Almost everyone continued to stare at her, mouths hanging open in shock. How was it possible that Lily Potter was standing alive before them? She died to save Harry! There was a memorial at Godric's Hollow to her and James! Everyone knew that they had both died that night!
Dumbledore's mind raced, trying to understand what his eyes were seeing. Every method of cheating death or returning someone to life was Dark Magic. There was no way that Lily Potter could be standing before him, alive and unharmed. It had to be some sort of deception... the other options were just too dark to contemplate.
McGonagall worked her jaw again. "Is it really you Lily?" She half whispered.
Lily's eyes came to rest on her old teacher, and her smile widened and gained warmth. "It is Minerva. I am alive."
"But... how?" McGonagall asked the question in everyone's mind.
Slowly Lily looked about the room, her eyes running over everyone. Molly Weasley shivered when her eyes met Lily's. The green warmth went ice cold in an instant, and Molly knew then that Lily Potter was everything she had hoped and aspired to be... and far, far out of her league. As those emerald eyes moved on after a moment, only one phrase ran through her head. 'Oh shit!'
Lily's eyes dropped to her son, who was looking up at her happily. Grinning herself, Lily ran her fingers through his hair lovingly.
"It was a near thing, let me tell you. Rumours of my death were not exaggerated by much..." She trailed off as she thought back to the events of earlier in the week...
Monday 15th, Potter Manor
Harry followed Victor through the doors he had just opened, the others following him. The room within was dominated by the ceiling. From a point above them it sloped down to a low wall on the other side of the room. But what drew the eye and held it was the simple fact that it was almost entirely glass, and the view beyond. They looked out along the roof of the Great Hall below, with some of the grounds and one of the other manors further on, and the depths of the great Monks Wood beyond. It was a magnificent view...
"Oh my god!"
Emma's words caused them all to turn towards the rest of the room. Distantly, fleetingly, Harry noted how the room was the width of the top floor, how the far wall was made up of wardrobes and cupboards, the second door on the far side, and how the massive four-poster bed had short, thin walls each side to give those in it some privacy.
But all that didn't register with him... once he saw the figure that lay still on the bed.
Almost in a daze he half stumbled forward, eyes locked on the body. Drawing back the thin gossamer drape between them, he was vaguely aware of falling to his knees at the bedside, staring unblinkingly at her.
The person lying on the bed was undoubtedly a woman. She had a sleek but full, classically beautiful figure, not skeleton thin like the current trend of models. Her clothing was simple, casual. Fine-fingered hands were interlaced over her stomach. The face was soft and feminine, slightly elfin which would give her decades of beauty.
It was a face that Harry had seen many times... in his dreams, in the Mirror of Erised, and in the Graveyard. The halo of rich, dark red hair that fell off the pillow to pool about her shoulders was just extra proof as to her identity. Behind those closed lids, he knew that her eyes would be sparkling emeralds.
The same eyes that looked back at him every morning from the mirror.
"Is that...?"
"Lily." Remus answered Daphne's softly spoken question, a tremor in his voice. Raw emotions pounded through him, robbing him of strength.
Hermione's gaze hardened as she slowly turned to face Victor and Emily. "What is this?" She asked in a hard tone. The latent threat in her voice was clear.
"In the aftermath of... that night, we had to fight the Ministry over... the bodies." Victor began to explain. "The Ministry was set on a public funeral at Godric's Hallow. They planned to make a massive media circus out of it, to 'allow the nation to honour the fallen who gave their lives for their son who stopped the Dark Lord'." The expression he made as he rolled his eyes showed what he thought of that idea.
"It was as we were about to take them to the burial ground when Racknor told us to bring them before him." Victor sighed. "He confirmed that James was dead, but Lily..."
"The body of Lily Potter still lived, as she does to this day." Everyone looked to the bedside, where from a squat cylinder of rock the dragon ghost's image appeared once more in miniature. Hermione noticed that the upper surface had the same design etched into it as the massive slab down in the hall. Racknor continued to speak.
"Her soul has been torn from her body, but there is still a fragment left behind. That small shred has kept her bodily functions going, albeit at a much-reduced rate. In many respects, Lily's body has been almost petrified; in the nearly fifteen years since her 'death', her body has aged only three.
"When I looked closer, I discovered that there is still a thread connecting her body and soul. I believe that, if we can bring her soul back to her body, Lily will awaken, and live once more. Alas, for the past fifteen years I have been unable to pinpoint where her soul resides. I only had a direction. But in the last five years the connection would swing to head north for most of the year. From that we worked out where her soul resides."
Hermione, jaw hanging, stared at the ghost. Then she slowly followed his gaze to... Harry.
Harry slowly looked up, to see everyone staring at him. He looked at the ghost dragon in shock. "Me?"
Racknor slowly nodded. "Yes Harry. I'm sorry, but I have to ask: how much of that night do you remember?"
Harry shivered, his expression darkening. "Not much. Mum pleading for my life, offering herself in my place... him telling her to step aside... two flashes of green..." Both Susan and Daphne gasped before kneeling down next to him, wrapping their arms around his shoulders.
