Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Harry sighed. He knew he was depressed but frankly, he didn't care anymore. He glanced back to Hogwarts, there was no sense in returning there. He touched his arm. This year was rough, worse than his 2nd year, worse than his 4th year, even worse than his 5th year. He was tired of everyone believing they knew him, because of some stupid books, some lame prophecy, and even because he was in Gryffindor. He made it to the clearing in the Forbidden Forest, one he had found when he needed to escape from everyone.

He was expected to head back to the Dursley family in two days. He had tried to refuse but was again denied. Most of his so-called friends had been ignoring him since this was the year their soul-mate tattoos appeared and they found their soul mate. Harry knew who his soul mate was. He didn't want to think about that moment. He could hear the cold, cruel, laugh in his ears, every night for the past four months he had heard it. He wondered what Dumbledore was thinking of when he decided to have Valentine's Days revealing ceremony.

****************************Flashback**********************

"Isn't it exciting?" Hermione gushed as she snagged Ron's arm.

"Yes, just the word I would use." Harry muttered. Many of his year mates already were aware of who their soul mates were. Some were like him, fearful of finding out who it was. Harry figured with his luck it would be Malfoy, or worse, Voldemort. He spent the next month listening to the matched couples make plans while others like him dreaded what was coming. When the night in question arrived he slowly dressed in his new dress robes and made his way down to the common room.

Professor McGonagall was there and arranged the couples to lead out her Lions. Harry hid in the back. He was the last to enter the Great Hall. He began to feel sick. The Head Table had been pushed back against the wall, the house tables were also against the walls, decorated with white table cloths, red dinnerware, and pink flowers in heart-shaped vases. He was now officially sick. He shoved his hands into his robe pockets. He didn't dance with anyone and managed to avoid being seen by most as he stayed in the shadows. He had tried to leave a few times but Dumbledore had sealed the doors until after the revealing ceremony. Harry watched his friends laughing. He was happy they were having a great time. They had never been the same after his fourth year. He couldn't call them his best friends any longer. He never went to the Burrow and usually avoided the Order members as much as he could. He still resented being sent back to the Dursley family but he wasn't old enough to be on his own, legally.

"Yes, yes, all it's time. Now, we will have all those you have already found their soulmate come forward and be officially introduced. Once that is over we will work down the list of those who have the mark."

Harry wasn't sure if anyone knew he had the mark. He certainly hadn't spoken to anyone about it but judging from the look he was receiving from Dumbledore, the man knew he did. He wanted to curse the man to the moon and leave him there. He clapped politely as each couple was presented. He was surprised at how many were soul mates. The books made it appear rare and that it was an honor to have one. He let out a huff as Dumbledore moved on to those who didn't know. He watched Malfoy get matched up with Astoria Greengrass much to the annoyance of Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass. Harry had been watching the two girls trying to get Malfoy's attention. He snorted when Goyle and Crabbe were matched. He wasn't surprised. He watched Neville and Luna become a couple which he was happy about. Neville needed someone gentle like Luna. Luna needed someone supportive and caring like Neville. He knew he was going to be last as he figured Dumbledore wanted to make a show out of his match. Most likely hoping it would be to Ginny Weasley. He couldn't stand the way the girl was always trying to hit on him.

"Harry Potter." Dumbledore announced. Harry pushed off of the wall he had been leaning against and made his way up to where the Head Table normally was. Dumbledore had his wand out. "Harry, my boy, your sleeve."

Harry glared but undid his cufflink on his left sleeve and rolled it up to his left forearm. The tattoo of a silver snake wrapped around the bottom of a golden lightning bolt appeared. The snake was laying passive while the lightning bolt seemed to be caressing the snake.

"Interesting. Who is your match?" Dumbledore waved his wand over the tattoo projecting the image on the wall behind them allowing everyone to see.

Harry watched the crowd, no one moved toward him but from the side of the room, they heard a laugh which soon turned into a voice stating loudly, snarl and spitting the words of rejection. "No, I reject the bond." Harry and everyone knew that deep voice, everyone recognized the snarl that ended the ceremony. Everyone gasped, Harry, however, wasn't surprised. He nodded his acceptance, rolled down his sleeve, and began to walk back towards where he was standing earlier. He knew he was being talked about and he selected to ignore it. As soon as the doors opened, he left the Great Hall.

******************End Flashback*****************************************

For the next few weeks, Harry had to endure Snape putting him down, laughing at him. Harry, however, just ignored him as well as everyone else. Time didn't make it better. He knew Snape had been called into Dumbledore's office because Snape attacked Harry the next day.

**************Flashback***************

"Potter, how dare you?"

Harry looked surprised. He had no idea what the man was talking about. "Professor, perhaps if you can enlighten me as to what you are speaking about, I might be able to answer your accusation." Harry found that Snape had been right all along, words were important.

"You know exactly what I am referencing. I will not be forced to bond with someone like you. I don't know why I should be surprised. After all, you are just like your father. Arrogant, spoiled, and thinks that the world revolves around you."

"Believe what you will, I can't and won't change your mind. However, I have no idea what you mean. Have a pleasant day, Professor." Harry didn't even bother to wait for a response before he entered Flitwick's class. He knew if he had remained he would have ended up in detention.

*************End Flashback*****************************

Harry looked at the serene spot. He was tired, so tired, of everyone expecting him to do everything and anything they demanded of him. Tired of them bad-mouthing him one day, hero-worshipping the next. Ever since that awful ceremony, people have been pitying him if they classified Harry as a friend, if they didn't, like Malfoy and his crew, making sure to remained Harry almost hourly how unlovable he was. He knew that he didn't need to have it tossed in his face every hour. He had known it for years.

He pulled out the flask he had been hiding for a few weeks. He had been carrying it around, trying to get the nerve up to do something with it. He had found the potion last year when he was trying to escape and have some alone time down in the Chamber. The potion was designed to give the drinker the courage to be true to himself and not worry about what everyone thought all the time. Harry wasn't naive enough to believe that he fell into that area. He worried too much about what people would think, would say, would believe about him. He had been working so hard to hide it this year, but he ended up more often than not, crying himself to sleep since that ceremony.

The potion was permanent. No cleansing ritual, purge, or even a potion cleanse would remove it. That is the part he was wary of. Did he want something so permanent? While it would solve a lot of his problems, it wouldn't solve the biggest ones. It wouldn't solve returning to the Dursley. It wouldn't solve Dumbledore always interfering in his life, well, some of it would be solved. It would solve dealing with the mess his life has become since the stupid ceremony that Dumbledore just had to arrange.

Maybe it would be better just to skip the potion and end it all here. No one would find him, so he wasn't worried about being saved. He thought for a few more minutes, trying to decide. He knew Dumbledore did that ceremony for a reason since they never had in the last few years he had been attending. He had to know Snape was his soul mate. He had been thinking about that question for a long time, it usually leads to more questions. He stopped that train of thought, as he usually went around and around.

He glanced again at the flask resting next to him. Maybe it was time to get some answers and change things to what he wanted. His soul mate already thought he was arrogant and the world revolved around him. Dumbledore, he knew, saw him a tool to get rid of Voldemort. The rest of the magical world did too. The Dursley thought of him as a slave, he would need to change that attitude. Yes, time to change things. Time to take control of his own life.

He picked up the flask and drank the potion. He screamed in pain and passed out.

Chapter Text

He didn't want to move. He was so sore. "Hello, Harry." He turned his head and saw Luna and Neville standing near him. "Drink this."

Harry saw it was a pepper-up potion. "Luna? Neville?"

"Relax, we're here to help." Neville pulled out a pouch. "Clothes and your trunk."

"It's nice to see the real Harry, not the one created by the Bee."

"I agree." Neville pulled a mirror out of his robe pocket with a piece of parchment. "Read that before you look."

Harry took the parchment and flushed in embarrassment as he realized the clothes he had on were now a bit tight. Luna waved her wand and he was dressed in silky black robes. "Thank you, Luna."

"You will be happy later, but not happy now." Luna waved her wand, burning Harry's old clothes.

Harry opened the folded piece of parchment.

Harrison James Potter

BIND:

Soul Bind- 60% Soul Mate Severus Snape (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Blood Glamour -blood James Potter (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Spellcasting-20% bound (10% leaching) (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration (10%) (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Emotional Stability -Guilt Intensified, Loyal Potions (keyed Albus Dumbledore, Hermione Granger, Molly Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Ginerva Weasley) Family Love (keyed Weasley Family) Unwanted, Unloved, Family Repulse (keyed Dursley) (Bound Albus Dumbledore) Slytherin (Bound Albus Dumbledore) Gryffindor Increase(Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Animagi transformation (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Metamorphmagi (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Legilimency and Occlumency 55% (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Apparition and Disapparition 10% (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Magical resistance 20% (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Learning 50% (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Dependence on Hermione Granger (Bound Albus Dumbledore)
Apparition 50% (Bound Albus Dumbledore)

"What?" Harry looked at the list. "When?" Shock hit him fast. He had wondered for years why he was different than what he remembered growing up in the Dursley house. Granted, the abuse was now something he had to rethink. If Dumbledore used spells on his family then what were they like?

"Come, we have a lot to speak to you about now that you're free." Neville pulled out a small disk. "Harry, trust us."

"I do otherwise I wouldn't still be standing here." Harry's fists were clenched. Dumbledore, the man just couldn't leave his life alone.

"Port-key to friends, true friends." Luna took Harry's hand. "We got the blood from your last accident. Lady Longbottom aided us."

Harry took hold of the disk. "Safety." Neville provided the keyword and the three of them felt the pull of the port-key.

__________________________________________________________________

Harry didn't fall as he landed. He was a bit surprised by that but he looked around. They were in an entryway that belonged to someone rich. Luna and Neville had their trunks and put them in a corner. "Good, he did it." A voice he wasn't expecting to hear.

Harry turned around and saw Severus Snape with his relatives, Lady Longbottom, the Weasley Twins, and some of the DA. He was very hesitant about this. Didn't Snape hate him? "I think someone has some explaining to do." He wanted to curse as he sounded like Ricky Ricardo demanding answers from Lucy.

"Indeed, there is tea waiting for us in the sitting room." Severus led the group away from the entranceway. After everyone was settled, Severus looked at Harry. "He hasn't looked?"

"No, the test was a bit much." Neville could see the test still balled up in Harry's hand. While Harry had sat down for tea, he was still very befuddled.

"Harry, there is a lot we didn't know a few months ago. We are all here to help." Petunia spoke from her spot across from Harry. "Severus, Agatha, do you want to explain?"

"I believe I would be best." A new voice entered the room. "Mr. Potter."

Harry was up and had his wand out. "Relax, Harry, he is a friend. He's not Voldemort. He's Tom Riddle." Neville stood between Tom and Harry.

"They are the same wizard!" Harry waited for Voldemort to draw his wand. Why didn't he look like a snake? Why wasn't he bald?

"No, they aren't. Voldemort is a fabrication by Dumbledore and his husband, Grindelwald." Lucius Malfoy stepped into the room. "We have a lot of explaining to do. It has taken us a while to figure out what was going on but your test was the biggest key. Which is why Tom put that potion book down in the Chamber for you to find."

Harry lowered his arm as Luna put her hand on his forearm. "They want to help. All of us do."

Harry sat back down. "We will start with the timeline. I believe that will answer more questions faster and easier than trying to explain how we learned something and when." Tom Riddle waved his wand, and just like he did in Harry's second year, whiffs of smoke appeared and words began to form.

1881
Albus Dumbledore was born in July. Oldest of three. (Could he be the seventh month dies? Is it part of him forcing the prophecy to be true? He has Grindelwald, Voldemort, Potter?)

1891
Ariana Dumbledore is attacked by three Muggle boys and is both physically and mentally injured. Their father, Percival Dumbledore, then attacked the boys and was imprisoned for the crime at Azkaban. His mother, Kendra, decides to keep her daughter's condition a secret and moves the family to Godric's Hollow. (Why a secret? Was she attacked by the three muggle boys? She tested higher on the Merlin Scale.)

"Merlin Scale?" Harry never heard of it.

"It's a standard test given at birth to determine a child's magic core or strength. You tested gold, which is the highest-ranking, so did Ariana, Tom, and Severus." Lucius explained. All of whom Dumbledore influenced in their lives.

"What did Dumbledore test at?"

"White, which is above average. I can give you a book later to read that will explain the ranking and what they mean." Tom knew Harry would want to know more.

"Thank you." Harry automatically replied as he went back to reading the timeline.

1892
September
Albus enters Hogwarts and is probably sorted into Gryffindor. (However, detention reports are listing Slytherin. He certainly has the traits)

"Hermione told me he was in Gryffindor. I remember it was during our first meeting on the train. She fixed my glasses and mentioned using magic before coming to Hogwarts."

"She fixed your glasses?" Lucius glanced at Severus and Tom.

"That is a very advanced spell. Even Poppy doesn't use it." Severus looked at Petunia. "Did you know about his glasses?"

Petunia flushed with embarrassment. "We never got his eyes checked. I picked up a pair from the Masons. Harry, please forgive us."

"Let's explain everything. I think Harry is aware, based on the crumpled ball of parchment, that you weren't yourselves." Severus reached over and removed the parchment. "I have more copies. I added one to your vault for protection."

"I need time to process it all. Right, let's get me up to speed." Harry slammed down shields he didn't know he had.

1899
June
NEWTs: The Transfiguration and Charms tests administered by Griselda Marchbanks. Marchbanks told Umbridge, "examined him myself in Transfiguration and Charms when he did NEWTs ... Did things with a wand I'd never seen before..." Marchbanks also tested all Transfiguration students who received their Master shortly after. A review of tests shows no answers were written down.

Leaves Hogwarts to begin to plan a Grand Tour of the Wizarding world with his friend Elphias Doge. (Doge is still a strong supporter of Dumbledore, known to "misfile" information, vote the way Dumbledore wants, and is part of the Order.)

1899
early summer
Ariana Dumbledore accidentally killed her mother, Kenda. Dumbledore gave up his plans for his Grand Tour and stayed at Godric's Hollow to care for Ariana. A few weeks later, Gellert Grindelwald (expelled from Drumstard) visited his aunt (Bathilda Bagshot, who lived near the Potter) at Godric's, warned them about trusting Dumbledore, wrote ten of the history books that Dumbledore refuses to allow into Hogwarts) at Godric's Hollow. Aunt introduced them. Gellert and Albus made plans for wizard domination of the world (see the letter, greater good); Ariana was neglected. When Aberforth took Albus to task for failing to provide care for Ariana, a fight ensued between Albus, Aberforth, and Gellert, ending in the death of Ariana. Gellert fled while Aberforth punched his brother at the funeral. Barely speak.

"What letter?" Harry pointed to the notes.

Lucius searched through some papers and handed an old letter to Harry. "Miss Bagshot gave it to us."

Gellert -

Your point about Wizard dominance being FOR THE MUGGLES' OWN GOOD - this, I think, is the crucial point. Yes, we have been given power and yes, that power gives us the right to rule, but it also gives us responsibilities over the ruled. We must stress this point, it will be the foundation stone upon which we build. Where we are opposed, as we surely will be, this must be the basis of all our counterarguments. We seize control FOR THE GREATER GOOD. And from this, it follows that where we meet resistance, we must use only the force that is necessary and no more. (This was your mistake at Durmstrang! But I do not complain, because if you had not been expelled, we would never have met.)

