Chapter 15

AN: Thank you for all the kind well wishers from readers. My dad is a teeny weenie bit better; at least he’s lucid right now. It’s not a stroke or brain tumor. Could be Parkinson’s, we still don’t know. He’ll be in hospital at least another month.  I hope you find this next chapter enjoyable.

 

Albus Dumbledore; Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, discoverer (well, co-discoverer) of the twelve uses of dragon’s blood and all around nice guy was outside in his garden, not enjoying the lovely summer afternoon. It was mid-July and at the height of Britain’s summer. The weather was gloriously sunny; most days were reaching 28 degrees centigrade. Today was one such day. So Albus had decided to go outside to potter around in his garden. He was quite fond of his garden. It didn’t really have much in the way of practical use, unlike Harry’s. No, Albus’s garden was a riotous colour. Flowers of every imaginable size and colour were planted in beds interspaced with green rolling lawn. It was the kind of garden he’d always dreamed of when he was a child. Albus loved colour. He used it frequently to cheer himself up. A good indication of his mood was the clothes he wore. If it was lurid and fanciful, he was depressed. If it was plainer, he was content. Today he was wearing a particularly fetching red robe with flashy gold phoenix’s decorating it. Unfortunately, while such a robe would ordinarily cheer him up, today it only reminded him of his absent Harry.

 

 Harry had been traveling Europe with Tom, Bobby and the handsome Filius Flitwick for several months now. Albus had thought it a brilliant idea and had actively encouraged and helped Harry prepare for the dueling tournaments. He had wanted badly to travel after finishing Hogwarts himself and was glad that Harry had the opportunity to experience new horizons and fulfill his obligations, yet…he was worried. All the arguments he’d used to convince Harry to spend a year traveling now seemed flimsy. Harry had sent him many letters, several each week and Harry certainly appeared to be doing well. He’d blitzed several of his tournaments in France and was doing well in Switzerland as well. While he wasn’t winning all his bouts, he was putting in a great show and Filius was proud of him. Filius this, Filius that. Filius thinks I’ve gained fitness, muscles and flexibility. Filius is so brilliant at Charms. Stupid Filius and his young charms, Albus sighed. He missed Harry. He knew he was feeling insecure, but he’d never really had a successful relationship. His fling with Gellert had been intense and physical but brief. He’d had a few encounters over the years with likeminded wizards and had dated a couple of witches, but nothing ever became serious and he’d never felt the depth of feeling that he had for Harry. The closest was with Gellert, but he wasn’t sure if that had been romanticised with time and adolescent feelings. What he felt for Harry and Tom went beyond anything else he’d experienced. He wasn’t sure what had drawn him to Harry that afternoon in Hogsmeade, but he was glad it had. Harry made him open up and feel again, eliciting confidences without meaning to. And now he was on the Continent with other men.

 

Albus shook his head. He had to get out of this funk. He wasn’t sure why he was feeling so low. He scanned the blue sky above him. No hint of a post bird in sight. No clouds. Just sun and blue blue sky. Albus bent down and picked up his hat and trowel and headed inside his cottage. It was small, two bedrooms and cozy and cheerfully decorated. He went into the bathroom and gazed in the mirror. He stared at himself, trying to see what Harry saw. His eyes stood out a piercing blue beneath quite heavy eyebrows. Perhaps they could be refined. His beard was auburn and clipped reasonably short. Did it make him look old? He turned his face left and right. ‘Yes” he thought, ‘the beard does age me.’ He took up his wand and pointed it to his face. Murmuring the incantation, he began to shave the beard off. ‘Do I leave sideburns?’He thought. In the end, Albus decided on small sideburns and left his beard as a neatly trimmed goatee. Looking again he thought he looked younger. He smiled at himself in the mirror. Hmmm. Maybe not a goatee. It looked slightly sinister. Taking up his wand again, Albus shaved the rest of the beard. He laughed at himself with a moustache and finished leaving his face smooth. ‘Huh. That’s certainly different!’ Though, the beard had left his cheeks and chin paler than the rest of his face. Casting another charm, he gradually darkened his skin until there were no visible tan lines. Nodding, he smiled at himself again in the mirror. “Hello sexy. Grrr, why were you hiding under all that fur?” the mirror cooed at him. Grimacing, Albus cast a silencing charm at it. He smiled again. His teeth gleamed white and dimples appeared. Yes, he was very happy and felt he looked years younger. His attention then turned to his hair. It was still auburn though there was a tad of grey at his temples. It was long, past his shoulders and had split ends. Should he cut it? Harry had quite short hair. Purebloods wore their hair long, but Albus was a half blood. Kendra had been muggleborn. He took his wand and cut a few inches off. Now it sat at shoulder length. He conjured a tie of black lather and tied his hair back. Yes, much younger. He could pass for thirty now, he decided.

 

 Albus left the bathroom and wandered into his bedroom. The bed was a simple wooden framed double bed with a yellow comforter with a large bee in the centre. He had a wooden wardrobe and chest of drawers and a rocking chair he liked to sit and read in. He opened up the wardrobe and looked at his robes hanging up. He was quite fond of robes and had quite a few. Twenty five to be precise. And all were in bright colours. Three were plain; the other twenty two were patterned, some quite luridly. ‘How could Harry take me seriously in such fanciful, ridiculous clothes?’ Albus began to pull robes out of the wardrobe. He selected the plain ones, then the ones with minor embroidery around cuffs and collar. There was one, in blue, with a silver unicorn embroidered in the centre. He dithered but decided to keep that one too. The other ten he took outside and burnt. Then, he stripped off his red and gold phoenix robe and threw that on the bonfire as well. He stood in the afternoon sun, barefoot and wearing only his silken undergarments. Which was when he heard the pop of apparition just behind him.

*

*

*

*

Harry had missed Albus. He enjoyed immensely his time in France and Switzerland and was learning heaps from Filius, but he missed his quiet times with Albus. Dinner, reading, cuddles, ‘special cuddles’. Especially the special cuddles. So he decided to take a day to return to England to see Albus face to face. Letters from Albus were all well and good, but he wanted to remind Albus of Harry. He was worried that while he was away Albus might have changed his mind, found someone older and more knowledgeable. So he planned to remind him of why youthful and exuberant was better. And show off his increased flexibility and toned body. Following advice from some of the other blokes in the tournament, he’d procured Albus a gift to let him know Harry had been thinking of him. He’d seen it in a robe shop in Bern and had bought it thinking how well it would suit Albus. It was a lightweight summer robe, made of some kind of floaty silky fabric. It was a butter yellow colour that he hoped wouldn’t clash with Albus’s hair. It had tiny glass beaded bumblebees around the cuffs and hem. It was bright, shiny and totally Albus. He also had a leather head band dyed yellow to put around Albus’ head, which also had bees on it. He procured an international portkey to London, arriving about two in the afternoon. He bumped into Septimus on the way out of the ministry and had stopped for a quick pint with him, exchanging tales. Septimus complaining about some of the floo riders and Harry described some of the bouts he’d participated in. They’d parted after an hour and Harry decided to apparate to Honey House. Visualising his destination, he popped away, appearing in the garden as planned, with a lovely view indeed!

 

*

*

*

*

Albus turned around slowly. ‘Dear Merlin. He was nearly naked and a visitor had turned up. What if it was the headmaster? Would he live it down?’ As he completed his turn, he was tackled by a dark haired man.

“Albus, what a wonderful greeting. Had you been tipped that I was coming?”

What. “Harry? Harry, you’re here. Merlin Harry I’ve missed you.”

The next sentence was cut off by Harry enthusiastically kissing him.

“I’ve missed you so much. You look glorious. Standing there, the flames illuminating your body. I want you!”

Harry began to kiss along Albus’s jaw and collarbone.

“You are gorgeous!”

He began to kiss lower, trailing kisses down Albus’s front. He sucked gently on his nipples causing him to moan.

“Harder Harry!”

Harry grinned down at Albus.

“Wait for it!” he said.

Albus lay back on the grass allowing Harry to do what he wanted. ‘The makeover was certainly getting a good reception!’ He moaned again as Harry began licking and nibbling at his sides. He was extremely aroused. The thought of sex in the garden, where just moments ago he thought anyone could appear was a heady one. He hitched in his breath as he felt Harry sliding down his underwear. Then he moaned loudly as Harry engulfed his cock in his mouth. Tingles of electricity ran up and down his body as Harry licked and suckled on his penis; licking the head and slit then sliding down to suck further down. He arched his back as he felt Harry bring his fingers to his opening. A whispered incantation later and Harry was sliding in first one, then two fingers. He winced a bit until Harry found his prostate and then thoughts of discomfort receded. It had been a while since he’d had sex so Harry was taking it slowly. Finally, he slipped in another finger, stretching him fully.

“More! Please Harry. Now!”

Harry turned him over, leaving him kneeling facing the grass.

“I love looking at you like this!” Harry breathed.

Harry cast a spell on his hand and then rubbed the glistening fluid along the length of his penis. He then slowly breached Albus, savoring the feeling of being inside his tight heat. Albus groaned again, breath hitching as Harry stroked against his prostate, the bundle of nerves changing from slight pain to intense pleasure. Harry began to move deeper into him, before withdrawing. In, out. He picked up a rhythm. Harry’s hand came around to grasp at his cock. Albus threw his head back, gasping at the sensations. The sun beat down over head, the grass was rough beneath his knees and Harry, Harry pressing firmly into him, filling him up. With a shout, he came, shooting his seed onto the grass. He was followed shortly afterwards by Harry, sending a warm gush of fluid into Albus. Albus turned his head and gave Harry a kiss. Harry kissed back before making a face as he withdrew from his body. Albus whispered a cleaning charm, removing the lingering wet feel of Harry’s semen from him. Then they lay down on the grass and held each other.

*

*

*

*

Harry gazed fondly at Albus.

“I notice you’ve done something different to your face. I like it. Shows off your dimples. But I’m glad you’ve left your hair longish. Suits you,” he began to nuzzle against Albus’ ear.

“What were you burning?”

Albus looked at Harry. “I thought that perhaps I needed a change. Something more decorous. So I got rid of some of my robes. Why?”

“What! Which ones? I like your robes. They are your statement. Not the red one?”

Albus looks embarrassed.

“I though perhaps you’d like me better if I didn’t dress so colourfully. I admit I was feeling low and paranoid when I burned them. I wondered why you were with me, and not on of the young men over there. Like Flitwick.”

“Flitwick! Flitwick’s a straight as they come! A regular Casanova. And besides, I like my men taller than me. Funny though. I was thinking the same.”

“That you were worried I’d run off with Filius?”

“No, silly. That you’d wonder why you were with someone younger, immature.”

“Though amazingly flexible.”

“Git!”

“I am very happy with you. And if you are happy with me, then we should put aside our worries. I’m glad you visited. Can you stay long?”

“Overnight. I have a portkey back to Bern from London at 10 am. Then back to training for the next bout in two days.”

“Well then, shall we go inside? I’m starting to get itchy from the grass. We could have dinner, then catch up some more.”
Harry grinned wickedly at Albus.

“Care to share a bath?”

The pair went into the cottage, laughing, their previous worries banished.

Chapter 14:

AN: Sorry it’s been a while since the last update, uni has finished and my brain took a holiday. Hopefully it’s come back now. Thanks to all the terrific reviews; people saying they enjoy the writing, the pairing, or a combination of both. This chapter is rather short, it was very difficult to write and I just wanted to get it done and posted so I could move forward. Hopefully more will be up within the week.

*
*
*

In the early months of 1928, Harry was quite busy. After the recommendation by Albus, Harry had begun correspondence with Filius Flitwick to become his dueling apprentice. Harry had not known much about dueling from before, though he had heard that Flitwick was once an International Dueling Champion. Dueling tournaments were actually a form of sport. Witches and wizards pay to watch the events, competitors pay an entry fee to compete and winners are awarded monetary prizes. Top duelers in 1928 could earn astounding amounts of money for performances to the amount of 25 galleons per winning performance. However, as an apprentice, a third of his winnings would go to Flitwick. Filius was at present, only a finalist in the 1925, 1926 and 1927 International Dueling Championships, though he hoped to get the title this year. He was at the top of his game. Harry had spent the months while he was corresponding with Filius practicing his spell casting. Albus and he had cleared a field, transfigured the surface solid and smooth, and practiced outside. Albus was an excellent dueler, though he didn’t compete, and made use of transfigurations in his fights. Harry learned a lot from Albus; both spells and rules of engagement. It got to the stage where Harry could win one in three bouts against Albus. Harry had the raw power, he just lacked spell knowledge.

*

*

*

Harry had arranged to meet with Flitwick at a dueling hall in Manchester on March 15^th. Dawn was watching Tom for Harry. Tom had become quite mobile. He could run and climb steps and would pick up sticks from the ground and point with them, mimicking what he had seen the grownups do. While Bobby was an excellent child minder, Dawn loved spending time with Tom, as it gave Asta the experience of being with another child, even if it was one so much younger than her. Playing with Tom meant that Asta learned to share toys, play gentle and she often enjoyed pretending to have tea parties with Tom in the garden. After Dawn and Asta’s arrival, Harry kissed Tom on the top of his head, admonished him, “Be a good boy Tom” and apparated to the dueling Hall. Flitwick was waiting for Harry outside. (AN: Flitwick’s appearance will follow descriptions from JK, not movie Flitwick) Flitwick was a very small man, around 4ft8’ tall. He was thin but his body was conditioned with lean muscles. He was still a young wizard; he was soon to turn 35. His hair was dark brown; he had blue eyes and a long pointy nose. He didn’t have a beard, and it looked odd to Harry. He was wearing dark brown dueling robes that had seen better days; they had a couple of tears and faded areas. He marched determinedly toward Harry had stuck out his hand.

