Chapter 30: Thirty: Found
"You took two boys, Severus!" a voice hissed as Harry woke up from his dream. He remembered seeing the name of his former Potions Master on the map, so he had dashed down to meet the greasy-haired ex-teacher. The man had insisted he give him a letter, but who did the Potions Master work for? Was it Voldemort or someone else? More synapses fired, and he remembered someone had shouted his name just before he was taken by a Port-key to wherever it was, he found himself.
Opening his eyes, he found himself in an old ballroom of some sort. Moth-eaten red curtains were pulled back, allowing hazy sunshine into the large room. Harry realised he must not have been out long or was in a different part of the world. However, something told the youth he was still in the UK somewhere. The cherry-wood floor was warm but mired by dust. It seemed the room had not been used for its function for many, many years. He felt a finger prod him, registering the fact he was tied up to someone.
"Harry, are you awake?" Neville Longbottom whispered voice reassured him.
"Yes, where are we?" Harry asked, looking around to find a table at the far end where two men stood with their backs to the 'prisoners.' Unfortunately, they were stood in dim light, so he could not make out any features.
"I think we are in the home of–" Neville was cut off by a familiar voice.
"Ah, Harry, my boy. I see you are awake," Albus Dumbledore's grandfatherly tones snapped Harry's head to the two men. The ex-headmaster was wearing dreary brown robes instead of his usual colourful clothes. Walking slightly behind and to the side of him was Severus Snape, looking as malevolent as ever.
"Why have you kidnapped Neville and me?" Harry demanded angrily.
"I was never meant to take Mr Longbottom. However, your friend came along for the ride," Dumbledore replied jovially.
"Where are we?" Harry wondered if he could keep the old man talking until help arrived.
"You are in the old Dumbledore residence in Godric's Hollow, the place this all started," the ancient wizard explained, readying himself for a tale. He conjured himself a chair waving his wand but doing so silently. Harry could feel the power coming from the wand, but he could also hear a song coming from it as well. The wand itself was unassuming, brown wood with a handle formed from two conjoined spheres. But there was something about it that drew Harry's attention, though Dumbledore seemed not to notice.
"Gellert Grindelwald and I were the closest of friends. He had come to live with his Great-Aunt, but he had come searching for the Míreanna Draíochta, Merlin's legendary items of power. He also had a vision, a world where wizards would rule over Muggles for the greater good. Where Muggles and Wizards could live together in peace with no wars, no disease, and no famine," Dumbledore was warming to his tale, "but Gellert became greedy. He wanted absolute power the Míreanna Draíochta would bring him. So, I saw him for what he was, not the next Arthur, but Medraut, a Dark wizard. My brother had long noticed this, and we ended in a three-way duel, which killed my sister."
"What the hell has any of this got to do with me?" Harry demanded, wondering if the man was indeed off his rocker.
"You never were patient, Black!" Snaped snapped.
"You finally got my name right. Unfortunately, I was never patient because you were a lousy teacher," Harry returned, getting a slight poke from Neville. He knew the other boy was telling him not to antagonise his captors. Harry was considering if Cepheus was nearby. "Was it you that took Ceph?"
"Stop asking point–" Snape began but was quelled by Dumbledore, who waved him down performing a silent spell.
"Harry!" Ceph's voice cried out as the Silencing Charm was lifted. Harry twisted his head around to see his little brother also tied up looking pleadingly at him.
"I am the one you want, right? So, why not let Ceph, and Neville go?" Harry turned back to face the elderly ex-headmaster.
"Just shut up and listen to what the headmaster has to say!" Snape snapped once again.
"It is OK, Severus. Harry is pure of heart and will be worried about his friends and family, we must make allowances," the ex-headmaster told the Potions Master soothingly. "Now where was I, ah yes. While I was devastated by my sister's death, Gellert fled, and I threw myself into my studies, eventually becoming the Headmaster of Hogwarts. I never forgot what Gellert, and I dreamed up until I got wind of a Prophecy."
"The one you told me about?" Harry asked, oddly curious now.
"No, much older than that, one from Merlin's time. It suggests a mighty warrior will rise and take up Arthur's mantle. That they will lead the magical world into a new dawn. I thought this was the revolution Gellert and I had discussed but knew I was not the great leader the world needed, so I waited and watched." Dumbledore looked far away as though seeing the distance past, "Then I discovered Tom Riddle, a powerful young wizard with a story not unlike your own with blood running back to the Peverall's. I thought this could be the next Arthur, but I was blinded to his dark side as I was with Gellert. I thought if I gave him more chances, he would turn back to the light."
"You! You were the one that made Riddle the monster he is," Harry sputtered.
"I knew the real Arthur would return, so he would need an enemy worthy of defeating, another Medraut," Dumbledore said it like it was the simplest thing in the world, "So I encouraged him in some areas, though I did not expect some of the routes he went down until the Prophecy about you emerged. Though I was never sure who the Prophecy pertained to until Riddle attacked, it could have been you or Mr Longbottom."
"You what?" Neville shouted, "What Prophecy?"
"There is a Prophecy that says someone born as the seventh-month dies will defeat Riddle. But as I said, I did not know who it pertained to until Riddle attacked your parents," Dumbledore replied happily. "I knew then you were the next Arthur that would lead us into a glorious future. I thought I could be your advisor to help you shape the new world, but you would need some adversity to get past like all great heroes."
"That is why you left me with my family? So that I would be a hero in some story you are narrating. You are a seriously crazy old man!" Harry was incredulous. Dumbledore had left him in misery and pain because of some convoluted idea that he was the next King Arthur.