Albus

"Isn't he for breaking down those walls? Wanting the muggles to know about us?" Harry gave the letter a second read. "Greater good, my arse."

"Language." It was heard from more than one adult.

"I don't think so. Look at the laws he has helped pass. They are laws that would treat all creatures as nothing more than slaves, and muggles are included in that list." Tom and Lucius knew Harry was the key to revoking those laws but that was another discussion.

Harry inhaled. "I have a feeling I'm not going to like what else I will learn. He changed my looks. I know I haven't looked yet but I have a feeling there is a reason why I was changed."

"There is." Tom sighed. "One that I wish I could kill the man for what he did."

1938 -1955
Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts. Dumbledore was at Hogwarts by 1938. (Missing years spent where? Husband or boyfriend Grindlewald?) Horace Slughorn began teaching Potions the same year. (Slughorn is much younger than Dumbledore. Was he already working on a plan? He wasn't a potion master. Armando Dippet was the Headmaster, but influenced by Dumbledore, potions? Spells?)

1938
late summer
Visited eleven-year-old Tom Riddle in his orphanage in London. Spoke to the Headmistress of the orphanage, who came in asking weird questions. (Never took him to Gringotts. Knew he was a Gaunt, claimed he was disturbed by Tom's fascination with power and apparent cruelty to others. WWII history, and effects on kids being in bomb zones.) Sorting-Mid sentence changed from Ravenclaw to Slytherin, why?

Harry sighed. "He showed me the memory but it was weird, well, a lot of memories of you he said he took from others. All the memories he has shown me had a film around the edges. They weren't clear like they were when I peeked into Professor Snape's memory. I always wondered why I did that. I mean, it wasn't like me before I went to Hogwarts."

"Spells. I tested you. You had a few on you that the potion removed, including a tracking charm, locator spell, three different loyal spells, and up to his plan for that soul mate ceremony, I believe the count was 115 love potions by Miss Weasley." Severus had been furious when Harry had gone with the girl until he found the spells.

"If the memories weren't clear, they were fakes. I would like to see what he showed you later." Tom saw that the rest of the group was interested in the fake memories.

"Those love potions were hard to counter. Luna provided the distractions while I added the cures to your food." Neville explained.

"Thanks, I was never attracted to her and suddenly would be. She creeps me out." Harry would never understand the girl. She was more interested in his name than him.

June
Tom Riddle finished his 7th year at Hogwarts and began working for Borgin and Burke's.

Date unknown
Dumbledore defeated the Dark Wizard Grindelwald. (No witnesses. The man is imprisoned in his prison, which doesn't make any sense, as a wizard and builder of the prison, magic would recognize him as the owner and only he would be able to control the wards. No one is allowed there.)

1956
December
Dumbledore hired Minerva McGonagall as Professor of Transfiguration. Minerva, very loyal to Dumbledore. (Dated Tom Riddle during school, broke it off, similar to the break of friendship between Severus and Lily.)

1969
September
Lucius Malfoy began attending Hogwarts and was sorted into Slytherin. Hat originally wanted Ravenclaw, changed its mind mid-sentence to Slytherin, again?

First Wizarding War: Created the Order of the Phoenix to battle Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

1971 before September

Whomping Willow was planted to guard the Shrieking Shack to protect Lupin during his monthly transformations. (Why only Lupin? Why was he the only werewolf allowed to attend Hogwarts, when he blocked all other creatures from attending?)

1971
September

Severus Snape, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Lily Evans begin at Hogwarts. (Again sorting issues, Snape to Ravenclaw, changed to Slytherin. Black to Slytherin changed to Gryffindor, Evans to Ravenclaw, change to Gryffindor. All mid-sentence changes. Why?)

"I don't know if this is important but he told me that my father had a crush on my mother since he saw her in Diagon Alley buying her supplies and told Dumbledore he would marry her." Harry thought it sounded exactly like what he heard Ginny Weasley say to her mother when she first met him. "I know Ginny told her mother that and look at the love potions."

"That would explain a lot." Severus thought for several minutes. "Before Hogwarts, your mother was a typical Ravenclaw but not rude about it like Granger is."

"Rude is an understatement." Draco entered the room. "They know he is gone. Dumbledore is accusing the Death Eaters and calling the Aurors in but only his Order members, so I don't think he alerted the Ministry. Potter, I'm sorry for teasing you but Dumbledore's pawns would have ratted me out if I didn't. The rest of Slytherin is laying out false leads for them to chase."

"Good." Tom had given the Slytherin numerous port-keys and muggle transportation methods to use so that they could confuse the Order.

"I have a feeling there is more I need to learn. However, Malfoy, I accept your apology. I'm sure I will have a mental breakdown later." Harry was trying to process everything but felt like he was heading for mental overload.

"Here, drink this. It will help." Severus handed him a calming draught. "It's a mild one so you won't feel tired but you won't feel so overwhelmed like you are right now."

"That is an understatement but I want to finish this timeline so that I can understand and not lose it for the wrong reasons."

"Harry, scream, yell, go blow up some dummies. Get it out. We can wait." Parvati Patil instructed. The DA all added their agreement.

"We all had to do it a few times. I think Tom, Severus, Lucius, and Neville destroyed two rooms each." Dean Thomas leaned forward. "We have a bet on what you will destroy before everything is revealed and while you process it."

"Go and let it out." Vernon finally spoke. "It helped a lot." Harry realized the man had lost a lot of weight. "Dumbledore had us under a few potions and spells."

"It did help." A slimmer Dudley spoke. "I'm a wizard.

"So am I, well, a witch." Petunia pulled out her wand. "Dumbledore bound my powers, Dudley's too."

The walls started shaking, portraits fell, knick-knacks crashed to the floor, and glasses began to break. Severus and Tom didn't wait as they latched onto Harry and apparated him to the dueling room. "Destroy whatever you want." Severus released Harry as Tom put up a shield for them to hide behind.

An hour later, Harry fell to the floor, crying. Severus wrapped him in his arms. Severus held Harry as he cried and held him as Harry worked out his emotions. "Dumbledore is going down." Harry finally softly spoke. "He did all of this, to us, to control our world."

"Yes. He knew about our bond long before I did. I didn't know until two years ago but he had to know since he bound it." Severus touched the mark. "We still don't know everything, Harry."

"I believe Harry has a few of our missing pieces. He already admitted to the memories, I'm now wondering what else might be revealed. Also, we still have to do the Inheritance Test at Gringotts." Tom made his presence known as he handed them glasses of water.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us." Severus released Harry.

"Let's get through the timeline. I will provide what I know. I might not even be aware I know anything." Harry sighed. "However, we are bringing him down."

Tom and Severus smirked as they knew that Harry Potter would do exactly that. After all, as a boy, he had shown his determination with the yearly events that Dumbledore planned.

"Strange question but couldn't Grindelwald be Voldemort. He could have been working with Dumbledore since the beginning."

"We believe so. Though we have no evidence. We do know he isn't a parseltongue so it might be him."

"I don't think Voldemort is. Every time I have met him in some weird event, he hasn't spoken parsel. When I met him during my fourth year, Nagini was there. He didn't speak to her. I did but he didn't understand us as I told her not to attack me, and she listened."

"It would make sense as he always knows of the raids. I never gave the locations or times. I thought he had another spy." Severus thought Harry made sense.

"It is something he would do. He likes to keep tight control over everything." Tom cleaned up the room. "Let's head back."

Harry found where he left off on the timeline after reassuring everyone he was fine. His relatives were worried about him which was a new experience for Harry. Petunia even mentioned she had brought his parents' belongings, including their school trunks. Lucius explained that after the attack, the Ministry had cleaned up Godric's Hollow. All the furniture and other items were sent to Gringotts for protection but the Ministry did send the more personal items to the Dursleys' house as well as their trunks.

"That is why I believed you knew about our world. We were told you had been trained." Severus explained what Dumbledore had told the staff and what he had been telling the Wizengamot before Harry even attended Hogwarts.

Harry outlined his first few encounters before arriving at Hogwarts, including how he met the Weasley family. "He knows how to get people to do his bidding." Harry wasn't too worried about his former friends. He had already realized how false they were. "Let me finish reading this timeline."

1975
Mundungus Fletcher was banned from the Hog's Head; Aberforth Dumbledore was the bartender.

"Isn't he the thief that is in the Order?"

"Yes." Numerous voices responded.

Spring 1980

Interviewed Sybill Trelawney for a position at Hogwarts and she unexpectedly made a Prophecy. Severus overheard part of it and told Voldemort the first half of the prophecy. (Why were there no privacy charms up? Why interview in a public pub known for Death Eater activities? Why allow Severus to hear part of it? Why is it uttered when Severus arrived to hear it?)

"I have been asking those questions for a while. He did tell me the whole prophecy but honestly, I thought prophecies were meant to be confusing."

"You know it?" Tom pulled out a piece of parchment while Lucius summoned a memory vial. "Can you give it to us?"

"Sure." Harry allowed them to take the memory and watched it pour into a smaller version of a huge pensive that Dumbledore had in his office. "This one is much smaller than Dumbledore's."

"It's actually not his. He removed it from your vaults." Lucius wasn't surprised by Dumbledore not informing Harry that he had his belongings.

They entered the memory in shifts. Harry entered with Lucius, Severus, and Tom.

********************memory begins********************

The headmaster was sitting at his desk. Harry was exhausted and weepy. "Sirius was just killed."

Dumbledore was sitting across from Harry. Harry looked sad and confused. "I know how you feel, Harry."

"No, you don't. It's my fault." Harry didn't look up or at Dumbledore.

"No, the fault is mine. I knew it was only a matter of time-" Dumbledore went to touch Harry's hand. "before Voldemort made the connection between you. I thought by distancing myself from you, as I have done all year, he'd be less tempted and therefore you might be more protected."

"The prophecy is destroyed."

"The thing that was smashed was merely the record of the prophecy kept by the Department of Mysteries. But the prophecy was made to somebody and that person has the means of recalling it perfectly."

Harry looked up. "Who heard it?"

"I did. On a cold, wet night sixteen years ago, in a room above the bar at the Hog's Head Inn. I had gone there to see an applicant for the post of Divination teacher. The prophecy said:

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...."

"It means one of us is gonna have to kill the other, in the end." Harry still didn't look at Dumbledore.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"For the same reason you tried to save Sirius. The same reason your friends saved you. After all these years, after all you've suffered, I didn't want to cause you any more pain. I cared too much about you."

Dumbledore started to play with his beard. "Voldemort tried to kill you when you were a child because of a prophecy made shortly before your birth. He knew the prophecy had been made, though he did not know its full contents. He set out to kill you when you were still a baby, believing he was fulfilling the terms of the prophecy. He discovered, to his cost, that he was mistaken when the curse intended to kill you backfired. And so, since his return to his body, and particularly since your extraordinary escape from him last year, he has been determined to hear that prophecy in its entirety. This is the weapon he has been seeking so assiduously since his return: the knowledge of how to destroy you."

They got booted out of the memory. Severus was furious. "He tells you this, after instructing me to train you in Occlumency, knowing he bound the skill. He doesn't tell you how you are connected to Voldemort and yet tells you the prophecy. He told me he wanted you trained so that Voldemort couldn't find out anything, yet he gives you a vital piece of information."

"I'm wondering how he sent me the dreams." Harry wondered how the connection worked.

"The pensive. He used the nightmare spell and with the pensive sent them to you." Tom explained. "Binding your skill, the spell, and the pensive left your mind open for him to control."

"The prophecy is faked but I am wondering if he is setting himself up to fulfill it. He claims to have taken out Grindelwald. He wants Voldemort gone. You know he will claim Harry is dark and have him destroyed." Lucius knew everyone was working on controlling their tempers.

"Three Dark Lords and him being born at the end of July." Harry couldn't believe the old fool. "The breaking of the Orb happened for a reason."

"Harry, sit." Severus guided Harry back to the couch. "I think he did it to get Sirius out of the way. Sirius had submitted a petition to gain custody of you. I think it's also why he did the soul mate ritual. He is expecting me to control you."

"The man is an idiot." Tom sighed. "The bond doesn't work like that. He is hoping to control the bonding by doing the ceremony, especially with all the binds he had on Harry."

"True. Let's get through the timeline." Harry stood up. He was ignoring the desire to go and kill an old man.

31 July
Harry Potter is born to James and Lily Potter. He, along with Neville Longbottom, fit Trelawney's prophecy.

August

Snape, desperate to protect Lily, warned Dumbledore that Voldemort was planning an attack on the family and begged Dumbledore to keep Lily safe in return for his loyalty. The Potters go into hiding at Godric's Hollow. (Why leave the ancient wards of Potter Manor? Why Godric's Hollow? Why did Potter buy the house from Dumbledore?)

Oct 24
Protecting the Potters: Participated in the casting of the Fidelius Charm to hide the Potters. (Why keep Sirius in Azkaban? Why allow him no trial? Why keep him locked up at Grimmauld?)

Oct 31
Voldemort attacked: It is quite possible that at midnight, Voldemort murdered James and Lily Potter. When he tried to kill Harry, however, Lily's self-sacrifice caused the curse to rebound and Voldemort was nearly killed. Dumbledore learned quickly of the attack on the Potters and Harry's survival. (How did he learn? What self-sacrifice did Lily make? Wouldn't every parent die for their children? Why was the Fidelius broken?)

"Those are excellent questions. Why a week later? What did my mother do? Why did he whisk me away so quickly? How did he manage to have it all arranged so quickly? What happened to his Voldemort? Was it Grindelwald?" Tom added Harry's questions to the timeline.

Oct 31

Sent Hagrid to rescue Harry and take him to the Dursley house on Privet Drive.

Nov 1

Midnight 24 hours later: Met Hagrid and McGonagall at Privet Drive. Left one-year-old Harry on the Dursleys' doorstep, along with a letter explaining what happened (What happened during those 24 hours?)

Nov 3

Attacked on the Longbottoms, and Death Eater trials: Bellatrix Black Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, and Bartemius Crouch Jr. are arrested for using the Cruciatus Curse on Frank and Alice Longbottom in an attempt to discover the whereabouts of Voldemort; all of the accused are sent to Azkaban. (Bella wasn't crazy before this but she was then. Why? Same with Barty.)

Dec 12

Severus was denounced by Karkaroff as a Death Eater in the Wizengamot. Dumbledore vouched for his loyalty. Announcing to all that Severus was his spy. Hired Severus to teach at Hogwarts, though Dumbledore refused Severus' request that he be assigned to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.

1991-1992
Y11-Y12
Harry's first year: Dispatched Hagrid to tell Harry about Hogwarts and retrieve the Philosopher's Stone from Gringotts. Weasleys on the muggle side of the platform.

December: Gave Harry his father's Invisibility Cloak as a Christmas present. Why the secret? Why didn't he sign the letter?

Uses Mirror of Erised to protect Philosopher's Stone.

