CHAPTER TWO: ESCAPING THE LIES
SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 1996, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey UK
Nymphadora Tonks was a twenty-one and almost twenty-two year old witch. She had hated her first name all her life and preferred to be called "Tonks." Family and close friends were allowed to call her "Dora." Only her Mum called her by that other name and only when she was angry.
Tonks was a metamorphagus, which was a rare magical ability that allowed her to change her appearance at will. She had mastered this gift and could so alter her appearance as to be unrecognizable. If she touched the bare skin of any person and allowed her magic to connect with them, she could assume their form exactly and on command. It was a very useful gift to have in her line of work. She was an Auror, a hunter of Dark Wizards for the Ministry of Magic. Undercover work and disguises were an essential part of her job and although she had only been a full qualified Auror for less than two years, she was the best in the Department at undercover work.
She was also a member of the Order of the Phoenix. She joined within days of Voldemort's return to physical form. As a member of the Order, she did what was asked to help prevent Voldemort from gaining power or followers. In her case, this included passing classified Ministry materials on to the Order, a crime which, should she get caught, could land her in Azkaban Prison for a very long time. But she and some others took the risk for they believed the Ministry's do nothing attitude would be the ruin of all.
Right now, she was working for the Order. Her mission was simple. She was to keep an eye on the one person the Order was intent on protecting for now: Harry Potter. It turned out, this would allow her to accomplish her most important mission, one which neither the Ministry nor the Order knew anything about.
She stood in Harry's bedroom. She was in her true form for once. She stood five foot seven, with shoulder length, light brown hair. She usually morphed her breasts into a smaller size. She felt that her ample bust got more attention than she did. Tonight, her bust was it's normal, rather large size. She had an excellent, if slightly top-heavy figure thanks to the physical exercise required of Aurors. She was wearing "Muggle Attire." It was a casual summer outfit with a low cut tee shirt and shorts that revealed her shapely legs. She wore trainers with ankle socks on her feet. She also had a handbag.
She had come to wake the sleeping teen up. But in the light from her wand, she noticed the notebook on the desk. She read through the questions and suppositions of the young man sleeping but a couple of feet away.
Very perceptive, she thought. This might go easier than we had hoped. She then looked at the sleeping boy. No one should have been forced to live your life, young Harry. You should have either had a normal life or you should have been trained to fulfill this horrible destiny. Your questions and more will be answered really soon, although I am afraid you will not like the truth one bit. Your life in the dark is over, young Master. You shall soon enter the light. She placed the notebook in the handbag.
It was time to wake the boy and lead him towards a new path in life.
Harry was having, without a doubt, the strangest dream he could remember. It was odd, wonderful and highly erotic. He was with Hermione, always a nice thought. It was Third Year again, maybe. They were riding on the back of the Hippogriff named Buckbeak, just as they had when they rescued Sirius from impending execution. However, this time was different. First of all, they were both naked. Secondly, they were making love as Buckbeak flew through the skies. Cool, Harry thought and then the dream vanished.
"Harry!" a woman's voice called. Harry could feel a hand shaking his shoulder. "Harry! Wake up!" the voice called urgently.
"Whaaa?" Harry groaned having been yanked out of that wonderful if strange dream. He opened his eyes knowing he would see nothing clearly without his glasses. The first thing he did see was the light source. He knew what it was: wand light, most likely a Lumos or light spell. That meant whoever this was, she was a witch and she was not supposed to be here. Instinctively, he reached for the top of his head board where he kept his want while sleeping. It wasn't there. He then reached for his glasses and put them on and looked at the strange woman for the first time. He recognized her.
"Tonks?"
"Wotcher, Harry! Looking for this?" Tonks asked handing Harry his wand. He looked a little surprised and put out. "I am an Auror, you know. I wasn't about to wake an armed wizard who was not expecting me. You'd've hexed me for sure."
"Suppose."
"Top of the headboard, Harry?" she said shaking her head. "Too easy. Under the pillow is best. They'll likely wake you before disarming you. Remember what Moody says."
"Can't forget," Harry nodded. "Constant vigilance. Um - what are you doing here?"