"Don't talk to Professor Dumbledore that way!" Snape shouted. Harry was seriously getting annoyed with the ex-Potions Professor.
"Be still, Severus," the old man calmed Snape, now holding him back. He felt something heavy placed in his hand at that moment, knowing that Neville had given him something. As Dumbledore and Snape argued, he ran his finger up the object, feeling a quick sharp pain. The dark-haired youth knew then Neville had given him a dagger or knife of some sort. Briefly, he wondered why the other boy was carrying it around but figured it was something to do with being a Lord. He would have to ask Sirius if he got out of this alive.
"You must see you are the child of Prophecy, Harry. You will lead us all into a glorious future," Dumbledore was almost pleading now. Harry knew he had to keep the man talking until he could get his hands free and activate the necklace he wore.
"You talk about me being the next King Arthur, but surely I would need this Mere-thingy?" Harry asked, acting dumb, as he continued sawing through the rope with the knife, which must have been magical because surely Snape or Dumbledore would have put a spell on them. "If they are authentic, they must be lost now?"
"Míreanna Draíochta," Dumbledore automatically corrected Harry. "I know they exist because you own the Cloak of Invulnerability."
"The Invisibility cloak you gave me in my first year?" Harry asked.
"Yes! Legend has it, the Cloak of Invulnerability can make people invisible, but it can also protect you. Like a Muggle shield against harmful charms," the old man supplied.
"What are these other so-called items of power?"
"We do not have time for this," Snape muttered.
"We have plenty of time. No one from the Ministry or Black's own family will ever think to look here. You left breadcrumbs that Death Eaters had taken Cepheus and now Harry, correct?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, all their enquiries should lead to the Death Eaters."
"All being well, the Aurors may end up arresting a few Death Eaters before they realise the group do not have them. By then, Harry will be ready to assume his destiny," Dumbledore replied with a gleam in his eyes. Harry knew the man had indeed lost the plot.
"Go on then, tell him your tale," Snape waved the old man on, turning back towards the table as Dumbledore prepared himself for relating Merlin's tale like he was some kind of Grandfather with children at his feet.
"Now where to start, ah yes. The Míreanna Draíochta was created by Merlin from his Magical Staff Draoidheachd and split into three parts…." Dumbledore repeated the story that Draco had told him, explaining the war between Medraut and Arthur. Harry was unsure how long had passed since Dumbledore had begun his very long-winded story, but the light was starting to fade from the windows. Turning around slightly, he looked at his brother, who had fallen asleep by the looks of it.
"… So now many people including Gellert, search for the Míreanna Draíochta. But as you know, you have the Cloak of Invulnerability, and I suspect Gryffindor's sword is the fabled Excalibur." Dumbledore finished his narrative.
"But what about the Elder Wand? You have not told us about that yet," Harry asked, sawing quicker now, the ropes frayed and crumbling.
"It has a difficulty and bloody history, moving from hand to hand. But in the early 1900s, Mykew Gregorovitch began boasting that he owned the Elder wand and was trying to replicate its properties. I do not know the exact date, but Grindelwald got wind of the rumours. He attacked Gregorovitch in the middle of the night and stole the elder wand, stunning the wandmaker to become its Master," Dumbledore somehow seemed downcast as he fiddled with his own wand, "Grindelwald used the wand to wreak havoc and destruction on the wizarding world, especially in Europe. I never knew whether it was due to our previous relationship, but he never tried to take Great Britain."
"You fought him, though; that is why you have the Order of Merlin and Grindelwald resides at Nurmengard Prison," Neville spoke up for the first. "Everyone knows about the most famous duel in recent history."
"I did fight Grindelwald. He was beginning to turn to even darker magic's, but we battled, and I won in the end. I took possession of the Elder wand," Dumbledore held his non-descript wand up. The music was soaring louder.
"Do you hear the music?" Harry asked.
"You hear it too?" Dumbledore asked, surprised. Then he looked at the boy calculatingly. "I was fit only to possess the meanest of them, the least extraordinary. I was fit to own the Elder wand, and not to boast of it, and not to kill with it. Nevertheless, I was permitted to tame and use it because I took it, not for gain, but to save others from it."
"But now it calls for a new owner. Your spells have not been as strong as they are used to," Harry finally understood. Dumbledore appeared surprised by Harry's words.
"Perhaps it needs an owner that will use the wand to its full potential," a new voice spoke, causing them all to turn to the door. Tom Riddle, better known as Lord Voldemort, was standing at the entrance to the ballroom. Harry recognised several of the Death Eaters with him, as some refused to wear masks. Lucius Malfoy glared at the boy, but if looks could kill Bellatrix No-Name would have put Harry ten feet under. The rope snapped clear as Harry noticed the giant snake at Voldemort's feet. While the two parties were focused on each other, Harry reached up and used the necklace Amelia Bones had given him.
"You will never have the wand, Tom," Dumbledore angered the snake-like man.
"Do not call me that name! My filthy mother named me after a dirty creature," the man snapped, "I am the true Lord of Magic!"
"Ha! You could not even defeat a baby," Harry told the man standing up. He was able to do a silent Accio and now stood with his wand in his hand. He could feel the pain in his leg, but he refused to give Voldemort the satisfaction of seeing him in pain.
"Filthy half-breed," Bellatrix screamed out.
"You are the filth here," Neville stood beside Harry. He had gotten Cepheus and was pushing the boy behind them.
"Oooo little Longbottom grew up," Bellatrix taunted.
"Hush, Bella," Voldemort held his bone-white wand limply, but Harry knew the former man was ready for battle. "That wand shall be mine before the day is out."