Harry destroyed Quirrell with his touch. (How? Did Dumbledore appear on time? Something is missing.) Harry added about the different traps they got through and how they were geared toward the different strengths of each of them, yet designed for Harry to be the only one to get through.

1992-1993
Y12-y13
Harry's second year: In September, the Chamber of Secrets reopened and prejudice against muggle-born wizards again threatened to divide Hogwarts.

Harry revealed to be a parseltongue

May 8
Dumbledore was removed as Headmaster of Hogwarts and Hagrid was sent to Azkaban. Why allow Hagrid to be sent to Azkaban? He knew Hagrid was innocent. He could have shown them the Chamber.

May 29
In the Chamber of Secrets, Fawkes brought Harry Gryffindor's sword as he battled Slytherin's basilisk.

Harry killed a Basilisk
Harry lived through a Basilisk bite
Dumbledore knew where the Chamber was, why keep it a secret?

1993-1994
Y13-Y14
Harry's third year: Sirius Black escaped. Dumbledore allowed Hermione to use a Time-turner to manage her class load and again to go back in time to prevent the death of Buckbeak. To save Lupin, Black, and Severus when Lupin turned. Pettigrew was allowed to escape and return to Voldemort.

1994-1995
Y15
Oct 31
Harry entered into a deadly tournament. Dumbledore had to know Barty was Mad-Eye, so why allow it? Grindelwald was alive, so why stage this?

June 24
The rebirth of Voldemort: Voldemort used Harry's blood to regenerate his body and regain his powers. (Two Voldemort? Or all an illusion to get attention focused on the return?"

Summer:

Order of the Phoenix reactivated: Dumbledore called together the old Order of the Phoenix to fight the Dark Lord, established headquarters at Number 12, Grimmauld Place. He did this in opposition to Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, who doesn't believe that Voldemort has regained his power.

Aug 12
Testified on Harry's behalf in front of the Wizengamot. Brought in Arabella Figg. (Who sent the Dementors? Why a trial? Why a full trial? Why didn't Arabella Figg do anything about the abuse? Did Dumbledore cover up the reports to the muggle police?

1995-1996
Y15
spring
Removed as Headmaster: Dumbledore, to protect Harry from being expelled, accepted responsibility for creating Dumbledore's Army and was removed from his post as Headmaster. Umbridge was not able to arrest him; it is unknown where he went. (Why did he allow her to use a Blood Quill? Granger created the club. Why did Harry's name become linked as the creator? Did he stay with Grindelwald?)

June
Battle of the Ministry of Magic: Dumbledore battled Voldemort in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic's Headquarters but did not kill him. (Why? He could have. Was it because Voldemort was Grindelwald?) Harry added that last question.

Reinstated as Headmaster: When Cornelius Fudge was forced to admit he was wrong about Voldemort, Dumbledore demanded control of Hogwarts again.

1996
Y16

Spent the year building the Soul Bind Ritual.

Feb 14

Forced all of Hogwarts into the Soul Bind Ritual. (Why? What will happen to those who aren't soul mates?)

Harry looked at Severus. "We are soul mates. I know Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley aren't. I did overhear Mr. Weasley saying he loved Miss Granger."

"They might be. They are a pair of lying thieves." Draco hated Weasley and Granger.

"I need to think about all of this. When are we going to Gringotts?" Harry was staring at the timeline.

"End of the week. It will give you a few days to look at your new self and process this information." Severus put the mirror into Harry's hand. "We will leave you alone if you wish."

"He needs time, the Bee has muddled his mind and he needs to get it organized." Luna smiled. "I do have an idea to keep them looking for Harry."

"I'm sure." Lucius smirked. "Harry, if you need us, let us know."

Harry looked down at the mirror in his hand. "I'm going to be shocked, aren't I?"

"Tom and I will remain." Severus ushered the rest out of the room. "Harry, trust us, you don't look like Frankenstein's monster."

Tom laughed. "No, but you do look a lot like your father."

At Harry's confused look, Tom held the mirror in front of Harry. Harry stared at the 16-year-old form of Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Chapter Text

Harry stared at the mirror. Harry looked at Tom, back to the mirror, back to Tom. "How?"

"We aren't exactly sure how everything was done but I was married to Regulus Black, Sirius' brother. He went missing in February of 1981, the same time period the prophecy was made. Reggie went to visit his parents, we never saw him again." Tom had looked for Regulus for a long time. He had left England looking for Regulus and their child after the Potter boy was declared the Savior. He had wondered for years what had happened that night.

"The cave." Harry looked at Severus and Tom. "Dumbledore dragged me to this cave. It's part of this Horcrux hunt."

"Horcrux?" Severus and Tom asked at almost the exact same time.

"Yes. Dumbledore told me that Voldemort made Horcruxes in order to return. We went to this cave, he said it was by where Tom Riddle grew up. There were lots of dead people floating in the water. He said the water was a potion and that it was a painful potion to drink. He forced me to force feed him it. When it was empty we saw a locket. He opened the locket and inside was a note. It was written by R.A.B. There was a skeleton near the water. Dumbledore told me the person must have tried to drink the poison and got thirsty, so he drank some of the water, only the dead people, he called them something-"

"They were Inferius. Fire kills them." Tom wondered what Dumbledore had dragged his son into. "He set them on fire didn't he?"

"No, I did. It was his suggestion. It was the only way out after he claimed the locket was a fake. He was in a lot of pain."

"Did he tell you what a Horcrux is?" Severus wondered what Dumbledore did.

"Yes, he said it was soul magic. A person had to do this ritual ahead of time, kill a person, and a piece of their soul would go into this artifact that they used in the ritual."

"Harry, this is important, did he mention anything about what happened the night James and Lily were killed?" Tom was hoping this might give them some answers.

"I'm not sure who told me what exactly. However, Dumbledore told me that I survived because of something my mother did, out of love, to protect me. He said when she gave up her life for me, it saved me. I didn't buy that because during a war or any other time how many parents gave up their lives willing as she did. I explained to him I heard what happened, due to the Dementors. Lily kept saying not Harry, please take me instead. Everyone said there were just ashes left, but yet Voldemort has his wand? How? How come everyone just took Dumbledore's word for what happened? No one brought in investigators? Unspeakables? Aurors? Even specialist to find out what happened? How did they know I survived the Killing Curse, granted thanks to the Dementors, I do see a green light, but isn't there other spells that fire off a green light? Can't there be others?"

Severus smirked. He knew Harry had a brain. "Harry, you are right and those are excellent questions."

"I would love to see any memory you have of what happened, including the nightmares and anything from the Dementors. Dumbledore might have given something away." Tom thought for a second. "Harry, in your memories, does this Voldemort say anything to Lily?"

"He tells her to stand aside, he does it three times." Harry was thankful they weren't going to ask him about his emotions or how he felt right now. He had buried everything deep until he could process it.

"Only Dumbledore knew I asked for her to be spared besides Voldemort. Voldemort gave me a reward for telling him about the prophecy." In Severus' mind, Dumbledore and whoever was playing Voldemort were working together.

"If Voldemort broke that promise, Dumbledore would have a way to bind Severus to him, knowing Severus would feel betrayed. So he had to make sure to tell Grindelwald what to do to break the promise. I am wondering why Grindelwald asked three times unless they already knew who your soul mate was. Dumbledore most likely planned on using it to show you that Severus cared about your mother, while at the same time it would make Severus hate Voldemort and keep him tied to him as his spy." Tom closed his eyes. "It is sounding more and more like Grindelwald and Dumbledore are a team. Dumbledore using fear to keep control while allowing Grindelwald his sick pleasures."

"Dumbledore has always been a long planner." Severus inhaled deeply. "It's also something he would have done. He still expects me to be in pain when he says Voldemort."

"He still says it too. I didn't know it caused pain but once I did I didn't use it any longer."

"I'm aware. You were the only one in the Order that did so. Miss Granger for all her words about freeing the house elves certainly didn't mind seeing me in pain. I have to admit it's been an act since Tom changed the mark over a decade ago." While the mark still looked the same it wasn't the mark that Voldemort used on his minions.

"This Inheritance Test what will it do?" Harry hadn't really heard too much about what Gringotts could do. After all, Granger wouldn't know and the Weasleys didn't have the money to really use the services at Gringotts.

"Hopefully, it will provide us with some answers. Harry, you should have been given your heir rings at eleven. You should have been given lessons on how to handle your accounts, estates, even customs that apply to you being an heir. He didn't explain anything about the soul mate ritual to you." Severus knew Dumbledore withheld everything for a reason. They needed to find out what and why. "It is why many of the purebloods were confused when they met you. Dumbledore informed everyone you knew this stuff but it was clear you didn't. Neville tried to help you but he was blocked by Granger and the Weasleys."

"If you knew I was your soul mate why did you yell at me about Dumbledore calling you into his office? Why didn't you just explain things to me?"

"I think I need to leave for this conversation. Harry, we will find the answers but as Severus explains things, please try to remember we didn't know everything at the time and we still need more information."

Harry hadn't taken his eyes off of Severus but knew what Tom said was the truth. "I will try."

"Good. I know it won't be easy. He was also limited on what he could do because of Dumbledore." Tom left the room.

Once they were alone, Severus heaved a heavy sigh. "This isn't easy for me. However, let me get it out and you can ask your numerous questions after."

Harry thought for a few seconds. "I have a feeling I know some of it based off of what I have learned today."

"I know we have thrown a lot of information at you and you are keeping your feelings buried but I promise, no one wanted to see you hurt." Harry nodded his understanding and Severus gathered his thoughts and began. "I didn't know you were my soul mate until I saw you at Hogwarts. I didn't know what that feeling was and I bore no mark on my arm. I later discovered Dumbledore had glamoured it and used a memory charm on me to cover it up. I learned the truth about two years ago after Voldemort returned. Lucius got in touch with me, I meet Tom. The rest can explain how they joined or how we found the information."

"Agreed." Harry understood that wasn't important right now. Harry needed to understand Severus' actions.

"At first, I was going to tell you but we weren't too sure what was going on. Dumbledore mentioned the nightmares, dreams, he mentioned a connection to Voldemort. He wanted me to teach you Occlumency which I didn't mind. However, he instructed me on how to teach you and set up a monitoring charm. I am aware he removed the books from the library which is why you couldn't find anything on the subject."

"I had wondered about it. It seemed weird that Hermione wanted to learn it but couldn't find any books and just she accepted it. She had to know."

"Yes, I believe so." Severus had wondered for years how deeply corrupted Granger was. "When I discovered the soul mark, I had planned on telling you when you came of age. The soul mate ritual he used gave us a reason to get you away. Harry, you were so depressed, we feared for you. Tom put the potion down in the Chamber, I yelled at you about being called into Dumbledore's office so that you would use the potion instead of killing yourself."

"Ron mentioned something about the mark telling us what type of relationship it would be. His and Hermione's have this heart around what looks like an equal sign. Personally, I don't think they match at all."

"He is right. We have the same mark. A snake laying passive while the lightning bolt looks like it is petting the snake. Do you understand what that means?"

"No, not really. The most I have ever done is kissed a girl during my fifth-year. It was wet but she was crying a lot. She really only wanted to talk about Cedric. Ginny tried to get me to go out with her but she was too well, loose."

Severus laughed. "Yes, I have to agree with that. This is going to be very uncomfortable." Harry arched an eyebrow. "Many wizards and witches have what is called a dominant and submissive relationship in the muggle world. It is a way for those who are gay to be able to have offspring. The submissive in the relationship would be the one to carry the children. The submissive would take the dominants last name, and the dominant is the Lord and Head of House."

Harry pulled back his sleeve and looked at the mark, glanced at Severus. "Oh."

"We will not do anything until we are ready. Actually, technically, how it will work, depends on your Inheritance Test. Normally, Tom, as your father, would create a contract with my parents. However, my parents are deceased. We believe was going to happen is that Dumbledore has your magical guardian and as my employer was going to create a contract and sign it. It is why he needed the ritual. He needed a reason to create the contract. Now, since I did the public rejection of the bond, it stopped it. I know it hurt you deeply, Harry, but I did it to protect us."

Harry didn't respond for a few seconds. "I got that. I even understand it mentally, but emotionally-"

"It still hurts, I know, it hurt me to do it. We wanted to get you away over Yule but Dumbledore surprised us by allowing you to go to Grimmauld Place."

"So what do we do now?"

"This week, we get to know the real us. Not the images we created to survive Hogwarts. Once we have the Inheritance Test, we can go from there. Your father believes you might already be considered an adult. If you are, it changes a lot in regards to your education and how you wish to proceed with our relationship."

"It's going to be a long week." Harry yawned. He was feeling everything now. The change took a lot out of him, add the emotional news, it made for a long day.

"Let me show you to your room. I will give you a Dreamless Sleep Potion to take before you go to bed. I know you will want to spend some time reflecting." Severus rose from his chair.

"Where are we?" Harry looked around the room.

"Slytherin Castle. Your father had the heir suite readied for you. Neville and Luna were able to provide some of the more personal touches like your preferred color of green."

Chapter Text

Harry laid in bed. He knew he should get up, shower, and head down to breakfast. The sleep potion allowed him to get the first good night's sleep he had in a long time. He had a lot of new information thrown at him but the information made sense while at the same time answering and asking the same questions he had been asking. Questions that he had been wondering about for a long time.

Harry did a mental review of his years at Hogwarts. What he knew, what he learned, and what he experienced was all meshing together. He thought about who was there to help versus those who weren't. Dumbledore was never around when they were in danger. Dumbledore seemed to encourage them to do those trials and endangering their lives. Dumbledore always turned up after the events.

Now, Severus Snape was always there, always standing between him and danger. Severus stood between him and Lupin when Lupin forgot his potion and turned into a werewolf. It was a strange relationship. Severus Snape was always cruel to him yet also was always there to protect him. He knew that a lot of how Severus presented himself at Hogwarts was because of how Dumbledore expected Severus to act. Harry saw the difference last night. He had caught glimpses of it when Severus was at Hogwarts.

Dumbledore wanted the Slytherins to be disliked, distrusted, and not worthy of saving. Gryffindor was light, Slytherins were dark. Dumbledore expected Severus to spy on the Slytherins. It wasn't because he wanted them saved but to make sure who was marked and who wasn't. Dumbledore never looked to the other houses for Voldemort supporters which was strange since Voldemort was Grindelwald.

Harry could hear people walking by his room. He sat up. He knew this coming week was going to be information overload. What he already learned from the timeline was mind-boggling. He knew there was a lot more information they were going to uncover. He jumped a bit as a knock sounded on his door. "Harry? It's Neville, you up?"

"Come in, Neville." Harry fixed the blankets. He had missed being able to speak to Neville without anyone around.

Neville entered the room. "How are you?"

"A bit surprised at how fine I am with the new information. It makes more sense than what Dumbledore liked to push. Also, a lot of the same questions I have been asking so it was good to get some answers. Severus and my father, boy that is weird, said we will learn more at Gringotts."

"You should. I know I would be weirded out too. The person who you thought wanted you dead is your father. However, those are questions we have been asking. Luna and I tried to speak to you but Granger and the Weasleys always prevented it." Neville dragged a chair across the room. At Harry's questioning look, he shrugged. "I need a new wand. The one I have been using at Hogwarts was my father's. It doesn't work for me."