"Getting you out of here," Tonks replied.
"What? But Dumbledore said I had to stay here for at least a month!"
"Do you believe everything Dumbledore tells you?" Tonks asked remembering the note pad that was now in her hand bag.
"Used to," Harry mumbled. "Now, I don't know."
"Well don't! This place isn't safe! You're in danger here!"
"What kind of danger?"
"Mortal danger!"
"But there are wards on this place," Harry complained.
"What wards?"
"Well, Dumbledore said…"
"Harry, I'm a fully qualified Auror. I can detect warding quite easily and aside from the fact that this place is unplottable, there isn't a single defensive ward on this house!"
"But Dumbledore said something about blood wards! He said he cast one because of my Mum and her sacrifice!"
"Can't say if he did or not," Tonks replied. "Blood wards?"
Harry nodded.
"Did he add that they're illegal?"
"What?"
"They are Harry. Not quite Unforgivable, but close. And no, there are no blood wards on this house. I would have detected one. If he did cast one it never took hold."
"No surprise there," Harry said. "He said that if I considered this pit a home, the wards would work. I've never considered this a home. Prison? Sure. A living hell? Definitely! A home? Never."
"So there you go," Tonks said. "Now let's quit yapping and get packing. Get up and dressed!"
"Could you," Harry began, "could you turn around, please?"
"Why? You sleep in the nick?"
"Er, no, but…" Harry blushed unwilling to tell Tonks that he had not recovered from the dream and had a raging erection. "I just sleep in my boxers and…"
"There's nothing I haven't seen, Harry."
"Tonks PLEASE," Harry pleaded.
"Fine," she said turning around. "But if you try and do a runner on me, I'll hex that hard bit right off!"
Was it that obvious, Harry wondered. But Tonks did turn and Harry gathered up some clothes and dressed. When he was done he told Tonks she could turn around. She looked at him and again wondered what was up with him. Unless he was wearing a Hogwarts uniform or tee shirt or a Molly Weasley Jumper, she had long noted his clothes were, as now, several sizes too large.
"What's that rubbish you're wearing?" she asked.
"Clothes."
"Been diving bins for your rags? Those are way too large for you, you know."
"Cousin Dudley's hand-me-downs," Harry said with embarrassment.
"Let me guess," Tonks replied. "He's either one fat fuck or loads older than you, right?"
"Hagrid tried to turn him into a pig when I first learned I was a wizard. I guess fat fuck."
"You have any clothes that fit?"
"Aside from school uniforms, no."
"I see. Okay then. Open your trunk. If there are any Dudley clothes in there, get rid of them all. All except two or three changes worth that is. We'll deal with your wardrobe tomorrow. Then I want you to gather up anything in this room that is either magical or even hints of magical and our world and put it into your trunk."
Harry did as he was told, emptying the trunk of most of Dudley's hand-me-downs. He scoured the room for anything that hinted of magic. Notes, letters, books, quills, empty bottles of potion ingredients, presents from his friends, pictures all made their way into the trunk. He checked under his bed, in the wardrobe, the desk and dresser and even under the loose floorboard. He also included anything else he wanted to bring even if it was not magical, which included a collection of nudie magazines he had nicked from Dudley who had, in turn, nicked from his father. He did not notice whether Tonks had seen this addition to his trunk. She had as a smile crossed her face.
After ten minutes, Harry announced he was finished. He was instructed to sit on his trunk and then Tonks sat beside him.
"Take my hand," she said. Harry did as he was told and she interlaced their fingers. Her hand felt warm in his and he almost immediately felt two waves of warmth course through his body. Before he could think of what had happened, Tonks asked if he was ready. Harry nodded.
Harry had traveled by many forms of magical transport before. The first, arguably was when Hagrid used magic to propel a small boat from the island where Harry's Uncle had taken him to avoid his going to Hogwarts. The second, arguably was the Hogwarts express, but it looked like, sounded like and felt like a normal steam locomotive with passenger carriages. Harry really did not consider those truly magical.
