Lily and the other teachers exchanged thoughtful looks. Harry nodded and turned to face the students.
"Malfoy, Zabini and Smith. I find your bloodlines offensive and insulting. I challenge you three to a duel, here… now… Three against one. If I win, you will apologize to every half blood and muggle born in this hall for your inbred stupidity."
Malfoy stood and sneered. "Three against one. Who are you kidding? What if you lose?"
"I won't lose," Harry said simply, and in a tone that caused many people to shudder. It was cold and filled with the promise of pain.
"I accept your challenge, half blood! Name your rules."
"No rules. Use any curse or weapon you want, Malfoy. But I promise you, it won't matter."
People up at the front of the hall moved to the back as Malfoy, Zabini and Smith moved forward. Harry walked to the other side of the hall. As he turned to face them, three curses were sent streaking toward him.
Harry continued to turn and held out one hand. All three curses merged into a single beam of light and came to rest in his hand.
Malfoy's jaw dropped in surprise, while Zabini and Smith quickly cast shields on themselves. Smith, being a Ravenclaw, recognized that he was up against an opponent, the likes of which he had never seen before. Harry bounced the ball of glowing energy in his hand for a moment longer, and then he hurled it back across the hall. Zabini and Smith cringed behind their shields, while Draco tried to dodge. The energy split into three unique balls of blindingly white light and plowed through the shields of the two boys. In each case, the balls came to a halt atop the head of each lad.
The boys froze in their positions and were then lifted off the ground and dragged to the wall where they were held, pinned. Harry held up his hand and three wands appeared in it. Then he walked to the center of the room in front of the head table. He placed the three wands in front of the Headmaster, whose eyes twinkled gaily. Then he turned to face the students.
"Everyone stand up and go to your house tables. Now!" he roared. There was a mad scramble as people ran to the appropriate tables.
"I'm telling you all right now. The next person I catch picking on a half blood or a muggle born will be begging to be expelled and sent home. I will not tolerate it. I didn't tolerate it in my old world and I bloody well won't tolerate it here. From here on in, you will treat each other with respect, or I will burn your power to ash and let you weep and wail as a muggle for the rest of your lives!"
Harry walked as he spoke, waving his arms to emphasize points. Every eye, student and teacher alike, followed him. His aura was clearly visible and he created ripples in the stone with each step. His eyes blazed and people cowered back from the display of power. Finally, he wound down and turned to the three students pinned against the wall.
"The Headmaster will oversee your apology. Your blood isn't what gives you power, gentlemen. Remember that. And you don't have the power to take me on," Harry said.
He turned then and walked to the Gryffindor table. He saw that everyone was cringing away from him, so he sat at the empty end with a sad sigh.
Dumbledore stood and looked around at the shocked students. "I'd like to say that I approve of Mr. Potters statements. We have long let this stupidity about blood color our reasoning. I wholeheartedly support Mr. Potter in this. Now, Harry, if you would release Mr.s Malfoy, Zabini and Smith, please?"
Harry nodded and did nothing visible, but the three students fell to the floor. He reached for a platter of food, trying to ignore the fact that, once again, people were afraid of him. He was startled when someone sat next to him. He looked up to see Ally smiling at him, then he felt someone else sit opposite him. He glanced over to see Hermione smiling shyly. The next thing he knew, a boy sat next to him. Harry knew him.
"Seamus Finnegan," offered the boy as he held out his hand.
"I know," Harry said softly and smiled, taking his hand.
"I can't believe you did that, Harry," Hermione said seriously. "Challenging the three best defense students in the school?"
"Hermione, why don't we put this under that category of things you and I are going to have a long talk about someday? Let's just say that there is nothing they could have done to hurt me and I will not allow someone to be bullied because of their blood."
"But Harry, it's always been that way," she protested.
"Just because it's always been that way doesn't make it right. You know that," he chided gently. He could sense that a number of people were listening to his conversation. "You're the smartest witch I know," he continued. "I bet you know hundreds more spells than Pansy Parkinson. Does that make you better or worse than she is?"
"But the number of spells you know doesn't mean anything," protested Hermione.
"Alright, let's simplify it even more. The Patil twins. Pure Bloods of Indian decent. Why don't we pick on them because they have very dark, almost black, skin?"
"Hey!" came a voice from down the table.
"Hush, Parvati, I'm trying to make a point here," Harry said absently, still intent on Hermione.
"I see what you're saying, Harry. But you can't expect pure bloods to love you just because you know more magic than they do," protested Hermione.
"You're still missing the point. Blood is sometimes used in magic, but blood doesn't influence your magic. Your blood isn't what gives you your power. You can be a pureblood and still be a squib. The magic is irrelevant. It's what you do that defines you, not your blood, or your power."
He sighed then and reached out with his hand. In it appeared a smoky blue orb about the size of a handball. "Do you know what this is, Hermione?" he asked, holding the orb out.
"It's a Merlin's orb," she whispered in awe. "I've never seen one before, but I've read about them."
Harry placed the orb on the table in front of him. "That's right. Now watch. Hey Parvati! Come here for a second," Harry called down the table.
The pureblood witch stood and approached him warily. "Tap the orb with your wand, Parvati."
She looked at him for a moment, and then she glanced up at the head table, where she saw Dumbledore smile and nod at her. Reaching over Harry's shoulder, she tapped the orb and, within seconds, the number seventy-two floated above the orb.
"The number represents the amount of power Parvati has. Seamus, tap the orb with your wand," Harry commanded.
Seamus tapped the orb and a moment later it read seventy-five.
Harry looked around and could see a crowd of students forming. "Parvati, a pure blood, is a seventy-two, while Seamus, a half blood, is a seventy-five. Lavender Brown, tap the orb, you're a full blood."
Lavender's number was seventy. Hermione's number was eighty-four. Ally was a solid eighty-seven. One by one students walked over, even a few Slytherins, and tapped against the orb. Finally, when everyone was done, Dumbledore stood and walked over to tap the orb. His number was one hundred and ninety seven.