"I do not think so," Dumbledore told him, engaging Voldemort in another battle of insults. Harry edged the three of them further back onto the dais where the table sat. He noticed the Sorting Hat was lying ragged on the table.
"Hello, Mr Black," the Hat said, opening its brim to talk.
"I did not realise you could speak without being on someone's head," Harry told the Hat, surprised.
"I can do a lot of things, people do not realise," replied the Hat, a hint of amusement in its voice. Harry hoped that Amelia and the Aurors would arrive soon as he knew he would not be able to fight both Dumbledore and Voldemort.
"Why did Dumbledore want you?" Harry asked the same time Neville asked, "How did they get you?"
"Albus Dumbledore was trying to get me to reveal my secrets, tell him of the Míreanna Draíochta," the Hat revealed. "I was stolen in the night by a student under Imperious who bought me to Severus Snape."
"What do you mean, 'tell him of the Míreanna Draíochta.' How do you know?" Harry asked curiously, keeping one eye on the verbal sparring between Voldemort and Dumbledore. However, he noticed some of the Death Eaters were beginning to look restless.
"I was there when Merlin created them. I was once Merlin's apprentice until I stole something precious from him. He transfigured me into a Hat, and I have lived for over a thousand years as this Hat," the Hat proclaimed.
"Full human Transfiguration is impossible," Neville claimed with a gasp.
"Merlin was the strongest wizard to ever live. He has done many things that have been lost to the sands of time," the Hat replied. "Mr Black, you may not be the reiteration of King Arthur, but you are a strong leader and may one day face a threat even darker than Riddle. One day there will come a time when darkness begins to spread across the world; even the non-magical world will feel the grim reality. But with love and family, you will be able to overcome it."
"That sounds like a prophecy," Neville spoke with awe.
"Make of it what you will, but Merlin was a Seer, and he Saw things far into the future," the Hat told them. "He knew that the Wand would fall into the wrong hands, which would alter its nature."
"What do you mean to alter its nature?" Neville quizzed the Hat, "We were told the wand bonds with a wizard."
"They do indeed, but Thestral hair is highly unstable, and its nature can be changed. Over time the wand has become bloodthirsty from bonding with the darker members of society." The Hat detailed the Wand's nature, "but I can give you the incantation that will combine the Míreanna Draíochta into their original form while combining your two wands to stabilise the Thestral hair."
"How do you know I have two wands?" Harry asked, surprised. "You don't have any eyes."
"I am a magical object. I can feel these things," the Hat almost sounded affronted.
"I am sorry, I did not mean to upset you," Harry told the Hat.
"Do not worry, young Mage, I am not easily offended after 1000 years of dealing with snotty-nosed brats," the Hat returned.
"Can you help us now?" Harry asked.
"With the Incantation, you will be able to combine the three wands, stone and cloak to create the Staff." the Hat explained to them, "It will give you an advantage, but you will have to bond with it after it is created. You may use the Staff, but it will not be as powerful until you bond. To bond, you must be in a sacred place. I can give you the location and dates it should happen."
"All right," Harry replied simply. Voldemort and Dumbledore were still trading barbs causing Harry to roll his eyes.
"Put me on your head," the Hat suggested. Harry reached for the hat, but Neville grabbed his arm. He pulled the other boy away a few metres.
"Do you think that is wise?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"We know almost nothing about the Sorting Hat. Dumbledore could have bewitched it to make you do his bidding," Neville suggested.
"It has been on the heads of hundreds of thousands of students," Harry responded, "besides, Hermione told me the Hat cannot be tampered with magically or otherwise."
"I believe it," Cepheus spoke. Harry had forgotten the smaller boy was even there.
"What is your instinct telling you?" Harry asked, looking into the stormy-grey eyes of his brother.
"I trust you, and I think we can trust the Hat. I want to go home, Harry, to Dad and Hermione," Cepheus look scared. Harry shared a look with his friend and foster-brother.
"We need to get out of here soon, with or without the Aurors," Harry told him.
"I trust your instinct," Neville let go of Harry's arm. The dark-haired youth moved back to the hat and picked it up, placing the magical object on his head.
It seemed to be a matter of minutes as images and spells downloaded into his brain from the Hat. He did not know how the Hat could do what it was doing, but he knew Merlin's spell to separate and combine the three powerful items together amongst a few other bits of information he would have to think about when he had more time. But then, abruptly, the flow of information ended when something significant hit his head. He wretched the hat off to find the sword of Gryffindor/Excalibur. Harry pulled the sword from the hat and found the blade in a beautiful scabbard. The youth gently pulled the sword out to reveal the name Excalibur written on it.
"Wow, that's incredible," Neville spoke, looking at the large ruby in the hilt of the sword.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool," Harry responded, digging through his bag that had been sat on the table next to the sword. He hauled the Cloak of invulnerability out. "We need to get Dumbledore's wand if we have any chance of doing this."
"I think we should wait," Neville suggested. "You can combine them if we get out of here alive."
"We will get out of here alive," Harry replied just as the first curse was finally thrown by one of the Death Eaters. Harry handed Neville the sword. "Can you take care of this?"
"Sure," Neville tried to sound casual, but his nerves got the better of him. Harry stuffed the hat into his bag with the Cloak to muffled protests about mishandling ancient artifacts. Finally, he turned back to the battle, both wands now in his hand as he stood in front of his brother and Neville, ready to protect them.
"Protego totalum," Harry yelled as a flash of red light, headed in their direction. Instead, it splashed against the dome-like structure Harry had created. The two different sides were battling it out: Snape and Dumbledore versus Riddle and his cronies. As loathe as Harry was to help the man who had kidnapped his brother and him, he did not want the man dead but to face trial. "Are you able to do a shield charm, Nev?"