His first truly magical transport was when he learned to ride a broom. It was kind of like riding a bicycle, except he didn't have to pedal and the broom actually flew in the air. Harry, it seemed, was a natural at it. His natural talent landed him on his House Quidditch team, the youngest player in over a hundred years. He loved flying. Arguably that was why he also loved flying on the back of a Hippogriff his Third Year and just over a week ago on the back of a Thestral. Hermione, on the other hand, hated flying. Well, magical flying. Harry knew she and her parents traveled a lot and she had been on airplane, something Harry had never done.
Harry considered his first real magical transport experience was the Floo Network. This occurred before his second year when he was staying with the Weasleys at the end of the summer and they went to Diagon Alley in London. One stood in an over sized fireplace, stated ones destination, threw some magic powder to the ground and disappeared in a flash of green flames. It was always a very disorienting experience and no matter how often he did it when he came out the other end at another fireplace he invariable landed either on his bum or his stomach.
Harry had traveled by portkey on three occasions. He didn't like that method much either. A portkey was an enchanted object that at a specific time would transport one or many to a specific location. It was a very uncomfortable way to travel. When it activated, he felt as if there was a fishhook just behind his navel tugging him and the world would spin out of control. This was another method that usually left him with a sore bum.
Harry had apparated once by accident when he was little and long before he learned he was a wizard. He only knew that was what had happened when Mr. Weasley described what apparition felt like. One had the feeling of being squeezed through a straw. Apparition had advantages as one did not need a fireplace or a specially enchanted object to jump from one place to another. But Harry was told it was perhaps the most dangerous way to travel magically. Supposedly they would learn how to do it next year sometime. If they did well enough they would get a license from the Ministry that would allow them to apparate at will. Without a license apparition was illegal.
Whatever had just happened, it was not any form of magical transport Harry had ever experienced or even heard of. In the blink of an eye, his small room in Privet Drive disappeared and this massive room filled with chandeliers, exotic plants and chairs and couches appeared around him. The room was larger that his Aunt and Uncle's entire house Harry was convinced. What also struck him was that he had not felt a thing.
"What just happened?" Harry asked. "Where are we?"
Tonks decided to ignore the first question. "Harry, this is Potter Manor."
"What? P-Potter Manor?"
"You're ancestral home, Harry."
"What?"
"The Potters have lived on these lands for well over a thousand years, Harry. This manor is a little over three hundred years old. Your father as his fathers before him grew up here. Had things been different, had they been right, you would have grown up here as well."
"Why didn't I? Am I safe here?"
"There are as of now only three people in the outside world who know of this place, Harry. You are one. Remus is another and I am the third. Sirius knew of this place too, but…"
"It's safe?"
"Safer than any place on earth, Harry."
"Is this Godrics Hollow?"
"Goodness no! That's hundreds of miles from here."
"Then why were my parents there and not here?"
"In the morning, Harry, I promise. It's after three and we both need our sleep. Follow me."
Harry followed her as she led him through the manor and to a flight of the largest stairs he had ever seen. The place screamed wealth. The Potters, his ancestors had been quite wealthy for a long time.
"The ground floor are the public rooms," Tonks explained. "The room where we arrived is called the Conservatory, a nice place for tea I'm told. You have what is probably one of the largest libraries in magical Britain. There are several parlors and such, a room for formal receptions, a music room, several game rooms, a bar that is said to look like an English Pub, a large Concert Room, Drawing Room, a Ballroom, an informal dinning hall that is said to seat up to five hundred and a formal banquet hall that seats close to two hundred at the same table. There's an enclosed walkway that leads from the main Manor to the gym, indoor pool and the outdoor pool.
"The main stair we are on leads to the First, Second and Third Floors. First Floor are the Private Apartments of the Lord of the Manor. That's where you'll be staying. There's the Lord's suite, which includes your Study, a Sitting Room, huge closets, a bathroom that I'm told is huge, and your Bedchambers. From your Bedchambers, a door leads to the Mistress Suite. There's another Sitting Room, a Nursery, the Mistress Bedchamber, her dressing room, closets and bath. I'm told that the last Lord who lived here slept with his wife, as opposed to custom where they maintained separate rooms. There's several bedrooms for children. There's also a children's library, classroom and large play rooms, a conference room, another music room and a couple of parlors as well. There's also a large Common Room for the family and the family dining room.