"There you have it," Harry said. "Most of you range from mid sixties to the low eighties. There are pure bloods in the mid sixties and muggle born in the low eighties and vice versa. Blood doesn't make you stronger. Spells don't make you stronger. A very wise man once told me we aren't our magic. We are defined by the choices we make. What you do withyour magic is what makes you, not your blood and not your magic," Harry said, addressing a now quiet hall.
"Harry, you didn't show us your number," said a voice from the Ravenclaw table.
"Yeah! Touch the orb," said another voice.
"I think, perhaps, that is quite enough for this evening," interrupted Dumbledore. "Prefects, please escort your students to their houses."
Harry shot Dumbledore a grateful look and he banished the orb back to its dimensional cubbyhole.
He then stood and began to follow the students from the Great Hall when he felt a hand land upon his shoulder. He turned to see Dumbledore smiling at him.
"Harry, I dare say you are filled with surprises. I think you changed some minds tonight and got others thinking," said Dumbledore.
Harry ducked his head in acknowledgment of the statement. "I hope so, Headmaster. If I can convince some of them that they're wrong, then it is worth the effort."
"Quite so, Harry. Now, off you go. Classes begin tomorrow."
Harry nodded and moved towards his apartment.
Slytherin Common Room…
Ginny Weasley sat in the Slytherin common room and scowled at the fire. Both her and her brother had been shown up by a half blood and he had made it look incredibly easy! But that wasn't what was bothering her the most. What bothered her the most was what Potter had accomplished at the Feast.
He had single handedly defeated the three best duelers in the school and, as far as she could tell, he hadn't even cast a spell to do it! And then he had the gall to produce a rare training device and demonstrate that blood had little to do with magic levels.
"Don't make me do this, Gin," Harry said with pain filled voice.
"You won't get away with this, whoever you are," snarled Ginny.
"You may not know who I am, but I know who you are not. You are not my Ginny," Harry said sadly, his eyes filling with tears.
My Ginny? What did he mean by that? What could he have meant? And why the tears?
Potter, a cross dimensional traveler. He wouldn't know me, she thought. And then it hit her. Of course! He would know my counterpart in his world! It was obvious now. He had some sort of relationship with my counterpart! She shuddered at the thought of letting a half blood touch her, and then stopped to reconsider.
According to the Daily Prophet, Potter was the single richest wizard in the world, bringing to this world the entire Potter and Black fortunes. And he was moderately famous, plus he was more powerful than anyone she had ever seen before. Add to that that fact that he was incredibly handsome and well built, and perhaps being with a half blood wasn't that bad after all.
The Weasley family was pure blood, but had little else going for it. An alliance between herself and Potter would give her access to money, power and fame. Perhaps she should talk to her father about tendering an offer of marriage?
The Next Day…
"Mr. Potter, please remain after class."
Harry sighed and put his book bag down. "Yes, Professor," he said.
Lily waited until the last of her Ancient Runes students filed out of the class room before turning to Harry with a frown.
"Harry, I know that some of this is new to you, but in the future, I would hope you would refrain from picking duels! I nearly died of a heart attack last night!" Lily exclaimed.
Harry looked down at this hands for a moment, then he smiled and looked up at Lily. When she saw his look, she placed both hands on her hips, getting angrier.
"Just what is so funny young man?" she said, then she shook a finger under his nose.
"No one ever cared enough to yell at me like this before. It's scary, but somehow comforting as well," he said in a whisper.
Lily's anger instantly faded into the background and she moved to sit in a chair facing him.
"I'm sorry, Harry…"
"Don't be, Mum. I shouldn't have done that, but I was so mad at what I saw happening around me that I didn't think," he replied, interrupting her apology.
"Very well then, what is this about you putting the Weasley boy in the infirmary?"
Harry frowned. "He's lucky I decided to let him live, Mum. He was about to sexually molest Hermione."
"Harry, these incidents…"
Are going to stop, or I'll start turning the pure bloods to muggles. That wasn't an idle threat I made. Look, Mum, I have always hated bullies, perhaps because I was bullied myself when I was growing up. There are few people I will protect with my life if necessary, you and Ally are two. Hermione is another. I know she's not the same person I knew, but she's darn close and I want to learn who this Hermione is."
Lily looked at Harry shrewdly for a moment, her eyes narrowing. "Besides Ginny, you also loved Hermione, didn't you?" she asked softly.
Harry looked down at his hands again. "Maybe, yes, no… Oh, I don't know. I had two friends who were close enough that I thought of them as family. Ron Weasley and Hermione. Ron loved her. So I did nothing about her and eventually she went with Ron. They became engaged after I killed Voldemort. I confessed my feelings to them both in a parting letter. I only hope they're mature enough to stay together."
"And you think that maybe you have a chance with this Hermione?" she prompted gently.
"Maybe," he whispered. "I don't know. It's too soon yet. But I know I want her friendship. I know I need that much from her. I'll always need her friendship."
Lily smiled and hugged him to her. "She's a very nice girl and I think she's always needed a good friend like you, too."
"I hope so," he replied wistfully.
"I know you have a free period next, so tell me about the runes for your trunk?" she asked him gently.
Harry's eyes lit up and he began to describe the alterations and changes he had made in the trunk.
Defense Against the Dark Arts Class…
During the week before the start of the term Harry had sat down with his Godfather for a long talk. He had offered to give Sirius the Black fortune he had brought with him, but Sirius turned him down. Harry's gift of the ring was enough to allow Sirius access to his family vault here, and there was more than enough money in that vault as far as Sirius was concerned.
It was during his conversations with Sirius that Harry had learned that Remus Lupin had been killed shortly after Harry's death in this world. Remus had cornered Peter Pettigrew and, in the ensuing fight, both men died. Harry grilled Sirius intensely on the subject. He wanted to be absolutely certain that Pettigrew was dead and hadn't simply snuck off, leaving a piece of himself behind. Sirius assured him that there had been two bodies and Pettigrew had been positively identified by himself, Lily and James.
Sirius was a bit unhappy that Harry wasn't a rule breaker for the sake of pranks, but he was thrilled to discover that he was an expert in defense. He appealed to Dumbledore and managed to get Harry assigned to him as his defense assistant. The added title meant that he would help Sirius in some of his classes, and he would also help with the dueling club.
