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(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
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Apparation room just off the side of the front tellers. With a soft crack, more of a 'pop', he was standing in the plain stone room.
He stepped out of the room through the stone arch and into front area. He walked up to a teller who just sneered and motioned him off towards a hall containing office doors. Harry had appeared so often in the last few days almost all the tellers, from every shift, were starting to recognize him. And if they didn't recognize him, they knew that Lord Potter-Black was Griphook's client. Goblins weren't polite by any means, but they were a bit 'kinder' to richer clients.
Harry followed the hall until he reached a familiar door. He knocked briefly and quickly entered when he heard a barked reply. He shut the door behind him and took a seat in the familiar chair. Griphook gave him the customary greeting; a sneer.
"How my I help you today Lord Potter-Black."
"How many times must I ask you to call me Harry?"
"Many. Now ask me what you want and leave."
"I expected a warmer welcome." Harry said faking some tears. "I thought we were friends."
"We are…associates. Goblins are not friends with Humans."
The word 'friends' was spat out like poison. Harry just nodded cheerfully at the goblin.
"Anyways, I came to arrange a payment for one Harold Van Den."
"The Necromancer from the Netherlands?" The goblin asked with a raised brow.
"Huh?"
Griphook rolled his eyes.
"He's one of only twenty Necromancers left in this world. Necromancers also have levels of power. Lowest level is exorcising ghosts. Second level is summoning Demon Beasts from the demon realms. Third is summoning spirits of the deceased. Forth is summoning Demon Creatures. Van Den is the strongest Necromancer alive. Only three others are up to level four, but do not nearly have as much control and power as Van Den. Five others are level three Necromancers, six are up to level two, and five are only level one. You can also have varying degrees of powers in each level. Some can be level two experts, but can exercise ghosts, while others are level four experts and not able to do anything else."
Harry's eyebrows climbed to his hair line as he realized he'd beaten the worlds greatest Necromancer in a duel. Admittedly his powers were probably more focused towards summoning demons and spirits, but still. He gave a slight smile and allowed Griphook determine how much his 'request' would cost, fairly.
Half an hour later Harry was leaving, not with a sack of gold or such, but with one uncut diamond from his vault that was more then worth a summoning. Harry walked from the bank, humming to himself lightly. His next stop was Madam Malkins. He entered the store with a soft smile. He found Mrs. Malkin manning the till at the front and quickly made his way to her.
"I'm here to pick up my order if it's finished." He smiled at her.
"Oh! What name is your order under?"
"Café."
"Ah. It is finished. Just this morning actually."
She dug under the counter and pulled out a neat package wrapped in brown paper. He quickly paid her and hurried from the store to the closet apparation point. He decided he would spend the rest of the day looking over the new uniforms for his café and studying as he had nothing else to do.
.-.
"Harry!"
Harry looked up to blink at Randal. The boy was stepping out of an older car that was parked in Dorothy's drive way. Randal hopped the small strip of grass dividing Harry and Dorothy's driveways and strode up the small stone path to the front porch where Harry sat on a bench.
"Randal." Harry greeted. "How are you?"
"Great. I just came by to drop off some things for grandma."
Harry smiled and stood, snapping his book shut.
"Would you like to come in for some tea?"
"Sure."
Harry led him inside where they both kicked off their shoes. Harry headed for the kitchen and Randal took his time looking around curiously. Harry turned the kettle on and grabbed some cups and tea. Then he pulled some leftover cake from the fridge and set it on a plate for at the table. When he set the tea on the table he found Randal staring at something on his couch. Harry walked up to him and looked at what he was looking at. His breath caught as he looked at the cover of the book he'd been reading yesterday. The man on the front grinned and waved at him cheekily, waving his wand at the same time, a cup changing to a mouse. Advanced Transfiguration.
"Harry." Randal said with deceptive calmness.
Harry felt a smile twitch his lips.
"Yes?"
"What is that?"
"That's a book Randal."
"Why is it waving at me?"
"Actually, I believe it's waving at me." Harry shrugged.