Hermione was continuing to stare at Racknor, who looked back, unaffected by the withering glare she was putting out. "I see the burning questions in you miss. All I have are theories.
"It has long been rumoured that Voldemort used many dark rituals on himself. Including those intended to help him cheat death. Today, when I examined Master Harry, I found proof. Behind and within your scar Harry, I found trace remains - an echo, if you like - of a piece of a horribly dark soul. One whose taste I recognise."
"Voldemort." Harry said softly, resigned. "It makes sense. How I sensed when he was near, saw what he saw. I had a bit of him in my head."
"God..." Hermione breathed, shocked to her core. Then a thought came to her. "The diary! Harry... that must have been the same thing!" At Racknor's look, she quickly told him about the diary of Tom Riddle.
The Dragon nodded slowly. "Yes... the same and yet not. The item is known as a Horcrux, and it is one of the foulest, darkest, most terrible magics ever created. Though not quite accurate, the essence of a horcrux is that a magical person tears their soul, and attaches one piece to the object. The torn part is not completely separate, however. Think of a tree limb, branching out, with the end of each branch attached to an object while the 'trunk' remains in the original body."
"That's horrible." Emma Granger shuddered.
"Think so? It gets better. The process to create a horcrux - in particular, tearing the soul - is a murder-based ritual. But not just any murder. It has to be a murder of an 'Innocent soul'."
Nathan looked puzzled. "What does that mean?"
Tonks was almost white. "You don't mean... a child?"
Racknor just nodded.
"I think I'm going to be sick." Emma muttered.
"Door on the other side, en-suite." Emily Van Dort supplied, looking a little green herself.
"We may never know exactly what happened that night." Racknor spoke once more, softly. "But from what we do know I can guess the following; Voldemort arrived, and right off was engaged by James. After killing him, he came after you. Lily put herself between the two of you. For some reason he did not wish to kill her, but grew tired of her pleas and cast the Killing Curse. Then he turned his wand on you.
"I suspect Lily had looked up a number of protection rituals, including self-sacrifice powered ones. When he cast his curse on you that came into play. By that point he must have already made several Horcrux's, since his body was torn apart by the magical backlash.
"This is pure conjecture, but it seems that Voldemort's soul attempted to take possession of you... and in the process drew Lily's sundered soul in with it. His spirit then fled, but left a fragment of itself behind. I sensed a barrier between yourself and the echo of that fragment, a barrier which I recognised the nature of. Lily has been protecting you from it ever since that night. There are signs that over the last few years the fragment partially overpowered her and has affected you in some ways, but she has had a far greater impact."
Daphne gasped then smiled. That explained why Harry had turned out so nice despite the horrid environment he'd been raised in. His mother had been with him, in spirit if not flesh. The dragon watched them, keeping quiet. While what he said had been the truth, it was not the whole truth. There had been... other factors in play that night. But it was not worth mentioning them. It would just cause unnecessary heartache.
Hermione had tears in her eyes, but remained focused on Racknor. "So... You said that we could reunite Mrs Potter's soul and body. How?"
Racknor shifted about on his pedestal. "Lily's condition is similar to having been kissed by a Dementor. We just need to give her soul both the means and a reason to return to her body."
"How?" The longing and hope in Harry's question was immense.
"Ideally, the air around her will be charged with positive emotions..."
"The Patronus Charm?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, that would be perfect. But so few can cast that spell..."
Grinning from the fact she could help, Hermione drew her wand. Then paused. "Oh... I forgot. The Trace..."
"Is a myth." Everyone turned to look at Tonks, who had an expression of regret. "It's a lie. The Ministry can only monitor locations for magic use, not individual wands." She shifted on her feet, clearly uncomfortable revealing this secret. "Magical homes are not monitored, since any magic done at them is assumed to be done by an adult."
Hermione was looking thunderstruck. "So the whole time we were at... at... that old place, we could have been using magic to clean it?" At Tonk's nod, her expression darkened. "So Malfoy can do any magic he likes at home and never be caught, but if I or Harry did anything..."
Tonks nodded unhappily again.
"Am I to take it then, that you can cast the Patronus Charm, Miss Granger?" Racknor cut in before Hermione could start off on a rant. Drawing a deep breath, Hermione closed her eyes and thought about how she'd felt over the last few days, with Harry...
"Expecto Patronum!"
With a swirl of light her otter leapt forth and bounded across the room in an excited manner. It reached the far end of the bed before hoping up onto it. Every eye watched, spell bound, as the silvery creature waddled over to the still form of Lily, before nuzzling her ankle.
Motion out of the corner of his eye drew Harry's attention, and he turned his head to see his mother's chest falling as she breathed out. Not by much, but it was motion. Excited, he clawed for his wand.
"No Harry. You have another role to play." Racknor looked at the other two. "What about you two?"
Susan just pulled her wand as an answer, though her expression was nervous, but Daphne's shoulders slumped. "Sorry..."