Harry stood along the back wall of the Defense class and winked at Hermione when she entered the room. His expression froze when some other familiar faces entered. Ron Weasley walked through the door, laughing at something Draco Malfoy had said.
Sirius coughed and stood up from behind his desk. Everyone quickly found himself or herself a seat. "Starting this year, sixth and seventh year students will be tested like never before. Thanks to Mr. Potter, we have some unique and highly rare training tools that we will be able to use. Just having access to a Merlin's orb is a wonderful tool."
Sirius then launched into a lecture about how training aides could be useful in helping people improve their abilities. As he walked in front of the class, his outfit slowly morphed into a chicken suit with bright yellow feather. But he took no notice of it until he noticed the whole class laughing.
Sirius shot Harry a suspicious look, but continued his lecture.
Head Boy's Apartment…
Over the next week, Harry made it clear to all the students that his door was always open. Pansy, the Head Girl, much preferred to hold court, while Harry simply enjoyed the company of the people who came to visit him for advice, help with class work, or because they felt safe around him.
Harry cemented his reputation in the school when he came up against several fifth year mixed blood students picking on a first year pure blood. He had stopped them, and made them apologize. Word quickly got around that he would treat anyone with respect, regardless of his or her blood affiliation. Even the pure blooded began to think of Harry as a friend they could turn to.
Like he had predicted, many of the pure bloods weren't into tormenting others. They'd just gone alone with their fellows to fit in. Once Harry had shown them that being a pure blood didn't necessarily mean they were better, a lot of people began to moderate their behavior.
Every evening, Harry would do his homework in the small sitting room his apartment offered, and the room was usually filled with students coming and going. A few students, like Ally and Hermione, were fast becoming fixtures there. Others moved in and out as Harry helped them.
He was quickly learning that this Hermione was still a different person than his Hermione. She was every bit as smart as he remembered, but she was influenced by six years of school, where she was put down as a muggle born witch. Her confidence had been greatly boosted when she saw her numbers from the Merlin's orb. But she still had a long way to go before she felt equal to some of the others at Hogwarts.
And while she was quickly coming into her own, there were a few issues about Harry that bothered her greatly. He knew all the signs coming from her. He waited until Saturday, when they were alone, before he finally confronted her.
"Alright, Hermione, you might not like this, but I know you better than you think and I know you are dying to ask me some questions. I've arranged for a few hours where we'll be alone, so ask them. I don't promise to answer everything, but if I can, I'll try," he told her.
She was surprised, but didn't waste any time. Nodding in acknowledgment, she bent down and pulled out a piece of parchment from her book bag. Harry chuckled when he realized she had written down a list of questions.
"Tell me about the Hermione you know, Harry," she said softly.
"She's a lot like you, smart as a whip and staggeringly beautiful. She and I became best friends in our first year when I helped save her from a mountain troll. She's less shy and more sure of herself than you are but, basically, you're pretty much the same person."
Hermione blushed during his answer and jotted some notes down on her parchment. "Why didn't you touch the Merlin's orb at the welcoming feast?"
Harry sighed and reached out with a hand, pulling the orb from its holding place and putting it on the table. "Do you remember the numbers people had, Hermione?" he asked her softly.
She thought for a moment. "Yes, the highest number was one hundred ninety seven and the lowest was sixty five. So I assume it's on a scale of one to two hundred?"
Harry shook his head. "No, the scale has no upper limit. If I had touched the orb in front of everyone, most of the students would have been either terribly jealous or terrified of me."
"Harry?" she asked in alarm, "how can it be that bad?"
She looked startled when she heard him mutter under his breath, "Please don't be afraid of me."
Harry reached over and touched the orb after activating the charm. The orb vibrated a moment before the numbers appeared over the orb and she gasped. Four thousand eight hundred and ninety eight!
"Legend has it that Merlin himself was a solid one thousand," he told her quietly.
"What are you?" she whispered.
He flinched away from her. When she realized what her question sounded like, she cringed. "I didn't mean…"
"I know," he said sadly, interrupting her. "But to answer your question, in my world, Voldemort didn't die when he tried to kill me as an infant. In fact, we both survived. Though he lost his body, his spirit remained. I was fated by prophecy to have the power needed to kill him. And kill him I did, but only after I lost most of my friends, all of my family… everyone I loved and nearly everyone who loved me… I am an Elemental Mage who wants to live in peace with his family…" He trailed off.
"Didn't you wonder why I use a staff most of the time? Even Dumbledore doesn't use a staff. I own a wand, but rarely touch it because I can cast spells wandlessly and just as powerfully as with my wand."
She shook her head, trying to keep up with his sudden topic change. She was surprised to see tears rolling down his cheeks. "Hey… I'm sorry, Harry… I didn't mean to make you cry," she said, shaken by his revelations and his tears.
Harry looked away and angrily wiped at his tears, then he turned back to her and tried to smile. "It's alright, it was in another life," he replied, trying to shrug it off.
Hermione found herself strangely moved by him. He controlled truly frightening amounts of power, but also had a quality about him that made him endearing at the same time.
"Was I one of the friends you lost?" she asked.
Harry smiled and shook his head. "No. When I left, you were happily engaged to be married and were living with your intended's family. I waited until I knew you would be alright before leaving."
"And your Ginny?"
"She's dead. There and here," he spat, his anger and grief evident in his voice. He stood and paced the room.
She waited until he passed her and she reached out to grab his hand. Startled, he looked down at her and saw a myriad of emotions on her face, shock, fear, pity and finally resolve as she settled down, determined to help her new friend.
"You loved your Ginny and the one here is too different?"
Mutely, he nodded at her.
"Harry, many of the pure bloods have come to realize their mistake now that you've pointed it out to them…"
"No! You need to understand, Hermione. Ginny…," he stopped and smothered a sob, "…my Ginny would never participated in anything like this in the first place. The idea would have been repugnant to her. Just like I know you're not exactly my Hermione, I know the Ginny here isn't my Ginny. The difference is that you and my Hermione are very close. This Ginny is nothing like the girl I loved," he said flatly.