“Harry Ashby? I’m Filius Flitwick. Though if I take you as my apprentice, you’ll call me God! Just kidding, Filius is fine. Were the coordinates accurate enough for you? Good. Shall we go inside and see what you can do?”

“Yes sir, I mean Filius. Sure.”

Filius led Harry into the hall. It was brightly lit and separated into several areas. There was a main arena, where duelers performed on a large dueling platform surrounded by seating. There were also several rooms set up as practice rooms, with a slightly smaller dueling platform. Filius led Harry to one of the smaller dueling rooms.

“I’ve had quite a few people approach me about becoming my apprentice. So far, I’ve not accepted anyone. Most are youngsters with delusions of grandeur. Dueling can bring about incredible fame, money and witches, but more importantly, it allows you to further and better yourself. I’ve looked up your NEWT scores in Charms, Defense and Transfigurations and they are very good. But it remains to be seen if you can duel. So, if you want to do your warm-up, in 10 minutes, we duel.”

Harry went over to the side of the platform. He performed some simple stretching exercises, lunges etc to loosen himself up. Then he cast a couple of simple spells with his wand; lumos and wingardium leviosa. He jogged up and down on the spot for a couple of minutes, stretched again, then stepped up onto the platform.

*

*

*

*

 

 

 

(Harry will be in bold, Filius italics)

Harry stood on one end of the raised platform, Flitwick the other. A loud voice said’

 “Bow to each other, then on the count of three, begin. One, Two, THREE!”

“Expelliarmus”

“Aqualis paries”

Harry dodged to the side as a wall of water rushed towards him.

“Avitus impetus” Birds shot out of Harry’s wand and began dive bombing Filius, scratching and stabbing at his hands and face. Almost immediately, Harry was thrown back by a bombarda spell cast by Filius. Harry quickly jumped up and cast back.

“Incoho lapis”

Filius dodged and the wooden chair behind him turned to stone. He frowned and cast a series of spells quickly at Harry.

“ Silencio. Expelliarmus. Incoho anas. Creo minimus.”

Harry managed to dodge the first two hexes, cast off one of his own, before being hit by the last two. Instead of Harry standing there, there was a very small black duck with green banding on its neck. It was about as big as a canary. Flitwick wasn’t much better off. Before Harry’s transformation into avian form, he’d cast a spell at Filius: Elephantus naris. Which had hit Filius. So the winner of the duel was in fact Filius Flitwick, however, he had a giant elephant trunk hanging off the front of his face which had dragged him down onto the floor, making him unable to move away. Filius struggled to get his face off the ground for a while, but was unsuccessful. He attempted to snort in surrender, but what came out was a deafeningly loud trumpet. The duck quacked loudly and took off it flight, attempting to find a way to escape. The door opened quickly, and the referee came in.

*
*
*

“Oh dear. Oops, better close the door. (The duck narrowly missed making his escape.) Now, Finite Incantatem!” He pointed his spell at the small duck, but that just unshrunk Harry, leaving him as a normal size duck. The referee cast it again at Harry, and with a flash of light, Harry dropped back to the ground, human again. The referee then turned to Filius, took a camera out of his pocket, took a photo, then reversed the transfiguration.

“Hey! Give that camera here!” Filius said, darting up off the ground in an attempt to take the camera.

“Uh uh! I’ve waited a while to see a spell land you like that. If it had been a few seconds earlier, you could have lost the duel, duck or no duck.”

Harry slowly sat up.

“Ahhh. My head. My shoulder.” He began to get up off the ground, stretching as he went and rubbed at his head.

“Well done old chap. That was splendid. I see that your marks weren’t exaggerated. I’m sure that you’d make an excellent dueler with a bit more time. I am the current British Dueling title holder. Why, that elephant nose was very effective. I could see you, speak; though not well; but I was unable to move around as the weight of the trunk was too great. Very unexpected.”

Harry blushed at the praise.

“Thanks. So, does that mean you’ll take me under your wing, so to speak?”

Filius chuckled.

“Wing. Duck. Ha ha, yes, very funny. Yes well, you mentioned in your correspondence that you had custody of a small nephew. If you became my apprentice, we’d spend the next month here in London, but after that, the next seven months will be in various tournaments across Europe, culminating in the International Championships in Monte Carlo. How would you cope with the boy then?”

“I have a house elf. He would be able to oversee Tom throughout the time I’m training and competing. I thought, if you didn’t mind, that we could word the apprenticeship so that if it failed to work, we could agree to dissolve it after one season. I do find dueling fascinating, but I also want to be sure that Tom doesn’t suffer.”

“Hmm. Quite admirable. Well, I have never taken an apprentice before, but I do like you. As long as the elf works out, I’m sure we can give it a try.”

With a flourish, Filius conjured up a contract, stating that Harry Ashby would apprentice with Filius Flitwick for the standard three years or until deemed a master. There was also a clause that if this negatively impacted on the upbringing of one Thomas Ashby, the apprenticeship would be dissolved after one dueling season, with no repercussions on either side. He handed the parchment to Harry to read through. It stated that Filius was responsible for Harry’s accommodation, that Filius would train Harry, enter him in tournaments and receive 35% of Harry’s winnings. Harry and his entourage’s (Bobby and Tom) living expenses would be paid for by Harry. Harry decided it was acceptable, and took the pen offered to him by Filius, and signed. Filius then signed, the contract rolled up and disappeared again with a flash. At Harry’s questioning look, Filius said,

“The contract gets magically registered at the Ministry, in the Department of Marriage and Bonds. Now, we have a month until we will travel to France. We’ll leave by portkey on the 12^th April, the first tournament in France is on the 18^th, then another on the 26^th and 27^th. After that, we’ll travel to Switzerland and spend two months competing in various tournaments there and in Italy, then Denmark, Germany and finally to Monte Carlo for the Championships in November. We’ll meet here every day for three hours of training before we leave and I’ll tell you what you’ll need to bring and organise for the journey. I’ll also give you texts to study on spell casting, different spells, strategising etc. Okay? Well, tomorrow, 9 am until 12 noon. Good day Apprentice Ashby.” Filius grinned at Harry, nodded to him and left, surreptitiously rubbing his neck, which was sore from the awkward angle his head had hit the floor.

“Bye. See you tomorrow!” Harry called out. He’d done it. He’d become Filius Flitwick’s first apprentice. Harry smiled happily to himself as he made his way to the shower room. Suddenly though he realised, he was going to have to break the news of his departure to Albus, Vesta and dawn. He wasn’t looking forward to that.

*
*
*
*

 

Spells invented by me for use in this chapter:

“Aqualis paries”: water wall

“Incoho lapis”: turn to stone

“Incoho anas”: turn into duck

“Creo minimus”: make small.

“Elephantus naris”: elephant nose

The other spells mentioned can be found on the hplexicon page for spells

Chapter 13

AN: Thanks to all who have reviewed. I’m sorry if the ship doesn’t meet everyone’s approval but most people have been polite about telling me they don’t. There have been a couple of exceptions so I would like to say again, if you don’t like the story, stop reading. There is no need to write hurtful reviews that basically say ‘you suck’. I’ve tried to explain reasons for events unfolding as they do, to allow for some plausibility. Ongoing readers, I hope you enjoy the rest of this story and readers who are stopping now, feel free to check for future non-slash stories. Positive or constructive critiques are welcomed. 

Yule Customs and Origins

Nearly every ancient culture held a celebration to mark the shortest day of the year and the return of the Sun. Celebrated annually on the Winter Solstice, generally falling on December 20th or December 21st, it is known as Yule, and serves as the origin for many Christmas traditions.

Celtic tradition holds life as a cycle rather than a linear state, and also teaches that what is exoteric is intrinsic, what is within is without. At the time of the Winter Solstice as the earth is undergoing the process of death to rebirth and renewal, so also must the human soul. Yule marks that spiral of time when the old sun surrenders its life in order that the new one might come. This corresponds to the belief that the Celtic Sun God, Bel was interrelated with the Celtic Death God, Bile. As with the celebration of Litha, the two Gods appear in form as the Oak King and the Holly King battling for supremacy. This is only one reason that the Druids were initially so accepting of Christianity with Christ as the human embodiment of the new Sun. It is also one of the reasons that Christmas is celebrated at this time, both from a pagan perspective and a spiritually metaphorical one.

The Yule Log

Although not recorded in the Coligny (the Celtic Calendar which dates back to the first century A.D) as one of the great fire festivals, the custom of lighting the Yule log is derived from the Celtic tradition of tending a continual hearth fire to keep spirits from entering the home. In order to keep the fire burning, a large tree was cut down and brought into the home, where the tree was placed trunk first in the hearth and the last remnants of it set aside to burn with the next year's fire.

 

Mistletoe

Additional customs and traditions which we celebrate today include decorating with evergreens, another representation of the ongoing cycle of life, and the hanging of Mistletoe considered sacred to the Oak King by the Druids around whom the festival centered. The ritual of Mistletoe was thusly described by Pliny the Roman Historian:

“They prepare a ritual sacrifice and feast under the tree and lead up two white bulls whose horns are bound for the first time on the occasion. A Druid attired in a white vestment ascends the tree and with a golden pruning hook cuts the mistletoe which is caught in a white cloth.”

Mistletoe was thought to have been produced by lightning because it was a deciduous plant that bore no root and was found thriving high in the trees. Because of this, it was also considered protection from lightning and fire and hung in doorways year round.

Text taken from site: http://newage.suite101.com/article.cfm/yule

 

 

 

Harry closed the book, Traditional Wizarding Holidays and rubbed his eyes. He had been researching the Yule festival, hoping to learn as much about it as possible. When he had lived with the Dursley’s and been at school at Hogwarts, he had only heard of Christmas being celebrated in December, unaware that many pureblood and traditional wizarding families celebrated non-Christian holidays. The Weasley’s had celebrated Christmas, not Yule, and Harry suspected that it was due to Mr. Weasleys’s interest in muggle things. The Blacks and Malfoy’s would certainly have celebrated Yule, not Christmas. To try something new and start his own traditions, Harry decided to try celebrating Yule on December 21, which would leave a week between it and Tom’s birthday, rather than the two days provided if he celebrated Christmas on the 25^th. As today was the 19^th, two days after his date with Albus, Harry was cutting things fine. He had arranged for Albus, Dawn, Asta, Vesta and Hector to come around for lunch on Saturday 21^st to celebrate the holiday with Tom, Bobby and himself. Bonesnapper had sent a politely worded refusal, explaining that goblins celebrated different holidays, but he’d like to catch up with Harry in the New Year. Septimus Weasley, who Harry still corresponded with, had posted Harry a set of gobstones and a letter cheerily wishing Harry a merry Christmas. Septimus hadn’t sat his NEWTs, and had instead gotten an entry level position in the ministry in the Department of Floo regulations. He complained that the money was poor and the bureaucracy maddening, but that it felt good to be earning his own money and was sure he could advance. Septimus actually reminded Harry a bit of Percy, though not as stuffy and uptight. Thankfully for Harry, Bobby had been brought up in a pureblooded house and thus knew quite a bit about traditional festivals. Bobby had ordered from a wizarding butcher in Cornwall, some large hams and two freshly killed geese to roast for lunch. He had grumbled to Harry that next year he would raise geese himself; so as to be sure they were good quality. Harry and Bobby had also decorated the house with sprigs of mistletoe, branches from pines and tiny golden bells. Today Harry was taking Tom on an expedition through the Devon forests in search of a Yule log.

 

 

 

Tom was adorable. Unlike many babies his age, Tom had quite a lot of hair and the black locks curled adorably around his ears. His eyes were a deep chocolate brown and he had creamy coloured skin. As he was a very well fed and cared for little boy, he had chubby cheeks; which were flushed on this cold afternoon, and delightfully chubby arms and legs. In fact, when standing, Tom’s legs had a roly poly look about them. At bath time and when changing Tom’s clothes, Harry would blow raspberry’s on his tummy and pretend to be a growly dragon trying to eat Tom. On these occasions, Tom would squeal and giggle and twist in Harry’s arms. He was a very friendly, loveable child. Today, Tom was on a mighty adventure with Dada.

“Okay Tommy, all strapped on tight to Dada. Up we go.”

Harry had Tom strapped to his chest with a baby harness and was flying on his Cleensweep to the Devon Forest. Harry had disillusioned them so that Muggles wouldn’t be able to see a young man and small boy flying on a broom. The flight was reasonably long, about thirty-five minutes, and Tom spent the time pointing things out to his Dada.

“Ta!” Tom would point.

“House” Harry replied.

“Ba!”

“Pond” and so on. As they hovered over a likely clearing above the forest canopy, Harry held Tom tightly to his chest as they descended. Then, after a quick look around to ensure nothing was dangerous, Harry released Tom from the harness and set him on his feet in the snow. Tom was rugged up in a padded red suit, buttoned up the front with large wooden buttons and had red wellington boots on his feet. He looked like a miniature Santa.  Harry cast an Impervius charm on Tom’s clothes so that if he fell over in the snow, he wouldn’t get soaking wet and pulled a knitted brown beanie (with yellow duckies) onto Tom’s head, to keep his head warm.