Harry turned and faced her, a hand going to her shoulder. "You can do it Daphne. We have the man who taught me here." He looked towards Remus. Daphne looked at him, and then nodded. Taking a deep breath she stood up and back, drawing her wand as she did.
Remus stepped forwards, his voice dropping into Professor mode. "Now, the Patronus Charm is a manifestation of a positive emotion, a very powerful emotion. A memory often works to focus the emotion, but it has to be a strong one, something important. Something like your first broom ride won't cut it." He shared a look with Harry, who flushed slightly, remembering his first attempt at casting the charm.
Daphne nodded, closing her eyes. What did she think of that made her happy? Her thoughts went to yesterday, when Harry had made his offer...
Her eyes snapped open, and her wand rose. "Expecto Patronum!"
A plume of mist erupted from her wand, more like the exhaust from an engine than the spreading cloud that the others had first managed. Then the far end condensed, twirling and thickening. A shape emerged, long and sinuous. In seconds a nearly four-foot long snake was slithering across the floor, before pausing to raise its head. The motion revealed the zigzag pattern running down the snakes length, and the distinctive, bold 'V" at the back of the head as it looked about. Tongue flickering, the head turned to regard Daphne, who was slack jawed with amazement.
"Well done, well done indeed!" Remus told her as the Patronus Adder dissipated. "Not even Harry got this right first time."
"To be fair, it was two years ago..." Harry commented wryly.
Daphne swallowed nervously as her eyes continued to gaze at the spot were the Patronus Adder had last been. It had to be a snake, didn't it? Talk about controversial!
Racknor now spoke once more. "Very good. With at least three solid Patronuses, we have an excellent chance of making this work. To ensure success, all of you, apart from Harry, will have to cast your strongest patronus and hold it for as long as you can. Try to direct them to surround Lily, so that she is bathed in the warmth and good feelings they emanate. Harry..." The dragon image shifted, almost nervously.
"What? What do I do?" Harry asked excitedly.
The image of the dragon shifted once again, clearly uncomfortable. "Harry... what you have to do is going to be... awkward. Disturbing even. The analogy of her having been Kissed by a Dementor is highly accurate. Right now her soul lingers in you. While the others bath her physical body in the warmth and happiness from their patronuses, you have to open a path from yourself to her."
"Okay... how?" Harry asked, while behind him Hermione stilled, before groaning.
"He means you'll have to kiss her Harry." She said softly. "Not on the cheek or forehead, but a full on, open mouthed kiss."
Harry flushed red, then went so pale that Emma Granger thought he was on the verge of fainting. "What?" He asked in a very, very small voice.
"She is right Harry. Mouth-to-mouth is the simplest, easiest and most guaranteed method for this to work. If there was another way that had a better than a slim chance..." Racknor trailed off, before his gaze hardened. "But you must not focus on the action. Instead you must totally focus on willing her to live, to return to her body so that she can live once more.
Nathan shivered, but stepped forwards to lay a hand on Harry's shoulder. "If it helps, think of it like you were doing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."
Harry nodded jerkily, before squaring his shoulders. "O... Okay. Let's do this, before I loose my nerve."
Quickly the others gathered round, wands at the ready. Hermione's parents stood behind her, one hand on each of her shoulders. Once they were ready, Harry took a few deep breathes, before nodding. "Okay, now."
With a swirl five patronus animals leapt from wand tips, trailing smoke lightly behind them. All five moved to surround Lily's unmoving form, the silvery light they producing bathing her. Watching her face closely, Harry saw the mouth open a little more as her body breathed in again. Harry, steeling himself, leaned forwards, until his head was barely an inch above Lily's. "Mum? Please, live again... come back to us..." He whispered before closing his eyes and pressing his lips to hers.
It was far more than awkward, and very disturbing. While physically his mother's mouth was a pleasing shape, emotionally he was struggling with the urge to pull away. Setting himself, he willed the urge down and away, focusing solely on allowing his mother to return to her body. He pulled up all he knew of her, all his dreams and hopes and ideas, wanting to know just how true they were.
And then, deep in his mind, something shifted. He didn't know what it was, it was half sensed, half imagined, but he could feel something within him moving. Passing out of his mouth and into Lily.
When he felt the last wisps of whatever it was leave him Harry drew back, opening his eyes, half dreading, half hoping. The Patronuses faded away as everyone focused on Lily's body, hardly breathing in anticipation.
She breathed out once more, then a hand twitched. The head moved slightly... and the eyelids flickered. A faint, low sound emerged from within her, and slowly the eyes opened.
Two pairs of emeralds met in a moment that was almost timeless.
Harry felt his heart beat once again. "Mum?" He whispered so faintly it was doubtful anyone actually heard him.
Somehow she must have though, as Lily smiled weakly, her free hand lifting a little. The muscles in her throat worked, and a single word was forced out.
"...'arry"
Smiling with joy, Harry wrapped his arms around his mother's shoulders and pulled her up into a hug, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Even as he hugged her he felt her become stronger, as her hand came over to run through his hair. Slowly she sat up, Harry staying with her the whole way. Those behind him saw her face split into a wide smile. "My baby boy..." She said quietly, soothingly as she petted him a little more.