"Figures. Dumbledore?"

"Yeah, he told my grandmother how it would honor my father. It would also bring out my Gryffindor traits. My Grandmother didn't believe it but Dumbledore went to my uncle, who talked my Grandmother into me using it. Luna's wand works better than mine. I think Granger knew it too."

"How did almost everyone from the DA and Slytherin join?" Harry wished he had gotten to know more of the other students. He wasn't used to even having a friend nevermind numerous ones.

"Questions. We started asking questions and things weren't agreeing. When we spoke to the Slytherins, we learned even more. Luna and I wondered why were told one thing by our parents, things Dumbledore informed the Wizenagamot and the Ministry but it was clear you had no idea. They were told how you were being taught our customs and ways. However, after your first visit to Diagon Alley, combined with your first year, many wondered what was the truth. You teaching the DA exposed the others to the truth versus what Granger and Weasley told everyone."

"I never knew I was a wizard until my eleventh birthday." Harry wasn't sure how much Neville knew about his life before Hogwarts. "Everything was so strange but also exciting. I was a bit surprised by how many people knew who I was. When I learned why I was shocked."

"I learned that when I heard you talking to Weasley. It got the rest of us to start paying attention to what was said between Granger and Weasley when you weren't around. Granger as much as she likes to brag is lousy with privacy spells. Dean, Seamus, and I broke them without even trying."

"She most likely believes that no one would have even tried. The girl believes she is the best at everything." Harry wondered how Granger always seemed to know where to find the information they needed and always on time. Realizing Dumbledore had to give her the answers and where to find the information should bother him but wasn't surprised.

Neville laughed. "Dumbledore promoted that idea. No one believes it. The girl is book smart but she isn't that strong of a witch. You have seen her stumped by real-life things. The house-elves are a prime example. She didn't read anything about their magic or why they are house-elves. Granted, I don't think they should be mistreated and deserve to be treated better but she didn't even bother with what would happen to them."

"She just thought about them being enslaved. She ignored what they told her. I had to bribe Dobby and Winky to clean the dorm room. They refused to go near her." Harry had to give numerous pairs of socks to Dobby. "What have you been doing here?"

"Learning the stuff that Dumbledore has banned. Tom, Severus, Lucius, and a few others have been teaching us. I was a bit afraid of Severus at first but he is totally different outside of Hogwarts. Dumbledore is a control freak. I see it in how the staff reacts to him, what they teach us, and even the difference in Severus outside of Hogwarts. The Slytherins are different too, not so defensive. It's like the house rivalries don't exist."

"I always thought Dumbledore made them worse, especially after our first year. I felt like a fraud." Harry hated how Dumbledore robbed the other houses of their hard work. He hated when Dumbledore pushed him into the spotlight. He hated having to pretend to be something he wasn't.

"I did too. However, try saying that in front of Weasley. He would go on about evil Slytherins were, how it was anti-Dumbledore, and anti-Gryffindor."

"You didn't?" Harry wanted to laugh while at the same time he was a bit shocked. "His usual rant certainly never changed."

"I did. I had to listen to him every time you left the dorm. I think Seamus started slipping some sleep potions into his food the last few weeks of each year or anytime some new event happened in Hogwarts." Neville knew Seamus' mother shipped Seamus the potions for Weasley. "I always hoped we could slip mood stabilizers into Weaslette and Granger's food."

"It certainly would have made our lives easier." Harry laughed.

"True." Neville looked at his watch. "I need to head out. I have a lesson with Lucius after breakfast. He teaches Political Science on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at ten." Neville stood up. "Don't rush, breakfast is always a few hours."

"I'll be down soon." Harry hid his yawn.

"Sleep if you need it. I know you didn't get much at Hogwarts." Neville was by the door. "No one is expecting you to be their Savior or Harry Potter the figure Dumbledore created, we just want you to be Harry Potter, our friend."

"Thanks, Neville, but I want to learn and get rid of Dumbledore and the fake Voldemort."

Chapter Text

Harry made his way to the dining room. He had one of the house-elves show him the way. He wasn't surprised to find Tom and Severus still sitting at the table with Lucius. The three men were reading their mail but were done with eating. They each had a cup of tea in front of them. "How are you this morning?" Tom put down his letter.

"Awake." Harry sat down and letters appeared in front of him. He saw a few red envelopes. "Why aren't they exploding?"

"I have my wards adjusted to disable them or anything harmful." Tom looked at the stack. "Dumbledore, Weasleys, and Granger?"

"Lupin, too." Severus added. "Dumbledore would expect everyone who he believes influences Harry to write their displeasure at Harry's departure."

Harry ignored the red letters as his breakfast appeared. He opened the few normal-looking ones. "This is a bank statement." He held it up. He looked at the other letters.

"You should have gotten them every Sunday." Tom glanced at Severus. "He must have had a redirect on Harry's mail."

"You never saw one before?"

"No, I think I have more too." Harry pushed the letters toward Tom. He wasn't sure what was going on but he had more than just his trust vault as he believed. "I was told I only had my trust vault. I never bought anything because I was afraid I would run out of funds before I was finished with Hogwarts."

"It explains the clothes." Severus had wondered for years why Harry never bought new clothes. Yes, he learned from Petunia and Vernon about Harry's muggle life but he wondered why Harry never bought wizard clothes or school clothes.

"Mrs. Weasley always took my money out. I have only been to Gringotts once. Dumbledore or Mrs. Weasley always made such a big deal out of me being protected. I honestly thought they cared." Harry glared at the howlers waiting for him to open. The letters started to burn.

Tom and Severus calmly put out the small fire. "You are going to have to spend some time in the training room." Severus gave him a slight smile. "A few blow up sessions followed by some duels will help."

"Oops. Sorry."

"Harry, it's going to happen. You might need a new wand, too." Tom thought for a moment. "It might be why he wanted them to have brother wands to protect Grindelwald. The same feather from the same bird and the bird only gave two is too much of a coincidence."

"Backed up by the Horcrux stories, he would be able to delay any confrontation until Harry was almost finished with Hogwarts. Have the battle so that he ties it to me Harry and. Knowing that I would remain at Hogwarts as his spy. He would force us to stay at Hogwarts telling us it is for our protection, also. Now, he might want to kill Grindelwald or have him re-emerge as someone else. He would retain complete control. The Ministry would fear Harry if Dumbledore didn't arrange for Harry's death."

"I think he was arranging for our deaths. I heard Granger and Weasley talking about getting some money and what they would with it once the war was over. They didn't mention any names but now knowing what I know, it fits with Dumbledore having us die."

"He has killed before so not surprising." Tom opened the bank statements. He laid them out. Severus and Harry looked at them.

"Merlin, look at all the money going to them." Severus picked up a statement as he began to read down the list of withdrawals.

"I never even knew about any of this." Harry looked at each statement.

Severus summoned a quill and ink. He started writing things on the statements. "Severus?"

"These are the Order expenses. Things he had others do for him, he just passed over the key to the vault. I even got it a few times. He never said it was Harry's money. I will have to check on some of the other dates but most of the ones I circled were for the potions that he wanted to be created or made."

"We will need to speak to the goblins about getting the money back, which hinges on the test results."

"How about later today?" Harry knew it was important to get the testing done but he also wanted to find out where his money was being spent.

"We might be able to go. Since you don't look like Harry, even if we added some glamours, Mad-Eye wouldn't recognize you. Lucius and Narcissa can do some shopping to see who exactly is in Diagon Alley ahead of time."

"He usually keeps to the same pattern of watching. Eight to four, four to midnight, midnight to eight. The Aurors won't be on the eight-to-four, nor will Arthur Weasley. He likes the Order members to be at the Ministry during operating hours. The twins might be able to alert us to who is on the Harry search teams." Severus was still marking up the statements.

"We act like there are three sides in this war but treat Dumbledore and Grindelwald that same way? Wipe them out?"

"Yes. Hopefully, we can get them to wipe each other out, and not lose anyone at the same time." Tom hoped they could do it that way.

___________________________________________________________________________

Harry stared at the test results. They had arrived about thirty minutes ago. They explained what they needed to have done, and presented the statements of Harry's vaults. Severus produced his potion diary with the receipts to back up what he had marked on the statements.

Smasher, Tom's account manager, had pulled the files before giving Harry the Inheritance Test.

Birth: Thomas Regulus Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt
Alias: Harry James Potter

Father: Tom Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt
Father: Regulus Arcturus Black (18 February 1981)

Bloodbond: James Charles Potter

Titles:
Slytherin (heir)
Gryffindor (Lord)
Peverell (Heir)
Black (Lord)
Potter (Lord)
Gaunt (Heir)
Draben (Lord)
Byron (Heir, title at 21)
Palmerston (Heir, title at 21)
North (Heir, title at 21)

"He never told me about any of this." Harry looked at Smasher. "I only thought I had the trust vault. He never even let me keep my key or keys in this case." Harry buried his anger, which was close to boiling over. He also felt betrayed, again.

"Are you willing to sign a statement stating that with a blood quill?"

"Just sign?" Harry knew Tom and Severus had seen the scars on the back of his hand. Many of the other students had already informed them about Harry's time with Umbridge and showed them their own hands. Tom and Severus were planning something very special for the woman.

"Yes, we can get a refund for everything. All withdrawals had to be for your benefit." Smasher had already been given the test results they had done on Harry's blood before the purging potion.

"Are we able to use this against him?" Tom wanted Dumbledore to pay dearly for ruining his son's life. For taking his son away from him. "Are we able to find out how Harry ended up with the Potters?"

"We have looked but nothing is indicating how it happened. We don't even have the blood bond on file. Since it was just performed by James Potter, it would indicate that he stole your son, not Dumbledore. They didn't have a will but they did set up the trust fund and stated on their accounts that any money withdrawn after their deaths must be for Harry's benefits. Sirius Black, however, did state on his will that Harry was to be emancipated and could claim the Black title."

"It must be why he sent me back to the Dursleys and didn't tell me about the will reading." Harry read the parchment again. "How about my relatives? Can he get into trouble for that?"

"No, as I said no will. I reviewed the memory of Dumbledore blocking Mrs. Dursley and young Mr. Dursley's magic. There is no denial in the memory so we can't do anything. Mrs. Dursley never showed signs of using magic as far as the Ministry is aware, so we are not sure when her magic was first bound. I believe he must have used compulsion potions or a spell. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley are shown stating they want the bind on their son. Since it has been so long, we have no evidence to counteract the memory."

"He was always good at covering his tracks. Do what you can, Smasher, get Harry's money back. I know we can't do anything without him claiming that he had permission from James if we tried to go after him legally. Harry, do you want to take your titles now or wait?" Tom wanted to go and blow up some practice dummies.

"If I take the titles now, what happens versus later?"

"If you take them now, Dumbledore can't use them. You don't have to go to Wizenagmot as you can assign your father or Lord Prince to act in your place. If you wait, Dumbledore retains control over your seats and can regain access to your vaults by assigning himself as the custodian of the vaults since he has control over the seats."

"He hasn't done that?" Tom was going to have everyone take an Inheritance Test. He wondered if Dumbledore was hoarding more titles. He wouldn't want to claim custodian of too many, as it would warn Gringotts that something wasn't right.

"No. I am not his account manager but I will be bringing this up with the supervisor." Smasher was going to make sure the King saw this mess. Dumbledore had been a problem before but they could never catch the man in his lies.

"Let me take the titles. I want my father to take control of them for now. I don't know enough to even begin to understand what I would need for a session in the Wizenagamot." Harry watched Smasher write it up, answered the goblin's questions, and he read it before signing. "I need to go blow up some stuff."

"I think we all do." Smasher commented.

Chapter Text

Harry, Severus, and Tom were having a three-way duel in the training room. They had returned from Gringotts and they needed to vent. Tom and Severus had set up some training dummies but with their anger, the dummies didn't last for long. So after an hour of blowing up the dummies, they decided to have a duel. The duel started out simple enough but soon it turned into a free for all.

Harry was dodging and using everything around him to deflect and combat against anything Severus and Tom threw at him. Severus and Tom were dodging spells but Harry kept them from being able to get behind a pillar or anything else in the room by throwing out the twin's swamp holes. Harry had kept a few of the swamp holes in his pockets to use in case of emergencies.

Narcissa entered the room and cast a disarming spell on all of them. "Enough. You have been in here for over five hours. It's almost time for dinner. Go and shower." Narcissa pointed to the exit.

Tom and Severus were breathing hard and sweaty as Harry joined them. Harry was bouncing on the balls of his feet. He was ready to go for another round. Harry was dirty from all his rolling on the floor. "We need to do that again. I want to review the list of spells you used."

"Go." Narcissa ordered. They obeyed.

They didn't speak until they were back on the first floor. Tom and Severus' breathing returned to normal. "We will be giving everyone lessons on dueling and using the spells. However, I believe we are going to ask you to keep teaching others how to use their environment. Where did you get the swamp things from?" Tom knew Severus was already creating a list. Tom was creating his own list he wanted to teach his son. He was finding that strange but a good strange.

"From the twins. They created them. They have a whole list of things we can use in a duel. I was going to ask Severus to teach the DA." Harry never really wanted to teach the DA. It was all Granger's idea but he loved using magic. "I still remember him blasting Lockhart. It was the best moment of my second year at Hogwarts." Harry always smiled at the memory of Lockhart being blasted off of the stage.

Severus felt a bit of pride. He had also enjoyed putting the idiot into his place. Now, knowing that Harry enjoyed it made him a bit happier, he also felt that Harry did appreciate his skills. "I would gladly assist, but you are very talented in Defense. We can work together on creating lessons. I want to discuss the twins' creations with them also." The twins might be the way to win against Dumbledore without anyone being killed. "You use the environment well. I also was a bit surprised at your reflexes."

"Thanks. It's from Dudley and Dumbledore." Harry hadn't really spent any time talking to Dudley or his aunt and uncle. Vernon was at work while his aunt and Dudley were being trained by Lady Longbottom in beginner's magic. He knew he would have to speak with them soon. Granted most of their attitudes were because of Dumbledore but what the mind knows and what the heart feels can be two different things at times.

Tom and Severus exchanged a quick look. They knew what happened while Harry had stayed with Petunia and Vernon. Dudley had terrorized Harry. They didn't discuss the issue with Harry since the day had been so highly charged already. The issue would be discussed at a later date. Tom made a mental note to speak to Petunia about the issue.

Severus never liked Petunia and was trying to overcome his dislike. He knew what she did to Lily and Harry. He knew a lot of the blame was on Dumbledore but Petunia still wasn't very nice to Lily. He began to wonder when exactly Dumbledore started to interfere. He arched a brow at Tom. "We need to talk. I think I have another problem we need to solve."

"What?" Harry stopped and turned. "What new problem?" Harry's magic was flowing around him. The sparks were igniting in the air. They could hear the popping of Harry's magic.

Severus swallowed. He had thought Harry was far enough away that Harry wouldn't have heard him speak. He wasn't going to speak but something about the way Harry was looking at him, made him confess. "I was wondering about Petunia's attitude with Lily versus how she is now. I think Dumbledore might have interfered earlier with Lily. We know he has interfered in the past with muggle-borns. Tom, me, Granger, why not Lily's life? James picked Lily out when he saw her in Diagon Alley, so Dumbledore might have done more of a push toward the magical world."