“Come along Tommy, time to find a big log!” Harry said with enthusiasm, holding his hand out to Tom. Tom grinned up at his Dada, revealing three teeth and tottled off at high speed in the other direction.

“Tommy, come back here. Grrrr, the dragon’s gonna get you!” Harry cried, exaggerating his movements, so he had slowed down and pretended to pounce. Tom giggled and waddled off through the snowy clearing towards a large oak tree.

“Ta?”

“Tree” Harry explained. Grasping Tom’s hand, Harry slowly walked past the trees looking for one that called out to him as the right one to be a Yule log. Tommy babbled away, experimenting with different sounds. The forest looked beautiful, trees were bare of leaves, stretching branches high up into the sky. The sun shone weakly, providing light and warmth. They walked together, hand in hand, man and child, enjoying the time spent together.

 

 

 

Plop. Tom suddenly sat down in the snow, deciding that it was time for Harry to carry him. Laughing, Harry scooped Tom up into the air and spun around and around. Hefting him onto his shoulders, Harry continued the walk, wincing every time Tom yanked on his hair for attention.

“You’d better watch it; I don’t want to be bald!” Harry scolded.

After a little wander, Harry saw a log that he thought would do wonderfully. An oak tree had fallen down in a recent storm and lay directly across his path. It was quite a large tree, and upon examination, the roots appeared to have rotted, explaining why it had fallen. The branches were quite thick, and Harry selected one that had a diameter of 10 inches. Harry put Tom back down on the ground and began to cut through the branch with his wand. (i.e. with a spell) Humming to himself, he didn’t notice as Tom decided that he’d rested enough and wanted to explore. It took Harry about five minutes for him to have the log and some extra branches cut and shrunk to fit in his back pack, but in that time, Tom had wandered out of sight.

 

 

“Tom! Tommy! Oh Merlin. Tom!” Harry cried out. A mist had crept in, lowering visibility. Starting from the tree, Harry made out the tiny foot prints Tom’s wellie’s had left and began to jog along, tracing Tom’s steps.

“Tom!” he shouted again, hoping that Tom might halt at the sound of his voice. He kept his ears strained, hoping to hear Tom talking to himself in the babble language children know so well. Ducking under a long branch, Harry stopped. Before him Tom sat, in the centre of a ring of stones.

“Da!” Tom cried, reaching hands out to Harry. Harry ran forward and picked Tom up, holding him close to his chest and kissed his head repeatedly.

“Don’t go wandering off again. Merlin, I thought I’d lost you.” Harry whispered, still hugging Tom tight. Squirming, Tom tried to pull out of Harry’s grasp.

“No, no no. You’re not going down again. We’ve got our log, time to go home. Bobby will have some yummy hot custard ready for us to eat.”

Tom kept squirming, pointing at something a little way out of the circle. Harry strapped Tom to his chest and cautiously moved forward. On the ground, covered with a thin layer of snow, was a large shape. It moved, up and down, breathing. Pulling out his wand and holding it ready, Harry crept forward, his body angled so Tom was facing away.

Before him lay, partially covered with snow, a foal. Its coat was cream, making it hard to see amongst the snow. It feebly lifted its head at Harry’s approach, but was too weary and flopped back down again. Creating a small warded area, Harry placed Tom inside it before examining the little horse. It looked up at him warily.

“Sshhh. Easy.” Harry had never handled a horse before, but knew soft voices calmed the animals he had handled. He knelt down and gently scooped the snow off the little horse. He was still young, probably recently weaned. As the snow was moved, Harry saw why the horse was lying down. Its back leg had four large gashes above its hock, as if something had taken a swipe at it. The area was red and inflamed; suggesting that the wound was infected. When it could no longer walk, it had collapsed in the snow ready to die. Harry pondered what to do. He could kill it, putting it out of its misery, or he could try to take it home and heal it. Taking a deep breath, Harry performed an advanced transfiguration, transfiguring the horse to a ceramic statue. Animate to inanimate transfigurations were quite difficult, as if performed incorrectly; the live animal could be killed. Fortunately, Harry had been trained by Albus, a Transfiguration Master, as to the correct way to achieve this. Harry had received extra credit in his NEWTs for performing it correctly. Satisfied that the horse was safe for the moment, Harry dispelled the wards surrounding Tom, who had gotten a bit grumpy waiting, and collected him. Unshrinking his broom, Harry, Tom and their cargo flew back to the farm.

 

 

 

Bobby greeted Harry and Tom at Bolton farm.

“Masters are home now. Oh dear, Master Harry is unhappy. Can Bobby be helping Master Harry?”

“Actually Bobby, yes. Tom found a wounded young horse in the forest. I’ve brought it back here, but I’ll need veterinary/animal healer help to fix it up. Could you take Tommy back to the house? He got a bit cold, wandered off on an adventure when I wasn’t looking. Rolled around in the snow, that sort of thing. He could do with a hot bath and a bottle of warm milk. Maybe some of your yummy custard. If you could also give Albus a floo, see if he knows anyone that could help.  If you can’t reach him, give Dawn a floo. She might know someone. Thanks Bobby.”

Bobby took Tommy, tickling him under the chin and telling him how good he was for saving the little horsey. Watching as they made there way back to the house, Harry smiled. Tom really was a wonderful little boy. Shaking his head, Harry entered the barn. It had changed significantly since he first moved in. It was now segmented into various areas, each with its own habitat. Many of the barns inhabitants called greetings to Harry, in particular Sophia, who remained Harry’s favourite.

“Greetingsss Harry. What are you doing here today?”

“SSSophia, I have a sssmall horsse that isss injured. It’ll ssstay here until it’sss well.”

Harry removed the ceramic horse statue from his pocket and took it to one of the remaining bays in the yard that looked normal. The bay, stable really, was an area of 5 metre by 6 metres and stood 4 metre high, the height of the thatched roof. The floor of the stable was covered in clean straw, underneath was compacted soil. Harry transfigured a stone into a trough and placed it in the far left corner before filling it with water from the hose. Then closing the door, with him on the outside and the statue inside, he reversed the transfiguration.

 

 

 

The little horse lay still against the straw, and for a moment Harry believed he had botched the transfiguration and killed the poor thing, but it took a deep breath and tried to raise its head. The time it had spent as a statue, snug in Harry’s pocket, had obviously warmed it up, reversing some of the lethargy it had suffered due to cold. Its eyes looked glassy, a sign of the infection and fever in its leg, but it began to struggle, determined to get up in this strange new environment.

“Sshh. Easy boy. It’s okay. You’re safe.”

The horse turned its head, ears flicking at the sound of Harry’s voice. It snorted, and heaved itself up from the ground. Wild-eyed, it snorted and sniffed around the stable, its nose curling up at the new scents. Suddenly the barn door slid open and in walked Albus and another man. He looked a lot older than Albus, with a shiny bald head surrounded with thin brown hair, liberally streaked with grey. He wasn’t particularly tall, similar in height to Harry, which was only 5’10. He wore a grey knitted jumper made from a coarse wool, and grey trousers. Overtop he had on a leather apron, which was tied around his waist.

“Harry, Bobby flooed me about your latest acquisition and not being a horse man myself, I contacted Thurstan Hagrid. He lives over in Cornwall and is a blacksmith by trade.”

“Hello, I’m Harry.”

“Pleased ta meet ya Harry. So, this here’s the little horse. Aye, she’s a beauty. Probably about 7 or eight months old. A Dartmoor pony. Poor little dear. Will ya come in with me, she’ll be more used ta ya scent, bit more familiar like.”

“I thought it was a boy.”

“Nope, a sweet little filly you’ve got here.”

Harry nodded and Thurstan and Harry entered the stall slowly, making movement quietly and carefully, so as not to spook the horse.

“Aye, she’s a pretty one. Easy girlie. I’m gonna cast a somnus spell on her now, it’ll act like a sedative. Make her all sleepy. When that happens, slip this halter onto her head. Then we’ll take a look at that leg.”

Thurstan cast the spell and handed Harry a woven rope halter to put on the horse. Making a guess on how it went on, Harry buckled it in place and stood holding the lead.

“Good job Harry. Ah, see here, that’s a claw mark. Four stripes running in tha same direction. Quite a large predator did this. ‘Cept, we aint got no natural, normal predators out this way. Nope, this was caused by sumthin big and mean. Probably happened about three or four days ago, the way it’s healed a bit, and the infection settled in.”

Harry counted back the days. The full moon was three days ago. He’d noticed when he was at the restaurant with Albus that the night was bright because the moon was out.

“Werewolf?” he asked.

“Aye, probably lad. This little girl probably was still with mum, ‘cept mum got eaten, and this’n escaped with a scratch.”

The scratch was about 15 centimetres long.

Thurstan began pulling various herbs out of his apron pocket, and mixed them up in a small bowl, adding water and grease.

“This’ll patch her up. Will leave a scar, can’t be helping that, but should drive out the infection and cause the gashes to close up. She’s probably hungry; give her a bit of hay, fresh water in the trough? Good. I’ll pop round again after Yule to see how it heals.”
Thurstan shook Harry’s hand and left.

“What do I do know?” Harry asked, still holding the rope.

“Give her a stroke, I suppose. Then, take off the lead and get out. The spell should wear off in ten minutes.”

“I meant about the werewolf. The werewolf attacking horses a forty minute broom flight from my house!”

“Ah, that. Wards I suppose. And keep aware that someone in the area is a monster.”

Harry looked at Albus, startled at that comment. This was one difference between Albus and Professor Dumbledore.

“You mean, 'someone in the area turns into a monster once a month.'”

Albus looked a tad embarrassed.

“Well, yes. That is true. It is just superstition on my part that the bite influences the man’s personality. Well done pointing that out to me.”

Harry nodded. The horse, well pony really as it was very small, became more aware. Harry gave it some hay, and decided that the best thing was to leave it in peace for the moment, to allow it to get used to the stall. He took Albus’ hand and they walked back up to the house together.

“I’m glad that the pony will be alright. However, I should get back to the school. My absence may be noted, and while school isn’t in session, there are still students in the castle. I’ll floo back to Hogwarts now, and see you in two days for lunch. I’ll investigate what wards to put up to prevent the werewolf accessing your property, and we could put them up then.”

Harry thanked Albus, and they exchanged a brief kiss. Harry smiled.

“I like doing that.”

Albus flooed out through the kitchen fireplace after a quick cuddle with Tom, and another, longer kiss from Harry.

*                      *                      *                      *                      *                      *

 

 

“Welcome. Have a merry Yule. Please, take a seat in the lounge. Can I get you any refreshments?”

It was 11 o’clock on the 21^st December, Yule, and Harry was greeting his guests. Albus had arrived early and the Williams were just arriving. Bobby had everything ready, and the table was soon groaning under the weight of two glazed roast geese, ham, stuffed mushrooms, hazelnut and mushroom roll and seasoned vegetables. The table was decorated with a scarlet tablecloth, gold plates and goblets (from the Evangelos vault) and candlesticks. The candles were a special scented blend for Yule, purchased from Vesta. Mistletoe and evergreen boughs adorned the walls. Chatting merrily, the y took their places around the table. Tom sat in a little wooden high chair, but Asta was a big girl now, and had her own chair. Harry cleared his throat and began:

Everyone please hold hands for the blessing.
Spirit – we call upon thee to give thanks for your protection and guidance throughout the year.
Wind, Fire, Water & Earth, we call upon you to give thanks for the bounty we are about to receive.
The great God & Mother Goddess we call upon thee and we offer thanks for your balance of light & dark.
We call upon the One God, the Universe to bless everyone present, and those not physically present, who are always with us in our hearts.
May there be more positive energy and less negativity. May there be more LOVE as LOVE is the greatest power of all!

May there be Peace, Love, & Joy in the world and in our lives not just today but everyday!
We will it so, so be it!
Blessed Be!

Blessing by Silver Raven Moon from: http://www.wiccanglade.com/yulerituals.html

 

“Blessed Be!” they all intoned, before pulling out chairs and taking a seat. Bobby popped around, helping to serve everyone, carving the geese and providing cups of mulled wine.

Albus leaned over and murmured to Harry “You did very well on your first Yule blessing. Well done.”

Harry blushed as Albus’ beard gently tickled his cheeks. Dawn spotted this and cried

“Whoohoo. What’s lover boy saying that has you so flustered?”

“Nothing, just commenting on my skill.”

“Your skill. I just bet he is. No wonder you’re blushing.”

Vesta stepped in, “Now shush Dawn, and don’t embarrass Harry and the Professor.”

“Not that kind of skill woman. You are quite ribald today.” Harry replied.

Dawn raised her glass in cheer to Harry and Albus:

“To the newest couple. May they have prosperity in the upcoming year!”

Harry laughed and in turn proposed a toast to Dawn:

“May she find herself a man, so she stops bugging me for gossip!”

This cry was cheered by Vesta and Albus as well.