Hermione sniffled as Emma wrapped her in a hug from behind. Nathan sighed as slipped an arm round his wife. It touched all of them profoundly, to see this shattered and broken family rebuild itself. To the side, Tonks was hugging Remus, all that kept him standing as he had become almost boneless.
Slowly Lily drew back until she could look Harry in the eye. Smiling she brought her hands up to trace his face, the features so familiar yet different and new at the same time. "My wonderful son. You've grown so much..." A sigh escaped her mouth. "I only wish I could have been with you as you did. But we've together now, we can make up the time." Her eyes darkened slightly however when her fingers brushed over the faded scar on Harry's forehead. "They will pay for what they did to you Harry, over this." Her tone was hard as she reached down and lifted his own hand... the hand that had the scars from Umbridge carved into the back. "If I ever find that foul pink toad Umbitch..." She hissed as her thumb brushed over the words.
Harry was shocked. "How do you know she caused that?"
Lily smiled now, though it was tinged with sadness. "I was aware Harry. I saw it all. I saw everything."
Friday 18th, Gringotts
Lily shook off the memories as she looked over the other attendees. While it had been true that she'd seen the world through Harry's eyes, her recall of that time was not perfect. In fact it was downright patchy. Important details and events were clear, but the day-to-day stuff and minor things slipped by.
Not that anyone else needed to know that.
"Needless to say, I'm back. And I am very disappointed... and rather angry at how my son has been treated." Her eyes narrowed to slits as she glared at Albus Dumbledore. "Especially you Albus."
Dumbledore outwardly didn't react, but he felt a shiver of dread run down his spine. Lily had been the sweetest, kindest young woman he had ever met... until she got angry. Then she made dragons look safe to cuddle. Licking suddenly dry lips, he hoped to ease her clear anger. "Lily... " 'If it really is you' "...all I have done is for The Greater Good. Surely you understand how badly we needed a hero when Voldemort was finally vanquished. I'm sure you can imagine the reaction of the public to his downfall, and how they would treat their saviour..."
"If you had allowed us to deal with those swine properly, then things would have been much different!" Lily snapped. "And how on this Earth was it for 'The Greater Good' that my son had to suffer ten years with my sister's family?"
Dumbledore sighed. "They were the only family he had left. It was for the best that he grew up away from the adulation and fame, the constant attention, which would have followed him around had he been raised in our world. And there were still many of those who followed Voldemort still around, free and unchecked. Understand that he had to disappear, otherwise they would have found and killed him before the year ended."
"Oh, so being abused and treated like shit is better?" Her eyes narrowed even further as thoughts and facts connected in her head: Lily had been one of the brightest to walk the walls of Hogwarts. "You wanted him humble, without self-esteem... malleable. Maybe even look on you kindly for delivering him from that place!"
The exposed skin on his face revealed that Lily's guess had struck true, as Dumbledore's face was draining of all colour. McGonagall, seeing this, gasped in horror and outrage. The last dregs of her support for him were crumbling fast.
"So where would you have him go from here? Mould him some more, turn him, my son, into a weapon you would use to destroy Voldemort, the monster that Tom Riddle became? Yes Albus, I know his real name. And I know all about his scar... or rather, what was in it!"
Albus' jaw dropped, before he shot up upright, his mouth opening, But Lily pressed on before he could speak.
"What was the final step? Having him walk out there and allow Riddle to kill him? All to make him vulnerable?" As she saw the stunned expression on his face, Lily's temper erupted. "YOU SICK BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU USE MY SON AS A PAWN IN YOUR SCHEMES! You would destroy the magical world to cover your own bony arse! You allowed Sirius to be locked away without trial, let my son be tormented for his whole life, tried to rob him of his inheritance! AND I KNOW ALL ABOUT HOW YOU ASSUMED GUARDIANSHIP OF MY SON AND BROKERED A MARRIAGE CONTRACT WITH HER!" Lily's hand was pointed right at Molly Weasley.
Ginny yelped and jumped away from her mother, while Arthur appeared to have succumbed to despair, as he now rested his face in one hand, groaning.
Dumbledore spoke softly, trying to placate the enraged redhead. "Lily... please understand. We all thought you were dead. The Will had not been unsealed. Someone had to step in. Marriage contracts are very common, you know this. And the Weasley family is a Light Family. For the good of our World, a union between Harry and Ginerva would help heal the wounds and save us all..."
"BULLSHIT!" Lily exploded. The others watching the show could almost see the flames trailing up her hair, feel the magic that was gathering around her and Harry. Harry himself hadn't said anything, but his eyes said plenty. Both sets of emerald eyes were aflame with green fire, ominously the same shade as that of the dreaded Killing Curse. It was stunning to watch: No-one had ever taken Albus Dumbledore to account before. But Lily had over sixteen years to mull over the Headmasters actions, and had not liked what she'd seen and heard one bit.