"I'm sorry." she whispered, her own eyes filling with tears.
He collapsed on the couch next to her and ran a hand over his face. "I didn't mean to snap at you. It's all so raw and painful right now. You and Ron were the last people I wanted to leave. But when you two got engaged, there was no room for me. I was alone and it only made the pain hurt more."
"Ron? Ronald Weasley and I? Ugh! Well, that isn't going to happen here," she said firmly.
"And that might be a good thing," Harry blurted out, then he blushed and looked away from her. Hermione looked shocked for a moment, then she smiled shyly to herself.
"So you left because you basically had no family, no one to tie you to your reality?" she asked softly.
Harry nodded.
"And here? I mean, you're capable of dimensional travel. You could leave this place and go to another until you find one to your liking."
Harry frowned and shook his head. "I suppose I could do that. But life isn't perfect. Here, I have found a family. My Mother is alive and I'm getting to know her. I have a wonderful sister who is simply amazing. My Godfather is alive again, and at least one of my best friends is still the same.
"I could jump again and risk losing all that, but I'm not going to. When you've lost as much as I have and suddenly get part of it back, you don't want to risk it again on a maybe," he concluded quietly. Then he turned to her. "Why do the muggle born and half bloods put up with this bullshit about blood, Hermione? It's ridiculous."
"Most of us only put up with it until we graduate, then we move. America, Canada, Australia, there are plenty of places that accept us as wizards and witches and don't care about our blood. A few unlucky ones get trapped by the marriage laws, but most escape it because no pureblood wants to sully their line with a mixed blood marriage. The purebloods don't realize the damage they're doing to their own society."
"Marriage laws?"
"Yes. Normally pure bloods marry other pure bloods, but occasionally a pure blood will demand to marry a half blood or a muggle born. The half blood or muggle born can't refuse to marry them. It was fortunate that your mother loved your father. She would not have been allowed to refuse him when he proposed."
Harry frowned and held out his hand. A moment later, a large volume appeared in it. As he flipped through the book, he nodded to let Hermione know he was listening as she described the marriage law. Finally, he sent the book back to its place and looked at her.
"So why hasn't some pure blood picked you, Hermione? Your incredibly smart and really very pretty," he asked, then he realized what he had said and blushed.
Hermione gasped and then looked down at her feet.
"I-I-I'm sorry, Hermione. I shouldn't have said that. If I have offended you, I apologize," he offered.
Hermione smiled shyly at him. "I… ummm… think I better go finish studying. I'll see you at dinner?" she asked hopefully.
Harry nodded and she bolted from his room. He watched her retreating back for a moment, then sighed and decided to go for a walk.
An hour later, Professor Dumbledore found Harry standing atop the Astronomy tower, staring at the sky. As he approached, the young man spoke.
"It's strange, Albus. Everything looks the same, but the differences are there. Some are very subtle, some are profound, like the Weasleys. It's all so different, and yet so similar. It's like coming home to the house you were raised in to find another family living there now. You recognize the place, but not the people," he said quietly.
"The last dimensional traveler, Fredrick Twinion, said something similar," Dumbledore offered.
"When I traveled here, I wonder if other Harry's also traveled, seeking something better."
"It is one of the true paradoxes of dimensional traveling. But that isn't why I came to talk to you this afternoon, Harry. I have spoken with many of your Professors and we have come to a consensus about your academic needs."
"Would you prefer to do this in your office, Albus?" Harry asked.
"Well, it would be less windy, and I have asked your mother to join us…" Dumbledore said.
"Very well," Harry said. He then took Dumbledore's hand and slipped the both of them into the shadows. A second later, he stepped out of the shadow, leading Dumbledore. They were in his office.
Albus looked shocked and he felt his body, as if examining it for missing parts. He then grinned like a boy. "Oh, my. That was a truly novel experience! What a wonderful way to travel!" he exclaimed.
Harry smirked, then smiled as he spotted Lily. He walked over and kissed her cheek before sitting next to her.
"Harry," the Headmaster began, "I have to begin by saying that nearly every Professor was impressed by both your knowledge and your abilities. There was some talk about sending you to the American Institute for Advanced Magic and Sorcery, but most of us felt that wouldn't be in your best interests right now.
"We understand that part of your reason for coming here is the need to connect with family and friends again. Sending you to America might advance you academically perhaps, but do little to allow you that connection. We have several people here who are willing to tutor you in their fields above and beyond what a NEWT level student would ordinarily see.
"Professor Black has been telling me you have all the makings of a fine teacher. He suggested that we allow you to do independent studies under my tutelage and that you take your remaining NEWTS early, perhaps as early as next week. He wants you to ultimately take over his position as Defense Professor," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling merrily.
Harry thought about it for long moment. "I did enjoy it when I taught the students in the DA. I have to confess, however, that some of the classes have been quite boring. I'd like to continue attending the classes and maintain my schedule though. I've friends I'd like to stay with," he replied quietly.
Dumbledore laughed. "Well, let's see about changing that, shall we? I will schedule you to begin your NEWTS this coming week. As for keeping the schedule, I don't see why you can't sit in the classes and use it as both study time and time to assist the Professors. I'd like to offer you as much teaching experience as possible, if you'll accept it."
He looked over at his mother and she nodded to him, her expression telling him how very proud she was of him. Harry turned and nodded in agreement to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore smiled and made a mark on a piece of parchment. "Now that that's out of the way, Professor McGonagall would like to know if you intend to try out for Seeker this year. Your records indicate that, with the exception of your fifth year, you were the Gryffindor seeker since first year."
"I'd like to, Albus…"
"Harry, you can't address the Headmaster like that," Lily exclaimed, frowning.
"No, it's quite alright, Lily. While I am coming to enjoy the relationship your son and I are building, my counterpart was not a good influence in your son's life. That Harry is willing to call me by my given name indicates he's willing to give me a chance. It is an opportunity I hope not to ruin, like my counterpart did. Now, what were you going to say about the seeker position?"