Harry's magic set the carpet on fire. Tom closed his eyes as he put the fire out. He didn't comment as Harry resumed walking but back toward the training room. "Do you have a calming draught handy?"

"Yes." Severus pulled out his potion pouch and handed one to Tom. Tom drank it down. "I shouldn't have mentioned it. He needs to talk to Petunia and work things out with her and her family." He had his own issues with Petunia that he needed to resolve still.

"We can't hide anything from him. Dumbledore did that. I don't want to be like that with him. He is my son and I want to build a relationship with him. I know you two have to work on your relationship, which we will need to work on the marriage contract." Tom sighed. "Let's go and get him before Narcissa tries to call him to dinner and he reacts before realizing who it is."

_________________________________________________________

Harry was throwing spells at a Dumbledore shaped dummy when Tom and Severus arrived back in the training room. They ducked as pieces of the dummy exploded. Harry blew up the biggest pieces and kept going until the dummy was just sawdust. He crashed to the floor.

Tom and Severus slowly walked over to him as Luna appeared. "The Bee has much to answer for. Our Harry will be fine. Many of the Bee's secrets are coming unraveled. All of them affect Harry." Luna put a soothing hand on Harry's shoulder. "You have your true friends, family, and loved ones here with you now, Harry. No more phonies, no more masks."

Luna looked at Tom and Severus. "The Bee has been working long for his goals. The beehive isn't happy with the Bee. Lady Magic and Fate have been waiting for their true Lord to arrive and show what magic is about."

Luna kissed the top of Harry's head. "Do not let the Nargles float around too long. The Nargles will distract and buzz around, taking you from your goal. Your father and mate will help clear them." Luna gave them her dreamy smile as she left the room.

"That girl is scary." Severus never wanted Luna upset with him.

Tom sat down on the floor on one side of Harry as Severus took the other side. Tom added some parsel wards to the room. "Harry?"

"Dumbledore has ruined my whole life. He took me from you. He killed three of my parents. He dumped me at abusive relatives that he created. Nothing in my life is true. My relatives really aren't my relatives. I thought the Potters were my parents, they aren't. I saw Regulus' corpse and didn't even know it was my bearer. Dumbledore brought me to that cave knowing who was there. I won't even mention my time at Hogwarts. Nothing about me is real, not even my name."

Neither man knew what to say. What Harry said was true. They had their own names, their own relatives, their own adventures. Yes, Harry was learning he had true friends, but sixteen years of his life were a flat out lie, even the soul mate ritual was something Dumbledore wanted to control.

Harry looked at them. "I want him to pay. I want you to take my seats in the Wizengamot to get him out of power. We go after him once he has no power. If we go public, no one will believe us, no matter how much evidence we provide."

"He will pay, Harry, for everything." Tom laid an arm over Harry's shoulder. "We will discuss the political aspect with Lucius. While we may never get all he has done exposed, he will be ruined."

Severus took Harry's hand. "It's not just you anymore. You have us, your friends, and a real family to help support you."

Harry sighed. "I feel tired. I think turning Dumbledore into sawdust used up my energy."

"He never looked better." Tom used his wand to collect the sawdust. "Severus, I have an idea of what we can do with the sawdust."

Severus smiled. "So do I."

Chapter Text

Tom and Severus looked at the sawdust they crafted into a human-looking Harry Potter. They used a few different spells to craft the sawdust into a human. Granted it wasn't a living human being but it would pass anything an Auror would scan for. "I do believe it is time for the Dursleys to official disappear and for Harry Potter to die."

"I agree. You know he is going to demand an investigation into it." Severus had already spoken to Vernon and Petunia about having them disappear from the muggle world. They hadn't decided on a course of action. They had been attempting to rent their house out but Vernon still had his muggle job at a new company under a new name.

"Yes, which is why it's going to be a public viewing of Voldemort killing Harry." Tom looked pleased with the idea. "The Dursley home will be the place and nothing will remain. It will settle a few other issues."

Severus thought for a few minutes. "Diagon Alley would be better. He wouldn't be able to cover it up if it happens in the Alley. We just need to make sure not all of the Aurors who respond aren't Order members. I am not sure how Dumbledore would react if they disappeared at the same time as Harry. He might use it as a rallying cry and many might join him because it's Harry. "

Lucius entered the work area. "I just had a weird message from Luna." Lucius looked at the stiff form of an original looking Harry Potter. "I think it makes sense now. She said to tell you to have the duel tomorrow during lunch. The Aurors will be a bit busier and won't be able to arrive before you can escape."

"Excellent. Did she give the reason why?" Tom covered the sawdust form with a sheet. He felt a bit like Dr. Frankenstein. He loved doing this type of stuff since it required magic that wasn't normally used in their part of the world due to Dumbledore and his theories about light and dark magic. Theories that didn't exist in other magical communities. He had always been interested in all the different forms of magic.

"Yes, something the twins will be working on. It will be causing problems in the Ministry. It seems the twins have a new potion they want to try on the Ministry lifts." Lucius was thankful that the twins were on their side. The twins covered how smart they truly were with their pranks. Whatever the twins planned on doing tomorrow would create enough chaos in the Ministry that Tom's plan would be successful.

"I hope it works. It will make taking the Ministry easier when the times comes." Tom moved to the next workbench. He had given the twins a list of things he needed to have handled if there was a war. He knew they were crafty. "They gave me this stuff to have our students get used to and use during a battle." Tom handed them the list the twins left behind. "Each vial has what it is and that explains what they. They also included this for Severus. They would like any notes as we observe the potions being used." Tom handed Severus a small potion journal. "It's the potions they are trying to get to work but missing something." The twins were very detailed in their research.

Severus opened the journal and started to browse through the pages as Tom and Lucius discussed the different ways the twins' work could be used. They had a long list of plans for anything that Dumbledore might try now that Harry was missing. Harry wasn't surprised to find them in Tom's workspace. "I have an interesting question." Harry had been doing a lot of thinking since his mind was a lot clearer. He had been thinking about the questions on the timeline.

Three heads turned toward Harry trying to hide their surprise that there was another person in the room. "Oh? What question?" Tom noticed that Harry's hair was wet but Severus beat him to casting the spell to dry Harry's hair. Yes, Harry got Regulus locks but his coloring. The boy's hair was just as messy as it was when he was originally Harry Potter. He knew once it dried it would look more like his. Tom felt a rush of love and pride. Something he never expected to feel when his turn went missing and he couldn't find him.

"I don't know Professor McGonagall as a personal friend but I don't believe she would influence a student to one house or another. I was thinking about Granger and remembered Granger was so set on Gryffindor on the train. She didn't even want to think of any of the other houses. She just kept going on and on about how amazing Dumbledore was, how she wanted to be in the same house as him. She gave us a rather long list of why. When I thought about her fixing my glasses it got me thinking that perhaps she might have known Dumbledore before starting Hogwarts or perhaps related. Why else would she be so pushy about Dumbledore and Gryffindor? I get Hagrid after I learned-" Harry looked at them. "Who honestly opened the Chamber causing Hagrid to get expelled? I know the memory he showed me about your time at Hogwarts was faked."

"I will go and get the lineage books." Lucius wasn't sure what the answer was but he had a feeling it was Tom.

Severus and Tom exchanged a look as Lucius headed out of the room. "I think you might be onto something, Harry." Tom did his little air writing spell. Tom didn't want to answer the question.

Severus arched a brow and tilted his head toward Harry. Tom's not answering wasn't going to make Harry forget the question. He put the potion journal down and summoned a seat. He had a feeling it was going to get interesting. Harry was a lot like his fathers. Once they set their minds to something they did it.

"I want to learn that spell." Harry looked at his father. "Who opened the Chamber?"

"I won that bet. You can pay me after Narcissa drags us to dinner." Severus smirked at Tom. He had warned Tom that Harry was a lot like him. Tom always wanted answers to his questions and could spend weeks reading books in his quest for answers. Harry had the same thirst for answers.

Tom looked sheepish for a few seconds. "I did open it but Galot followed me up like he always did. He liked to get water from the sinks. He got scared when Myrtle entered the restroom. Galot ran back down into the Chamber after Myrtle fell over."

"How did Hagrid get the blame?"

"I'm not sure of exactly regarding that part. Everyone knew Hagrid had the spider and the wolf cubs. I did think of it when I was writing out the timeline and I wondered if Dumbledore didn't arrange for Hagrid to go to Azkaban the first time. He didn't prevent him from being returned. Just like he could have cleared Sirius' name."

"He would have. He has had so much planned for decades. I like Hagrid but he isn't Hogwarts material. We also know his policy regarding those who are human. He only allowed Lupin in for a reason." Severus had reviewed many of his memories now that he had his blinders off regarding Dumbledore. Changing one's perception changed the memories. "Dumbledore even hired him as a professor until Umbridge fired Hagrid. I know he sent Hagrid to negotiate with the giants and during the last war."

"It might be time to research Grindelwald and Dumbledore past, fully. Pull what we can from the Ministry and see if the goblins could provide us with information. I think we are missing something that could be the key to the whole power structure that they seem to be crafting."

"You are right." Lucius entered the room with a book. "Granger is Dumbledore's great-granddaughter. He had a son with a muggle. The son was Frederick Albus Granger. The muggle was related to his mother, Kendra Dumbledore whose maiden name was Evans. Kendra was Lily Evans great-aunt. The Bagshot family is related to Grindelwald and Somerville family. Petunia and Lily's mother was a Somerville." Lucius laid down the book and showed them the connection. "It's not a direct line but Harry is the closest relative over Granger. He has more ties."

"It is enough that if Harry was killed, Dumbledore would be able to claim all his seats as being the closest relative over his great-granddaughter." Tom started to follow the line back. "Weasleys are also related and so are the Blacks because James marrying Lily, which enabled Dumbledore to be able to claim the Black seats once Harry dies."

"Yes." Lucius flipped the pages in the book. "The Weasley family has never had any seats nor any power. The Prewett family hasn't either. The Potter, Black, and Gaunt families are all part of the Sacred 28 which gives him even more power."

"As Chief Warlock, Headmaster, and member of the ICW with the backing of those seats, he would control everything. He would be able to just write laws and not even have to submit them to the Wizenagamot. Grindelwald as Voldemort to eliminate anyone who opposed them while they moved forward with the next stage of their plan." Tom looked at his son. "We need to get a complete family tree test with the inheritance connections."

"Yes, he does. It certainly kept the information from Harry for a reason as well as wanting him to face Voldemort." Severus didn't add that Dumbledore would have made sure Harry wouldn't have survived while tossing him into Azkaban. "We will go in the morning."

"Agreed." All responded.

Chapter Text

"Dudley, you have to speak to Harry about the past. As do we." Petunia hadn't realized how much her son had bullied Harry at school or out of the house. Yes, she permitted a lot of Dudley's attitude but she never realized the full extent of what she did by allowing her son so much leeway.

"It's our fault, Dudley. We should never have allowed it to happen. I know it was part of those spells and potions but a lot of it was also our own attitudes." Vernon hated magic after the first time he met James Potter and Sirius Black. "I was open-minded about magic until I met Potter and Black. I think the potions and compulsions came after Harry arrived."

"I'm aware, I just don't know what to say or how to say it." Dudley originally hadn't felt bad for how he treated Harry until he saw his own memories showing what he did to him. He never realized how cruel he was. He had not thought he had done anything wrong until he saw his own actions.

"Just talk to Harry. It will work out." Petunia reassumed her son. "Do you think the potions started then?" She wasn't surprised by the fact that Tom and Severus wanted them to speak to Harry. They needed to fix the wrongs they did to him.

"I believe that would be when he would have started to add them. Petunia, you might have had some minor compulsions but the attitude you displayed when we were kids and as a muggle is very different from now. When we were reviewing your memories, we figured that he started dosing you and using compulsions after Harry was born. He needed time to build them up in your system. I also wonder about that older blond man you work for, Vernon. Grindelwald was blond and while only two years younger than Dumbledore, I do believe it might have been him. I don't have a picture to compare but we can work on that later." Severus had reviewed the memories in hopes of discovering how long Petunia and Vernon had been on the potions as some potions can cause damage if they are used regularly. It would also cover the fact that Grindlewald was blaming Vernon for the missing funds from the company.

"I never really saw him that much. Only a few times but when I was thinking about my promotions they always happened when Petunia and I were discussing me leaving the company for a better job, moving, or making a major change in our lives."

"Yes. When we wanted to move closer to Dudley's school, Vernon got a promotion which included a new car, more holiday time, and access to funds to cut the costs of schooling."

"Did you mention this stuff to anyone? Your neighbors?" Tom wondered who was gathering information for Dumbledore.

"Mrs. Figg." Harry spoke from behind the group. "She is an Order member and she was my babysitter. She would have been aware of any neighborhood gossip." Harry entered the room. "I wasn't trying to listen but I heard the last question. We only have a few hours before I die or rather Harry Potter does."

"Yes, that was what we were originally discussing." Tom rose. "The house will explode at the same time we place a dead Harry Potter in Diagon Alley."

"The insurance will cover the house. We can sell the land after the settlement." Vernon was a bit surprised to learn the house originally belonged to Petunia and Lily and the money they had paid for the house and the mortgage payments were going to Dumbledore's vaults. They would get the funds back later. They had already removed all the vital information out of the house as well as some personal stuff.

_____________________________________________________

Harry remained in the potion area of the twins' shops as Severus, Tom, Lucius, Narcissa, and a few of the DA walked around Diagon Alley setting up the delayed spells for the fake attack. The sawdust form of Harry was inside the twins' apartment for placing. They were going to use the twins' modified version of their Mysterious Midnight Moon Madness as well as some Swamp Holes to keep people away from everything while the fake attack was occurring. The twins had modified some of the muggle fireworks so that they would go off when a certain word was used. The DA was stationed in those areas. They were all using Polyjuice potions so no one would notice all the teens in the Alley.

"Dean, move your firework to the left. We don't want it taking out the window of The Apothecary." Harry was looking at the map they made of Diagon Alley and Knockturn. "Nev, Luna, move yours closer to Knockturn. We don't want anyone down there to get the blame and they will run as soon as it goes off."

"She already did it." Neville's voice flowed over the muggle walkie-talkies.

Seamus looked at the map. "We might need to move some more to Quality Quidditch Supplies and the Daily Prophet but away from the Eeylops. The Aurors will arrive via the Leaky Cauldron so the more Moon Madness down there might delay them."

"Lucius, we need more Moon Madness and Swamps by the Prophet and Quidditch store as well as more toward the Leaky Cauldron away from the Eeylops." Harry relayed the idea.

"Already on it. Cissa added three more swamps and Tom added six more Moon Madnesses are the area." Lucius was standing looking at the window display Twillfit and Tattings. We are just waiting for the signal to start this before we head back."

Harry was counting the remaining fireworks they were going to be set off between the twins' store and Gringotts. The goblins were already aware of the situation and felt it would be a great practice drill for their warriors. Luna waved her hand. "All set," Fred announced over the walkie-talkie. The pair were at the Ministry setting up their new experiment. If the potion worked or not, it would be enough to cause a delay in the Aurors leaving the Ministry.

