nearby shower. Hoping the water would help wash away the feeling and the memory. The cold feelings remained, but he felt more able to handle them after cleaning himself down.
With his body more awake, Harry cast his mind back further.
He remembered the urgency with which he had hit the release cluster by the door. Hermione passed out in his arms, unmoving but clearly still alive as he could feel her magic surging inside her. He had been so terrified for his friend that he'd soared through the following conversations on autopilot.
He had wanted to take Hermione and head home right then and there. To have her checked over and treated, but had settled slightly when Mipsy and Nemea had popped her away, promising to take good care of Mistress. He felt so guilty for letting her take on the responsibility of the ritual for him. He had allowed her to be put at risk and she had been hurt as a result.
Harry hurriedly finished his shower and dressed in a rush. He made immediately for the room one door down and across the hall, the closest bedroom to his own.
Pressing open the door, Harry ducked his head inside and saw it was completely dark. Pushing some of his magic into his hand, a dull pale glow emanated from the skin of his palm and allowed him to see his way to the bedside. He took a seat in the chair left nearby and looked solemnly at the pale form of his best friend. The steady rise and fall of her bed cover indicated she was alive, but he would not be truly calmed until she spoke to him once more. There was no telling what damage the ritual might have caused her.
"Stop thinking so loudly, Harry."
He started, nearly slipping off the chair and his magic flared, filling the room with a sudden burst of bright white light from his hand. Harry's eyes hurt as he rubbed them, not considering the fact that the cause of the pain was one of the hands he was using to relieve the annoyance until it surged again and he ended the magic.
"What did you do that for?" Came Hermione's voice from the once more dark room.
Harry rushed to his feet and surged toward the bed, but in the darkness misjudged the distance and collapsed forward when his knees hit the side, his head connecting with a padded knee under the covers.
"For goodness sake, Harry." He heard a firm click and the lights in the room came on.
Harry rubbed his head once more as he rolled onto his side and looked up the bed to see his friend looking at him with her caring brown eyes and a slight smile on her features. She looked like she'd had a bad few days, but she was awake and talking. She was ok.
"How are you feeling?" He asked gingerly, sitting up at the end of the bed.
"I was doing fine until someone tried to blind me and then headbutted my knee." Harry blushed with embarrassment as she smiled at him. "I am not sure what happened though. One second the ritual seemed to be over and the next I woke up here. I'm assuming here is home, it certainly looks like it."
Harry felt a momentary surge of unidentifiable emotion at her words before he nodded. "You passed out when the ritual closed. I think the weight of all the magic on you for so long was taxing. I nearly blacked out myself. Probably would have if you didn't first, but once you fell down the adrenaline kept me going until Pops got me home too."
Hermione nodded at his explanation, her eyes unfocused and he knew she was reviewing her own memories of the events. "So, was it successful then?"
"Appears so. All the paperwork indicates I am now Harry James Potter, emancipated Head of the Potter family, blah blah blah."
Hermione smiled at him once more and Harry felt most of the remaining weight lift from his soul. She didn't seem to blame him for what had happened to her during the ritual.
"Did it feel…" Hermione began, casting her eyes down and wringing her hands. "Did it hurt? I mean… when the third pulse hit. I was so scared, Harry."
He shuffled quickly up the bed and put his arms around Hermione. "Me too. I was mostly scared of what would happen if it failed, but that magic felt so dangerous. I was terrified when it wrapped itself all over me. It was inside me and… I don't really know what I felt, but I don't want to feel it again. It was nice at the end though. And…" Harry trailed off, his cheeks flushed as he recalled the first steps of the ritual.
"Yes. I felt it too, Harry. It seems my magic likes yours. You feel very comfortable." Hermione whispered.
Were Harry not perched against her shoulder he doubted he'd have heard the words, but they filled him with joy. "I felt the same. I feel so safe with you. More so than anyone, even Mipsy."
He felt Hermione nod if anyone could understand just how much that statement meant it was her. The only other person so closely bound to an elf in the way he was.
"Anyways, I'm sure you'd like to have a shower. I felt so much better after washing the day away." Harry stood beside the bed once more, still blushing. After the ritual robes, even mentioning a shower was enough to set his mind whirling on things he was still far too young to be worrying about. "I'll… I'll meet you in the library once you're done."
As he dropped his head in embarrassment, Harry noticed that his rapid dressing hadn't been his finest work, and he blushed even harder. Needing a moment for himself, now that he knew Hermione was safe, Harry gave her hand a quick squeeze and ran out the door.
Ignoring the soft giggle coming from the room behind him.
ϟ
Hermione still felt slightly tired, but Harry had been correct. She felt far better after having her shower and was now back in comfortable familiar clothes.
She smiled to herself as she finished drying her bushy hair, finding it slightly more manageable than usual as she considered something she had said to Harry earlier. As keen as she was to get back to her parents and repair the rift that was forming, she found comfort in the idea she could think of Potter Manor as home as well.
Now finished getting dressed, Hermione walked quickly to the library. As she entered, Hermione found him sitting in front of the usual family painting, eating a large dinner. A second plate had been set beside the other chair and she rushed over and began digging into her own meal, with a slight nod to the smiling figures in the portrait.
"Good to see you both up and eager once more," Charlus commented, drawing a slight blush from both children as their gazes met.
"Finish your dinners. We'll have time to talk when you're done." Dorea added, gently chiding her husband for his cheek.
"I'm finished," Harry replied, setting down his cutlery on the now empty plate, which soon vanished to the kitchen. "I need to tell you all," he paused once more and took a steadying breath. "Dumbledore was there. As I left."