"Sure, it's not massively strong, but it will be sufficient," Neville replied.
"Keep down and out the way," Harry told them as he moved up Dumbledore's side, no one noticing. "Breca Baan."
The effect was almost instantaneous, Lucius Malfoy screamed out in pain as both of his legs broke, and he collapsed to the ground wailing in agony, which was abruptly cut off as Voldemort casually waved his wand, killing the blond-haired man.
"I see you have decided to fight like a man instead of running," Riddle commented idly. Harry just ignored him, ducking a curse from one of the other Death Eaters.
"Confringo," a voice yelled out, taking Riddle's attention away from Harry. Instead, Bellatrix stalked closer to him, firing off the Cruciatus curse. Harry managed to duck out of the way just in time, but she followed up with another curse causing a cut across his face to open up, nearly taking off his ear.
"The Littlest Black finally grew up," Bellatrix taunted.
"That is Lord Rendlesham, Bellatrix No-name, and I am going to send you into the depths of hell like your dear husband," Harry replied, staring at her defiantly. She screamed, and the pair engaged in trading spells. Bellatrix threw every dark curse she could at Harry except for the Death Curse while Harry defended himself, sometimes sending back spells he had learned over the summer the year before in the Black Library, and from Remus and Sirius. The pair were so engaged they never noticed the outside world or the fight between Dumbledore and Riddle. Neither Bellatrix nor Harry saw Severus Snape fighting two other Death Eater's fending off the bumbling pair quite well. Harry was beginning to sweat, and he could feel his leg beginning to tremble as he moved about, trying to avoid Bellatrix's curses, the pain worsening.
Harry's sole focus was on Bellatrix that he nor anyone else noticed the twelve-foot snake slithering along the cherry-wood floor stalking her prey. The small child was the right size to eat, and her beloved Master had ordered his death, which would make this tasting even sweeter. Nagini flicked her tongue out, tasting the purity of the boy-child as she inched her way closer. She ignored the larger child, not considering him a threat as Nagini raised herself up; her hood flared as she prepared to use her venom on her prey. The female snake flicked her tongue one last time, checking the conditions were just right before striking.
Neville had been watching the battle raging all around him. Voldemort and Dumbledore seemed to be locked in an epic battle as Snape fought the two Death Eater's, different colour curses splashing against shield charms. Neville had his own weak shield trying to protect himself and Cepheus from any rogue charm, curse, or Hex. But he had noticed a slight sound turning to see a twelve-foot-long olive-green snake. The snake had the appearance of a cobra but was much larger. He saw the snake rear up, ready to strike at Cepheus, whose attention was elsewhere. With a yell, Neville swung the sword as the snake lunged forward. Instantly the blade sheared straight through the body like a hot knife through butter decapitating Nagini.
Lord Voldemort, formerly known as Tom Riddle, was in his element. He knew today was the day he would defeat Albus 'Too many names' Dumbledore once and for all. He could see the ancient wizard weakening, the old man's shield was cracking, and his spells were a pale imitation of once-mighty magic. Voldemort prepared himself for the killing curse, bringing his hatred for what this man stood for forward. Then, abruptly, he staggered as though hit by something barely avoiding a Charm by Dumbledore. Voldemort's strength seemed to drain from him as he had the sudden realisation that Nagini was dead. The Dark Lord found her body underneath a teen bearing a sword.
Bellatrix was desperately firing off curse after curse as Harry used the simplest charms to protect himself or fire back. However, his Charms were strong, and several times Bellatrix had nearly lost her wand to his Disarming Charm. The former Black woman had just fired off a particularly nasty cutting hex when Harry felt as though he had been hit by a bolt of electricity. He staggered and was clipped by the Hex, cutting his arm, but the dark-haired youth noticed her cries of glee soon turned to screams of distress. Harry watched as she moved towards the Dark Lord.
"Blódgeótend," Harry cried out, remembering the curse from one of the Black books. The purple curse hit the wild witch, stopping her instantly. She opened her mouth as though to cry out but vomited blood. Tiny pinpricks of blood appeared on her body, and she collapsed, bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and ears. She looked to be literally drowning in her own blood.
"Harry, how could you?" Dumbledore stared at the youth, shocked. Riddle cried out as he lost one of his most loyal servants.
"Aurors, drop your wands," a voice called out. Riddle took one last look at his fallen Death Eaters and Disapparated with the ones still on their feet. Several men and women in the red robes of Aurors hustled into the ballroom, taking one look at Dumbledore before firing several Stunners. Before the former Headmaster could Apparate, he was stunned. Severus Snape was no where to be found, having must have disappeared during the fight.
"Lord Rendlesham, please lower your wands!" Harry's chest heaved as he heard the voice of Amelia Bones. He lowered them as his leg finally gave in, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Pup," he heard the voice of his father cry out as Cepheus also yelled for their dad. Harry suddenly found himself in a three-way hug with his brother and dad.
"What happened?" Amelia asked as her Aurors went to work, securing the former Hogwarts headmaster, then investigating the dead.
"Can you not give them a minute?" Sirius looked at his girlfriend.
"We need to know what happened," Amelia replied firmly.
"Not until I have examined them," a Field-Healer told her boss. Amelia huffed but went over to talk with Major Lay.
Forty-eight hours later, Harry was settled in his bed at Hárasteorra Hall, staring at his ceiling reliving everything that had happened. He could not get his mind off what had happened with Bellatrix.
"It is no use going over it. You will just make yourself ill," Amelia's soft voice said from his doorway.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, not unkindly.
"I thought it best you talk with someone with a bit of experience," Amelia approached his bed, settling on the edge.