"Second and Third Floors have the Guest Rooms, forty suites in all. There's also a Common Room for the Guests and a large dinning room. Fourth floor is accessed by three smaller stair cases. Those are the servants' quarters.
"Your estate is measured from the center of the conservatory, Milord. The front of the Manor faces east and the front gate is four miles from the center of the conservatory…"
"Four miles!"
"Yes, Milord. Your north and south property lines are each five miles from the center of the conservatory. Your west property line is on the coast, sixteen miles from here, although it is twenty-four from here to your south boundary and nine miles from here to your north due to the coast line."
"Bloody hell! And this is safe?"
"Indeed. The wards that protect this place are even better than those at Hogwarts. Ancient, they are. Goblin, Elvin and Wizard, they are. Aside from the fishermen in Pottersport, a fishing village you own and that is populated by your kin and some other villages inland, only three others now alive know about this place and can see it or even come here: Remus, you and me. Remus because like Sirius, he had the Master's permission of access. You, because your are now the Master of this estate and me, well we'll get to that later."
"The whole estate is warded?"
"Yes Harry. As far as the rest of the Wizarding world is concerned, neither this estate nor anyone who lives here exist. Death Eaters cannot find you nor can your other enemies, nor the Ministry."
"Other enemies?"
"Tomorrow Harry."
"Why now? Why after all of this time? If this place is so safe, what where my parents doing in Godrics Hollow? Why was I sent to live all this time with the Dursleys? Why didn't we live here?"
"I will answer all of those questions, Milord, but tomorrow. It is after three in the morning. I'm knackered and you need your sleep too."
"But…"
"Harry, sleep now. The time for answers has come. The time for truth has come. But you need your sleep."
Harry noticed that they were standing in a huge bedroom. There was a large, four post bed, larger than any he had seen. Windows covered one wall and the wall next to it as well, except where a large fireplace stood and a fire burned.
"The door to your dressing chamber and bath is there," Tonks said, pointing to an ornate wooden door on the same wall as the bed. "Now to sleep. I'll be in the Mistress's Bedchamber should you need anything."
Harry nodded, too tired to argue. He went through the door, passed through the dressing chamber to use the bath. The bathroom was huge, but he was too tried to take it all in. After using the facilities, he left his clothes, all but his boxers, in the dressing room and returned to the Master's Bedchamber and crawled into the huge bed. He was asleep as soon as his head sank into the pillows.
Harry awoke surprisingly early given the late night flight from Privet Drive. By eight-thirty, he had showered and dressed and found his way to the private dining room of the Private Apartment on the First Floor. As he entered, he saw a solitary House elf, or so he thought at first. But the creature looked very different. It was at least six inches taller than any house elf he had ever seen before. House elves had grayish green skin, bat like ears, over sized noses and large eyes that made them look almost comical. They were also quite bald and typically wore loin cloths or togas fashioned from pillow cases and the like.
This creature had skin that looked human. Its ears were pointed, belying the fact that it was not human, while its blue eyes were larger than they would be were it human, they were not overly large and the small nose clearly fit its face. It had long, golden hair braided down the back, a slight yet clearly female figure and it wore a proper dress.
"My Lord Potter," the creature said in a very feminine sounding voice, wholly unlike the unnatural squeak common for the House Elves Harry remembered, "it is indeed a pleasure to finally serve you in your House."
"Who … what are you?" Harry asked.
"I am Elda, Elf Maiden and Personal Chef to My Lord Potter and his family. We expected you years ago and feared the worse, My Lord Potter."
"Elf Maiden? Not a House Elf?"
"I am indeed of the same race as those known to you as House Elves. I and my kin who serve the Ancient and Noble House of Potter have long been free of the Dark Magic that enslaved our kind."
"I'm sorry. I don't understand."
"For thousands of years, my race willingly served witches and wizards as members of their families. We all appeared thusly and were bound to our families by a familial bond. We served as our ancestors had, out of love and pride for our families and clans. We were not slaves.