"All set." Everyone responded back. Tom was the only one to head back to the twins' store. The rest remained near their stations waiting for Tom to say the word to start the fireworks. Tom disappeared into the twins' apartment. "It will work, Harry" Tom reassured Harry when he returned from the apartment.

Seamus was keeping a close eye on shoppers in Diagon Alley. "Looks like most are heading into the Leaky Cauldron for lunch."

"Great. Let me place this near Broomstick Betting and then I will give the signal." Tom picked up the sawdust form of Harry Potter. He was impressed that the twins were able to find clothes that were typical Harry Potter since he and Severus had burned all of Harry's clothes when Neville had shown them what Harry had. He got under Harry's Invisibility Cloak with the sawdust form and headed out.

Severus was at Hogwarts and they expected him to arrive with Dumbledore. Severus was going to be staying at Hogwarts most of the time with a parseltongue port-key that would enable him to leave from his quarters to arrive at Slytherin Castle. They had discovered how to craft one in one of Salazar's books. It could only be crafted by a parseltongue but anyone could use it. No one spoke as they waited for the cue to start their fireworks. "Fire away." Tom's voice was clear on the walkie-talkies. Diagon Alley was filled with a lot of bright red, green, blue, and yellow streams of light before the Moon Madness popped and filled everything went dark in Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley.

________________________________________________________________

Severus didn't appear until the next night. The Daily Prophet didn't have much information beyond that there was one casualty of the attack and that they were still unsure of who He-Shall-Not-Be-Named killed but they would provide information as soon as they discovered who the corpse was. Severus looked exhausted. He walked straight to the alcohol cabinet and poured himself some scotch. "I take it he didn't react well to the demise of Harry?" Lucius had spent the day at the Ministry and blocked the attempt by Dumbledore to cover up the demise of Harry and the gas explosion at the Dursley residence.

"The understatement of the century." Severus turned around and saw Tom, Harry, and Narcissa sitting in the room with Lucius. "He is furious that it will be revealed. He was even more furious when he came back from his quarters. We couldn't hear anything so he must have up put some wards. He threw some of those trinkets of his. He was cursing under his breath for several minutes before he remembered Minerva and I were in his office. While we were in his office, Mad-Eye and Kingsley arrived to inform him of the Dursley residence. We spent the next few hours debating what we should do. It came down to the Order of having a meeting on Saturday. Dumbledore is planning on speaking to Augusta."

"He already sent her a letter inviting himself to tea for tomorrow. She informed him that she was unavailable for the next month and that Neville would remain with her." Narcissa had arranged for tutors for the teens on the subjects that Dumbledore prevented from being taught at Hogwarts. All the teens were enrolled in the Irish School of Magic and had professors that visited each day since the school didn't officially have a building. They had turned one of the larger upstairs sitting rooms into a classroom.

"Yes, we heard about the Irish School of Magic. He is going to see if he can get it closed down. He plans on speaking to Augusta tomorrow with a surprise visit." Severus wasn't sure what Dumbledore planned on doing to accomplish it. A raid wouldn't work since the school didn't have many buildings and was mainly taught via homeschooling.

"I wish I could be there to see his face when he tries to locate and can't. She had it put under a Fidelius Charm at the beginning of the month." Narcissa started laughing.

"He wants to close the Irish school. Next Wizenagamot session he plans on using some stats he has. I saw the stats and I don't believe he received them from the ICW or Ministry. He wants to claim we need to get united to fight against Grindelwald and how Hogwarts is the safest school as well as his claim that Tom is afraid of him." Severus covered a yawn. "The stats are challengable and a raid wouldn't work, so I'm not sure what he would do if it fails."

"I should have worked harder to get him out of Hogwarts." Tom sighed. "Let's get the stats from the ICW and the Ministry as well as the grades and courses offered at the top ten magical schools. Lucius, you will have to add some classes so he won't wonder why you are suddenly bringing it up."

"I have a list of classes already. The next meeting is the yearly budget review for Hogwarts. It was moved from June to May due to some scheduling conflicts between an ICW meeting and the Ministry's annual summit." Lucius was looking forward to stopping Dumbledore.

"Good, he also will start to use Harry's death. He didn't have an idea as of yet but he wants to find a way to get people to rally behind him."

"He can't have too many unless he plans on removing Grindelwald." Tom saw Severus hid a yawn. "Unless that is his endgame."

"It might be. I know he didn't plan on training me. Every time I mentioned it, he always had some reason to delay it." Harry didn't mean training. He liked it. "It's one reason I agreed to join the DA. I wasn't expecting to lead it but I did like training."

"Granger has taken over and from what I have been hearing most of the students have stopped attending." Severus had asked some of the students who remained at Hogwarts to watch out for more recruits to the Harry team. They weren't to approach them but pass their names to him.

"She wanted to lead it all along. She wanted to pick the spells, what order we learned the spells, and even how fast each spell should take to learn. She controlled when we trained and even who could join and felt that if someone wasn't fast enough they should be removed. I just went along as I didn't want to listen to her. Do you think she knows Dumbledore is her great-grandfather?"

"Yes." Everyone answered.

Chapter Text

Harry was reading some of the notes that Neville, Luna, Dean, and Seamus had given him on the assignments he had missed since they started taking courses from Lucius and Tom. Harry was writing down his questions and looking at the stack of books on the table to his right. The pile had been growing as Harry kept adding books to the table. The table was on the right side of his bed. He was sitting at his desk in his suite. He tried to spend a few hours in the morning after eating breakfast reading and reviewing things before any of the classes or training sessions. Since it was the summer holiday, it wasn't just about classes and training. He wasn't going to have much time to review today since they were heading to Gringotts for a full lineage test. Harry heard a knock. "Enter." He thought it was Neville for one of their morning chats. He wondered what Luna had told her boyfriend.

"Harry."

Harry turned and saw Dudley standing there. "Dudley? I wasn't expecting you." Harry hadn't seen his cousin since he arrived. He hadn't spoken to the Dursleys at all. His mind accepted that they weren't fully at fault but it didn't change how he felt. He understood that the portions, binds, and compulsions directed their actions in many ways.

"I figured we should chat since everyone is off doing something. Mum and Dad are taking care of the house business and visiting Aunt Marge. Some have gone to play Quidditch at Draco's." Dudley hadn't moved any further into the room. "Draco is having a small get-together tonight for everyone too."

Harry put down the quill. "We need to introduce the wizarding world to biro and paper. Take a seat." Once Dudley was sitting down, Harry turned his chair to face Dudley. "I'm not sure what you wish to talk about." He was going to attend Draco's small get-together tonight but he wasn't spending the night like many were.

Dudley was looking at his feet. "I wish to apologize for what I did to you growing up. I never thought I did anything that bad until I saw the memories. I know Mum and Dad allowed some of it to happen but I also took it far beyond what they would have allowed. I'm not saying what they permitted was correct but I am aware of just how badly I treated you. How badly my gang of friends treated you and what I did to you in school." Dudley looked up. "I'm not sure why the teachers allowed it."

"Dumbledore." Harry figured that Dumbledore had to cover a lot of issues that the bullying, abuse, and neglect would have attracted by the neighbors and school officials.

Dudley didn't reply but went back to looking at his feet. Neither spoke for several moments. "It doesn't make what I did excusable or anything. I tried to speak to you earlier but haven't been able to find it in myself to forgive myself never mind asking for you to forgive me. Mum and Dad keep telling me it wasn't my fault. How Dumbledore is to blame as well as them since they did nothing to stop me even when they received the reports from school."

"Dud, as much as I hate to say this, your parents are correct. We all do the pushing of our limits when we are younger and they never provided a limit. Kids also learn by following examples set by their parents. I do understand what you mean, however, as I am having a hard time myself separating the Dudley I grew up with and the real Dudley without Dumbledore's influence, or the true Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. I am having a hard time discovering the real me."

Dudley looked at Harry. "I am not sure how you are dealing with all of that. Everything and everyone in your life was a lie in one way or another, even us. We didn't know but it's harsh. Just trying to deal with Mum and Dad's changes has been hard. I have been doing my assignments."

Harry had been avoiding dealing with all the changes and new developments. He had only dealt with his anger by dueling. "Dudley, I'm not sure if I can say all is forgiven. I would like for us to be friends. I do realize it wasn't all you, your parents, or even how I would have been treated if Dumbledore hadn't interfered. Forgiveness right now seems to be something that doesn't seem warranted in one way because it wasn't you or your parents but at the same time I do understand you want forgiveness for what you did. I am just finding it hard to figure out what I need to forgive individual people for. There is no clear line that says this is Dumbledore's fault or this is Dudley's fault."

"I get it. I am finding it hard to figure out which things I would have done too. Mum and Dad are very different since the potions and binds have been removed. I don't get my way when I demand things for example." Dudley chewed on his lip a bit. "Mum won't let me be so bossy or demanding either."

"See, that is part of the problem. It sounds like those issues came from Dumbledore even though you did them." Harry was chewing the inside of his cheek. "I wish I could wipe the slate clean and blame it all on Dumbledore as I believe he deserves the blame but let's face it, we also aren't perfect and who knows what we would have done growing up to each other. We might have been very close or we could have hated each other."

"I think we have been close just because of who you have as friends and what they have said about you. Luna has been a big help in getting me to see how wrong so many things I believed were."

"Luna is good at making you see what is right and what the right course of action is." Harry had a feeling the little seer was the reason his cousin was in his room. Luna was one of those people in his life that he was truly thankful for knowing.

"She has been helpful as well as Neville and Draco." Dudley stopped chewing his lip. "They talk about all the crazy stuff you did at Hogwarts. How brave you are. The timeline doesn't give the full story of the deeds. Draco even showed me your skill at flying."

"I'm sure you have been flying. Perhaps we can fly together." Harry could see the pain in Dudley's face. "Dudely, we can work on being friends. It's just going to take time for both of us to get past what Dumbledore has done to us, our families, and our lives but we are united on destroying him and that is a step in the right direction. I'm sure Luna will let us know what Lady Magic has planned for us in the future but right now, let's just work on fixing this mess Dumbledore has created."

"I would love to see him destroyed. Harry, I am sorry."

"I know, Dudley, and I can accept and tell you I forgive you in general. We can work on the rest as it crops up. We can work on what is Dumbledore's fault later."

"Mum wants me to see a mind healer so that I can get help with that aspect. I agreed with her. Well, we are all seeing one."

"Do not mention it to Tom or Severus, they might believe I need to see one if you do." Harry didn't want to see a mind healer. Harry was still having a hard time getting used to the idea he had a father that was alive. A father that looked like Voldemort but wasn't Voldemort.

Dudley snorted a bit. "Sure, like that will work." Tom and Severus were better than any professor he had ever seen at ferreting out information.

There was another knock on Harry's door. "It's probably Neville." Neville usually visited about this time. Harry spoke a bit louder, "enter."

Tom and Severus entered the room. "Oh, I wasn't aware you and Dudley would be speaking today." Tom thought it was a step in the right direction. He had seen how uncomfortable the two had been around each other unless others were carrying on the conversation.

"I came to apologize to Harry. We talked a bit and agreed to go flying together and work on being friends."

"We have decided it's all Dumbledore's fault. We will never know what might have been but I do know if Dumbledore hadn't interfered, none of this would have happened. I would have been with the Potters at all." Harry felt a weight lifted and looked at Dudley. "It's true. I do forgive you and it is all of Dumbledore's fault. He killed Regulus, the Potters, and he placed me there. All events he guided, he controlled and kept control of." Harry stood up. "I do, Dudley. I know it may seem surprising considering what we just discussed and trying to figure out what if or could have been but Dumbledore is to blame.

Severus wasn't surprised by the maturity of Harry, neither was Tom. Harry grew up faster due to his past. Dudley, however, was a bit taken by surprise. "I get it, Harry. I do. I understand what you are saying as I am sure you do but as you said, the heart and brain do not always agree as Mum likes to say lately."

"No, they don't." Harry smiled at his cousin.

Dudley stood up. "I better head over to Malfoy Manor before Draco wonders where I disappeared to. I told him I wouldn't be too long and you know how he gets if his plans are altered."

"It still not as bad as if you mess up his hair." Harry laughed.

"Harry, please tell me you didn't mess around with his hair products, again." Severus arched a brow.

"Who me? Now, why would I do something like that? I do know a certain someone has done so as a way to get his attention."

"Too much information and that is my cue to leave." Dudley was very aware of Draco's feelings for the redhead in question. "You might want to let this person know the feelings are returned." Dudley walked out of the room before Harry could recover.

"Interesting. Fred or George?" Tom wondered which one was of the twins was interested in Draco and if Lucius or Narcissa was aware of it.

"I'm not telling but it's not the twins. The whole Malfoy/Weasley family conflict."

"Yes, that would be a mess." Tom didn't even want to think of how Lucius would react to a Weasley being interested in his son. "Male or female?"

"I will let that be a surprise." Harry pushed his chair back. "I'm buying everyone biros and pads of paper for my birthday." He picked up his backpack. "Ready?" He headed out of the room.

"Who do you think it is?"

"I'm not sure. I thought it was the twins playing a prank or testing some of their products. I will see if I can get it out of Harry later." Severus still had to sit down and discuss things with him regarding their bond anyways and might as well add that to the list.

Tom huffed a bit. He was going to have to draw up a list of everyone and write up who was already matched up and worked on figuring out who else was matched but didn't know it as of yet. "Let's get this over visit over with. I have a feeling it's going to be another eye-opener. I want to see if we can get certified copies of the Dumbledore family tree also."

"The last few months have been that way, I do not see things changing any time soon." Severus had a feeling Luna was aware of just how much things were going to change and the seer was enjoying watching those around her adjusting to Lady Magic's plans.

Chapter Text

Harry looked at the linage that was now in front of him. Tom and Severus were also staring at it. They understood what Dumbledore and Grindelwald had done. "Grindelwald spent the 30s working with Hilter because he let him experiment with people and genetics. This is the result of them doing this since they were teens." Tom pointed to the tree. "Ironclaw, has Dumbledore been in since the Dursleys' house exploded?" 

"No, the Ministry still has not released the name of the body. I believe he is delaying it in the hopes that they might be able to find someone else to play Harry Potter. I did get a letter from him asking the status of the vaults. I replied they are in lockdown until we can verify who is Lord Potter."