"Do you think I am a murderer?" Harry asked the question that had been plaguing his mind.
"No! However, I do think you are a bit stupid, using a spell you did not know what it did," the Head of the DMLE grinned at him.
"I just remembered it from the library books. I thought it might be something like a Stunner," Harry replied sheepishly.
"While you should never use Spells you have no real knowledge of, you are not a Murderer!" Amelia told him firmly.
"I still feel guilty," the dark-haired youth admitted.
"I would be scared if you did not. It makes you human," the woman told him. "While Bellatrix should have had a trial, she had done a lot of evil stuff. So perhaps, the punishment fit the crime."
"Thank you, Amelia."
"I am here to talk to, and I know you have a meeting with your Mind Healer. I urge you to tell them about this, or it will eat you up inside," Amelia urged the boy.
"I will." Harry nodded earnestly.
"Now, get out of bed before your father comes and pranks you."
"That Mutt will never prank me," Harry replied with a genuine grin on his face. Amelia could see the shadows in his eyes but knew he was on the road to recovery. She had already visited with Cepheus and Neville Longbottom. The latter was a strong personality who was now being treated as a hero to his peers as the story had appeared in the Daily Prophet, despite Amelia trying to keep it quiet. Cepheus, meanwhile, would also be seeing Harry's Mind Healer. However, due to his youth and a few cuts and bruises, he bounced back quicker than Harry.
"I heard that. You wait until I get you. You will never suspect it is coming," Sirius threatened, breaking Amelia from her musings.
"Whatever, Mutt, you might want to look in the mirror." The whole house heard Sirius cry out as he looked in the mirror.
"That is an impressive bit of wandless magic," Amelia complimented the boy, who gave her a sly grin.
Chapter 31: Thirty-One: Love Knows no Bounds
Harry Black looked out across the Forbidden forest from his position on the Astronomy tower. Thestrals wheeled and dodged each other in the dying light of the sun. Crimson light streaked across the sky, subsiding into velvety blackness. For the beginning of June, it was a beautiful evening in the British Isles, even more surprisingly in the middle of Scotland. Harry looked out onto the heavens as he gripped and re-gripped the sword at his waist. His father had dressed him up as some kind of medieval knight, telling him it was traditional dress. He wore black breeches and calf-length boots. He wore a tunic of deep blue, which had the Black Family Coats of Arms stitched into it. The sword was Excalibur borrowed from Flitwick.
"I never thought I would be watching your wedding, let alone so young," a voice replied, breaking with the sound of puberty. Harry laughed at his pseudo-brother.
"I never thought we would be friends, let alone brothers," Harry replied to Draco.
"That is true, but then I was a spoiled brat."
"You were more than that," Neville's voice came from the stairs. He was dressed similar to Harry but in a maroon colour with a golden Gryphon stitched to his breast. Harry clasped the forearm of his god-brother.
"Longbottom and Black," Harry intoned.
"Black and Longbottom," Neville responded, then grinned at the other youth. "I cannot believe the year that we have had."
"Me neither, who would have thought I would be a Black and have a brother," Harry responded. The Boy Who Lived thought back over the last year and the changes, from finding out Sirius was his real father to falling in love with Hermione. It had been a real rollercoaster of a ride.
"Or that we would be brothers," Neville considered breaking Harry from his thoughts. Harry looked at the boy, who had grown up in the last year and realised he was a better friend than Ron had ever been. The dark-haired youth knew this young man would always be family to him.
"Or I would be living with the ferret!" Harry joked.
"Oi!" Draco exclaimed, then took on a lordly air, "You should be privileged that you get to live with me."
"Privileged, my arse," Harry returned with a laugh, then sunk into silence as he fiddled nervously with a button.
"So, how nervous are you?" Neville asked, breaking the silence, not allowing Harry to overthink things.
"On a scale of one to ten, a nine," Harry admitted. "Are we doing the right thing getting married so young?"
"You do not need it to break the contract," Draco shrugged.
"But Narcissa had already organised everything," Harry considered.
"You and Hermione are very much in love, now or in ten years' time, you would be married," Neville suggested.
"When did you get so smart?" Draco joked as Neville stuck his tongue out at the boy.
"What if I muck up or faint?" Harry did appear a little pale, but Neville just put a reassuring hand on his arm.
"I've never known you to be this nervous, not even when you were facing Death Eaters," Draco said, surprised. Neville nodded, agreeing with the other boy.
"This wedding has gotten you really shaken up," the sandy-haired youth said.
"I love Hermione so much. Now her parents cannot be here, I want the day to be incredibly special for her," Harry admitted. The three fell into a companionable silence as they looked out over the darkening sky. With only a few hours to go to the wedding, Harry could not help but worry about the wedding.
"Come on, you need to get ready to go," Neville finally said, sharing a grin with Draco. Harry gulped and nodded, following the pair back downstairs. The trio joked around until they got to the main floor, where Draco left them heading off in another direction. Neville and Harry continued down to the Entrance Hall, where there were plenty of people milling about. Harry took a brief look into the Great Hall, which had been set up for the wedding. There were now pews down the hall leading to a beautiful altar with a flower pagoda over the top. Before he could get too good a look, Harry was pulled away by Neville to an antechamber where Sirius, Cepheus, Narcissa and Minerva McGonagall stood.
"Wow, you are looking smart, pup," Sirius commented, making his son blush. Sirius's hair had finally gotten back to normal after his prank nearly two months before. The green and Silver colours had finally disappeared two days ago, which his Dad had been grateful for though he had promised revenge.