 

 

 

Hours later, groaning with full bellies, they all exchanged gifts. As expected, Asta and Tom had the most gifts; Asta because she was a child and Tom because it was soon his birthday. Harry had gotten Hector some special dyes and essences for his candle making, as it was him who crafted the candles, Vesta ran the shop. Vesta received a light grey angora shawl, and Dawn received a similar one in a pale blue. Harry also gave Dawn a pair of silver earrings shaped like stars. Albus had been hard to shop for, as their relationship was so new. Harry had originally bought Albus a new book that had been released about Transfiguration and Animagery by Daphne Midas and some socks, but as they were now a couple, had made a dash to the shops for another gift. He had eventually purchased a sterling silver cuff bracelet with peridot and onyx stones set in it. Harry had wrapped it with gold paper and gave it to Albus now.

“It’s beautiful Harry. Thank you.” Albus leaned forward and gave Harry a chaste kiss on the lips.
”Now it’s your turn.” Albus handed Harry a wooden box, the size of a shoe box but much deeper. Lifting the hinge, Harry saw that whatever was inside had been carefully wrapped in silk and had a warming charm placed upon it. Harry unwrapped the silk and gasped.

“It’s a silver egg!” The egg was the size of an ostrich egg, but appeared to be made from pure silver.

“It’s an occamy egg Harry. I know you had planned not to continue with potion creatures, but this occamy can be a companion, especially with your gifts.”

Harry leaped into Albus’ lap, peppering his face with kisses.

“Get a room!” murmured Dawn cheekily.

“Thank you so much. This must have been so expensive.”

Albus brushed off the praise but was quite thrilled. This had been the happiest Yule he remembered. Certainly the happiest since his mother had died.

Albus had bought small gifts for the Williams; quills, perfume and exotic fruit like mango and papaya. For Asta, he had given a doll that had been animated to say “mama” and “Love you” and a few other words. Tom received clothes, wooden puzzles, soft toys and simple books for his bedtime; ‘Ysolde the unicorn’s Luna dance’ and ‘Pip the Pixie makes Potions’. By five o’clock, Dawn, Asta, Vesta and Hector were saying there farewells and flooing home. Albus was staying the night, in a guest room next to Harry’s. Still full, they ate leftovers for dinner, gave Tom a bath and read ‘Pip’ to him before bed. Bobby was distracted from his cleaning and thanked for providing such wonderful food and making the day successful, and was given his gifts; some new fabric to make pillowcases out of, in red and green brocade, from Harry and from Albus, a sewing kit with thread of various colours and textures and different types of wool. Then, Harry and Albus retired to Harry’s study/sitting room for some kissing and cuddling before they went to bed. (In separate rooms!) As Harry lay snug and warm under his quilt, he thought: ‘What a wonderful day.’ Harry hadn’t thought about the future even once today. That was the past. He was right where he belonged.

 

 

AN: Bracelet bought for Albus looks like the one found here:

http://www.mensjewelryformen.com/mens-jewelry-bracelets-MB-030.html

 

Chapter Twelve

AN: After a few reviews, particularly one from Dipilidopa, I thought I’d leave this announcement. It appears as though this fic will be leading towards being a slash inclined fic, with the pairing of Harry and Albus. There will not be any graphic scenes only handholding, the odd kiss and domestic scenes. There may be hints of what is or has occurred i.e. Harry was exhausted but in a good way, or When Tom came into the bedroom, Harry was glad he and Albus were clothed. Nothing explicit. But if that still offends you, stop reading the fic. Don’t post abusive reviews. Dipilidopa was worried about the age gap. Harry at present is 19, Dumbledore is 46. Not too large an age gap. If you look on hplexicon, it has Albus’s DOB as July or August 1881, and in this fic, Harry’s adjusted DOB is Nov, 1908. Thank you for all those who have left positive or critical reviews. I hope this story continues to satisfy readers. 

Two days after Harry received his NEWTs results, Albus arranged to take him out for a celebratory dinner. Bobby was babysitting Tom and had instructions to immediately contact Harry by floo at the restaurant if any problems occurred. Harry had been unsure of what to wear for dinner, so had asked for advice from Dawn and Vesta. After exchanging glances with each other, they had helped Harry choose an outfit of cream breeches, white shirt with a blue waistcoat and a deep blue robe with silver embroidery around collar and cuff. It was a very extravagant robe that Harry had bought and then immediately regretted buying, as he couldn’t envision an occasion to wear it. Looking at himself in the mirror before dinner made him glad that he hadn’t returned it. Albus had met Harry at Bolton Farm so that he could side along apparate Harry to the restaurant. Like Harry, Albus had dressed up. His auburn hair had been clipped back in a silver clasp and his beard was trimmed short. He was wearing a robe made of thick green brocade with gold piping around the collar. Underneath he had on brown trousers and a cream shirt. His boots were a dark brown with bronze buckles. 

“Harry, you look, very nice. Are you ready to go?” Albus asked.

Harry nodded and took Albus’ arm and they apparated. Harry felt again the twisting pressure of being shoved through a small tunnel before they appeared at the restaurant. Really, apparating was a lot easier to do yourself. 

The restaurant they went to was called The Cauldron and Ladle and was situated in Edinburgh. The décor was heavy dark wood with large fireplaces and a myriad of ladles and cauldrons were used as decorations. Lighting was provided by candlelit wall sconces and fat stubby candles on each table. Upon their arrival, a waiter had guided Harry and Albus to a table set for two at the far side of the room. Like the other tables, it was solidly built and made of a very dark wood. The chairs matched, though they had blue cushions for comfort. There was a blue tablecloth on the table and three pale blue fat candles. Feeling a tad awkward Harry took the seat next to the wall leaving Albus to sit with his back to the room. The waiter handed them menus then murmured he’d be back for their drinks order. Albus, seeing how uncomfortable Harry was enquired how he was.

“Are you alright Harry? Are you worried about Tom or uncomfortable having dinner with me?”
 ”No. I’m fine. I…I’ve never actually been to a restaurant before. The only places I’ve ever eaten are at home, at friends or in a pub. This place is…different. Posh. That’s all. Having dinner with you is fine. A drink and dinner between friends.”

“Never been to dinner? Hopefully this will be the first of many. The Cauldron and Ladle serves English food, not hard to pronounce French cuisine. It shouldn’t be hard to figure out what you’d like. I myself feel that we should decide what we might like to eat first, so as we can decide on a red or white wine. Any preferences?”

Harry scanned the menu, wondering why he felt the urge to blush when Albus mentioned future meals. This wasn’t a date. Just a meal with a friend. A good friend. A good friend that had a history with liking men according to Rita Skeeter. Oh Merlin, this was a date. And, Harry found himself quite alright with that idea. He kept looking down the menu, whilst pondering further. If asked six months ago, Harry couldn’t imagine going on a date with a man, particularly Albus, but things change. Albus had become a very good friend. They talked a lot, spent a lot of time together. Albus had stayed over a few days over the autumn holidays. He got on well with Tom and Bobby. And he was rather attractive. With his hair russet brown and blue eyes, he was rather striking. The beard added character, giving him a scruffy appeal. Albus was very different to professor Dumbledore and Harry resolved to think of them as separate people. Future meals might not be a bad thing.

“Um. I think I’d like the rack of lamb with rosemary jus and roast vegetables.”
 ”And entrée?”

“An entrée is what exactly?” Harry asked. 

Albus smiled at Harry’s obvious inexperience. 

“An entrée is a starter. Something small before the main course. I recommend the Terrine of sweet potato & goat’s cheese with aubagine pickle. I like the wild mushroom tart for myself and for mains; I’ll have the loin of wild boar, with blackberry jus and roast vegetables. So with those menu choices, we should get a nice red wine.”

“Yeah, the sweet potato thing sounds nice. Though I do like mushrooms. Perhaps we’ll share?”

“If you like,” Albus said with a grin. 

The waiter came back and took their food order as well as an order for a bottle of Chateau Rambouillet Pessac-Leognan which was a red wine. During the wait for their entrée’s Harry and Albus began conversation.

“So, now that you have your results, do you have any plans?

“Yeah. Kind of. I surprisingly enjoyed learning and studying. Always before it has been interrupted and didn’t seem important. I’ve never had marks that good before. But I did really well in DADA. I’d like to do some sort of extra training, but I’m not sure what. I need to think about expanding on my menagerie. Make it profitable. I thought that that would be a decent stay at home job, but I really need a lot more room to make it profitable, as well as humane for the creatures. It’s really turning into more of an exhibit than an ingredients supply. The downside of being able to speak to the reptiles, I guess.”

“Reptiles. Not just snakes?”

“No, newts, lizards, the odd toad or frog. At first it was just the snakes, the boomslangs, ashwinders and common wild snakes. Then I began picking up words from the lizards and newts. Amphibians are harder. I only get one word in five. Its like a different dialect I am only just discovering. Its interesting. The magical species are easier to understand and smarter. But, its hard to kill off a dozen newts when you know what they’re saying. I’ve only been able to sell the eggs and shed skins from the snakes. Luckily they’re not maternal or I might have to listen to them complain. Oh, and the venom, though that’s easy to collect when I can tell the snakes when to bite. I guess I’m the crazy reptile man on the moors.”
 ”Hah. Perhaps we should borrow the sorting hat. It could declare you the heir to Slytherin! All bow down to the great Harry Ashby, Lord of the Serpents.”

Harry shuddered. Not again. 

“I think I’m more a Gryffindor. Rushing in where fools fear to tread and all that.”

“Perhaps. Really though, house affiliation is not concrete. We all have aspects of each house within us. None are better than the others, though of course, I’m partial to Gryffindor too. So, if the ingredients trade is failing you, what else?”
 ”I’ve had a proposition from the goblins at Gringotts. They are looking at setting up mixed teams of wizard/goblin curse breakers for expeditions for treasure. I’m interested, but it would involve travel, which is hard with Tom. I’m not pressed for finances at present so I’ve time to decide. Any advice would be welcome though.”

The waiter came back with the entrée’s and a bottle of chilled water. Harry and Albus tucked in. 

“Mmmm. This is delicious. Thanks for recommending it.”

“Quite all right. The tart is excellent too. Did you want a taste?”

Albus cut a slice of the mushroom tart and held it on a fork for Harry. Self-consciously, Harry leaned over and took a bite. 

“That’s great. There are some kind of herbs in it too, aren’t there. Would you like some sweet potato?”

They proceeded to share the entrée’s, with Harry declaring them both spectacular.  

“So without Tom to consider, you’d look at curse breaking?”

“Well, yeah. But I do have Tom to consider, so that’s out the question.”

“Relax Harry; I wasn’t suggesting you dump Tom anywhere, just that you could look at an apprenticeship; learning the art of curse breaking without leaving the country. Your defense mark was outstanding, I’m sure a master could be found to take you on. Then as Tom gets older, he could perhaps accompany you on expeditions.”

“Hmm. I suppose. I hadn’t thought about that. When I think curse breaking, I think of Egypt. I’ll look into it.”

“Or you could apply for the Auror programme. Your results would be high enough to gain a place.”
 Harry had thought of that. His one career goal in the future had been to become an auror, but that was with the expectation heaped upon him as The-Boy-Who-Lived. 

“I’m not sure about that. A bit dangerous with a young kid at home.”

“Perhaps. Well, I’m sure something will come to you in time.” Finished with the entrée’s, the waiter brought the main meals which proved equally delicious. After a short break for tea, they decided to share a glazed lemon tart for dessert. 

“Thank you for your recommendation that day in Hogsmeade. I tried the lemon drops and found them to my liking. I’ve bought several packets since then.”

“That’s okay. Glad you liked them.”

With the end of the meal, conversation strained again. Albus paid the bill and they went outside. The night sky was clear but cold, with stars twinkling overhead. Harry started to panic once more. If this is a date, will he want to kiss? More? What if it’s not a date? Do I want it to be one? What if I kiss him, but he’s not interested. What if he thinks I’m a kid? What if….

“Hmmm. You look lost in thought? Anything interesting?”

Harry looked up at Albus. 

“Do you want me to kiss you?” he blurted, then blushed, mortified at what he’d said out loud. 

“I wouldn’t mind it. Why, do you want to kiss me?” Albus asked, straight faced, with a twitch of his lips hinting at a smile. 

Harry threw his hands up. 

“This is all very confusing. I thought I like girls. Did like girls. But then I like you. And thinking about it, the girls I’ve liked are, masculine I guess. Cho was a quidditch player and so was Ginny, and when we discussed that, things were great. Neither was well endowed, both had a muscled athletic body.  My first kiss, I described as ‘wet’. And when Ginny wanted more intimacy, I shied away from it. I thought I liked Dawn, but she’s more like a sister. Whereas you, well, I think you’re very attractive. And we talk about more than quidditch. And you don’t seem likely to cry…”
 Harry shut up as Albus leant towards him and kissed him. His beard felt prickly against Harry’s lips and Harry gasped. Albus’ tongue teased gently against Harry’s asking for entrance, which Harry gave. They kissed, deeper, until Albus took a step back. 

“Was that wet?”

Harry shook his head, stunned at the emotions he’s felt. 

“Well then, I hope that answers any questions you may have had about my desire to kiss you.”

“Yeah, it does. And some of my own questions about whether I wanted to kiss you.”

“And?” Albus queried, hoping Harry wasn’t dissatisfied with the kiss.

“I think I like kissing you.”

“Good,” Albus said as he stepped forward once more to capture Harry’s lips with his own. They kissed again; once, twice; before they parted. 

“Its getting late. We should head back. Bobby hasn’t flooed so I presume things with Tom are fine.”
 Harry nodded his head still in a cloud. 