Tom and Regulus side: 

F: Salazar Slytherin + Helga Slytherin nee Hufflepuff

(skip a few generations)

F: Cadmus Peverell+Tawn Peverell nee Gryffindor 

 (skipping many generations-Tom's side will be on the left, Regulus side on the right)

F: Tom Joseph Riddle + M: Mary Riddle nee Lawyer               F: Arcturus and Melania Black nee MacMillan + M: Pollux Black and Irma Black nee Crabbe

F: Tom Marcus Riddle + M: Merope Riddle nee Gaunt            F: Orion Black + M: Walburg Black nee Black  

F: Tom Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt + F: Regulus Arcturus Black (18 February 1981) ~~~~Bloodbond: James Charles Potter +Lily Daisy Potter nee Evans

Thomas Regulus Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt
Alias: Harry James Potter

Potter side: 

F: Godric Gryffindor + M: Rowena Gryffindor nee Ravenclaw

(skipping a few generations)

F: Ignotus Peverell + M: Sabrina Peverell nee Slytherin

(skipping many generations ...Lily's will be next)

F: Fleamont Potter + M: Euphemia Potter nee Dreban

F: James Charles Potter + M: Lily Potter nee Evans

Thomas Regulus Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt
Alias: Harry James Potter

Evans side:

F: Camden Gryffindor + M: Trinity Gryffindor nee Slytherin 

(skipping a few generations)

F: Antioch Peverell + M: Willamina Peverell nee Weasley 

(skipping many generations)

F: Eugene Horus Evans + M: Philipinia Evans nee Bryon    F: Milo Sommerville + Katherine Sommerville nee Dumbledore

F: Herbert John Evans + M: Begonia Evans nee Sommerville

M: Lily Potter nee Evans + James Potter

Thomas Regulus Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt
Alias: Harry James Potter

Slytherin family

Gryffindor family

Ravenclaw family

Hufflepuff family

Peverell family

Fleamont family

Sommerville family

Draben family

Evans family

Potter family

Dursley family

Weasley family

Prewett family

Black family

Gaunt family

Bryon family

Malfoy family

Palmerston family

North family

"He has Harry linked to almost every family on the Sacred 28. He is even related to Lucius." Severus wasn't sure if he was in shock or just amazed at the sheer dedication it must have taken Dumbledore and Grindlewald to get all the house connected to Harry. "He started back before you were even born Tom."

"He is setting himself up to be king." Harry was thankful he left Hogwarts. He couldn't believe all the names on the test. "I own Hogwarts, don't I?" 

"Yes. He should have alerted the Ministry, the Board, and you when you started Hogwarts. He should have been training you on how to control the wards and a thousand other things that go with running a magical castle like Hogwarts." Severus started laughing. "It explains why the house-elves always responded to you as did Hogwarts. It was why you were able to get around the school so easily." 

"What are we going to do with this information? You are already controlling my seats." 

"You should have more seats based on this test." Ironclaw had pulled out the old Inheritance Test. "Did you get a purge after this was taken?" 

"Yes, he did. We wanted to learn more about the Horcrux in his scar and we wanted to make sure it wasn't interfering with Harry." Severus had brewed the potion himself. 

"Based on this, we are going to need a new Inheritance Test for him to claim the titles not listed before. After that, we will be discussing the Horcrux issue." Ironclaw wrote a quick note and sent it off in a quick rush of gobblygook. "I am requesting a healer who has handled Horcruxes before." Ironclaw pulled out the required material needed for an Inheritance Test. He set the dish up adding different herbs and placed a piece of parchment next to the bowl. "Three drops of blood." He handed Harry a silver dagger. 

Harry did a small cut and dropped three drops of blood into the bowl. They waited for the new results. 

Birth: Thomas Regulus Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt
Alias: Harry James Potter

Father: Tom Marvolo Riddle-Gaunt
Father: Regulus Arcturus Black (18 February 1981)

Bloodbond: James Charles Potter

Titles:
Slytherin (heir)
Gryffindor (Lord)
Peverell (Heir)
Black (Lord)
Potter (Lord)
Gaunt (Heir)
Draben (Lord)
Sommerville (Heir, title at 18)
Fleamont (Lord)
Dumbledore (3rd in line)
Byron (Heir, title at 21)
Palmerston (Heir, title at 21)
North (Heir, title at 21)
Weasley (28th in line)
Prewett (4th in line)
Malfoy (3rd in line)

"If the light side won in the war, Lucius and Draco would be stripped of their title and land. We know Murial Prewitt is going to leave the title to Bill. I wonder if Arthur is even aware that he has a title?" Severus looked at Tom who had been very quiet. 

"Tom?" 

Tom was studying the linage. "Look at all of this. He had to research it and make sure the correct people married back at the beginning of the century. It means he was very aware of who I was in the orphanage. It means Grindelwald and him have been controlling so much of our world for so long that no one ever noticed. He forced people into loveless marriages." 

"It explains Sirius' parents. His mother is a terror." Harry didn't know like the woman at all. "Wait, she is my grandmother."

"Yes." 

"No, don't you get it. Dumbledore had to do something to stop her from telling me, Kreacher too. He had to have some spell or ward over the house to keep everyone from discovering the truth. We always heard how famous the Black wards were yet he wanted to add Fidelus Charm." 

"Harry, see if you can summon Kreacher. I know he loved Regulus and would do anything for him." Tom had wondered what happened to the elf. 

"Kreacher." Harry summoned the elf.

Kreacher appeared in front of them. He looked at Tom and then to Harry. "Master Reggie's child, I can finally tell you what the senile old man has done to my mistress, Reggie's husband, and baby." 

Chapter Text

"It must have been information under a Fidelius Charm." Severus wasn't surprised in a way. Dumbledore loved to use the Fidelius Charm. He wondered if Dumbledore used it because so many believed it couldn't be broken except by the secret keeper. Dumbledore forgot one thing about using it for information if someone discovered the information, they broke the Fidelius.

"Yes. He took Master Reggie to a cave. There was water in the cave with dead people in the water. He had me there with Master. Made master seal the secret. Master didn't want to but he had this vial of poison hanging over the little one, ready to make the little master drink it. Master Reggie was forced to drink poison in a cup, it was painful and little master was screaming the whole time. A cup that had a locket in it. Dumby took the locket, left my Master Reggie in the cave after sending me back to my Mistress. He never returned the little Master." Kreacher was staring at Harry with a look of adoration. "My little master all grown up."

"Oh, no." Tom looked horrified. "The locket was a fake. Reggie had the idea of using fake items to keep Dumbledore from gathering the items from the Founders of Hogwarts and the Deathly Hollows. Reggie died for a fake." Tom's voice was breaking at the idea of Dumbledore using their idea against Regulus. His Regulus died because of their own plot.

"Yes, Master did, and Dumbledore stole the little master. I tried to get him back from those muggle-lovers. I did almost get him. Dumby did something to the house to prevent me from getting the little master and bringing him to you." Kreacher sounded saner due to the breaking of the Fidelius Charm. "I tried to get the little master to find Master Reggie's room for the truth to be revealed by the redhead who shrieks a lot placed a ward around it with Dumby adding to it."

"Tom, he died to save Harry. Dumbledore gave him no choice. What you and Reggie did slow him down on taking control. He is still looking for those items." Severus reassured his friend.

"It's true. It's why he has been hinting at me hunting for Horcruxes. He has hinted at how much, well, you or rather Voldemort, worship the founders. He was the one to tell me about how special my cloak was." Harry was feeling sick. He couldn't imagine being in the same situation as Reggie was. A choice between poisoning yourself or having someone poisoning your child. "Ironclaw, can we use any of the information Kreacher provided?"

"No, as a house-elf, Dumbledore would claim it was the will of his masters to tell the tale, even getting a memory submitted wouldn't be approved for the same reason. He has too much power still. I would suggest that, if Kreacher is willing, we take the memory and preserve it for future use." Ironclaw was going to be speaking to a few of the goblin clans as well as other creatures. It was time to pick a side and this side seemed to be the winning side. They saw what Dumbledore had been doing.

"Kreacher, it's up to you." Tom buried his emotions. He would blow up Dumbledore-looking dummies when they returned home.

"I will. Anything for my master Reggie and little master." Kreature was eagerly nodding his agreement at the same time.

"Severus, you would be best for this. I am a bit too angry to do it." Tom wanted to strangle Dumbledore with his bare hands. Wait, Dumbledore got his hands dirty. "Merlin, he got his hands dirty. Reggie died in February 1981, they used the next six months to gain control over the Potters and set them up for their deaths. It must have been the price that Grindelwald demanded. Grindelwald had to have been there to make sure Dumbledore did it. He would want to make sure that Dumbledore wouldn't or couldn't expose him without endangering his own dirty deeds."

"Kreacher wouldn't have seen him if he was under the Potter Invisibility Cloak. I know James had been willing to let Dumbledore use it and when they went into hiding he offered to let it be used by the Order as long as it was returned as soon as possible." Severus remembered when he heard about the cloak. He realized it was how the Marauders were able to discover him so easily when they attended Hogwarts. Dumbledore had been aware of the cloak during their school days and did nothing about their pranks or protecting him.

"It would explain why he had the cloak and was able to give it to me on Christmas my first year. He knew about it. I would've thought James would have kept his mouth shut about it. We need to throw some kinks into his plans."

"Ironclaw, could you provide a safe place for Kreacher's memory? I do not want Dumbledore to get his hands on it." Severus pulled out his wand.

"Yes." Ironclaw was going to add it to the vault they used to store evidence against Dumbledore. They couldn't use it while he was in power but it would be revealed.

"Kreacher, is this why he wanted Sirius to open the house up and let the Order use it? Is it because he believes he has you under his control?" Harry was going to see if he could find a way to speak to his grandmother without the Order or Dumbledore becoming aware of his continued existence.

"Yes, I will inform my mistress and we can move a frame to wherever you wish. We can spy now and provide information." Kreacher was looking forward to spying. "Phineas Black is able to visit too."

"Excellent, Phineas has never cared for Dumbledore. Kreacher, I need you to think about Regulus' death, what lead up to it, and what happened until the time you returned home. When you are ready, let me know and I will take the memory." Severus glanced at Tom. They had a way to discover what Dumbledore was doing without endangering anyone. Dumbledore would never think anyone would use the portraits against him. He counted on Hogwarts being loyal to him. Hogwarts was loyal to Harry since he owned Hogwarts. When Kreacher was ready, Severus pulled the memory and placed it in the vial that Ironclaw provided. Ironclaw wrote the date, time, who the memory was from, and Dumbledore's name.

"Kreacher, I want you to seal what you can of the house. Make sure that Molly Weasley or anyone can't remove anything from the house. Severus, of course, is the only one allowed to remove anything without my permission. If anything has been sold, stolen, or thrown out, see if you can locate and return it. Place it in a warded area they can't get to. I don't care if you strip them of everything to make the place livable. If they want plates, they can get their own." Harry was going to make sure they were uncomfortable. "You can do whatever you wish to make them uncomfortable. No cursing, no hurting them, or anything similar. I want them to remain so you can spy. Let them think you are crazy or whatever you wish. Use you protecting the Black family items if they complain."

Kreacher looked happy at the idea. "Yes, Master Tom, Kreacture make them miserable."

Kreacture disappeared before Harry could correct him regarding the name. He was still Harry or was he since he was technically dead. "I believe we need a new name for me. We can't use my birth name or Harry Potter."

"True. Your birth name would make you a target, even a bigger one since he would know you were aware of who you are and who you were. He would also believe you turned dark. He would attempt to kill you or have you discredited and thrown into Azkaban. He would push you murdering the muggles." Tom looked at the test results again. "However, I believe the Black name needs to be used. Severus?"

"I agree. Sirius' unclaimed child? A brief affair and the goblins alerting the child to his inheritance would work. He would love to sink his hands into another Black and it would enable Harry to return to Hogwarts if he does succeed in closing our school. The rest of the students would be able to return also. I am worried about the Slytherins returning as he would view it as a victory and permit the rest of the students to pick on them with the exception being those with us." Severus hated how Dumbledore played favoritism with Gryffindors but if any other staff member did anything to offset it, he would stop it.

"Unless-" Harry looked at Tom. "Unless we changed the game plan. He is counting on closing the school. He is counting on the students being returned to Hogwarts. We aren't sure if he will win on the closing but don't the goblins offer classes as well as having tutors for homeschooling? He believes the ICW will back him."

"We already know they won't." Tom was wondering what his son was thinking.

"Agreed, they won't. However, it's Dumbledore. Who would question him if he announced the ICW supported him? Who would go to the ICW and demand to see the voting? Who would claim he was lying?" Harry arched a brow.

"No one but us who he would claim we're dark. If the results were submitted in a Wizanagamot session, he could and would make something up as he is the ICW representative. Lucius is planning on presenting the stats from the ICW. Using his power to cover up the fact the school wasn't closed down would be something he would do. Harry is correct, who could challenge him without some tint being added to their name?" Severus let out a curse. "It has to be what he is planning. We won't be able to do anything until we get control of the Wizenagamot."

"Which we can do." Tom looked at the results again. "Harry, you will be taking your titles today. We are going to change the game plan as Harry suggested. Harry is going to take control of Hogwarts. He can take his titles and a seat on the Wizenagamot with the Gryffindor name and title being first."

"Oh!" Severus, Harry, and Ironclaw loved the idea.

"Let's get a name and any official records we need. Remove the fees from my vault." Tom was looking forward to Dumbledore having a Lord Gryffindor present himself at the Wizenagamot.

"I want to hire a tutor for learning the requirements of a Wizenagmot session." Harry was going to make sure that Dumbledore regretted ever interfering with his family. "I am sure Lucius can provide me with the more subtle aspects of the Wizenagamot expected from a lord."

"Indeed as will I." Severus wasn't going to be left out. He wanted to make the old fool pay.

Chapter Text

"I think you need to repeat your full name." Draco couldn't believe the news. Everyone was sitting in the biggest sitting room in the castle. Some of the students were sitting on the floor as they were hearing the newest developments. Tom and Severus had explained what happened and how they needed to change the game plan. The students would be returning to Hogwarts but Harry is in charge of Hogwarts. After a short question and answer period regarding the reasons why they believed Dumbledore would succeed in preventing anyone from attending the Irish School, Lady Longbottom slammed her cane into the floor.

"He has relied on everyone believing everything he says because he has set himself up in the position of power that no one can question anyone higher." Lady Longbottom shook her head. "We can't go directly to the ICW because they would alert him and he would attempt to discredit anyone who approached. We can't go to the Ministry because he is Chief Warlock, and of course, the connections he has made with those positions, as well as the Headmaster of Hogwarts, gives him numerous people we have no idea who support him."

"Yes, which is why we believe this method would work. It wouldn't be unheard of for Sirius Black to have an unclaimed child. He wasn't exactly a monk." Severus remembered the different one-night stands Black had before the war became the center of attention for everyone and even then it might have slowed down the mutt in his conquests but it didn't stop him.

"I agree." Neville glanced at Luna who was staring off serenely. He wondered what Luna knew. "What is the name we need to use?"

"Officially on the paperwork until Dumbledore is gone it will be Lord Orion Sirius Black. However, my true name is Lord Thomas Harrison Regulus Marvolo Gryffindor Slytherin Peverell -"

"Yeah, yeah, we get it, you have a lot of titles thanks to Dumbledore's game." Petunia was reviewing the list of connections. "He set up his breeding program just to make sure he would gain control." She couldn't believe the results. "He and Grindelwald messed with the whole magical and muggle world with their breeding programs." She looked at Harry. "I apologize, Harry. It's just -"

"Yeah, I know, learning you're a breeding experiment is a bit much. He would have continued if we didn't become aware of the issue and now we can, hopefully, stop him and Grindelwald." Harry reassured his aunt.