"Thanks', dad," Harry replied as the baby in Narcissa's arms gurgled. Harry immediately went over and began playing with the small boy, "Hiya, Teddy, I hope you have been behaving for your momma and Moony. Wait until you are a bit older, and Uncle Harry will take you on some adventures."
"He is a bit of a crier. I remember being told Sirius was the same," Narcissa told the boy with a grin. "I will be keeping an eye on you and my boy."
"Hey, I will be the best Uncle he has ever had," replied Harry with a grin of his own.
"I do not know where he got the purple hair from. The green eyes, but not the purple hair," Narcissa looked down at the baby who had changed his hair to purple and green eyes to match Harry. They had discovered the small child was a metamorphmagus like his cousin Tonks.
"Must run in the family," Harry replied thinking about Tonks, wondering how she was getting on in America.
"Right, I have to go in a moment. But we just wanted to tell you we will have two new wards over the summer," Sirius sobered up.
"What do you mean?"
"Riley Monahan." McGonagall supplied. "We found out Death Eaters killed his mother soon after his fathers' death. So, he is now an orphan."
"So, we are taking another stray?" Harry joked. He grabbed his little brother and gave him a noogie, "we already have one little rascal. I think we can add another to the madhouse."
"Hey, I resent that," Cepheus grumbled, straightening his robes, trying to act mature. "I am twelve now, not a little child."
"You keep thinking that kiddo," Harry winked to Neville's guffaw. "You said something about another Ward?"
"Yes, Marquess Selwyn and I have decided to revive an old-fashioned practice of fostering a Ward. So, Danica Selwyn will come live with us for the near future," Sirius explained.
"Great, three pre-teens, a baby, and a ferret. All we need is a gryphon, and we will have a zoo," Harry commented, rolling his eyes.
"Draco is not that bad," Neville added, surprising Harry into silence.
"Right, I had better go," Sirius winked, then left the antechamber.
"Good luck, Harry," Narcissa kissed his cheek and left.
"Go on, kiddo, you had better go with Cissa," Harry urged his brother, who stuck his tongue out at him. Harry shook his head but smiled at his little brothers' antics.
"Are you ready?" Neville asked.
"Not really, but lead on Nev," Harry replied. So, the young Marquess of Grossmont led his best friend and brother into the Great Hall. The wedding minister was stood at the altar, so Harry assumed his position in front of the man with Neville at his side. Next, he saw his family; Cepheus, Narcissa, little Teddy, Remus, and the rest of the Black's followed by several of the teachers of Hogwarts. On the other side sat McGonagall, Flitwick and all their friends, including the Weasley twins who grinned and winked at him. He hoped they had not planned anything, or he would kill them.
Then the music began to play, and Hermione came up the aisle on the arm of Sirius. The crowd were impressed by her beautiful dress, which was held by a disgruntled looking Danica. Seems she had already joined the Black household. Harry could see Hermione's thousand-watt smile barely concealed beneath the white veil. Harry wished his parents and Hermione's could have been here to see this. Hermione and Sirius stopped an arm's away from him.
"Are you OK?" Harry whispered, getting a nod from her. "You are looking beautiful."
"We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love," the minister began, "by uniting Harry Antares Black and Hermione Jane Granger in Bonding, becoming one as they grow and love together. Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be Bonded, they must speak now or forever hold their peace?"
Harry caught Cepheus squirming out the corner of his eye, but Draco had a hand clamped down on the boy's arm, whispering to him quietly. Ceph's eyes went wide as Draco sat back with a grin. Then, after several moments of silence, the minister proceeded.
"Who here present's this woman in an equal bond with this man?"
"I do," Sirius's voice boomed across the Great Hall. Harry realised he had never seen his father look so regal. Sirius took the last few steps presenting his 'Ward' to Harry. The young man took Hermione's hand, feeling her warmth.
"Harry Antares Black and Hermione Jane Granger, I would ask that you put your hands forward just as we practised," the minister urged them. Harry held his left hand, and Hermione placed her right hand and wrist over his. The minister placed the end of a silk scarf between their hands, then wrapped it once around their hands. "Your bond will be three-fold, Respect, Love and Fidelity.
With respect, you shall nurture each other's passions." As the minister wrapped the silk, Harry saw a golden string bind them together, "with Love, the light can outlast the darkness." Another golden string. "With Fidelity, you shall grow stronger together."
"As you become bonded, you must focus on what seems right to you, not only the parts that seem wrong," the minister continued. "This way, when clouds of trouble hide the sun in your lives, and you lose sight of it for a moment, you can remember that the sun is still there. And if each of you will take responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.
"Harry Antares Black, do you take Hermione Jane Granger as your Bonded?" the minister asked.
"I do," Harry replied, looking sideways at his future mate.
"Do you promise to love, honour, cherish and protect her, to link your soul unto her forevermore?" the minister asked as a golden light drew itself from Harry. From no noticeable gasps, Harry was the only one who could see it.
"I do." The minister turned to look at Hermione.
"Hermione Jane Granger, do you take Harry Antares Black as your bonded?"
"I do," Hermione answered with a massive smile on her face.
"Do you promise to love, honour, cherish and protect him, to link your soul unto him forevermore?"
"I do," Hermione replied. Harry saw Hermione's light, the deep green light merging with his own golden light. The ball of light swirled in an olive colour and split up, one going to Hermione, the other going to Harry.
"Harry," Neville nudged his friend handing him the ring, which the minister had requested.
"I believe you have chosen your own vows," the minister told him, a little sternly.
"Hermione Jane Granger, you have been the best part of my life for the last five years. Your bookishness and bossy attitude make me smile even when others may dislike them. I want to show, before these witnesses, my love for you. So, I take you, with all your faults and strengths, as I offer myself to you with all my faults and strengths." Harry took the ring and slid it on Hermione's finger. "With this ring, our souls are complete, our bond an everlasting circle never to be broken."