"I'd like to, Albus, but I have to decline. I resigned my position as seeker half way through my sixth year because I had advanced to the point where I see magic. Now it's automatic with me. I can spot the snitch no matter where it's hiding. However, if Gryffindor could use me to help coach their seeker?" he offered with a hopeful tone of voice.
"An excellent suggestion!" exclaimed Dumbledore, "And it should help Minerva calm her nerves. She was most interested in your helping them this season."
Dumbledore made another mark on his parchment, then his eyes lost their twinkle. "Now it's time to deal with one more item, this more serious than the others."
Harry motioned for him to continue.
"First off, sometime this coming Monday, a team from the Ministry is coming to Hogwarts to test your claim of being a Mage. There is considerable anxiety about your status within our world, Harry. You are a legal adult, and you are the oldest male issue of James Potter. That makes you his heir and Lord Potter.
"The title fell to the side when he passed away, but the numerous families that helped themselves to his fortune are afraid that you will seek to have them return it…"
"As they should be, Albus. I have already talked to a solicitor about it," Harry replied seriously.
"Harry!" Lily exclaimed in shock.
"Mum, they robbed you, leaving you and Ally penniless. If we can sue them and get the money back, all the better," he said calmly. "Besides, nothing is decided yet. I have a firm looking in to it, that's all."
Dumbledore steepled his fingers in front of his face and looked at Harry seriously. "I want you to tread carefully here. You are in a precarious position because of your heritage and your origin."
"Yes, Hermione mentioned something about marriage laws to me today. But I don't think that will by much of a problem."
Dumbledore arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Why is that?"
"If a family tenders a pureblood offer of marriage to me, I can force them to retract it. I've checked the laws. As a holder of an Order of Merlin, First Class, and heir to all four Hogwarts founders, I am legally a pureblood. That same legal fiction extends to my mother and my sister. And finally, as head of the Potter House, I have the ability to turn down any offers made on the behalf of my mother or my sister.
"In both of those cases, I would hope and pray that they would trust me enough to tell me what their hearts wanted. I wouldn't want to deny them the love they want, but I will use my position to protect them."
Dumbledore smiled grimly. "I see you have thought this out. Well that will be all for now."
Harry stood and turned to leave. He gave Lily a questioning look and she shook her head. Nodding, he left the office after telling her that he'd see her at dinner.
"Merlin, Albus! He's a stubborn man. He's as hard as steel at times," Lily exclaimed after Harry had left.
"He is his parents son," Dumbledore said softly. "He has the hardness of James, but it's tempered by your thoughtfulness and concern. He has your stubbornness and your intellect. He has grown up in the forge of war, Lily, and he's fiercely protective of those he considers his. Did you hear how he said he'd protect you both, but hoped you'd guide him in the decisions? I've watched him carefully this past week. My counterpart was concerned about him, unnecessarily I might add. Harry leads his life by a highly structured moral code. I am certain he is fundamentally a good man and will never change that. But I am also certain he will be a very difficult man to love. His value system is diamond hard and he'll need a strong woman to put up with that."
Lily glanced at the closed door and couldn't help but agree with Dumbledore.
"Maybe, Albus, but I know he's reaching out to one girl already. In his world he loved two girls, Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley. Our version of Miss Weasley is repugnant to him. But Miss Granger is very close to the one he once knew. I'm not saying he's looking for a romantic involvement, but he's definitely seeking her friendship."
Dumbledore looked thoughtful for a moment. "Indeed? Interesting. I think our Miss Weasley would probably be stronger and more suitable for him, but he must be allowed to make his own choices. Miss Granger is a very strong witch, but not very strongly willed, although that might change, with his friendship to help guide her. I will watch them and see where this goes, Lily."
Great Hall, Dinner that day…
Harry sat at the Gryffindor table with Hermione and Ally. His sister was scribbling something onto her charms homework while Harry and Hermione debated charms and controlling the power behind them.
"I think the book is wrong. It's not the wand motion that controls the strength of the spells, it's the concentration and volume you put into the casting," Hermione offered.
Harry chuckled. "It's neither of those things, Hermione. It's what you do with your magic and how well you can connect to it. Do you honestly believe that a Wingardium Leviosa is really influenced by a swish and a flick? Or for that matter, how did the wand movement first become associated with any spell? It's all really unnecessary, in my opinion. Even the incantation is suspect, if you ask me. How you connect with your magic is what is important."
She cocked an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean by connecting to it?"
He sighed and put down his fork. "Alright, try this. Pull out your wand and cast the light spell."
She did as instructed. So did Ally and nearly a half dozen other students who had been listening to him.
"Now, what do you feel?" he asked.
Hermione frowned and looked at him. "Nothing, why? What should I feel?"
Ally nodded in agreement with Hermione.
"Do you trust me?" He asked in a serious tone.
Susan Bones, one of the more moderate purebloods from the Hufflepuff table leaned across the aisle towards Harry. "I trust you, Harry."
Harry nodded to Susan and smiled, then glanced over to Ally and Hermione. Both nodded, although hesitantly.
"Susan, come sit next to Hermione for a few minutes and I'll explain what we're going to do."
Once Susan was settled, Harry looked at her and asked, "What number did the orb give you?"
Susan looked crestfallen and whispered, "Only a sixty-seven."
Harry nodded, recalling the number now. "Magic isn't in our wand, it's in our bodies. The wand acts as a focus for the magic, but it's not necessary. We are born with our abilities to do magic because our parents passed that ability to us. But magic is like a muscle. Your number, Susan, isn't permanent. You can work to raise it by exercising your 'magic muscle', if you will. The problem is, no one is taught how to feel that muscle.
"Now, here's what I am going to do. I'm going to cast a sensory dampening field over the three of you. You won't be able to see or hear while the field is in place. It will wear off in exactly one minute. As soon as you can't hear or see, cast the light spell and concentrate on what you feel. Feel the power leaving your fingertips and entering your wand."
The three looked at him nervously for a moment, then he cast the spell. All three girls cast. A minute later, they cancelled the spell. Susan looked stunned, while both Ally and Hermione seemed thoughtful.
"By depriving you of two of your senses, you were able to process that faint sensation of your magic entering your wand," he said, and then he looked Susan in the eye. "If you concentrate on making that feeling stronger, you can improve your number by as much as twenty points."