Everyone became still, Hermione pausing with her fork midway to her mouth as they all considered Harry's comment.
"What did he do?" James asked.
"He talked down to me like I was three years old and could barely be expected to tell up from down. And he was cold. There was a smile on his face, but… I couldn't feel any warmth in his eyes."
"You should avoid looking Albus in the eyes, lad. He is a skilled legilimens. His mental abilities are extraordinary for a man of his age." Charlus's voice was firm as he spoke. "It is likely he has similarly powerful mental shields, and you have your mother's penetrating stare. His own shields would have kept any emotion from leaking free."
"Maybe, but he was flexing his aura, too. I could feel it. It's…" Harry trailed off, unable to look up at the painting and Hermione laid her fork aside and moved over to sit with her friend on his chair, snuggling into him. Harry mirrored her movement, pressing himself tightly against her and letting her arms keep him steady. "He's the one who tried to find me. It was his magic I felt pulling on mine."
"All the more reason for us to be wary of him. We still have no idea why he is looking for you." Lily said.
"He said that he was my guardian. That he wanted to take me somewhere safe. I don't trust him. It's not true is it, he can't take me from here?" Harry pleaded at the portrait.
"If the ritual was successful," Dorea asked, watching both children glance at one another before nodding, "then no, Harry. As Head of the family, you hold a different status in law now. You have no guardian. He has no right to take you anywhere against your will."
"Though you're still our little boy. And shall be expected to behave yourself." Lily added, giving him a look both children were becoming well familiar with.
"Yes, mum."
"How was the ritual? Anything unexpected?" James asked.
Both children blushed before Hermione took the initiative. "One of you could have mentioned the whole ritual robe thing. That was very unexpected."
Hermione could feel Harry's skin against her own growing hotter as she spoke. They were both still thoroughly embarrassed by the event.
Several of the family looked down in shock though a few seemed to find their reactions funny.
"I'm sorry, dearie." Dorea apologised. "Rituals weren't something we had considered either of you needing to know about for years. And there are some things that you can forget are not commonplace for some who are new to magic. What about the ritual itself?"
Hermione felt her face redden even further as she recalled how it had felt having Harry's magic wrap about her own, and she knew her friend had matched her for colour. Hermione was regretting her choice to sit by him now as it was making things a lot more difficult to explain.
"It was… good." Harry offered, his voice slightly squeaky.
"Good? How was it good?" James asked with a tinge of amusement in his voice.
"It went exactly as expected. We opened the circle, offered our petition and magic answered." Hermione replied, getting a little aggravated at James. "It was terrifying when it did. I've never felt so judged in my life. I was entirely open to that force and it could see all of me as clearly as I see you all now. I would not call it a fun experience."
"And you, Harry?"
"Like Hermione said, I've never felt so… naked. That force was inside of my being in ways even Mipsy couldn't understand. It was like… the Eyes of the Universe were alone with me in that void and she felt angry. I was scared. I don't think I'd have managed it without…" Harry trailed off and Hermione wrapped him tightly, knowing exactly what he meant.
"I think that's enough talk about the ritual. Has all the paperwork been filed accordingly?" Lily questioned allowing the children to relax slightly.
"Yes. They wouldn't let me go until it was all signed. A goblin took it all the moment the last signature was down and left immediately for the Ministry."
"I expect we'll be seeing a summons of some form or another in the very near future," Charlus said. "Once they've had time to form their rebuttal, that is."
Harry looked slightly worried at the thought they might find some loophole. Hermione whispered into his ear. "I'm with you, Harry Potter. They aren't taking you from me. No one is taking my friend from me."
Harry glanced up at her and smiled, but it faltered after a moment and Hermione felt disheartened. "We have something else to do too. Something urgent."
Hermione wondered what could be so important as those in the portrait discussed possible moves going forward. Harry slid off the chair and took her hand, guiding her from the room before he popped them away from the Manor.
ϟ
The three longest weeks of his life came to an end at last with a truly unmistakable sound in the back garden.
Richard did not wait for them to come to him and rushed out the door, colliding heavily with an object travelling at speed in the opposite direction as he wrapped his arms about it and allowed momentum to carry them both to the slightly damp grass.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean it." Richard sobbed softly into the bushy hair in his face.
"I know, daddy. I'm sorry too. Pops has helped me a lot these past few weeks. I…" Hermione faltered as she tightened her grip on her father. "I'd like to come back home again now, if that's alright."
Richard pulled back from his daughter and lifted her chin so he could look into her brown eyes. His eyes. "It's just not a home when you aren't in it, sweetheart."
Despite the tears in both their eyes, Hermione gave a loud choked laugh as she crushed her father in one of her firmest hugs. Time lost all meaning as Richard let himself exist solely in the embrace of one of the two most precious things in his life. All the anger and fear he'd felt upon learning the truth had long since run out and he'd realised what he had done was frighten away one of his reasons for living. Now she had returned, he would make sure she knew just how much he loved her.
After an indeterminate amount of time, he felt Hermione pull away and he delicately wiped away the gathered tears streaking down her reddened cheeks. "Daddy, can… can Harry stay with us tonight, please?"
Richard glanced over her shoulder and saw Harry standing there, one hand rubbing the other arm and looking every bit the child Richard knew him to be. He turned his focus back to his daughter and cupped one cheek in his hand. "Harry Potter is always welcome wherever his best friend goes."
He knew he'd said the right thing as he felt his daughter trying to squeeze his head from his shoulders. Her grip was so tight. This parenting thing was far from easy, but when you got it right, there was no greater feeling in the world.
And Richard's world was healing nicely once more.