"Young Lady, if you could present your ring," the minister asked Luna Lovegood, who was Hermione's Maid of Honour. The usually ditzy young woman handed the ring over solemnly. Hermione turned to Harry.
"I knew I loved you the moment we met on the train; you were a small scruffy child, but something about you drew my attention. Though you frustrate me with your dangerous stunts and lack of concern for authority, I am deeply in love with you. So, I take you, with all your faults and strengths, as I offer myself to you with all my faults and strengths." Hermione took the ring and slid it on Harry's finger. "With this ring, our souls are complete, our bond an everlasting circle never to be broken."
"Harry Antares Black and Hermione Jane Granger, the two of you, come into this Bonding uniting as equal partners. As you this day affirm your faith and love of one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals; that you respect the other's thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges and live each day that you may share it together- as from this day forward, you shall be the other's safe harbour, comfort and refuge, your Bonding strengthened by your love and respect for each other."
"Just as two threads are woven in opposite directions will form a most beautiful tapestry, so too can your two lives merged together make a beautiful bonding. To make your relationship work will take love. This is the core of your Bonding and why you are here today. It will take trust, to know in your hearts that you genuinely want the best for each other," the minister began to wind down his speech, "It will take dedication, to stay open to one another - and to learn and grow together. It will take faith to go forward together without knowing exactly what the future brings. And it will take commitment; to hold true to the journey you both pledge today to share together. Now in front of these witnesses, I'd like to present the Marquess and Marchioness of Rendlesham."
Clapping filled the Great Hall as the minister unwrapped the silk scarf, and Harry lifted the veil, kissing Hermione gently sealing their bond. Harry knew he would be forever bonded with his beautiful bookworm. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the usual stoic Narcissa dab her eyes while Andromeda was outright crying.
Much later, the ceiling of the Great Hall showed a bright, almost full moon, which had been the night before. Harry looked over at Remus, who appeared exhausted though happy. Harry was chatting with the Weasley Twins over their decision to leave school at the end of the year when the song began.
For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream, you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful, baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through it all
The Great Hall had been changed back with a stage where the teachers usually sat. On the stage was thirteen-year-old Astoria Greengrass singing a Muggle tune he had heard back home. Narcissa had got into Muggle songs when Remus had taken her out to Muggle world.
You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me
Ooh, baby
You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand. I could touch the sky
I lost my faith. You gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me, and I stood tall
I had your love, I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you
"My Lord Rendlesham, I do believe our little brother might be smitten," Hermione cooed as she put her arms around him. Harry turned to see Cepheus staring at the young Greengrass on stage. Harry snorted and took Hermione onto the dance floor.
"I believe there may be a betrothal contract in the future," Harry commented casually. Hermione's eyes widened then she slapped the boy's arm.
"You set them up," she accused.
"I did nothing of the sort," Harry denied with a wide smirk.
"I am beginning to think you are more like your father than I thought, first the prank where you turned his hair Slytherin colours, now setting up little brother," Hermione huffed as Harry pulled her closer.
"I will never prank you, lady Rendlesham," Harry assured with wide innocent eyes.
"Because you know I would win if we got into a prank war."
"That is almost a challenge," Harry replied before his smirk turned into a genuine smile. The song finished, so Harry escorted Hermione to their seats, where they found Daphne and Neville in deep conversation.
"Your sister has a beautiful voice," Hermione told Daphne.
"Thank you, she does indeed," Daphne nodded, "It was not surprising when Harry asked her to sing at your Bonding."
"Yes, I am glad of it," Hermione commented as she gave Harry a glance, who was trying to look innocent. She wondered if Sirius was pushing for a match between the Greengrass's and the Black Family. But, seeing the gleam in Harry's eye told her, he was the one behind the 'matchmaking.'
"Your dress is so beautiful. I hope my dress is half as beautiful on my Bonding day," Daphne complimented the bookworm as she gave a sidelong glance at Neville. It seemed the crush Neville had was mutual.
"I am sure it will be. Any man will be lucky to have you," Harry spoke up, looking at his god-brother, who merely blushed.
"Do you mind if we have a word, pup?" Sirius looked uncharacteristically serious. The Animagus and Amelia stood nearby as they waited for his answer.
"Of course," Hermione said for the pair, and the couple followed Harry's father to the small antechamber. Amelia immediately placed privacy wards up making Harry and Hermione look at each other in concern.
"After you told us what Dumbledore said about the Wand, we began to investigate, and you have been holding things back from us?" Sirius raised an eyebrow at his son.
"Erm, no, I have not." Hermione knew he was lying.
"We know about Draco's research trip to London," Sirius told the boy flatly.
"OK, after Draco told us all the tale of Míreanna Draíochta, I had him digging into the research, and then I saw the name 'Excalibur' on Gryffindor's Sword in Flitwick's office," Harry told them. He had left the parts out where the Hat had spoken to him and told him how to combine the Wand, Stone, and Cloak. He also kept quiet some of the other secrets the Hat had revealed to him.
"So, you believe the tale is true?" Amelia asked him.
"I do. The Cloak is far too old and handed down through the generations until James Potter had it for it to be a coincidence. The sword is real, and now we know the Wand is real," Harry answered.
"By rights, the Wand belongs to you. However, Dumbledore has told us that he felt his grip on it getting weaker and weaker. We believe it was because the Wand knew its true owner was nearby," Amelia told him. "If the accounts are true, then the Peverell descendants were supposed to have the Wand, Cloak, and Sword. You are the last of the Peverell's."