Randal just stared at him. Harry sighed and moved the book sitting Randal on the couch. He brought the older teen his tea.
"Do you believe in magic?"
.-.
The door opened softly, creaking in the silence. Harold stepped into the room and Harry looked up at him with a slightly sickly smile.
"Did you get everything?"
"Yes." Harold answered slowly, eyeing Randal who was openly staring at him. "Give me a while to set up."
"Of course." Harry nodded.
Harold walked past them to the stairs where he quickly headed for the attic room.
"Who was that?" Randal asked softly.
Harry had told him everything he knew about magic, Hogwarts, and the Ministry but he hadn't touched on anything private.
"That's Harold Van Den. He's doing a job for me tonight."
"Oh." Randal said turning back to his cake.
"Did you think about my offer?" Harry asked.
"Yes. I think I would like to do that." Randal grinned, eyes lighting up. "I needed to find a summer job anyways."
"Wonderful." Harry beamed.
"Oh, and I take it you won't be coming to football practice tonight?"
"I can't make it."
Randal shrugged and stuffed some cake in his mouth.
.-.
"It's ready."
Harry rose shakily, rubbing his trembling hands together. Harold watched him, concerned.
"You don't have to do this." Harold said silently. "Just because it's possible doesn't mean you have to do something."
Harry gave a weak smile.
"I want to."
"…fine."
Harry exited his room and stepped into the attic room. Curtains had been drawn across the only window and only the candles lit the room. On the cleared floor was a large circular design made up of symbols and circles of white chalk.
"What now?" Harry asked swallowing."
"I have to activate the summoning circle. It takes a lot of magic and focus. When I tell you too, you must throw some blood into the center."
"No chanting?"
"No. The runes help focus my magic instead of words. They help bind my magic and the spirits much more strongly also."
"Okay. I'm ready."
Harold nodded and stepped into the circle where he stood in a small empty square. He drew his wand and raised it, eyes closing. For a few minutes nothing seemed to happen. Then slowly Harry realized the chalk was glowing. It started out light, and slowly got brighter. The whole room lit up with warm white light. Harry noticed Harold's coat tails start to whip around and his hair fly around his face. Harry only felt a slight shift in the air. The glow slowly started to gather in the confines of the summoning circle, making a pillar of light. Harry watched closely.
"Now." The man said softly, but Harry heard.
He lifted the silver knife he'd been given earlier and drew it across his arm. He threw his arm out as the blood was drawn, splattering some in the white summoning circle. The glow flashed a bright red before becoming soft white again. Harry wrapped his cut arm in a white cloth he'd brought and tossed the knife away, still watching.
Finally Harold's eyes snapped open and the glow swirled violently before settling back in the symbols which just gave of a small glow now. Slowly small light particles seemed to gather into shapes in the circle. They started to form slowly, just a blob, then a shape, then a rough body. Slowly they gained features.
Harry watched with a baited breath. Finally the white glow looked to shatter, like a plane of glass. Left behind where two transparent figures of wispy grey. Harry felt his mouth go dry as he stared at them. They blinked, looking dazed. Harry unconsciously stepped forwards, entering the circle. He missed how the symbols flashed as he stepped over them and how Harold gave him a thoughtful look.
"I'll give you some privacy." Harold said softly as he walked down the stairs and out of sight.
"M-mom. Dad." Harry said shakily.
"Mom, dad?" The female asked confused.
They shook their heads as if shaking away a dream and looked at him with startled expressions.
"H-Harry?" Lily asked softly, disbelieving.
Harry gave a weak smile.
"Hi."
"What, how?" James scrambled, confused.
"I hired a necromancer to summon you." Harry blurted out.
There was a long moment of silence.
"You look so old." Lily said quietly as she stepped towards him, ghost feet gliding over the floor.
She gently reached up and rested a hand on his cheek. He leaned into the warm touch, grasping her hand. He didn't give a second thought on why they were solid.
"I'm thirteen. Fourteen in a week."
The two shared a stunned silence.
"But that means…" James said softly.
"You died over eleven years ago?" Harry asked with a sad smile.