"Around a thousand years ago, a dark witch, whose name we still do not speak, discovered a spell that enslaved my race. We became bound to your kind not out of love, but malice and we became the race you know as House Elves. It is an unnatural state for us and in such state we submitted to the pain, punishments and humiliation akin to all bound against their will.
"We were denied the love we once enjoyed from our families. We were denied our former rights: the right to marry, to mate, to bear children as we desired. We were forced to endure the humiliation of servitude as opposed to the joys of service and family. We were bred like common animals and our children denied the right to choose to serve their family or seek another when they came of age.
"Four hundred years ago, Lord Potter, an ancestor of yours, discovered what had happened to my kind. He dedicated his life to finding a way to restore at least his elves to their former glory. He succeeded, thus here I stand: an Elf Maiden, a Potter, a mother and wife, and your loyal servant and, I hope, friend."
"Are you the only Elf in service?" Harry asked.
"Oh no, Milord. There are many serving the Potter Estate. I don't know how many for certain. For that, you'd need to talk to Darda. He's the Head Elf for the Estate and keeps track of such things."
"Milord Potter," another voice said, "I am Darda." Harry saw an older looking elf in very elegant robes.
"I'll have breakfast for you and the young lady directly," Elda said and disappeared with barely a sound.
"You're the head of staff?" Harry asked the new elf.
"Yes Milord."
"Just how big is this estate?"
"The Manor estate is about a quarter million acres, all told." Harry's jaw dropped. "Excluding this Manor House, there are twenty guest houses: eight on the coast overlooking the sea and twelve scattered about the remainder of the estate. There's Pottersport, which is the main town located on the coast and is entirely within the Estate and its wards. Several thousand witches, wizards, Muggles and squibs live there and earn a living from the sea. It may be much more than that has there has not been a proper census in ages. There's your own beach house as well. There are over three thousand acres of gardens and much of the rest of the estate is either farmed or pasture land or woodlands."
"How many elves?"
"Forty-six work in the Manor House, Milord. The gardening and grounds keeping staff numbers two hundred and thirty-one. Five hundred and forty work the farms. There are ten who serve as game wardens and another sixteen at the Manor stables. Forty work in the guest houses and another sixteen in your beach chalet. Including me, that's an even nine hundred, Milord."
"Bloody hell! I have to manage this?"
"You may if you desire. It's not necessary. The place pretty much has run itself, quite successfully I might add since the last Lord Potter and his Lady passed away eight years ago during the Dragon Pox outbreak."
"Eight years ago! But my parents died fourteen years ago!"
"Yes Milord. And your grandfather spent the remaining six years of his life trying to find out what became of you. The Ministry was most unkind to his requests and refused him to probate your father's Will. Charles Potter was most put out, I'd dare say. According to the Will, you should have been raised here."
"What?" Harry cried out.
"I'm afraid it's true, Harry," a woman's voice said. Harry turned and saw Tonks enter the dining room dressed in the same clothes she wore the night before.
"Was anyone going to tell me any of this?" Harry protested.
Tonks nodded. "Sirius was. He was planning to do it right after you got back from school for this," her voice hitched, "s-summer. Obviously…"
Obviously he bloody well can't now, Harry thought, seeing as he was dead.
"The task passed to Remus and I, Harry. It's one of the reasons why you're here and not with those so called Muggle relations. But more on that later. Aren't you hungry?"
Harry admitted he was. Darda excused himself as the large breakfast arrived.
"Harry," Tonks said as Harry was eating, "Sirius left instructions for me and Remus in the event he died before this summer. We are to tell you everything we know. You've been lied to practically all your life. That ends now! Well, maybe not just this minute, but when I get back from the errands I need to run later today…"
"Errands?"
"Promised you a proper wardrobe, didn't I? That and I'll be staying here for the next month or two so I need clothes as well, unless Dumbledore has Order business for me. Not likely though."
"Why? Why not?"
"I'm on forty-five days leave from the Auror Corps. Some of it is 'bereavement leave' as Sirius and I were - um - close. That and I have vacation time saved up. So, I'll be here to keep you company, to tell you all we know - more of which you won't like - and to start training you proper."
"Really?" Harry asked as he picked up some toast to butter. "'Bout bloody time!"