Susan beamed at him and he smiled back at the girl. Then he turned back to Hermione, who was looking a little put out with him for paying attention to Susan.
"That's the connection, Hermione. How strongly you feel the magic, that's what controls the strength of your spells. It's the difference between levitating an object and putting it into orbit. Now, if the three of you want, I can give you a set of exercises you can do just before you go to bed that will improve your control and your strength. It won't be easy in the beginning, but it's worth the attempt if you're serious about it."
All three girls nodded eagerly. He had shown them something they'd never seen or felt before.
"You continue to surprise me, Harry," Dumbledore said from behind him. "Not only do you hold an amazing view of magic, but you're able to convey that view to others with ease. Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to give a lecture to the first years on the nature of magic with Professor Flitwick?"
Harry looked at the Headmaster for a moment. "I'd be honored, sir"
"Professor, that wouldn't be fair!" protested Ally. "Harry's showing us things we've never learned. Shouldn't it be available to anyone?"
"An excellent suggestion, Miss Potter, take ten points for Gryffindor. Perhaps, instead of lecturing the first years, it could be a general lecture after dinner one evening, Harry?"
Harry shot his sister an evil glance before nodding his acceptance. Dumbledore smiled and moved towards the head table to speak with Professor Flitwick. Susan thanked Harry and returned to her own table, still considering what he had shown her. Even Ally and Hermione were deep in thought about what they had felt.
Harry turned back his dinner.
"Sucking up to the teachers, Potter?"
Harry looked up to see Malfoy, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione and Ally both flinched and tried to look insignificant.
Harry smiled up at the four and then turned back to his meal.
"I'm talking to you, Potter. Look at me when I speak," snarled Malfoy.
Harry grabbed another slice of roast for his plate and started to cut it up. "No, Malfoy, you're whining like a spoiled three year old who isn't getting his pudding and is going to have a tantrum because of it," he replied, not bothering to look up.
A shocked gasp ran through the hall.
Ally snickered. Draco heard it and pulled his wand.
"Malfoy," Harry said in a tone as cold as ice, "unless you want me to shove your wand up your arse and cast a Reducto curse, put it away."
Malfoy backed up in alarm, bumping into Ron. "You can't threaten me, Potter. I'm not afraid of you."
"You should be, Malfoy," he replied calmly. "Now, why don't you and your girlfriends run along and play?"
Malfoy and the others staggered back as their clothing suddenly changed into frilly pink dresses.
"I don't think pink is your color, Malfoy," Harry quipped. "Now, go away," he added, and made a shooing motion with his hand. The four suddenly turned and skipped from the hall.
There was a moment of total silence in the hall, then Ally broke it with her giggle. Soon everyone was laughing except for some at the Slytherin table.
At the Slytherin table a lone red head sat and watched the hall laughing. Internally, her mind was awhirl with possibilities.
Ministry of Magic, Minister's Office…
"Lucius Malfoy is here to see you, Minister." said a receptionist from the door.
"Excellent, Maggie. Please send him in," Cornelius Fudge said from his desk. Then he stood and walked around it to meet Lucius.
The door opened to admit a tall blond man carrying a cane. Fudge smiled and walked forward, extending a hand. "Lucius! How marvelous to see you again."
Malfoy shook Fudge's hand and let himself be led to a comfortable armchair in front of a fireplace. Fudge took another chair nearby.
"Now, Lucius, what can I do for you?" asked Fudge.
"I'm concerned, Cornelius. I have heard from my son at Hogwarts about this dimensional traveler, this heir to the Potter Household, and I believe there is cause for alarm here. The boy is disruptive at school and is deliberately insulting to purebloods. And then there is the claim that this lad is a Mage?"
Fudge nodded knowingly. "Yes, Lucius, I share your concern there. That is why I am sending a team to Hogwarts to investigate the boy's heritage claims, as well as his abilities. Did you know the boy has the audacity to claim he is heir to all four founders?"
Malfoy blinked in surprise. "A founders heir? Surely you are joking?"
Cornelius shook his head. "No. I know the claim is outrageous, but we'll show that with the heritage tests, along with his claim of three orders of Merlin, I'm sure."
Malfoy frowned for a moment. It would be impossible for the boy to have one Order of Merlin, let alone three of them! Having even one Order of Merlin would indicate that this boy might not be controllable through guile.
"Cornelius, I think it would be best if you, yourself, led the investigative team to Hogwarts," Malfoy suggested. "This way, when you see him for the fake he is, you will be able to announce it immediately to the press."
"Yes. Yes! That would be excellent. Perhaps even bring some press with me?" Fudge offered back.
Lucius nodded in agreement. It was so easy to manipulate this old fool. Lucius was getting tired of all these back room manipulations. Things were so much easier when Voldemort was around and he was running things behind the scenes.
Hogwarts, Monday Morning…
Dumbledore sat at his place at the head table. He was not happy. Minister Fudge had shown up this morning, along with Amelia Bones of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, five Aurors, and an unspeakable from the Department of Mysteries. He also managed to convince a half dozen reporters to come along. Dumbledore had sent for Harry ten minutes ago, but as yet, he had not shown up.
Fudge paced in front of the head table and most of the school watched him warily. Fudge had a reputation for being vicious and vindictive.
After nearly a twenty minute wait, Lily stood and was about to go get Harry when he showed up in the doorway to the Great Hall. Lily's jaw dropped at the sight of her son. He was dressed from head to toe in dragon hide. A row of medals adorned his right breast, far more medals than he had originally laid claim to. Over his shoulder was a scabbard for a sword. On his belt were several daggers and a pistol. In his hand he carried his staff, the emerald pulsating slightly. He walked calmly and with dignity up the aisle to the head table and every girl in the room held her breath. His outfit molded to his body like a second skin and every muscle could be seen as he moved.
He stopped a few feet from the head table, placed his hand over his right breast and bowed to the Headmaster. Dumbledore, recognizing the protocol between two holders of the Order of Merlin, stood and returned the bow, his eyes twinkling gleefully.