"…I guess times flies when you're dead." James tried to joke, but ended up choking instead.
"Oh my beautiful little boy." Lily swallowed sadly as she pulled Harry into an embrace.
Harry didn't even notice he was crying until he felt Lily wiping them away.
"Shhhh." She hummed.
He sank to his knees and soon found himself sobbing in her arms. All he'd ever wanted, all he'd ever wished for was to see his parents. And now he had them here, standing next to him and stroking his hair like he'd always wanted.
.-.
"….And now I'm opening a café. It's called 'Through the Looking Glass' and it'll be open for everyone, creature, muggle, and magic-user alike." Harry said, eyes glittering with his delight.
"I'm so proud of you." Lily laughed as she kissed his forehead.
He leaned back against her and smiled. At some point they had found themselves sitting and Harry telling them everything. Hedwig and Keiruim sat on his shoulder having been introduced to his parents. Lily thought Hedwig was adorable and James had thought Keiruim looked like a lot of fun.
"Harry."
All three looked up at Harold who had peeked up from the stairs.
"I can only hold them for another five minutes." He said softly, almost regretfully, looking strained around the edges.
Harry felt like he had been punched in the gut. He offered a weak smile.
"Thank you."
The man gave a curt nod and vanished again. Harry looked up to the faces up his remorseful parents and stood, hugging them tightly. He was crying again.
"Don't worry Harry." Lily murmured. "You're doing great in life, and you have so many wonderful people to look out for you."
"I know." Harry shuddered.
"Harry." James said resting a hand on his shoulder. "We'll both love you, no matter what you do or how you live."
"I know." Harry said again, the words catching in his throat, coming out as barely a whisper.
"Harry." James said again.
Harry looked into his eyes and was struck by how guilty and sad they were.
"When I was alive, in school, I wasn't the nicest."
Harry blinked in shock. All he'd ever heard was how brave, how fun his father was. Everyone had always told him his father was a gallant hero who did good. The only person who had ever said otherwise was Snape…
"I was actually quite arrogant and I was a bully."
Harry winced and looked down, already guessing who his main target had been. James tilted his chin to face him again.
"I was like Dudley."
Harry swallowed. His dad had always been his hero, the person he wanted to be like. But Harry also hated bullies with a passion.
"I made many mistakes. I wish I was alive so I could make them up for many people. But I'm not alive. And I won't ask you to go ask for forgiveness for me. What I want is for you to not be like me. I want you to be kind, and strong, and considerate. I want you to be honest and modest. But most of all I want you to be happy."
Harry brushed a tear away and nodded determinedly.
"We love you so much Harry." Lily said kissing his cheek.
He noticed she was crying. But so was he.
"Can you do something for us Harry?" Lily asked.
He nodded vigorously.
"Tell Severus I forgive him." Lily smiled softly.
"And tell Snape I'm sorry." James swallowed. "And tell Mooney and Padfoot to keep having fun."
"And be happy." Lily said. "Even if you have to run away. Be happy even if you have to leave everything behind because they're being too cruel or demanding. This isn't your war with Voldemort. We fought, but that doesn't mean you have to. We died so you would live freely, not fight half finished battles. Just be happy, for us. And remember, we'll always love you. You could join Voldemort and we'll still love you. You'll always be our precious, beautiful little boy. You make us proud."
Both of them hugged him. They had barely wrapped their arms around him when suddenly they shattered, like glass figurines. Wisps of grey floated away and vanished and the circle's glow vanished and Harry was alone again. He stood for a moment, barely breathing. A hand rested on his shoulder and he looked up at Harold. The man gave him a comforting smile. Harry stared. Then he fell back in a dead faint, exhausted.
Loving the story so far? There's a whole world of magic and mystery waiting for you with over 85+ chapters still to come! By supporting my Patreon.
You not only get early access to new chapters but also exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and special perks just for fans like you.
Join us on this enchanted journey and help shape the future of the tale. Your support makes all the difference—discover more and become part of the adventure today!
http//patreon.com/BLAKE025
(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~