“I really like kissing you,” he said. 

Albus laughed. “Oh dear, I broke him.” 

That snapped Harry out of his trance. He smacked Albus, “I’m not broken, you git. I was…enjoying the moment.”

“Right. Did you want to side-along or…”

“I’ll apparate. I don’t like side-along.”

They both apparated to the farm and met up in the kitchen. Bobby was there, putting away the last of the dishes. 

“Master Harry is back. Did Master Harry have a good time with his Albus?” Bobby asked as he ushered them to chairs and served tea. 

“Master Harry had a great time. How was Tom?”

“Master Tommy was a good boy. He ate his mushy pumpkin and peas and potato pie, only spitting out every other mouthful. Then we played horsy, with Bobby the horse. He went night-night at seven o’clock and hasn’t woken up. Bobby has baked more bread and fed the creatures and cleaned the house.”

“That’s great Bobby. Thanks.”

Bobby beamed at his praise and after checking that Harry and Albus didn’t need anything, popped away to his room. 

“Thanks for a great dinner, Albus. I had a great time.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I hope you do think about taking an apprenticeship in defense. I think it’d fit well with you. You could always try the dueling circuit. A British wizard, Filius Flitwick is doing quite well. I hear he’s made the semi-finals of the International Dueling Championship held in Munich this year. You could see him when he returns.”

Flitwick! Right, he’d be young now too. 

“I’ll consider it. Its getting late and Tom gets up early.”

“I’ll let myself out then.” Albus paused at the doorway. “You did enjoy yourself?” he queried.

Harry nodded his head and grinned. 

“I didn’t pressure you into anything, did I?”

Harry swooped forward and kissed Albus again. 

“It was a shock. I hadn’t thought about it before. But you didn’t pressure me into anything. I liked it,” Harry explained.

Albus straightened, confident once more. “Well, goodnight.”

Harry waved goodbye as Albus apparated from the yard. He stripped of his robes and changed into his pajamas for bed. Next to the bed, on the wooden bedside drawers was a letter. 

Harry

I expect lots of gossip about dinner. Will be round tomorrow at 10. Make sure Bobby makes his tea cake.

           Love Dawn.

Harry grinned. A chat with Dawn would be a great way to sort out his thoughts. She really was a great friend. With thoughts of Albus, Ginny and Cho running through his head, Harry attempted to go to sleep, knowing that doubts would assail him the next day, but confident, at present, that everything would work out. 

 

Chapter Eleven:

AN: I have sat three exams this week, so sorry that there is only one chapter. I hope that it is enjoyed.

 

The day after Harry’s dinner party had been awkward. Dawn, while admitting that she was very fond of Harry, wasn’t sure if she was ready for a relationship with anyone at present. Also, she was worried about the reputation surrounding her unwed mother status as being detrimental towards Harry. While Harry didn’t think so, he was actually a very well off wizard in terms of finances and also breeding, as he was related to the Peverells and the Evangelos family. The Evangelos had arrived in England in 1621 and were a very wealthy family. Whilst they were never elevated to the status of Lords, they did have an advisory seat on the Wizengamot that Harry could claim at age 21. So, Dawn and Harry continued to be friends, with Dawn coming around three afternoons a week to help Harry study for his NEWTs. While Dawn offered her services for free, Harry was adamant that he would pay her for her time, so whenever they were actually studying, rather than just being together as friends, Harry would pay her the agreed rate of 1 sickle per hour. Three weeks after their meeting, Albus Dumbledore contacted Harry in regards to providing extra tuition. Harry was happy to agree and Albus often left Harry work to complete and had agreed to visit with Harry once a fortnight to spend most of the day going over Harry’s magic lessons.

 

 

 

Harry had been studying under Albus’ for about two months when Harry finally broached the subject that had been bothering him for some time.

“Albus, why exactly did you offer your services to me when we first met? I’m very grateful for your help, but I was just wondering, why me?”

“Ah. Well you see, you reminded me of someone I was once very close to. I had a good friend in my youth who gave of the same joyous energy as you do. I suppose it was nostalgia. Also, your kind heart in caring for Tom also won me over. I was only your age myself when my mother died, and I was left the guardian of my brother and sister. However, unlike you I deeply resented that my freedom had been curtailed and unfortunately, my sister ended up passing away. My brother, Aberforth and I barely speak to each other even now. I felt that I should do all I could to help you, possibly as a way of atonement for my earlier youthful mistakes.”

Harry couldn’t reveal that he had already known most of this information from a book published seventy years into the future, so he had to try his best to act like the information was new. In fact, it wasn’t that much of an act. He was actually amazed that Albus felt comfortable enough to discuss such things with Harry at all. He had learned a lot more about and had more interaction with Albus now than he had over 6 years in the future. Reasoning it was probably due to the smaller age difference; Harry was nonetheless touched at his new intimacy with Albus.

“I didn’t really have much choice when it came to taking care of Tom. It was me or the orphanage, which is actually where I collected him from. Who knows how Tom could have turned out growing up there?”

Well actually, Harry did know exactly how Tom turned out after growing up in the orphanage and he’d be damned if that happened again.

“Also Albus, it wasn’t all happy. I resented Tom for reasons out of his control and there were times when I hated him. Normally at 3 o’clock in the morning when he was crying, so I’m not all that wonderful.”

“Yes Harry, you had the choice to do what was right or what was easy and chose to do what was right. The easy thing to do would have been to leave Tom in the orphanage. The right thing was to adopt him. I’m afraid that if I had had to make those choices, I would have chosen wrongly.”

 

 

At this point, the conversation was interrupted by Tom. He was now six months old and had recently mastered the art of crawling. It was late July, nearly Harry’s true 18^th birthday, and as the weather was so fine, Albus and Harry had taken to having their lessons outdoors. Albus was an innovative teacher, getting Harry to practice Transfigurations and Charms in a practical manner. They would often set Tom on the floor and allow him to crawl around amusing himself in the gardens and farmyard whilst Harry transfigured and charmed his way around the place, fixing, creating and changing things. Today they were transfiguring rocks and pebbles into toys that Tom could play with.

“Hello little man. What do you have there?” Harry asked Tom, who had crawled up to Harry’s feet. In Tom’s hand was a smooth black stone.

“Is this for me? Thank you.” Harry said as he took the stone from Tom and had a look at it. It really was quite shiny and very smooth. Almost completely spherical except that it had a crack line bisecting it. And it was starting to move in his hand.

“Ahh!” Harry shrieked as he dropped the stone. Albus spun around with his wand pointed.

“Harry, what’s wrong?”

Harry had snatched Tom up from the floor and had back away from the moving stone and was carefully examining Tom’s hand to make sure he hadn’t been hurt.

“The bloody stone moved. It’s not a stone. It’s some kind of … thing.”

Albus bent down to look at the stone/thing and had a chuckle.
”Harry, it’s quite harmless. It’s just an egg.”

“What kind of egg is black and spherical? It doesn’t look like a bird’s egg.”

“I believe it’s an egg from a Marlow Newt. There must be a hatchery in your duck pond.”

“It’s a good thing I warded it then so that Tom can’t get into the water, just play around the edge. I think I should take a look, see if I can find some more. It might be worth protecting them, set up the pond as a habitat for them so they can breed and I can sell them. Do you mind Albus if we take a break for now?”
”No, that’s fine. I’ll come along and help. Four eyes are better than two, even though we both wear glasses.”

 

 

Bobby came out to take Tom and give him some mushy porridge for lunch and Harry and Albus began poking around the duck pond. The pond was situated several hundred metres away from the house, and as it was a hazard for Tom, Harry had warded it off with an age line that didn’t allow anyone younger than fifteen to enter the water. Harry hadn’t any domestic ducks, but there were several wild pairs that used the pond as a feeding and resting ground. The pond was probably the size of a very large swimming pool, with a 30 metre diameter. Harry thought it would make a nice place to swim in in summer when Tom was a bit older, like the Weasley’s used to swim in the pond near the Burrow. The water in the pond was quite clean and clear and looked inviting to Harry as the day was quite hot. Around the banks was a sandy beach and lots of reeds and water plants.

“Right, shall you look left and I right and meet back in the middle?” Albus asked.

“Huh?” Harry had been startled out of his reverie, “Oh, yeah. And whoever finds the eggs or any Newts calls out.”

Harry began to move left around the pond, peering through clumps of leaves and reeds, under a small log.

‘Ahah. A small colony, I believe.” Albus cried out.
Harry rushed over to where Albus was standing, ankle deep in the water amongst some native reeds. Sure enough, there was a large nursery hidden amongst the waterline of around a hundred black eggs and in the water were some of the most recently hatched babies, about as long as Harry’s pinkie finger. They were a pale murky green with faint markings on the head and flanks that would darken to become brown.

“Do you think they’ll all hatch?” Harry asked.

“Hmmm. If we can set up some sort of containment system so that they are safe from predation, maybe arrange some charms so they are kept at a warmer temperature over winter, and yes, I’d say that this could be a very successful colony. Marlow Newts are useful in any number of potions as they grow to quite a large size. They are not necessarily an exotic or particularly profitable creature, but you can always sell the eggs and the newts. I’d collect a quarter of the eggs to preserve as ingredients and let the rest grow. When they are a decent size, you could allow some to breed and harvest another quarter for potions ingredients. These to can be sold either alive or preserved. They breed twice a year so you could sell 50 eggs and about 30 to 40 mature newts a year. But they only sell from Slug and Jiggers for 7 Knuts each, so it would be best to build up a larger colony. Or attempt to find wild colonies to harvest. Now look over here at this. Come closer.”
SPLASH!

“I though you looked quite hot Harry, and could do with a dip.” Albus said while laughing at Harry’s shocked drenched face. Harry quickly retaliated and the pair were soon having a water fight. That night Albus stayed for dinner and it marked the transition from student/teacher to friends.

 

 

 

As summer faded into autumn, Harry was hard at work studying for his NEWTs. Albus had come over regularly during Hogwart’s summer holidays but once school had gone back, he’d cut down his visits to one afternoon a fortnight. He still set Harry work and would mark it, letting Harry know at what standard he was at. Dawn still came around frequently to assist Harry with studying as well as to socialise. Dawn had been finding it hard to reintegrate herself into her former social circle since she’d left to have Asta. Some of her former friends were being quite snobby about Asta being illegitimate. Harry couldn’t quite understand it himself, though he was aware that his perspective was skewed to a more liberal 1990’s attitude. The prevailing attitude at present was still very much patriarchal and Harry found it odd that witches were not treated on an equal footing to wizards. Witches were supposed to save themselves for marriage, have babies and only later consider careers. As witches and wizards had extremely long life spans, this did mean that witches didn’t generally start working professionally until their forties unless they were unmarried. In hindsight, Harry realised that this was what Molly Weasley had done. The slightly subservient attitude Dawn and Vesta had towards men, including Harry himself, actually made him realise over the months that a relationship between him and Dawn wouldn’t work unless she gained more spunk in her interactions with him. Still, they got along well enough.

 

 

 

 In truth, Harry was starting to get a bit lonely. He’d enjoyed the summer with Albus. Albus was an extremely powerful and learned wizard, but he also had a sense of joy and boyishness about him. He also realised that the past eight months had been a time of mourning for his lost life and friends. While they were not dead, they had yet to be born, and Harry was sure that they would never be the same people again. He didn’t even know whether his interference would cause some of his friends to never be born. He was finally coming out of that period of mourning and realised that he should start making more definitive steps to a future here.

 

 

 He had tentatively started a potions menagerie of animals including several boomslangs, four newt species,  ashwinders and eggs, pixies, doxies and several types of spiders; though none as large as an acromantula. Harry was also planning a trip into several forests in Britain, including the Forbidden Forest and Sherwood Forest in the hopes of encountering some more creatures, though it would have to wait until after his NEWTs. At present he was still well set in terms of finance. Bobby was a very thrifty elf and over spring and summer, they had had quite a good vegetable harvest. Harry had purchased a cow for milk, so along with the chickens and hunting provided by Balthasar, very little was spent on food. The majority of expenses were clothes and toys for Tom and books for Harry.

 

 

 

On November 11^th, Harry sat his NEWTs along with twenty other witches and wizards who were unable to sit them in May at Hogwarts. Nastily exhausting was definitely a good name for them. Harry was thoroughly exhausted once they were over, though it hadn’t helped that Tom had started cutting teeth and was feverish and irritable as a result. Tom was almost one, and Harry had started shopping to buy Tom some presents for both his birthday and Yule. Harry had learned from Albus that most wizards celebrated Yule, not Christmas, so Harry had read up on the rituals and celebrations. It was a very tense time waiting for his NEWT exam results. Harry had taken to watching the skies whenever he was outside, on the lookout for a post owl. Albus and Dawn were taking it in turns cheering him up, saying that it wouldn’t be long now and that he’d done fine. Finally, on December 15^th, Harry received his anticipated results. It was a Sunday and Albus had stayed over the night before, having a long discussion with Harry over travel through France. Thus, Albus was having breakfast with Harry when the owl arrived.

 

 

 

“Oh dear Merlin. I don’t want to open it. What if I failed?” Harry stressed, holding the thick parchment envelope in his hands. Albus rolled his eyes dramatically at Harry.

“You’re being a drama queen. You studied very hard, you’ll have done well. Just open the letter and put us both out of our misery.”