It was then the second offensive begun, coming from a most unlikely source for most of them: Hermione Granger. "From your words Headmaster, should we take it that having Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived..." Sarcasm fairly dripped off the title. "...marry a Muggleborn is unacceptable?"
Dumbledore closed his eyes, realising that he had no chance to defend himself against the combined assault from these two. "Yes." He answered her in a very small voice. "Such a union would further tear our World apart Miss Granger. Daily our way of life is being eroded by muggle ideas. We need to stop this corruption, before the whole Magical World collapses. Surely you can see that these new, radical ideas are causing chaos? Riddle has used this stress to his advantage, without this influx..."
"The Magical World would die, stagnant!" Hermione yelled. "You can't stop change or growth, and both are linked together intrinsically."
Lily now looked at him sadly. "You've lost touch Albus. The man before me is nothing like the man I once knew. Can't you see the damage you are causing?"
"But I do Lily." Dumbledore said sadly. "I knew Harry would suffer, knew he would have dark days with his aunt, but it was necessary. Should I have allowed him to become a ward of the Ministry? You know as well as I that the instant that happened one of Voldemorts supporters would have used any means to have Harry placed in their care. And once that happened..." Albus trailed off, shaking his head slowly. "I do regret what I've had to do, but there are bigger threats that I had to contend with. Surely you can see that in the end, what I did was for the best?"
Lily's eyebrow rose. "Best for whom, Albus?" He had no counter for that.
"Sirius mentioned that you'd spent your life fighting monsters Headmaster." Daphne now stood up, stepping up to stand just behind Harry and Hermione. Once the aged man's eyes had focused on her, she continued. "His words reminded me of a well known saying, by a muggle philosopher by the name of Nietzsche. 'Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you.' You claim to regret your actions, yet you hide behind the excuse that it was for the good of everyone. I think you should have a good, long look in the mirror Headmaster. Strip away your reasons, look at your actions alone. Because from where we sit..." She linked her arm through Harry's at these words. "...Your actions are just as bad as Voldemorts."
"Something else to chew on. 'The Road to hell is paved with Good Intentions', Albus." Lily commented lightly. "Another famous muggle saying. But, of course, you've disregarded muggles haven't you?"
Draco, for his part, had been watching all this with a small thread of amusement. Seeing the old fool being torn into like this was pleasurable. However his anger over what the Blood-Traitor Black had done was still there. And what these two had just said had him scoffing. "Muggles... good for nothing but sport. Who cares what they spout out, apart from their dirty blood when you kill them?" He glared at Hermione. "Mudbloods like you really do need to be shown your place... at our feet, begging!"
Lily was glaring right back at him. Her words however stunned everyone. "High King Ragnok... Please have this disgusting excuse of a sack of shit removed from here; otherwise I will kill him where he sits!" The rest all started when she stated the Goblin King's name. He was here?
From above Goldbag can a deep, menacing growl. "Not if my axe removes his head first, Madam Potter." Eyes darted to the dark shadows, to see a darker form move. "Guards! Remove Mister Malfoy from this bank AT ONCE!"
Draco shot to his feet, anger filling his face. "How dare you try to order me around you filthy..." He froze however, when no less than eight swords encircled him, the points of two hovering barely an inch from his eyes. Another tickled his back, while one more was levelled at his crotch. His face paled so fast some of the rooms occupants wondered how he managed to not pass out.
"THAT IS IT!" The roar from the ledge filled the room. "Draco Malfoy, you are barred from Gringott's for LIFE! AS are any offspring from your loins! All your assets here will be confiscated! The Malfoy line will never be accepted into Gringotts EVER AGAIN!"
Draco was frozen in panic, thoughts of how his father and the Dark Lord would react after hearing about this filling his mind. The thumping of heavy feet resounded throughout the chamber, before the door behind them opened... to reveal an armoured troll walking in. Draco emitted a half shriek as the ten foot tall creature approached him. "Get that thing away from me!" He cried as it loomed over him. No one however moved as the troll reached down and grasped him between both hands before lifting him up kicking and screaming. Suddenly he froze, before moaning pitifully. The front of his trousers darkened, just before a trickle of yellow liquid ran out from one leg.
"Disgusting." Ragnok's voice boomed out. "Get that sorry excuse for a... person, OUT OF MY SIGHT!" The troll nodded before stomping back out the door, Draco wailing as he was spun around.
With tears running down her cheeks Narcissa slowly rose to her feet. Her last hope was to speak with Mister Potter, and with the High King's declaration...
"Mrs Malfoy... you are not at fault for your son's behaviour. You may retake your seat." Ragnok spoke a little more softly. Stunned, Narcissa slowly sank back into her chair.
Dumbledore looked taken aback. "Surely that was too harsh High King? Young mister Malfoy is but a child..."
Harry snorted. "You still think you can stop him becoming like his father Headmaster? Forget it. Malfoy's determined to follow his father's footsteps."
Dumbledore turned to face Harry again. "Harry, my boy... we have to forgive moments of weakness and madness in others. Everyone can be redeemed..."