"Hopefully, it's not too late," Tonks added. "As to the Order, well Remus and I are assigned to keep an eye on you at least until your Birthday when you're supposed to go to the Burrow and spend the remainder of the Hols with the Weasleys."
"But my birthday is in less than forty-five days," Harry observed. "Are you going to the Weasleys as well?"
"No. And neither are you."
"Why not?"
"There are reasons and I will tell you them. I promise, Harry. For now, rest assured the training Remus and I are going to have you doing cannot be done there, okay?"
Harry nodded. "No more lies, right?"
Tonks nodded. "Now," she said, "as I will be honest with you, can you be honest with me?"
"I suppose," Harry said with caution.
"Do you have feelings for Hermione?"
Harry blushed. He really didn't want to talk about this. They had only just started going out within the last week and while it was wonderful, it clearly had strained their relations with Ron and Ginny Weasley. He nodded. "I - I'm in love with her," he said softly.
"Really?"
Harry nodded. "Since second year. Didn't realize it until the Yule Ball, although I should have."
"Is this the fifteen year old she's cute and shaggable kind of love or the I want to be with her forever, birth my children and cannot live without her in my life kind of love."
"The forever kind."
"Babies too?"
"Well, not just yet but…" Harry blushed.
"You dating?"
"'Bout a week."
"What took you so long?"
"I - I was afraid she didn't love me. Er - well - I was afraid she didn't love me the same way I love her."
"Does she?"
Harry nodded. "I - I thought she was killed. When it turned out she was alive, I swore I would tell her, even if she didn't share those feelings. When she woke up, I did. I - well - I kind of asked her to marry me."
"You did?"
Harry nodded. "And she kind of said yes. Ron was all worked up about it. Accused me of stealing his girl and she told him off, said she loved me and wanted to be with me and…"
"Interesting," Tonks said. "That certainly changes things."
"Yeah," Harry agreed although he and Tonks were not thinking about the same things.
"Oh," Tonks said handing Harry a notebook. "Sorry, but I nicked this from your desk last night."
"You read it?" Harry asked recognizing that it was the notebook where he recorded his thoughts.
Tonks nodded. "No worries, Harry. Every question you have will be answered."
Harry nodded.
"You have a right to be suspicious, Harry. Your insights are not far off the mark and believe me, Sirius, Remus and I have been asking many of the same questions. Sirius practically from the day he was sent to Azkaban without a trial. Remus and I began to believe all was not well early your third year. Course, we couldn't bounce our ideas of Sirius until after you and Hermione rescued him months later. For over eighteen months we tried to fit the puzzle together. It was shortly after Chirstmas break this past year that we finally saw the forest through the trees and believe me, it's one ugly forest. Our plan was to get you here as soon as possible after the summer began, tell you everything and see where things led from there."
Harry nodded not sure of what to say.
Tonks left for her errands almost immediately after she had finished her breakfast telling Harry she would be back around dinner time. She suggested that Harry might want to spend the day exploring the Manor and maybe the grounds as well. It seemed like a good idea to Harry. He planned to use the morning to explore the Manor itself as it seemed huge. After lunch, he thought about breaking out his racing broom and flying over the property itself.
After touring the private apartments, which he thought were far too opulent for his liking but seeing as there were centuries of Potter acquisitions decided to leave things as they were, Harry made his way down to the ground floor. It seemed so much brighter with the sun shining outside. Remembering what he was told not hours before, he headed off in the direction of the library. The part of him that loved Hermione felt it was appropriate to check out the one room she could truly appreciate. When he walked in, he was stunned. He had never seen so many books in one place, not even at Hogwarts. The library was huge, with two levels of books and a large open area with tables, chairs and massive leather couches for reading.
Harry found himself standing before a large book that was open. He could not real a word of it. "Excuse me?" he asked.
He heard a soft "pop" and saw he was now joined by an elf he had not met. This elf was bald and wearing what looked like reading glasses. "Milord Potter," the elf said, "'tis a pleasure to finally have you home! Welcome. I am William, the Librarian."
"William?" Harry asked. For an elf this was a very normal name.