Harry tapped the floor once with his staff, then released it. It hung there, motionless, waiting for his hand to retrieve it. Then he turned to face Fudge "Minister, I understand you have some questions for me?" he said in a bored tone.
"Mr. Potter, you have made certain claims and we wish to verify them," Fudge said imperiously.
"Fine then. Verify away," Harry replied with an airy wave of his hand.
"You claim to be the recipient of three Orders of Merlin, yet I see only one," sneered Fudge.
"Look closer, Minister," Harry replied. "You will see there are two repeat clusters attached to the medal."
Fudge huffed for a moment in annoyance. "How do we know that's a real Order of Merlin? You could have forged it."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Tell you what, Minister. Take it off my shirt and have it tested. I think you will find it's quite real."
Fudge moved to approach Harry to remove the medal when the Unspeakable smacked his hand away. "You idiot! Don't you know it's death to touch an Order of Merlin that doesn't belong to you? That's a real Order medallion, I can see that from here!"
Fudge stepped back in fear and Harry chuckled softly.
The Unspeakable turned to Harry. "Excuse me, my Lord, but I don't recognize some of the other medallions you're wearing. Can you identify them for my records?"
Harry went through the medallions on his chest, which included an American Magical Freedom Award as well as a French Legion of Merit, the Norwegian Order of the Lion and the German Order of Valkyrie. The Unspeakable made a few quick notes on a parchment, smiling as he did so.
"Now, we need to check your heritage, my Lord," the Unspeakable said respectfully. "If you would provide a drop of blood, please?"
Harry removed a glowing dagger from his belt and drew a drop of blood, which he placed on the offered parchment. The man proceeded to run the heritage incantation over the parchment while Harry glanced around the Great Hall.
He finally noticed all of the girls staring at him, even Hermione and he blushed. The man from the Department of Mysteries gasped and Harry glanced over at him. "Harry James Potter, born 31st July, 1980, son of Lily Evans-Potter and James Augustus Potter," the Unspeakable mumbled as the parchment continued to fill in both sides of the bloodline.
Finally the parchment stopped and the Unspeakable bent to look at it. He stiffened. "On his mother's side, he is heir to Slytherin and Hufflepuff. On his father's side, he is the last scion of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw!" exclaimed the man. "He is heir to all four founders! No doubt about it."
Fudge paled noticeably and a nervous murmur echoed through the hall. Harry had just been declared to be of the purest blood there was, ever. And yet he was champion of the half blood and muggle born. Many of the girls and some of the boys in the hall continued to look at him with lust in their eyes, but now it was a calculated lust. Many of the boys looked at him with expressions that ranged from shock to envy.
Harry tried to hide a grin. Fudge was not having a good day and it was about to get a whole lot worse.
Fudge was worried. Here was an heir of all four founders, and a three-time winner of the Order of Merlin, First Class, as well as head of the House of Potter. This boy could be a serious political threat to him!
"Harry," interrupted Dumbledore, "might I ask, what sword are you wearing? It looks very familiar."
"It's the Sword of Gryffindor, Albus. I also carry two of Ravenclaw's daggers, as well as the House rings of all four founders," Harry replied.
A gasp ran through the entire hall. Even Dumbledore stiffened in his chair. "You're wearing the House rings for all four founders?" he asked with a gasp.
Harry lifted both hands, showing his Potter Family crest and four other rings with very familiar crests on them. "Yes, I am, Albus. And I have access to the Founder's vaults, although I must say the rumors of riches beyond reckoning in those vaults are just that, rumors," he replied with a chuckle. "Their vaults contain personal effects, notes and books, mostly. A real treasure, if you ask me."
Dumbledore's eyes went into overdrive as he thought about the possibilities of reading the founder's notes. Harry laughed and nodded to the Headmaster, letting him know he'd make the material available for him to read. Then he remembered a certain bushy haired book witch who would want to read the material as well, so he smiled at Hermione and she breathed a sigh of relief. She had been watching and listening to these proceedings with intense interest.
"Not so fast, Potter," Fudge said angrily. "There is still the matter of your claim to being a Mage to settle."
"I am open to suggestions as to how you'd like that proved without compromising my own personal safety or that of my family, Minister," Harry replied calmly.
"Perhaps if Harry were to demonstrate one of his known abilities?" offered Dumbledore.
Harry glanced at Dumbledore for a moment, then his expression slowly changed to an evil smirk.
"Oh, no! Hold onto your socks," murmured Sirius to Lily. "The last time I saw that look, he turned me into a chicken!"
Harry reached out and pulled a large book and a scroll out of thin air. "Of course, Headmaster. I know many have been interested in my method for storing things. Basically, it's a piece of a fractal dimension, which I have contained within a runic container."
As he spoke, he traced glowing runes in the air in front of him and then started in on the arithmantic equations. The Unspeakable was practically jumping up and down in joy at what Harry was showing him. Lily and Dumbledore were both taking notes, as were most of the Ravenclaw table and Hermione.
"The drawback of hyper-space storage is that you cannot use it to store living creatures of any kind within the hyper-space. You can store organics, like food, indefinitely, but nothing living will survive the experience." Harry concluded, then he turned and handed Amelia Bones the tome and the scroll.
Amelia opened the scroll and she started to read. Then she paled and started to thumb quickly through the large book.
Fudge spotted her distraction and called her to task. "Director Bones, I didn't say we were finished here and you could start other business," he stated pompously.
Amelia turned to Fudge with a critical eye. "Minister Fudge, Mr. Potter here has been gracious enough to supply me with documents from Gringotts, including a letter from Ragnok himself, in which he accuses you of accepting illegal campaign contributions and bribes. The book, supplied by Gringotts, details more than seventeen years of illegal transactions including bribes made to you by accused Death Eaters in exchange for lighter sentences or being acquitted.
"As of this moment, you are under arrest and charged with corruption and conspiracy to aid accused Death Eaters evade justice. Take him," she said, motioning to her Aurors.
Fudge wilted as she talked and began to tremble as the Aurors moved in on him. Dumbledore stood in alarm and looked at Harry, who stood smiling at the Minister.