"Exactly. The results do explain Grindelwald's involvement and why Dumbledore has kept him around for so long considering the man has buried so much of the truth about himself." Lucius was staring at the results too. "He would have put Draco and me into Azkaban if we lived to guarantee that Harry gets our title. He has arranged either directly or indirectly to have so many others killed so that Harry would inherit the titles."

"Yes, and I believe he will count on the closeness of his relationship to claim the titles however, a half-sibling is a closer relationship." Tom grinned as many Slytherins caught what was being truly stated.

"Explain for those not in Slytherin." Dean looked around the room.

"In order for him to claim the titles, he will have to reveal his relationship with a blood test. No one will just accept his word especially if the seats won't automatically assign to him." Tom explained. Tom was looking forward to Dumbledore explaining why he was related to Harry yet returned the boy to the muggles as well as a list of questions the group would create.

"If they won't automatically assign won't that prevent him from getting them without a blood test?" One of the Ravenclaw's asked.

"Not necessarily. He could claim them with a blood test if they aren't magically assigned because if the heir is underage or not in the country, the seats wouldn't automatically assign themselves. He would wonder where the correct heir was and work on locating him or her in the hopes of removing them permanently. He would leave the seats to Granger after his death since she would be next in line." Lucius answered the questions. "There are a few different books in the library that do discuss family claims, blood claims, magical claims, and the different ways some have used to get around the lack of an heir being of age."

"However, when he attempts to claim them with a blood test, the Ministry must use Gringotts. Ironclaw will arrive with Harry." Tom was almost bouncing at the idea.

"I already took the Inheritance Test showing I am the son of Sirius." Harry winked at everyone. Yes, technically, Harry was Sirius' son as well as his uncle. The test was a modified version of the Inheritance Test Harry had taken at Gringotts. Gringotts agreed to provide a certified copy of the results since they weren't false results.

"Truth yet not the full truth." Neville grinned.

"I think we are turning Neville into a snake." Pansy laughed.

"The next thing we need to share is about a creature concave for the end of the week." Tom began to explain what it would mean for their side.

Harry nudged Severus. He tilted his head toward the door. Severus got up and the pair exited the sitting room. "I was thinking since everyone is busy, perhaps we could have a chat outside."

"I would like that." Severus had been wondering what Harry had been feeling about their bond and was hoping for an answer. He didn't want to be rejected but it was time to settle a few issues.

Harry smiled before walking toward the solarium so they could exit via that door. He didn't hold out his elbow or hand as he wasn't sure how Severus would feel about it. While Severus would be the submissive in the relationship, Severus wasn't someone to allow anyone to bully or push him around. Once outside, Harry led them to a bench under one of the oak trees. They could see the small pond as well as the rose bushes lining the walkways around the area. "I wanted to tell you, I have been thinking about our bond. I understand why you did what you did-"

"Oh." Severus felt his heart sink. He was going to be rejected.

Harry touched Severus' hand. "I appreciated what you did to save me. I know I was very hurt when you rejected me and it has taken me a while to come to terms with it."

"I see." Well, at least this was a gentle letdown, Severus thought.

Harry frowned at the tone of Severus' voice. "I want to work on our relationship. I want us to start fresh." Harry waited.

Severus heard the words but his heart was already- "What?" Severus' head jerked up and he looked at Harry in surprise. "What did you say?"

"I said I want us to start fresh on our relationship. I think we have hurt each other in so many ways and I want us to start fresh without Dumbledore's interference." Harry watched Severus' face as he processed what Harry was saying.

Severus stared at Harry. "You mean it. You want to start fresh?" Severus inhaled deeply. He wasn't expecting Harry to accept him. He had built up so many different ways to react when Harry rejected him. He never expected Harry to accept. He had hoped deep down but he always thought Harry would reject him. He didn't have anything to offer. He didn't have a title, he wasn't rich, he certainly wasn't handsome. "I-"

"Severus, I have seen the true you and I like the true you. I like the man I see in front of me. I love the dry sense of humor, the sarcastic wit, and frankly, I want to see you in a pair of muggle jeans but that will have to wait for fear I will jump your bones if I see you in them before we become bonded." Harry blamed Dumbledore, the Marauders, and Tobias Snape for Severus' lack of belief that anyone would be interested in him. He recognized the signs as he had felt the same way before the binds and compulsions had been removed.

"You will need to speak to your father about setting up a courting schedule as well as the rules." Severus was trying to remember the rules for them being alone together but since they were outside, in an open area, and it was daylight, he felt they weren't breaking any of the rules.

"So you want the traditional courting and bonding?" Harry was going to have to read up on the rituals.

"I would." Severus chewed his lip for a second before remembering who he was. "I think it would be best if we were to honor Lady Magic and have a solid foundation to build on. I will speak to Lucius to ask as my advisor for the courting."

"The Bee will fall, the Bat and Raven will rise. Together, united, as the magical world will unite." Luna's voice floated around them. Luna was standing with Tom, Petunia, Lucius, and Neville. "Witnesses be blessed, the union will form, Lady Magic will rise."

"Can I just have one moment in my life without a prophecy involving me somehow?" Harry groaned as he looked at Severus. "I swear Fate hates me at times."

Chapter Text

"What are you planning on doing regarding the last mess you created?" Dumbledore ignored the voice. He was pacing the room, thinking. "The brat is dead, a new heir will be selected."

"I am not worried about a new heir. I have made sure we will get control." Dumbledore waved his hand in dismissal. "I am more concerned about who killed the brat."

"Yes, I do believe that is an issue as well."

Dumbledore turned as he heard the sound of a machine start up. He raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, Gellert, must you keep playing with that?" He glared at the hand Gellert just cut to supply blood to the machine. "What exactly are you attempting to do now?"

"This machine can provide a complete breakdown of anyones DNA. I have been testing magical blood versus muggle." Gellert walked away from the machine after hitting a few buttons on it. "It will take some time to run the sequence for me. To our current problem, we just move forward with you claiming the Potter brat's seats. No one would dare to question you."

"I do not believe it would be advertisable currently. It might be best if I wait. If I claim them to soon, many will wonder how the brat was connected to so many families. There have been a lot of questions regarding the death of his muggle relatives as well. Since there wasn't any sign of Death Eaters and no one claiming responsibility, Amelia has been sticking her nose into places she shouldn't."

"I will gladly remove the woman." Grindelwald gave Dumbledore a slight smile. "You know I wanted to remove her originally before her brother. I did warn you she wasn't the type of be corrupted or bribed. Her brother would have agreed much easier with a simple threat to his family."

"It was better to remove the brother instead. If he had more family, it would mean more heirs. As it is currently, I am able to control what her darling niece learns. She is a Hufflepuff, loyal and hardworking. I have been keeping the puffs away from the Ministry unless they have a skill I believe will benefit us as young Tonks has."

"Yes, yes, that did work out well. Auror and Order member." Grindelwald walked to the potion table on the other side of the room. The room was in the lower floors of the fortress. It was solid stone with no windows. Half of the room looked like a traditional potion lab while the other half was equal to a modern muggle medical lab. There was three doors. One was the entrance. To the left of the entrance was the door that led to where he kept his subject of his experiments. The room was currently empty. To the right of the entrance was a storage closet with a hidden secret exit behind a moveable bookcase. Grindelwald believed it could have passed for a lab that Frankenstien might have used for his experiments. "Hermione?"

Dumbledore almost let out a growl. "If she wasn't related, she would be dead. I did express my displeasure at her and Ronald permitting Potter being kidnapped. I had attempted to locate him but nothing worked, so I am sure Lucius or one of his ilk had something to do with the boy's demise."

"A caution, do not alienate the girl. She is who will continue our work when we are gone. We need to make sure she follows the path designed by us. I do not wish to remain dead." Grindelwald looked at his partner. "As I am aware you do not wish to either. We need her and the insipid Weasley brat to follow our plan."

"Molly has drilled it into her brats head to obey. Hermione keeps the boy in line. I am not sure what use the youngest Weasley has since Potter is deceased. Do we have any open lines that might be useful for her to secure?" Dumbledore was aware that he couldn't touch anything in Grindelwald's lab. While he understood most of the potion ingredients and items on that side of the room, he wasn't even remotely knowledgable about the muggle stuff.

"I might. I would suggest the Longbottom brat but I believe the inheritance laws prevent anyone but someone from Longbottom blood line to claim the title, it is why Algie Longbottom is proxy of the seats despite Frank remaining alive. I should have made sure they died."

"It is better this way. Algie will die soon, Neville will be able to take proxy and he is spineless. How he ended up in Gryffindor, I will never understand. However, even if Hermione married him, she wouldn't be able to control him until Augusta passed away and that woman would make Hermione reveal something in anger or Ronald in his defence of her."

"True, very true based on what you have shown me about them. Hermione needs a more lessons on how to handle people which I believe you were to handle a few years ago." Grindelwald looked at Dumbledore. "The hitting, the can't be wrong, and the pointing out facts does nothing to endear her to her fellow classmates."

"I am aware. I will be speaking to her parents. Perhaps a few well placed compulsions or potions might do to help her learn her lesson." Dumbledore was aware of how many illegal potions Grindelwald could create. "I do not believe Severus would brew those types of potions for me to use."

"No, he wouldn't and shouldn't. We do need him to keep playing the spy. I am still surprised at how easy it was to get him to switch sides." Grindelwald held up his hand. "I do not need a lesson about love from you. Honestly, Albus, you know very well that crap you spew out isn't worth listening to."

"It is the reason why I am better at being the kind, caring, approachable Headmaster who is a grandfather to all while you remain the insane murder Voldemort." Dumbledore popped a piece of cinnamon candy into his month. "Ahhh, something besides lemon."

"I did warn you about those stupid candies." Grindelwald picked up a book. "Have you thought about using those in Azkaban yet?"

"I did. I was hoping to have a breakout if Cornelius kept denying Voldemort's return but with the demise of Potter as well as the muggles. He has been willing to listen again. However, I am sure several could die if you need some for your endeavors." Dumbledore didn't take the book. "We have to figure out what to do with the demise of the brat." He watched Grindelwald put the book back. "I still haven't figured out who was able to get him. It had to be someone in Hogwarts."

"I am sure you will figure it out. You just need watch those snakes. One of them will brag soon enough. Regarding the seats, do nothing for now. Let the seats remain empty as we already discussed. You have control, if someone decides to take control, we use them. You are correct in the fact there might be too many questions asked if you claimed the seats too soon. Black, Potter, and the muggles' deaths will bring a lot of attention if we move too quickly. Perhaps have our pet spy speak to some of the Death Eaters, especially Lucius, to see if any information might be gained that way. Lucius was eager to step into my shoes when I was defeated by the brat. He is eager for power." Grindelwald ignored the voice telling him that Dumbledore loved to be correct. He was aware that Dumbledore wasn't happy with being ordered around so he tried to form it has suggestions and would lead Dumbledore into believing it was Dumbledore's idea. It was how he was able to be Voldemort and the staged duel. He remembered how Dumbledore wanted it to be public. It had taken a few days to convince Dumbledore that by having him show off the wand before the duel, people would buy Dumbledore's defeat as well as making sure there were memories. It had taken a few memory alternations on Aberforth but it had been worth it.

"True and he might use the Black connection to make his move. After all, Potter did have some Black blood in him. I did warn you about him when he was growing up. He is not has bad as his father in the brains department but he is just as ambious."

Grindelwald resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He had handled Abraxas by exposing the man to Dragon Pox. It had been an interesting experiment. "As well as many other families if his true heritage were to be released." Grindelwald warned. "You and I should be ready in case it does. Also, find out how Rita is able to discover so many interesting secrets. Perhaps have Hermione work on that solution." Something to keep the two of them busy. He had a lot of testing he needed to get done and didn't want to deal with the whining from Dumbledore.

"I am ready. I have my spy in Gringotts. He will alert me to anything that might cause a problem with our plans. Bill Weasley is still working for them as well. Molly hasn't been able to get much information out of the boy but he is in place if the need arises for us to use him." Dumbledore assured his partner. "The goblins will not interfere."

Grindelwald huffed. "They will if it comes to their profit margin or honor. Do not underestimate them as you did with the werewolves. There is a reason why you had to make them or have you forgotten? I don't mean that weak-willed pet wolf you keep either."

"Fenrir should have died. He should have never turned Remus."

"If John Lupin hadn't learned of our experiments, it wouldn't have happened." Grindelwald held up his hand. "Enough, Albus, it was your error. I warned you about having a single person hunt for werewolves. I warned you not to have John go after Fenrir's pack. You refused to listen, Fenrir turned Remus for a reason and you know it."

Dumbledore grumbled a bit. He hated when he was reminded of the truth of a situation. "Gellert."

"No, Albus, your sweet words expressing your sorrow of your deeds do not mean you can change what has happened in the past. If is done and we have to clean up the mess that remains from it. If perhaps we had been forseen Fenrir going after Remus, things might have been a bit different. We didn't but we were still able to use that mistake to gain control over Severus and the Marauders. It did work for the greater good."

Dumbledore had to agree, it had. "We still have to find a way to deal with Fenrir and other loose ends and soon. People are expecting Voldemort's return because of the prophecy. We have to come up with a solution to the problem since our pawn is now dead." Dumbledore walked over to Grindelwald. He leaned against the man. "We have to figure out what Lucius knows and what he might do. Seveus is the answer to that problem. Hermione can handle the other situations but this is a problem we have to fix or find another solution as no one will buy Longbottom defeating Voldemort."

Grindelwald inhaled deeply. He didn't pull away from Dumbledore but his mind flashed on an idea of removing the old fart permantly. It would enable him to continue his work without interruption. "Perhaps they wouldn't. However, without a confirmation that Voldemort is back, we do not have to do anything currently. The prophecy we created doesn't give a time frame or even which Dark Lord it might apply to. Prophecies are such fickle things."

Dumbledore tilted his head to look at Grindelwald. "Perhaps or maybe more it to the fulfilled area to eliminate it once and for all. After all, Potter did defeat Voldemort a few times and it would also cover the living aspect as well."

"Do what you wish in that regard. You were aware how I have been against using the birth and death of one child as a way to gain control and this is why. He died too early and it has ruined our plans." Grindelwald walked away and almost smirked as Dumbledore almost fell. "I told you that when you wanted to have James blood bond the Riddle-Black child."

"Yes, yes, you did. It will work out for the greater good." Dumbledore heard the grandfather clock in the office off of the lab stick the top of the hour. "I better go. I informed Minerva I would be back to sign some paperwork by one. I need to make a quick stop in Hogsmeade to get some of those lemon candies before hand."

Grindelwald resisted the urge to say thank Merlin as the man left his lab. He needed to revamp his plans, again. How to get the information out to Rita without exposing himself. He would also need to find a way to get some interesting information regarding Dumbledore to Lucius and Tom. Why Dumbledore hadn't realized Tom was still alive was a mystery to him and he was going to use it. It was time for him to do a little bit of payback and Dumbledore was going to regret forcing him to remain in his fortress unless Dumbledore released the wards. Sadly, the release was always set for a specific time frame so he couldn't just not return. He smirked. He wondered if when Dumbledore would realize how much of dear Hermione's personality was because he designed the girl to be that way?