"My parents sensed I would love books on all manner of things and named me after the Bard."
"Who?"
"Shakespeare," William replied. "We have first folios of all his plays here."
Harry had no idea what William was talking about. "What's this?" he asked pointing to the large book.
"Gutenberg Bible," William said. "Printed in the fifteenth century. Perfect condition! First book published using moveable type! We also have an illuminated bible scribed by monks dating back to the ninth century. Wonderful work of art it is!"
Harry nodded trying to hide the fact he had no idea what the elf was talking about. "Er - how many books?"
"Magical or non-magical, Milord?"
"Er - both."
"Our non-magical collection contains works on science, history, literature and such, many first editions. We have 163,789 volumes. Magical, we have every subject and more: 178,291 volumes. Over ten thousand volumes may be the only copies of their kind in all magical Britain!"
"Including Hogwarts?"
William nodded. "Dumbledore's been dying to get his hands on our collection. We think that's why he's kept you from us."
"What? For books?"
"Maybe more. But this collection is worth far more than its weight in gold, Milord."
Harry nodded. "Thanks."
"Anything you might wish to read, Sir?"
"Erm, I'm just finding my way around for now. Just got here last night."
"I understand, Milord. When you are ready…" and the elf disappeared.
Hermione will think she's died and gone to heaven if she ever sees this place, Harry thought. He spent several minutes walking through the library and thinking about the book loving young woman he loved. If she ever saw this, I'd probably have to find a way to force her to leave, he thought to himself. There's no way she could read all these books, is there?
After a time, Harry left the library and continued on his tour. He soon found himself joined by a female elf named Marta who claimed to be the Potter House Historian. He half paid attention as she described the history of the place, the objects and the architecture of the various rooms he entered. At last, he found himself in the Grand Banquet Hall. It reminded him of the Great Hall at Hogwarts, but there was only one huge table in it and scores of ornately carved chairs as opposed to the plain benches. The walls were covered with tapestries and paintings. Marta told him the paintings were of the last twenty-five generations of Lord Potters and their wives or principal concubines. Harry had no idea what the latter term meant. The portraits were in pairs with the names, dates of birth and death of each in brass plaques on the bottom of the frame. Harry moved from portrait to portrait seeing as fashions changed through the ages and wondering about it all. For fifteen years, he had no history. Now he was engulfed in it. He finally arrived at two portraits that seemed fairly recent. Like most, they were and older couple, but the clothes seemed recent enough. He stared at the two people, and soon realized one had died when he was a baby.
Lord Charlus Edmund Potter Dorea Constance (Black) Potter
3 May 1893 - 14 December 1978 16 August 1895 - 23 March 1981
Married: 1 July 1913
Ellen Suzanne (Potter) Brown 5 May 1914
Cynthia Leanne (Potter) Longbottom 14 August 1915
Charles David Potter 17 November 1916
"Who's this?" Harry asked.
"Your Great-grandparents, Milord," Marta answered.
"Dorea Black? Is she any relation to my - my godfather Sirius Black?"
"Indeed she is, Milord. Dorea was Sirius Black's Cousin, the daughter of his Great Grand-Uncle Cygnus Black. Your father and the late Lord Black were second cousins on Sirius's mother's side and third cousins on his father's side. You are Lord Black's second cousin once removed or third cousin once removed, depending upon which line you follow."
"Once removed?"
"Your father and Lord Black were second cousins. As the son of a second cousin, you are once removed from them."
"Oh." Harry still didn't understand. "How … How'd they die, my Great - Grandparents that is?"
"Death Eaters claimed both of them, Milord. They were each killed in Diagon Alley."
"Bloody hell!"
"'Tis what more than a few families call the place, Milord. Dangerous it is to go there when your enemies are about. Still, go you must on occasion."
Harry could only nod. "And the others?"
"Your Grandaunts Ellen and Cynthia and Grandfather Charles."
"Longbottom?"
"Yes, Milord. Cynthia married Howard Longbottom. Howard's first cousin Alan Longbottom would be the next Head of that Ancient and Noble House. I believe that title now vests in Alan's grandson. A boy named Neville if memory serves. You might know him, perhaps?