"You know, Cornelius, I would have left you alone to continue your career, but you and your office leaked the information about me to the press. Then you come here, with the press in tow, expecting me to perform in your dog and pony show. Not going to happen, Cornelius. Enjoy Azkaban," Harry said coldly.
An Auror stepped up behind Fudge and roughly placed a pair of manacles on his arms.
"Madam Director," Harry called, "the Houses of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin, as well as the House of Potter, will support your candidacy for Minister of Magic, since the position appears to have suddenly become vacant."
Amelia stopped as if struck and stared at Harry for a moment, then a grin slowly appeared on her face and she made a half bow to him. "Thank you, Mr. Potter. Your support is appreciated."
Amelia motioned to her Aurors and they escorted Fudge from the Great Hall. She followed, clutching her precious evidence. The reporters looked torn between talking to Harry or following the Minister. Finally, they ran after Amelia, shouting questions.
"Harry, this…" Dumbledore started to say, then stopped.
"One of my advantages, Headmaster," Harry said, holding up a hand, "is that I know where many skeletons lie. Fudge pushed me. Had he been polite about his business, I would have left him alone. Besides, some of those bribes came from men who were directly involved in the attack on myself and my parents seventeen years ago."
"But Harry," breathed Lily, "you just accused the Minister of being a criminal!"
"Actually, Mum, I did no such thing. I merely gave Amelia evidence she didn't know existed. I didn't fabricate the evidence. Gringotts was kind enough to allow their largest depositor the opportunity to copy their documents. If you want to be precise, Ragnok accused him." He paused for a moment, his eyes wide and innocent. Then he grinned. "Now, can I go get some breakfast?"
Dumbledore nodded and Harry walked to his table, putting his sword and daggers away. He pulled the pistol from his holster, ejected the magazine and cleared the chamber before putting that away. Standing by the table, he looked down at his outfit and scowled. It wasn't what he wanted to wear to class today, but there wasn't time enough to change. He thought about transfiguring his outfit, but then remembered this suit was charmed so that it couldn't be transfigured.
He sat across from Ally and Hermione, both of whom were staring at him. He grinned, then reached out and tweaked Ally's nose. She blinked and shook her head, realizing that she was drooling over her big brother. Then she nudged Hermione, who blinked and looked at her before blushing.
"Sweet Morganna, Harry! All I can say is, if I find myself a guy who looks half as good as my brother does, I'll be one lucky witch," Ally breathed.
"This outfit is great for fighting, but I'm not going to get any work done if I have every girl in school drooling over me. I'll catch you at class, Hermione. I need to go change."
Hermione reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "No, Harry, that's really fine… I mean it's quite… no what I mean is…"
Harry snickered and stood up. "I rest my case. The outfit is too much for this place."
He left the Great Hall and headed towards his suite. He hadn't gone far when he found himself staring into a pair of very familiar brown eyes.
"That was quite a display you put on back there, Harry." Ginny said, leaning closer to him. As she did, her blouse slid forward, giving him an impressive view.
"Glad you think so, Miss Weasley," Harry said, refusing to look at the offered view. His stance tensed and his eyes flashed dangerously, warning signs that anyone who knew him would have backed off from. But few here knew him that well.
"So tell me, Harry, do you have a date for the Yule ball?" she asked in a sultry tone. Then she leaned closer to him and ran her tongue over her lips ever so slowly.
Harry stepped back and folded his arms across his chest and stared down at her. "This isn't going to work, Ginevra, so you might as well forget about it," he said coldly.
Ginny blinked in confusion. She had never met a man capable of ignoring her charms before! Concentrate! She admonished to herself.
"Why, Harry! What ever do you mean? Can't you and I have a nice quiet conversation?" she asked him.
"You may look like the Ginny I once knew, but you're nothing like her. She'd find you as repugnant as I do," he said, and then he slipped into the shadows and vanished.
Ginny Weasley's eyes widened in amazement. Where did he go? That wasn't an apparate, was it? Rumors had him able to apparate into Hogwarts and do it silently. And what did he mean by her being nothing like the way he remembered? This was going to take a more structured and researched approach, she decided.
Harry dressed slowly in his room. His encounter with Ginny had depressed him. It was hard to think of someone as dead when they were running around quite alive in front of you. He sat on his bed, his head bowed low.
"Harry?" said a familiar voice.
Harry looked up in surprise. "Ally? Shouldn't you be in class?"
The younger girl shook her head. "I had Mum in Runes and I told her I could feel your unhappiness. She sent me to see if you're alright."
He shook his head ruefully. "Just my luck to get a little sister who's a fully functioning Empath. Tell me, do you think it's possible that Mum and Dad might have had a normal kid if they had stayed together?"
Ally smiled softly, then shook her head. "Of course not, and quit evading my question."
He sighed. "I ran into Ginevra Weasley in the hallway. I was coming back here to change. She tried to come onto to me, wanted to know if I had a date for the Yule Ball yet."
Ally's face fell while Harry tried hard to suppress his feelings. "Harry, listen to your little sister. I know exactly what suppressing your feelings is doing to you. If you can't talk to me, or Mum, you need to find someone who can help you through this… But I'd really like to help you," she offered quietly.
He looked away, afraid to meet her eyes, and his voice dropped low. "It's hard, Ally. I spent most of my life alone. I came here and found the family I'd hoped I'd find. But I'm still learning what family means. The hurt seems to be getting less, but every so often it sneaks up on me."
She sat next to him on the bed and put an arm around his shoulder. "I know it hurts, Harry. I can feel it every time I see you. I also know about the nightmares you've been hiding from Mum."
He glared at her, but she only smiled back at him.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to tell her about it. That's your job. But I am telling you now, either you let me start helping you, or you find someone who you will trust enough to help you, or I'll tell Mum. And don't you go and give me one of those famous Harry Potter glares. They don't work on family!"
He chuckled. "Alright, Sis. I get the message and I'll try to let you help me. If nothing else, you won't be able to muck me up worse than I already am!"
"Prat!" she said, punching him in the arm playfully.
By the time he had walked Ally back to her class, the two were laughing and teasing like any siblings would do. But in the back of his head, Harry knew he had to do something.