Taking a deep breath, Harry slid his butter knife along the crease and opened the envelope. He read through then put the letter done on the table.

“I’ll be outside,” he said, and quickly left the kitchen. Stunned and a little worried, Albus snatched up the letter to see for himself how Harry had fared.

 

 

Mr. Ashby

We at the Department of Education are pleased to notify you of the results of your recent Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. Your Defense against the Dark Arts examination received the highest recorded mark for the last century. Please accept our congratulations.

 If you have a dispute with the grades at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Mr. Jerkins

 

 

NEWT Results for Harry Ashby:

Potions: Theory: EE  Practical: EE

Combined Mark: EE

Transfiguration: Theory: O Practical: O

Combined Mark: O

Herbology: Theory:  EE Practical: O

Combined Mark: EE

Charms: Theory: O Practical:  O

Combined Mark: O

History of Magic: Written exam :  EE

C.O.M.C: Theory: O Practical: O

Combined Mark: O

Defense against the Dart Arts: Theory: O+ practical: O+

Combined Mark: O++

 

 

Grinning, Albus hurried outside to see what Harry was doing. Looking around, he couldn’t see Harry anywhere.

“Whoopee. Yahoo. This is for you Hermione!”

Albus looked up. Harry was flying, his fist pumped high into the air, rejoicing, sobbing and smiling concurrently. Harry brought his Cleansweep One to land next to Albus.

“Well done Harry. You did marvelously.”

“Thanks. Without your help…I don’t think I could have done it. Thank you Albus. You’re a good friend.”

Albus lifted his hand to Harry’s face.

“Why the tears?”

“It’s just that NEWTs meant a lot to a witch that I knew once. She’d have been very pleased with my grades.”

“You cannot tell her?”

“She’s…dead.”
”I am sorry. Still, I’m very proud of you and insist that we go to dinner to celebrate. We didn’t celebrate your nineteenth birthday last month.”

“That, that would be lovely Albus.” Harry smiled up at Albus, his face still cupped in Albus’ hand. He blushed.

“That would be lovely.”

 

Chapter 10

It was now past 1 o’clock and Harry was starting to get quite peckish.  He wheeled Tom back towards the Three Broomsticks and took a table outside. Leona came out and took his order, “A ham and cheese toasted sandwich please, with a side of potato and a butter beer. Thanks.”

Leona disappeared inside and shortly afterwards, a butterbeer appeared on his table. Harry got Tom’s bottle out of his bag and picked Tom up to feed him. Tom snuggled contentedly up to Harry’s chest and sucked thirstily on the bottle. After five minutes, he’d finished and Harry put him up against his shoulder to burp him. He patted Tom’s back a few times until he heard Tom’s burp. He then sat Tom back on his lap and they played a game of peek-a-boo. Tom’s eyes would go wide and he’d wriggle a bit whenever Harry ‘appeared’ from behind his hands. Soon though, Tom began to get sleepy, and as Leona was bringing out Harry’s lunch, Harry decided to put Tom back to sleep in the pram.

“Thanks for the sandwich,” Harry said. He took a big bite. It was delicious. The poato was hot and it all washed down well with butterbeer. Harry took his time, letting Tom sleep as long as possible. After finishing, he decided to take a quick look inside Scrivenshaft’s for some quills and parchment. He bought an eagle feather quill, some black and blue ink and a pad of thick creamy coloured parchment. By this time it was 2:30. Bobby had told Harry not to return until at least 3:30, so he still had some time to kill. As Tom was still sleeping, Harry decided to push the pram along the path towards Hogwarts.

 

The walk from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts was quite a nice one. The path was quite smooth as it is used by carriages. It skirted past but not though the Forbidden Forest. While it was quite safe, sometimes the forest’s denizens would venture out onto the road. This was one such day. It was quite a hot day, and the road was quite dark. Thus it was really quite the perfect place for a young, if somewhat foolish, snake to sunbake on.

“Bloody hell!” Harry cried as he noticed the snake lying directly in his path. “What on earth is a boomslang snake doing in Scotland?”

“Sssss I essscaped. From the big pile of sssstonesss. With all the peoplesss. Nasssty people. Wanted to chopssss me up for potionssss.” The snake replied. “Itsss not often one encounterssss a Sspeaker,” the snake said, as it slithered along the road towards Harry.

Harry took a step back and maneuvered the pram so that Tom was behind him.

“Stop where you are. Don’t come any closer.” Harry ordered.

The snake, a brown female, slithered to a stop.

“I’ll not hurt you. A sssnake wouldn’t hurt a Ssspeaker.” The boomslang said.

Harry paused from his backing away. He’d had a thought.

“I bet itssss awfully cold in the foressst. Would you like to come with me to sssomewhere warm?”

The boomslang cocked her head to the side, in a human-like manner.

“What are you sssuggessting?”

“I have a placcce where you could ssstay hot all year round. All I’d asssk for in return isss your venom and your ssshed ssskin. You’d be provided with food and sssafe placess to sssunbake and no danger of being ccchopped up for potionsss.”

The boomslang stayed motionless, thinking through what Harry had offered.

“Yessss. It isss very cold here in the foressst. I will go with you.”

The snake began to move forward towards Harry.

“Um, no biting! Not anyone while you are with me, unlesssss they attempt to hurt you, me or Tom.”

“Tom. Isss that the youngling in the wheely basssket?”

“Yesss. He will be a ssspeaker when he growsss up too. And we alssso have an elf, who mussssn’t be harmed.”

“Agreed.”

The snake slithered towards Harry once more. He bent down and offered her his arm. The snake  slithered up and settled herself around Harry’s neck.

 

Walking steadily back to Hogsmeade, it was Harry’s plan to disillusion the snake so that no one would be alarmed when he flooed back home. Unfortunately, within a dozen metres of where he’d found the snake, Harry encountered Dumbledore once more.

“Goodness me. Are you alright? You do realise that you have an extremely poisonous snake around your neck, don’t you Harry?”

“Um, yes sir. But it won’t bite me.”

“Really. And how would you know that, my boy?”

“She told me so. I’m a parselmouth, but I’m not a dark wizard!” Harry explained.

Albus Dumbledore sighed. “Of course you’re not a dark wizard. It’s just a very alarming sight. Is it hereditary?”

“Umm, I don’t know. I don’t know much about my family. I’m related to the Evangelos. And the Peverells.”

Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled. “The Peverells, and the Evangelos. The Peverells were distantly related to Salazar Slytherin, I believe. And the Evangelos too had a parselmouth or two in their line, and they were well known light wizards. But why do you have a venomous snake around your neck?”

“She was cold.”

“Ahh. I see. What do you plan to do with her, a boomslang, I believe?”

Harry gulped. The snake had escaped from Hogwarts. Perhaps Dumbledore would want her back.

“I plan on starting a business supplying various potions ingredients. It’s a job I can manage from home. She was just lying on the path.”

“Ahh. A worthy occupation. I wish you well. Expect my owl within the next week. We should get you started on Advanced Transfiguration as soon as possible.” Dumbledore nodded to Harry and continued his walk back up to Hogwarts. As he walked away, Harry could have sworn he heard Dumbledore muttering to himself, “A very promising young man.”

 

Deciding he’d better disillusion the boomslang before he encountered anyone else, Harry fished out his wand and cast the spell. He then proceeded to walk quickly back to the Three Broomsticks, paid Madame Leona 1 sickle to use the floo powder and flooed back to Bolton Farm.

 

Bobby was in the kitchen when Harry arrived back.

 “Aieek! Master Harry has a nasty snakey on his neck! Does Master Harry need saving?”

“No, I’m fine. Though if you could look after Tommy, I’ll take the snake out to her new home.”

Bobby quickly agreed, and took Tommy far away to the bedrooms, away from nasty snakies. Harry took the snake outside to the barn. He chose an empty stall and asked the boomslang what she’d like in her enclosure.

“Sssoil, ssstones, logsss, treess. Placesss to hide.”

Harry translocated some soil from the fields, rich loamy earth. He transfigured from firewood some large logs and branches that he criss-crossed the stall. He conjured a small tree and some smooth large rocks to bake on. Harry then cast a heating charm, which would need renewing weekly, which would keep the enclosure at a comfortable 35 degrees Celsius. Finally, he encased the gap from the door to the roof in glass, so that the snake couldn’t escape but could still see out.

“Iss thiss acceptable?” he asked. The snake answered that it was fine. Harry gently put her down on the substrate and she slithered over to a rock.

“I like ratsss, frogsss and mice. One every other day. Let me know what you need of me.”

Harry agreed to supply the food the snake wanted. He also enquired if she had a name. When the snake replied in the negative, Harry suggested the name Sophia. The boomslang thought it over and agreed. Sophia she would be. Looking at his watch, Harry realised that it was now 4:30, and his dinner guests would be arriving soon. He hastily said goodbye, threw the chickens some grain and ran back up to the house.

 

Bobby had been a very busy elf. He’d cleaned the entire house so that it shone and the aromatic scent of roast pork and vegetables hung in the air. Tommy was freshly bathed and dressed in his new pale green wizarding robe and sitting in his bouncer.

“Master Harry must be hurrying. Master’s guests will be here soon.”

Harry quickly ran himself a shower, washed his hair and then toweled dry. He changed into a pair of grey trousers, white shirt and covered that with his new blue robe. He ran a brush through his hair; which made no difference as usual; slapped on some aftershave and was ready just as the floo chimed.

“Hello, welcome to Bolton Farm.” Harry said as he greeted Vesta, Hector, Dawn and Asta. Vesta swept him up into a big hug. “Harry my dear. Where’s that Tommy of yours?”

Laughing, Harry directed Vesta to the lounge room where she descended upon Tom. Hector shook hands with Harry and then followed Vesta through. Dawn though, stayed in the kitchen. Harry greeted her with a kiss to the cheek. Dawn looked lovely. Her hair had been pulled back into a bun, leaving bits whisping around her face. She had subtle makeup applied and was wearing an old, though still fetching dusky pink robe. She blushed when Harry kissed her.
”I want kiss too!” a little voice demanded. Harry turned to Asta, dressed in a pretty blue dress. He bent down and gave her a kiss on the head.

“There, a kiss for a princess.”

Asta giggled and quickly ran off to find her grandma, leaving Harry and Dawn alone in the kitchen.

“You look lovely. Thank you for coming.” Harry said.

“Thanks for inviting us. I don’t get out much so it’s a wonderful change. Your house looks lovely. Well, the kitchen does anyway.”

Harry laughed. “How about a tour?”

Harry and Dawn walked through to the lounge and then Harry showed the Williams’ through his house. They were enchanted. “It’s lovely Harry! You’re a very lucky man,” Vesta declared.

Bobby soon announced that dinner was ready. The six wizards (including Tommy) sat down for dinner. Bobby refused to eat with them, saying earlier to Harry that it wasn’t proper. Instead he served them and later ate by himself in the kitchen. Dinner was roast pork, crackled to perfection, a mixture of roast vegetables, including potato, sweet potato, onion, parsnip and pumpkin. There was wine for the adults and pumpkin juice for Asta. For dessert, Bobby had made a chocolate cake with the words ‘Congratulations Master Harry’ iced on. This necessitated an explanation of why Harry was being congratulated, which resulted in more hugs and kisses from Vesta. Harry then broached to Dawn the topic of her tutoring him for his NEWTs.

“I was in Hogsmeade today, and Professor Dumbledore suggested that you tutor me towards sitting my NEWTs in November. He said you were an excellent student.”

Dawn demurred, saying she wasn’t that good, before finally agreeing to tutor Harry a few afternoons a week. Harry convinced her to set a price, as he didn’t want her to feel used, so they agreed on 8 sickles per three hour session. Asta began to get sleepy, so Harry showed Dawn the spare room she could put Asta to sleep in. Dawn then spent a little while putting Asta to bed whilst Harry went back to the lounge to sit and talk with Vesta and Hector. However, once he sat down he was pinned by Hector’s glare.

 

“I hope you’re planning on treating my Dawn right. I’ve had enough of rich men sweeping her off her feet, then dumping her back on the floor. I don’t want her getting hurt again!” Hector said.

Taken aback, Harry protested, “Dawn and I are just good friends. She’s very nice, but we aren’t seeing each other. But if we were, I promise that I’m not the type of guy to lead her on.”

Hector glowered a bit, then nodded. Vesta smiled and changed the conversation, asking Harry more about his farm. Harry was just explaining the introduction with Sophia when Dawn got back from putting Asta to sleep.

“So, you’ve got a poisonous snake in your barn. You’re mad!” Vesta exclaimed with a shiver. She really didn’t like snakes. Deciding to come straight out and say he was a parselmouth, Harry explained that he and anyone else here was in no danger from Sophia. He also outlined his plans to go into business. Hector and Harry then spent quite a while talking about business plans and such, before a last cup of tea. Vesta and Hector left shortly before 10pm, leaving Dawn to stay the night in another of Harry’s spare rooms, so as to not wake Asta up. Hector had left with a final meaningful glare for Harry.

 

“This was a lovely evening Harry. Thank you for inviting me. Your house really is lovely and I’m intrigued with your plans” Dawn said.

Harry sat down in the chair opposite hers.

“Thanks. And thanks for agreeing to tutor me. I’d really like to pass my NEWTs. It was really nice to have you here as well. And your parents.” Harry added.