Harry nodded. "He's a friend of mine from school."
"Appropriate. The Potters and Longbottoms have been allied and close for generations beyond count, Milord. I guess it is meant to be. Longbottoms and Potters have been bonding quite often. You are related to them and they to you and your families have been related for generations."
"Are any of them still alive?"
"Alas no. Your grandaunt Ellen died in the Blitz in 1941. Your grandaunt Cynthia was claimed in the Great Dragon Pox Outbreak of 1988."
Harry looked at the next to last portrait.
Lord Charles David Potter Samantha Elaine (Meeks) Potter
17 November 1916 - 23 August 1988 1 June 1918 - 15 September 1988
Bonded: 5 August 1934
James Charles Potter 27 March 1960
"My Grandparents?" Harry asked.
Marta nodded.
"They were alive when - when all this stuff happened to me and my parents."
Marta nodded. "They looked for you, Milord, 'til they each became too sick. Dragon Pox claimed them before they could find you."
Harry's eyes began to sting and he felt a huge lump in his throat. His grandparents tried! He - he could have had such a different life! He didn't need the wealth this Manor displayed, but he was like a man in a desert when it came to family. His Aunt and Uncle hated him. Why had he been sent there and not here? Why?
The next portraits were of his parents.
James Charles Potter Lily Marie (Evans) Potter
27 March 1960 - 31 October 1981 30 January 1960 - 31 October 1981
Bonded: 30 June 1975
"Why were they not here?" he asked. "Why Godric's Hollow? Do I own any property there?"
"No Milord," Marta responded. "House Potter has many properties both in Britain and abroad. None in that dump of a town!"
"I see, so why were they there?"
"I recall Lord Potter saying that one Dumbledore convinced them it was safer. To this day, I don't see how! This Manor and estate is safer than anywhere in Britain. No enemy can penetrate the wards - ever. Even a traitor to the house cannot! Yet off the young heir went. He trusted the man who sent him there and ignored the protests of his father. And here we are as a result, Milord."
"Whose property?"
"Milord?"
"Who owned the property where my parents were killed?"
"The last Lord Potter cursed his name until the day he died, Milord. Charles Potter's last words were a curse to the man who he believed killed his only child and stole his grandson from him."
"Who?"
"Albus Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore?"
"Said Chief of your Wizengamot, yes Milord. Lord Potter wanted them buried here in the family plot, but Dumbledore said they should lie where others can see."
"That bastard!"
"The last Lord Potter's words were less charitable, Milord."
"Really?" Harry asked in a sarcastic tone. Dumbledore had now become seriously suspect in Harry's mind. Harry would need a really good reason with irrefutable evidence to ever trust the old bastard again. He wanted nothing more than to be rid of all of this nonsense!
"Why am I not up there?"
"You were not born here, Milord, and until today you have not made this Estate your home. It will be corrected."
"Thank you, Marta," he said as calmly has he could. It wasn't her fault Dumbledore was an ass. "I enjoyed the tour. Now I think I shall seek something to eat for lunch."
"It was my pleasure, Milord," Marta replied.
Harry did his best not to storm out of the Banquet Hall. He did his best to maintain his composure when all he really wanted to do was punch the hell out of something - anything! Through the Ballroom, the larger banquet room, the bar he stormed hoping to keep his rising temper in check. He then entered the main entry. There was the Conservatory with its exotic plants and such. It seem peaceful so Harry seemed drawn to it. As he rounded the jungle like space and found entry, he could see the Conservatory was not empty.
There was a young woman standing near the center. She seemed surrounded by suitcases and trunks. She was wearing a skirt and blouse, he could see. He could not see her face. Her shoulders seemed to be shaking as she seemed to stare at the floor. She seemed to be quietly sobbing. Harry could not see her face at all, but the long brown curls of her hair - he would recognize them anywhere.
"Hermione?"
A/N: RELATIONSHIP SCORECARD:
If you didn't read the Intro, you missed that. This is so you can keep up with who's with who and how.
Harry James Potter, age 15 (born 7/31/80)Hermione Jane Granger, age 16 (9/19/79). Girlfriend/fiancé as of 6/18/96.