"Yes, even if I had been a Potter, my Peverell blood would have come from the Black side in Dorea Black. A descendent of the first Peverell," Harry explained, surprising Hermione, so he told her, "I will show you the family tree later."
"But Draco told us the three were fashioned for King Arthur, if he is supposedly supposed to be reincarnated, are you not just holding them for him?"
"No, Merlin was the original creator so they should be returned to their original form," Harry returned, but Hermione noticed he looked away from her. She knew he was not telling the whole truth.
"Do you know why the wand did not call out for your father?" Amelia asked distracting the pair.
"No, maybe because I already had the Cloak in my possession," Harry shrugged his shoulders. Sirius handed over a box. Harry opened it almost reverently and took out the Elder Wand. Immediately the Wand began to glow; everyone could feel the Magical pressure in the room.
"Yep, that is his alright," Sirius joked, defusing the tension making everyone laugh.
"Black, Black," Harry heard his name called as he entered Hogsmeade Train Station. It was now several weeks since the Bonding and the last day of school. He looked around the find the Head of Gryffindor, Minerva McGonagall, calling him.
"Go get on, Riley, sit with Cepheus and Hermione," Harry told their new Ward.
"OK, Harry," the boy rolled his eyes at the older teen. He had changed a lot since the beginning of the year. He now thought of Cepheus and Harry more like brothers. Harry and Sirius had told him last week about his mother, and he was slowly coming to terms with being an orphan, but Harry and Hermione had helped a lot. As the boy went off with Hermione, Harry gave the Transfiguration Professor a beaming smile.
"What can I do for you, Aunt Minnie?"
"I am going to kill your father for introducing you to that name," McGonagall grimaced.
"But I love it, and you are like an aunt to me," Harry's grin widened.
"I wanted to wish you good luck over the summer. Hopefully, your father will find time to come visit."
"Visit?" Harry asked politely.
"I am returning to the Ancestral Ross Seat this summer to see my family," the Professor replied with a twinkle in her eyes.
"I am sure Dad will find time to visit," Harry replied.
"Well, if I do not see you before, I shall see you on September First, have a wonderful summer," she told the boy and left him to board the train. Walking along the train corridor, he greeted many of the students who were happy to be going home. He found the compartment with Riley, Danica Selwyn, Hermione, Cepheus, and Neville in it. Draco was off somewhere with his boyfriend.
"–I will be meeting up with Daphne several times this summer," Neville was saying as he entered.
"So, things are really going well for the pair of you?" Harry asked as he took a seat next to Hermione.
"Really well, I truly like her," Neville admitted as Riley pretended to be sick.
"I cannot wait to get into the Black library and read some of the books," Hermione spoke up. "I can enjoy the books in peace and quiet."
"You are not going to get that, love," Harry snorted, "Teddy can cry with the best of them."
"Aww, he is so sweet, though," Hermione returned.
"It is going to be a madhouse with all the kids running around," giving Riley and Cepheus a grin, "Amelia is moving in, and Narcissa and Remus are raising little Teddy there. I think I will be escaping to the Quidditch pitch often."
"I do not think so, buddy," Hermione warned him, getting a laugh from everyone present. Then, they all settled down for the long journey back to London.
Several hours later, the Hogwarts Express began to move through cities with a more significant Muggle population. Hermione was reading a book curled up next to the window with Cepheus's legs on her lap while his head was in Harry's lap, fast asleep. Harry looked around to see Danica nodding off on Riley's shoulder as Neville read his own book.
SLAM! The door to the compartment was flung open violently, startling both Cepheus and Danica from their sleep as three people stood at the door. The leader had pure black hair with black eye shadows under her eyes and seemed about the same age as Hermione and Harry. Behind her stood Blaise, and surprisingly Ginny Weasley.
"Black!"
"LeStrange," Harry returned languidly. However, his hand moved slowly towards his wand. Hermione noticed and sat up more. "It has been a long time Cassie, what are you doing on the train?"
"I was collecting my sister, your foolish headmaster allowed me to ride the train to London," the girl, Cassie, replied, "and I have told you not to call me Cassie."
"Then why not sit with her and stay the hell away from me. I will be glad when you return to Durmstrang," Harry returned, glaring at the young woman.
"Well, good news, I shall be joining you for my Sixth-year next year," the girl proclaimed with an evil smile.
"Like Mother, like daughter," was the reply from Harry. "Get lost, Cassiopeia; you are not welcome here."
"I would not want to be associated with Blood traitors and Mudblood's anyway," Cassie returned before sweeping off, the other two following her. Harry sighed, his mind racing.
"Who was that?" Riley asked wide-eyed.
"Cassiopeia LeStrange, the daughter of Bellatrix and Rodolphus LeStrange. Though we are not sure whether she is Riddle's daughter," Harry commented after a few moments.
"As in Lord Voldemort," Hermione squeaked. Neville frowned at Harry.
"What is she doing back from Durmstrang?" he asked.
"I do not know, Nev. I did not realise her little sister was at Hogwarts this year," Harry responded, perplexed.
"None of us did. I think Sirius would have said something if he knew," Neville tried to soothe the boy.
"How do you know her?" Hermione asked, not liking that Harry had kept secrets from her.
"Last summer, Sirius found out about her, so we went to meet her at Durmstrang to see her. She came back to Hárasteorra Hall for a week, where she met Neville. After that, however, she decided she wanted to have nothing to do with us; she is pure evil," Harry explained, going silent before finally saying, "It is going to be an interesting summer and new school year."
Well, that is the end of Harry Potter and the Black Family Legacy. I really want to thank everyone for reading, leaving reviews or comments, and generally loving the story.