The pair sat awkwardly in silence. Bobby popped back into the room.

“Anymore cake or tea?” he asked. They both declined. After he left though, Dawn said “Perhaps we should ask for some wine. That got us talking last time.”

This line broke the ice between them and they were able to talk normally once more. Dawn told Harry how she had met up with her old friends from Hogwarts, how one girl in particular had been horrible to her about having an illegitimate child. She’d also had the horror of serving Melania Black at the candle shop. “She had her daughter Lucretia  with her and she looked very similar to Asta. My hands shook the entire time I served her. I kept wondering, ‘Does she know who I am?’ I was so thankful when she left. I was just glad she didn’t have Arcturus with her.”

“Poor Dawn. That must have been traumatic.”

“It was. I hadn’t seen her in person before. She was dressed in this finery, wearing gold necklaces and had a large diamond ring on her wedding finger. Much larger than anything Arcturus had given me. But you know what, she didn’t look happy. I am happy. I’ve got Mum and Dad and Asta, and now I’ve got you and Tommy as well. She just has lots of jewels and a pig of a husband and lives in a lonely old house, not getting to do anything fun at all.”

“I’m glad you’re happy now Dawn.” Harry said.

Dawn blushed, and Harry turned away.

 

“Umm. Shall we go to bed then. To sleep! Separately! In different rooms! Oh god, you know what I mean,” Harry said as Dawn started laughing. In a huff, Harry showed Dawn the room she could use, which was right next door to Asta’s so if Asta needed her in the night, she was close.

“Goodnight Dawn” Harry said, “Sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight Harry.” They stared at each other, then Harry leaned forward and gave Dawn a gentle but firm kiss on her lips.

“Goodnight Dawn,” he said before walking down the hall to his own room, leaving Dawn standing there, her hand raised to her face.

 

Chapter 9

AN: Thoughts are in italics, Parseltongue is underlined. This is a long chapter as many peole have said they wished they were longer. I’ve given it my best shot.

Harry and Tom officially moved to Bolton farm on February 16^th, two days after his meeting with Bonesnapper and the acquisition of Bobby. The farmhouse had been completely transformed and Harry was very happy with the work that Walter and Mathius had done. The floo network had been set up through the dining room fire place, so that anyone who arrived would be greeted with the cheery cream and red room. Harry had removed the old Evangelos dining suite and placed it in the room, and the dark wood, with the carved firebirds looked especially good against the gold cream paintwork. On February 15^th, Harry, Tom and Bobby had toured both Knockturn and Diagon Alley, as well as Harry discretely making a trip to some muggle thrift shops to acquire furnishings. Harry had wanted the house to retain its warm, homey atmosphere, so they had purchased predominantly well maintained second hand wooden furniture. Large four poster beds reminiscent of Hogwarts, heavy desks, solid armchairs and a three-seater covered in brown leather. Toms’ room was decorated with a mobile of magical creatures; phoenix, unicorn, dragon and snidget. They’d also bought sheets, blankets, quilts for Harry’s and the spare bedrooms, though not Tom’s. Harry had remembered hearing that that was bad for babies. A SIDS risk, though that wasn’t known in this time.

 

Bobby had chosen the smallest room in the house, a little loft, for his room. When the house was being fixed up, Harry had had it carpeted and painted, thinking it might be a nice place for Tom to hide in when he was older, but it made a perfect room for a house elf. Bobby felt it was too large and went into raptures of how wonderful Master Harry Ashby was. Harry also bought a very small bed, wardrobe and chair for the room, so that it was exactly like a room fit for a wizard, only smaller. Bobby wore a smart uniform of a bright scarlet pillowcase with a golden firebird embroidered on it. The firebird turned out to be the motif of the Evangelos family so Harry thought it fitting to bring it back. Harry had tried to get Bobby to wear something else, mindful of Hermione and her SPEW attitudes, but Bobby had declared that a proper house elf should wear a pillowcase. So Harry had purchased four, so that Bobby would always have a clean pillowcase. Bobby did though appreciate the socks Harry bought for him, once he understood that they were to be considered part of the uniform and not clothes.

The kitchen was fitted with plenty of pots and pans, gleaming silver on their hooks. The furniture in here was a paler wood, pine. A final splurge for Harry was a clock that he commissioned, fashioned after the Weasley clock that had hands for himself, Tom and Bobby. Bobby wasn’t a master cook like the elves at Hogwarts, but he had learned quite a bit, so between him and Harry, they wouldn’t be going hungry. There was a small window at the top of the kitchen, near the roof, which was charmed to allow access by postal owls. Next to it was a perch for the owls to rest on. Harry’s new owl, now called Balthasar, had decided to take up residence in the barn, though he would often appear in the kitchen, even without post, to receive a friendly pat.

 

The gardens surrounding the house were barren at present, though Bobby had plans to create a herb bed, as well as a vegetable garden. There were also plenty of bulbs in the ground, ready to sprout once spring arrived. Harry had arranged with Mathius, who lived in the country himself, to purchase a dozen chickens and a rooster for the barn. He decided that he liked the idea of having fresh eggs. Fortunately, the chickens were a magical variety that would lay no matter what the weather was like. So, every morning Harry or Bobby would wander out to the barn and collect the day’s offerings of eggs and feed the chickens. They were quite happy to have grain as well as leftovers from the kitchen. From his book on Household Magic, Harry had spelled the property to be free of foxes, so that the chickens wouldn’t be slaughtered. Balthasar was under strict orders not to harm the chickens in any way, though he was free to eat as many vermin as he wanted. (Harry would get a silly grin on his face anytime he saw Balthasar disemboweling a rat.) Balthasar would also occasionally bring to the kitchen a freshly killed rabbit, stupid enough to venture into his line of sight. While at first dubious, Harry began to enjoy rabbit stew about once a week, which Bobby flavoured with wild onions, potatoes and carrots.

 

Twice a week, Harry would travel with Tom either to Diagon Alley to visit with Vesta and Dawn, or to the little village of Dittisham where he would purchase some supplies like meat, tea, flour and vegetables. He also collected milk and cream from there as well. Bobby made bread every other day, so the house often smelt like fresh bread, making it even more wonderfully homey for Harry. This was, in fact, the first place that Harry really felt was home. Privet Drive didn’t count, neither did Hogwarts, for as much as he’d loved it, it was a school, not a home. The Weasley’s was the closest he’d come, though even then he’d had a feeling of being an outsider. He sometimes wondered whether his desire for a relationship with Ginny was partly due to his desire to become a Weasley family member. Bolton farm though, was all his. And as odd as it may seem, Tom was his family. He rarely thought anymore of Tom’s connection to Voldemort. How could you compare the Greatest Dark Lord of the Century with a chubby two month old that slept sucking his thumb and enjoyed peek-a-boo games? No, Tom was now simply Tommy, the nephew/defacto son of Harry Ashby. And Harry Ashby was no one special. Just a bloke looking after his nephew and living on a farm. Together, Harry, Tom and of course, Bobby, had become a small family.

 

About a month after Harry moved to Bolton farm, he decided to have a dinner party and invite Vesta, her husband Hector, Dawn and Asta. They and Bonesnapper, were really the only people that Harry knew in this time. Well, knew well enough to invite over for dinner. He had kept up an owl correspondence with Septimus, but the two really didn’t know each other all that well. They were both eagerly and a little fearfully awaiting the results of the OWLS, which were due any day. It was now late March, and Harry had been in 1927 for three months now. Tommy had recently learned how to roll from his back to his tummy, where he would then grunt and wiggle in an effort to flip back over onto his back. He hadn’t yet mastered a full roll. On the morning of the dinner party, Balthasar flew though the kitchen owl window, accompanied by a non-descript brown barn owl. The brown owl deposited an envelope on the table before swooping of again. Harry, who was feeding Tommy at this time, paled as he realised that the envelope was from the Ministry of Magic, Education Department. His OWL results. Bobby cheerfully took over feeding Tommy his bottle, as Harry gingerly opened the letter.

Mr. Ashby

We at the Department of Education are pleased to notify you of the results of your recent Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations. If you have a dispute with the grades at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Mr. Jerkins

The next page contained his OWL results.

Potions: Theory: EE  Practical: EE

Combined Mark: EE

Transfiguration: Theory: O Practical: EE

Combined Mark: EE

Herbology: Theory:  EE Practical: EE

Combined Mark: EE

Charms: Theory: O Practical:  O

Combined Mark: O

History of Magic: Written exam :  A

Astronomy: Theory: A Practical:  EE

Combined Mark: A+

C.O.M.C: Theory: EE Practical: EE

Combined Mark: EE

Defense against the Dart Arts: Theory: O practical: O+

Combined Mark: O+

AN: I forgot to put in that he took DADA exam. Obviously Harry would. Please insert into your memory, as I can’t be bothered correcting it in the two chapters the exams are mentioned. For the record, Harry takes and passes 8 OWLs, not the previously mentioned 7.

“Whoohooo!” Harry cried, startling Bobby and Tom. “This is great. Hermione would be so proud! Oh, I wonder how Septimus did. I’ll owl him.” Harry then picked Tom up and twirled him around the kitchen, before handing him back to Bobby.

“Bobby is pleased that Master Harry did good on his Owlies. Bobby make special cake for dessert tonight to celebrate.” Bobby solemnly stated.

Harry grinned and tore off to the study, where he penned a quick letter to Septimus telling of his grades and enquiring how Septimus went. Balthasar flew into the study after Harry and held his leg out for the letter to be tied to, then with a quick caress of Harry’s hair; perhaps an owlish version of congratulations, he swooped off.

 

Bobby insisted that Harry and Tom go out for a while, so that he could get the house ready for the dinner that evening. The Williams’ were arriving at 5 pm, so that they could eat quite early so that Asta could take part. As Asta went to bed around 6:30, dinner was going to be early. Asta and Dawn were planning on spending the night in one of the spare rooms, so as not to wake Asta up to go home later. So, at 11 am, Harry and Tom set out for a day out. Harry decided that he felt ready to make the trip up to Hogsmeade. It had been months since he’d seen it, and then, he had been preparing for battle. Ensuring that he had plenty of baby supplies, Harry flooed to The Three Broomsticks, which was operating in this time.

Stepping out of the fireplace, Harry was greeted by the bar maid, an older woman who introduced herself as “Madame Leona, Proprietor of this fine establishment. How can I be of service today?”

Harry ordered a butter beer for himself and sat down to drink it. He unshrunk Tom’s perambulator and after finishing the butter beer and tipping Leona, set off to explore Hogsmeade. At first, Harry wheeled Tom down the street, just having a look around, noting changes to his time and generally just seeing what was available. After walking up the street and back. He decided that his first stop would be Gladrags. Inside were a selection of ready made robes, as well as bolts of cloth for custom made robes. There were also accessories in the form of belts, socks, scarves and hats. Looking through the racks, Harry tried on and purchased a robe made from a soft blue material, which was suitable for casual wear. He also bought a couple of baby robes for Tom, in yellow and pale green. As he was paying for his order, he saw a thin, flimsy looking scarf in blue and purple swirls. Thinking that it looked pretty, he decided to buy it as a present for Dawn. Adding it to his purchase, he paid the 1 galleon, 4 sickles and shrunk the bag and put it in the pram. There wasn’t a Honeydukes in Hogsmeade, though there was a lolly shop called Fudgepackers. Snorting to himself, he understood why the name might have changed in the future. Entering the shop, he saw trays of home-made fudge, rock candy and chocolate. The shopkeeper, Delia Flume offered him some free samples of fudge. It was delicious, so Harry bought a packet and a large multicoloured lollypop for Asta. He also bought some flavoured beans and a slab of chocolate, both of which would be nice to have at home to snack on. Grinning to himself at the thought of having a home, Harry wasn’t watching where he was going and bumped headlong into someone.

 

“Oh god. I’m so sorry. I….” Harry stopped as he realised just who he had run into. Before him stood a wizard with twinkling blue eyes and a long crooked nose. He had long auburn hair with just a touch of white at the temples and a shortish beard. He was wearing robes of a deep violet colour with silver trim. Quite tasteful really, for Albus Dumbledore.

“Oh sir, I’m so sorry”, Harry began.

“Oh think nothing of it young man. Why, when my mind is thinking about sweets, there’s no telling what or who I’ll walk into. Albus Dumbledore, and you are? I don’t believe I’ve seen you around here, have I? And who is this little man?”

“Oh, umm, I’m Harry Ashby. This is my nephew, Tom. No, I’ve never met you before, but I have studied your work on the uses of dragon’s blood. Oh, and you used to work with Nicholas Flamel didn’t you?”

Albus Dumbledore chuckled. “Why, you are a curious young man. Yes, I did research with Nicholas on the 12 uses of dragon’s blood. So, Harry, I don’t remember teaching you at Hogwarts. Did you attend another school or are you in fact, older than you look?”

“Oh, no. I was home schooled. I’m 18, but I’ve only just had the opportunity to pass my OWLs. I got the results today.” Harry said, his cover story now second nature to him.

“Congratulations then. I hope you did well. My personal favourite was always Transfiguration. How are you at that?”