Now it was Hermione's turn to snort. "Redeem? Headmaster, I have to respectfully disagree. NOT everyone can be redeemed. Draco's had hundreds of chances to show remorse for his actions. But he's never shown any. How many chances are you going to give him before you finally bring him to heal and punish him for his actions and words? When he kills someone?"
"He'd still try and redeem him, even if he murdered all the non-Slytherin students in their sleep." Harry commented.
Lily's eyes were fixed on Albus. "Oh he would. After all, that's what Snape is! A multiple murderer! And Albus has the audacity to have him teaching at Hogwarts!"
Albus's eyes jumped to her. "How do you know about Severus?"
Lily ruffled Harry's hair once more. "I've spent the last fourteen years riding around in my sons head Albus. I saw, with his eyes, what Snape has become." Albus looked stunned, but she pressed on. "Be assured if that person EVER comes near me or my son, I will tear him limb from limb for what he has done to me, my son and my family!"
Albus was looking heartbroken. "Lily... how can you be so harsh? Severus plays a vital role, and atones each day for his youthful mistakes..."
"Oh really?" Daphne spoke up once more. "So overseeing the rape of many of his house - and sometimes joining in - is part of his Atonement?"
Albus paled as several gasps arose form around them. "Severus has my complete trust Miss Greengrass. And that is a serious allegation. He would never..."
"Oh he has!" Daphne exploded. She turned to look up at the Goblin King. "With your permission, I shall swear an oath to prove my statement, High King."
Albus jumped in before Ragnok could speak. "Now, let's not do anything rash..."
"Quite, Headmaster." Susan now spoke, stepping up to stand with the others. "Now's time for you to think long and hard about what you have done. My aunt is going to be investigating your pet Death Eater, and she asked me to pass on this message: if he so much as puts a toe out of line, she will arrest him on the spot and flush him through with Veritaserum until she gets the truth out of him!"
Albus staggered backwards, face white with fear. That could not be allowed, at all costs! What Severus knew could destroy all hopes of defeating Voldemort if it were made public! And he knew Amelia would bring everything out in open court... she was too honest to do anything else.
Harry, watching silently, saw the look of alarm on the Headmasters face. "Face facts old man; you're not the all-great, all-powerful wizard you project. You make mistakes. Everyone does. Thing is most of us are not too proud to admit to when we have made one. And when we do make one, all we suffer is some hurt pride. When you mess up... people die. If you really are on the side against Voldemort, then you really need to think about what you have been doing for the last few years, and how it affects us, not the wider population. In this game, there are no pawns. We refuse to just do your bidding without reason. When you're ready to explain everything, then we'll talk, and maybe find a way to work together. But you are not the puppet master any more!"
Albus was rocked to his core. "Is that how you think I see you, Harry? As a puppet?" He half whispered.
Harry nodded slowly and solemnly.
For several long seconds Dumbledore's mouth opened and closed, as if he were trying to say something, anything, to try and win back their trust. But the expressions of hostility and distrust were unwavering. Finally he shut his mouth and sat down, head bowed in thought.
Harry watched him carefully. The old mans slumped shoulders tugged at his conscious, but Harry recalled everything that Dumbledore had - and hadn't - done over his life. If the old coot was feeling guilty over his actions, that was fine by him. Maybe, just maybe, it'll get him to reconsider his actions and choices. And there was a chance that he'd relent and bring all his knowledge and theories into the open.
Harry snorted. And the Cannons will win the next season.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Harry looked up into his mother's eyes. The faint glimmer of a tear was in one corner.
"He was a good man Harry. But I almost don't recognise him any more. He's changed, and not for the better..." Lily trailed off as her eyes darted beyond him before icing over.
Looking over his shoulder, Harry saw the red face of Molly Weasley as she bore down on him. He sighed to himself in resignation, but Hermione squeezed his hand, comforting him.
"What the Hell were you thinking young man? Slandering a great man like that?" She yelled shrilly into his face, her own fully of bluster and latent threat.
Harry leaned back. "I was thinking about trying to knock some sense into him without resorting to my fists. He's lost touch Mrs Weasley."
"THAT'S A LOAD OF TRIPE, AND YOU KNOW IT!" But before Molly could say another word another redhead stepped between them.
"Just who do you think you are Mrs Weasley, scolding my son like that?" Lily asked calmly, but firmly.
Molly gulped as she took a step back from her. Lily Potter was a good six inches taller than herself. Moreover, Lily was giving off power that Molly could only dream of.
"Err... my apologies Lady Potter..."
Lily was silent for several long seconds, sizing up the dumpy woman before her. Harry, sitting just to one side, was struck at the contrast the two made. His mother was slim figured, elegant, almost regal in her calm demeanour. Molly Weasley was frumpy, frazzled and appeared to be wavering between outrage and panic.
"Just what kind of mother are you, Mrs Weasley?" Lily asked at last.
"What do you... how dare you?! You dare say I'm a bad mother!" Molly screeched. "I was there for all my children, and others! Where were you?"
Harry closed his eyes and groaned. 'Wrong thing to say...'
Lily's eyes narrowed to green slits. "Mrs Weasley... for the last fourteen years, I've been in two places at once. My body at Potter Manor... and in my sons head!"
Dumbledore gasped sharply at that. Did that mean what he thought it meant? Molly however, was clearly confused.
"What's that rubbish mean?"
"It means, that I have seen everything he's seen, been with him every step of his life."
Molly swallowed nervously as Lily pressed on.
"To me, your actions are most suspect. His first year, you 'forgot' the platform number, when not only is it the only one used, but you had five older sons, all who have been to Hogwarts. How could you have forgotten the number, so conveniently when Harry is unaware of how to reach it?"
Molly paled, her eyes flicking to Dumbledore for a split second. Deciding to let that go for now, Lily pushed on.
"And then there's the money issue. I had to listen as your sixth son Ronald constantly moaned about the lack of money, having third-hand things. Yet somehow you could afford to send all seven children to Hogwarts?"
"...We saved..."
"Don't bother Mrs Weasley." Harry cut in, turning over a small bundle of parchment that had been on the table before him. "We already know the truth."
Molly blanched as she looked at the top sheet. It was the marriage contract she had signed with Dumbledore.
"How can you justify this?" Harry asked quietly as Lily took a step back, giving him centre stage. "How could you dictate your own daughter's life, before she's even a year old? Steal from my inheritance?"
Molly appeared to deflate. "Harry... It was the only way for my children to attend Hogwarts. And..." She trailed off, finding no way to explain her actions to the young man before her.
"...And using my money to feed the Order? Buying your own children's school supplies?" Harry stated calmly. Once again, Molly's eyes darted to Dumbledore, but the old wizard didn't react. His attention was inwards.
"Harry... we didn't think you'd mind. We are on the same side..."
"And I likely would have agreed, if you had asked me beforehand!" Harry snapped, cutting her off. Slowly he breathed deeply, rubbing one hand over his brow while Hermione rubbed his back soothingly. "Mrs Weasley..." He continued more calmly. "...It's not the money it self that's the issue. It's the fact that you went behind my back without even asking. Plus that you had no right to withdraw my money for things other than for this... this offence." He tapped the contract before him.
"Speaking of which, Mister Potter, Heir to Lord Black..." Ragnok's booming voice smoothly stepped into the conversation. "Gringott's position on that matter is clear. The Guardianship of one of the parties, yourself, has been altered before the final date. The contract is now voided." The contract flashed red, before the text greyed out. "As such, all funds withdraw under its pretence are considered potential theft." Molly was now shaking badly, while Arthur was pained. "Mister Potter, do you wish to press charges?"
Harry bowed his head, thinking. There had been a lot of heated discussion about this very topic the last couple of days. Hermione and Susan both felt that the Weasleys should pay back every galleon, as it had been taken in bad faith. Daphne however was in favour of keeping the crime on the books as insurance against further manipulations. His mum also favoured not pressing charges, but remembering it for future dealings.
He lifted his head to regard the Weasleys in the room. Molly was looking at him with real fear in her eyes. Arthur was trying to project a stoic, calm face, but the despair was clear to see. Ginny was openly ashamed, while both the twins were stunned. Ron... Ron was looking around with blatant confusion.
Harry sighed. "The funds used to pay for Hogwarts tuition to date... let that go." Molly started to look relieved, but then Harry pushed on. "The other funds, those used for the school supplies of the younger Weasleys, and those used to support the Order of the Phoenix... I hold Molly Weasley personally responsible. Those funds must be repaid.
"However... I will not allow the whole family to be blamed or punished for one members mistakes. When I needed a welcoming family, the Weasley's gave me one. While the intentions of Molly Weasley are suspect, the rest were honest about it. Therefore, the funds stolen are to repaid, without interest. Pay me back when you can." Harry's expression hardened. "However, any further interfering, and I will call all owed funds due. Full refund." His gaze focused on Molly. "And I require an oath from Mrs Weasley to never make, use or allow to be used love potions again."
Arthur breathed easily for the first time in days. Harry was being more than fair. "I assure you Mr Potter, all we owe will be repaid."
Harry nodded slowly, understandingly. "Please understand Mr Weasley, I don't want to destroy your family. But I will not tolerate people trying to control my life."
Arthur looked at the young man in understanding, before he decided to make the offer he had been considering. "If you wish it, House Weasley will swear fealty to House Potter, right now."
Unsure as to what was being offered, Harry turned his head slightly to one side. "Daphne?" He asked quietly.
"It means that you would be able to command the entire Weasley Family as your own." Daphne explained as quickly and as simply as she could: there would be time to go over the details later. "None of them could betray you without renouncing their family name. You would however be held accountable for their actions, unless you could prove that you had no knowledge of said actions."
Harry nodded before turning back to face Arthur. "I will consider your offer Mr Weasley." Harry wanted to make sure that this wouldn't bite him in the arse, though his gut feeling was to take Arthur up on his offer.
Arthur nodded, before pulling gently on Molly's arm. The stunned, tearful witch slowly backed away, fearful eyes jumping between Lily, Harry and the ledge were the goblin High King sat.
"Well... that went well." Harry muttered once they had retreated to the other side of the chamber.
"Harry, Hermione?" They all turned to regard a clearly nervous Ginny. "Can we... talk, for a moment? Alone?"
Harry looked at Hermione, the question clear in his eyes. After biting her lip for a moment in thought, Hermione nodded, though there was a note of trepidation in her eyes. As he stood up Harry shared a look with the others, letting them know wordlessly that he and Hermione had this covered. Silently they followed Ginny off to one side, away from the others in the chamber.
For several long seconds Ginny said nothing, just looked between them. Her expression was wretched, regretful. Finally she spoke softly.
"I... I want to apologise for my... for what I said. Last time we spoke."
Neither older teen said anything, just continued to look at her with stony expressions. Summoning up every shred of courage she had, Ginny continued.
"I know I was horrible to you. Both of you. I... I know now that I was wrong to believe what my mother told me. Please believe me, I didn't know about that contract!" There was desperation in her voice as she looked between them wide eyed.
Harry looked at her firmly, but nodded slowly. "We believe you Ginny. But I'm still waiting for an explanation."
Ginny's shoulders slumped. "I can't explain it without it looking like I'm trying to pass off the blame. I'm at fault, I know that." She took a deep, shuddering breath before removing a sheaf of parchment from her robe pocket.
"After you saved me from the... Chamber Harry, as you know I went home with everyone else at the end of term. At no point did anyone bring up what had happened to me. Nor did I see any healer about it."
Hermione frowned. "I'd have thought you would have as a matter of course?"
Ginny nodded sadly. "Yes, I think so too. But Mum never set one up. Truthfully, none of us have gone to a healer unless it was really bad; mum did everything herself. 'Save money' and all that." Ginny scowled. "She had the gall to tell us money was tight, yet was using your inheritance to put us through Hogwarts?" She blushed, and then spoke quietly, contritely. "Had I known Harry..."
"It's okay. Bill said the same thing when we found out." Harry reassured her. "The money itself is not important. It's the contract itself that offended me."
Ginny appeared to sigh with relief. She then looked down at the parchment she held. "Harry, Hermione... two weeks ago I discovered that mum was using potions on you... along with myself and I think Ron. I convinced dad to take me to St Mungo's for an examination." She lifted her eyes to look at them. "I was also convinced that there was something left over from... from..." her bottom lip quivered, her eyes tearing.
Their stony expressions faded away, both Harry and Hermione looked at the youngest Weasley with concern. Hermione gently put her hand on the smaller girls shoulder, wordlessly giving her comfort. Ginny flashed a small smile, before holding out the parchment she held. "These are the results." She said quietly.
Hermione began to leaf through the report, Harry looking over her shoulder. While most of the results were meaningless to him, certain bits and lines jumped out.
'High levels of a low-grade love potion found, oddest traces twelve years old. Trace readings suggest continuous dosing up until four years ago, then intermittent, but stronger dosing. Effects of potion likely to be permanent, patient's body now addicted to potion. Target of potion appears to be Harry Potter."
'Evidence of Loyalty potion, targeted to one Albus Dumbledore. Effects may linger till potion fully flushed.'
'Personality fragment discovered in subconscious, the result of possession by powerful entity. Fragment has tapped into patient's emotions and thought processes, likely affecting judgement and views. Emotional responses are skewed by fragments presence. Judgement likely to be impaired, as are morals.'
'Psychologically patient is showing symptoms of long-term influencing, a simple form of mind manipulation. Source appears to be patient's mother, proof of which has been provided via patients memories. Patient appears to have been influenced from young age to desire one Harry Potter, to be convinced that they are destined to be together. Almost impossible to completely reverse conditioning at this late stage.'
To Hermione, the results were the stuff of nightmares. She looked at Ginny again, worry and concern in her eyes. The younger girl nodded slowly. "I can't take back what I said. But I hope to... one day, make up for what I've done."
Hermione nodded slowly before handing the parchment back across. "For what it's worth Ginny, I hope you recover."
Ginny's lips twitched as if she meant to smile, but the tears running down her cheeks showed her true feelings. Bowing her head, she walked back across the room to her father, who wrapped am arm around her as she all but burrowed into his side. Molly followed the pair as they exited, looking hurt and bewildered that her daughter was not coming to her for comfort. Her hand held Ron's upper arm, all but dragging him out with her. The twins remained in their seats, watching their parents leave, before looking back to Harry.
Harry and Hermione walked back over to the group. Casting a glance at the still form of Dumbledore, Harry looked up towards Goldbag. "Is there any other business Account Master?"
The Goblin looked over the parchment before him. "None in relation to the Will itself Mister Potter, but if you wish to honour the deceased wishes in regard to his cousins Andromeda, Bellatrix and Narcissa, then now is the time to do so."
There was a nervous intake of breath. "Mr Potter? Could we... have a word with you? About that?"