“Oh, thanks sir. I took 8 OWLs. I got 2 Outstandings, 4 Exceeds Expectations, 1 Acceptable Plus and 1 Acceptable. My best subjects were Charms and DADA. I just missed out on an Outstanding in Transfigurations. I got an O in the theory, but made a mistake with the practical that dropped me down a grade. I do enjoy Transfiguration though. I’d love to be able to become an animagus, but I know how hard it is. Plus there’s so much you can do with transfiguration. When I was furnishing the house, I bought second hand furniture, and was able to transfigure some into better pieces. And it’s useful in conflict situations; blocking curses and such.”

“Well, you do sound interested in Transfiguration. Well done for such good marks. Most home schooled students don’t fair as well in their OWLs as school taught students. They don’t have as much practice or have a set curriculum. Though you are quite old to have only just sat them. Are you planning on sitting your NEWTs?”

“Um, yeah. I should. I have to wait another two months at least. Though I’m nowhere near ready. I suppose I’ll need to find a tutor, but with Tom and setting up my house, I haven’t had the time to even think about it.”

“Oh, so you’re not just looking after Tom for the day, then?”

“No. My sister died in childbirth. Which is something else I haven’t gotten around to doing yet. The orphanage director admitted to assisting her death, bragged about it really. I meant to talk to someone about that. Merope could have been alive to bring up Tom herself except that a squib, calling herself Malfay, resented her and when she was bleeding after the birth, just watched her die instead of giving her her wand or even trying muggle methods to stop the bleeding!”

“That is quite a serious accusation. A Malfay, you say. There was a Malfoy child that disappeared when she was eleven. Didn’t receive a letter to any of the Magic Schools. It was around the time that I was fifteen, so about 28 or so years ago. Yes, you should definitely talk to an auror about it. But, looking after your nephew yourself, that’s quite ambitious for someone of your age. Why haven’t your parents or the boys father helped?”

“Tom’s father is a muggle who wants nothing to do with him. My parents are dead. There is just Tom and me. Oh, and Bobby, our elf. I have some good friends though, Vesta and Dawn Williams.”

“Ah yes, Dawn Williams. Lovely girl. Such a shame what befell her. Was a very promising student. I only taught her in her 7^th year, but she was quite a good student. Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff I believe. Prefect.”

“Dawn is lovely and so is Asta. It’s the idiot’s loss that he left Dawn.”

“Very protective aren’t you. Probably sensitive with your sister. Miss Williams is a fine young woman. It’s just a pity that she couldn’t realise her ambitions. Now, about a tutor, I’m sure Miss Williams would be able to assist you. She did very well on her NEWTs. If it’s a matter of finances, then you could apply to sit them with the Hogwarts students at the end of May. Or there is another testing time in November. Yes, November sounds about right. You should definitely aim to sit your NEWTs by November. In fact, if you’d like, I’d be quite happy to access your work until then, and even pop round occasionally to give you lessons.”

“Thank you, but, why would you do that for me? You don’t know me? It’s very kind and I’d be glad for your help but…”

“Ah my boy, your good nature speaks for itself. You are certainly kind hearted and I would be glad to assist someone who so selflessly looks after their younger relative. Not everyone your age would do so, at least, not without resentment.”

Harry shifted uncomfortably, realising that Dumbledore was talking about himself. He decided that this rather odd meeting should come to an end. He was still overwhelmed by seeing Dumbledore again.

“Thank you sir. I would be happy to accept your help whenever you are able to. You can reach me at Bolton Farm. I’m on the floo or you can owl me. I should get going now sir. Oh, and there are a lovely batch of lemon drops in Fudgepackers.”

“Lemon drops, I’ve never tried any. I shall have to heed your recommendation. Good day, Harry.”

Albus Dumbledore shook Harry’s hand and strode into Fudgepackers.  ‘Lemon drops. He’s never tried lemon drops!’ Harry thought to himself as he made his way back down the street.

 

 

AN: I had to break the chapter here as it got too long. Continued next chapter.

 

Chapter 8

AN: I was most disappointed that no one commented on my attempt to weave old canon characters mentioned by J.K into my story. I try for authenticity and no one notices. Sob. Hope that you continue to enjoy reading this. I had not planned this chapter like this at all. When I started writing, it all just changed. Hopefully, the next chapter will address my original plans. Oh and the disclaimer: JK is a goddess, she created this world, and I just play with it.

 

Harry was once again at Gringotts dealing with Bonesnapper. He’d received a letter asking him to make an appearance at the bank about a matter of his personal finances. Rather perturbed, Harry had once again enlisted Dawn’s help in looking after Tom and arrived at the bank at 10 am. Once there, he was ushered into a back office to meet with Bonesnapper. 

“Harry, I’m pleased to see you again, and I commend you on your house refurbishments. I took a look at the farm a couple of days ago, to ensure that the money removed from your account was being correctly used. I didn’t want a Goblin Friend cheated.” Bonesnapper grinned at Harry, his crooked teeth quite a disturbing sight to behold.

“A Goblin Friend? Is that important? And my finances, do I have a problem, have I overspent?” Harry asked worriedly.

“Yes, Goblin Friend. After our last meeting when you returned our artifacts, the clan chief declared that a wizard who would willingly return to us our treasures with no talk of recompense was indeed a true Goblin Friend. It means little except more genial relations between us. It is more of a symbolic acknowledgment of your esteem in goblin eyes. As to the finances. A goblin would not usually notify their clients of this, but as you are a Friend…When we were emptying the Peverell vault, we found a key. An unnumbered key. After much searching, we discovered that this key was, in fact, a key to a vault on level four. This means nothing to you I’m sure. However, in this vault were a number of uncut jewels. Now, as usual, Gringotts has charged you a finder’s fee for recovering this for you. Now, if you’d like to liquidate these gems and convert them to galleons, Gringotts would be happy to do so. We have valued them at 378 Galleons, 13 sickles and 4 knuts. Because you are a Friend, and we have already charged you a finder’s fee, we would waive the conversion costs. Or, you could keep the gems as they are. So, that is why you are here.”

Harry sat dumbstruck. He had gotten quite used to the prices of things in 1927 and was taken aback but such a large sum of money. After buying furniture and supplies the past couple of days, his bank account was starting to look quite small; only about 50 galleons left. An influx of 378 galleons would have him set up for, well not life, but a long time if he made no extravagant purchases.

“Um, yeah. That sounds fine. Sell, liquidate. Money is good,” he managed to say somewhat incoherently. Bonesnapper chuckled.

“Yes indeed, Mr. Ashby, money is good. A very goblin-like sentiment. So, we will carry out that transaction and deposit the funds into your vault as soon as possible. Oh, there is one other thing.” Bonesnapper snapped his fingers. (As in, he clicked. No violence here.) An elf appeared. He had large greenish-yellow eyes and his nose was long and thin. His skin was pale with a greenish cast to it. He was young; Harry had never seen an elf so small.

“This elf, Bobby, feels that he belongs to you. His parents Aimee and Tobby were both Malfoy elves, but he has refused to bond to Cygnus Malfoy and the Malfoy family. Any ideas why?”

Harry gulped. Bobby. Tobby. Sounds like Dobby.

Flashback

 ‘Dobby, no, don’t die, don’t die - ’

The elf’s eyes found him, and his lips trembled with the effort to form words.

‘Harry…Potter…’

End Flashback (excerpt from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, p. 385)

 

 “There may be a reason. What does Bobby say?”

“Bobby just be’s knowing that there are two masters that Bobby could be bonding to. Master Cygnus or Master Harry. Bobby has been watching Master Cygnus and he’s not liking what he’s seeing. Bobby thinks Master Cygnus is a bad wizard. So, when Bobby was told it was time to bond with his master, Bobby said no. Bobby wants his Master Harry to be the Master,” the elf, Bobby explained.

“Ok, but, I don’t know much about Elves. How are you bound to a master?” Harry asked.

Bonesnapper reentered the conversation. “House elves can live quite a long time. They mature quite rapidly, and are bonded to the head of their Family at one year of age. Elves generally remain within one family, occasionally with another if they are transferred as part of a dowry or other transaction. They have a very strong affinity to that family, and young elves will almost always bond to the family that their parents serve. The bonding ceremony involves a mingling of blood between elf and master and the desire to serve. It is rare that the elf would have more than one master to chose from. Especially as both his parents are Malfoy elves and there is no family connection between the Potters and the Malfoy’s.”

 

Harry’s head snapped up. “Potter’s. Why would you mention them? I’m an Ashby.”

Bonesnapper frowned at Harry. “I thought there would be more honesty between us. The inheritance chart never lies. It stated that your name was in fact, Harry James Potter Ashby. I don’t know how that came to be, but you are undoubtedly a Potter. Possibly a bastard. But you have the look. All male Potter’s look the same. Just like all Malfoy males are blonde and Black males have grey eyes.”

“A bastard. I never knew my grandparents. They could have had an affair with a Potter.”

“Or, you could have traveled from the future, rewriting time, and thus be a Potter of legitimacy that way.” Bonesnapper added.

Harry sat down and put his head between his hands. “Oh god. What do you know?”

 

Bonesnapper sat down at the desk again opposite Harry. Bobby the elf moved away to the corner, sensing that this conversation was important and not to be disturbed.

“Goblin auguries foresaw possible destruction on the night of December 31 1926. Then, a little over three weeks later, a massive shock wave was felt by all the diviners and they saw this destruction averted. Now, a number of prophecies have ceased to be relevant. We were unsure of why, and then you came for your inheritance check and we knew. Now, don’t worry. We will not interfere. New auguries have foreseen great prosperity for Goblins since your arrival. Time has fixed itself. You are now Harry Ashby. Just know that we know that you were once Harry Potter. Whoever that was.”

Harry sighed in relief. “Yes. I did travel through time unintentionally. And I’m glad that disaster has been averted. I’m from…”

Bonesnapper interrupted, “it is not necessary for you to tell me. In fact, I don’t want to know. Besides, your future is gone now. You have only the present. We’ll leave it at that. As a token though, we, the goblins, have affirmed your current identity and created appropriate documents that have been lodged with the muggle authorities. You are Harry Ashby now. Now, the elf presumably has a connection from the future. Will you accept his service or will he bond with the Malfoy’s?”

 

Bobby perked up when he heard his name spoken. “Bobby wishes most honorable Harry Ashby be Bobby’s Master. Please!”

Harry nodded his head. If he failed to bond with Bobby, then he’d most probably be abused by the Malfoy’s, as indicated by Dobby’s former treatment.

Bonesnapper produced a silver knife and swiftly cut Harry and Bobby’s thumb. Bobby pressed his thumb against Harry’s and said, “I be binding myself and my family to the House Of Ashby.”

There was a flash of white light and both elf and wizard felt the connection formed. Their thumbs had healed.  

“Thank you Master Harry. What do you be wanting Bobby to be doing?”

In a daze, Harry just asked Bobby to stay with him now, and that they’d sort other things out later. Harry thanked Bonesnapper for the news of the gems and for his confidentiality and together, Bobby and Harry left the office. On the way out of the bank, a haughty blonde wizard in a long blue velvet cloak sneered at Harry.

“You’ve lost me my servant, boy” the man sneered at Harry.

Harry just shook his head and began laughing. And couldn’t stop. “Oh god, you need new lines.”

Still laughing, Harry and Bobby left the bank and walked, together, back to the flat to collect Tom and tell Dawn of what occurred (though highly edited) at today’s meeting.

Chapter Seven

AN: This chapter just wouldn’t flow. I’m sorry if it’s boring. I keep worrying about introducing new characters in case I get yelled at about Mary Sue’s.

 

The morning of February 4^th was lovely. For a change, the sky was cloudfree, the sun shone and all was peacefull.

“Bloody hell, where did I put my quills? And the sandwich I made. Hell. Oh Tom, why did you spit up on me? Scourify. Bag, quills, yes. Lunch, lunch. Where’s my lunch? Oh right. In the cooler, where else? Nappies, bottles, toys. Allright Tommy, time to go visit Auntie Vesta.”

Harry hurried out the door. It was a quarter past eight and his first exam, Charms, was at 9:00. Vesta was watching Tom for him today and tomorrow, before Dawn took over for the rest of the week.  About five minutes later, Harry was back in the flat. “Could have told me I was still wearing pajamas, Tom” Harry winged. It had been quite embarrasing. He’d gotten a couple of doors down when a witch wolf whistled at him. It was then he realesed that he was still wearing pajamas: blue with golden snitches flying around, a present from Vesta. Finally, at 8:30, Harry was at Vesta’s shop, giving her the run down on Tom’s daily schedule. “He’s had his morning bottle. He’ll need a nap in about half an hour. There’s several more bottles in his bag. I’ve packed his favourite rattle, and his soft bunny rug, and his squishy snake. There are some dummies in his bag too with steralising charms on them. He likes to suck on one as he drifts off.”

Vesta looked quite amused with Harry’s directions. “Where is the poor boy that couldn’t stop his son from crying? I am so proud. And you’re so late. Shoo. We’ll be fine. Dawn and Asta are popping over around lunch to see Tommy. Work hard.”

Harry grinned in chagrin. This was the woman who had taught him all he needed about baby care. He thanked her once again and left the store to apparate to the visitor’s entrance to the ministry. After going through the wand registration, he was directed to level 6, room 14, where he would meet up with the examiner.  He waited for a few minutes outside the exam room when a witch approached him. She was old, in her 70’s, wearing a green robe, with small pearl earrings and a golden locket around her neck. Her hair was salt and pepper, and tied back into a bun. “Mr. Ashby? I’m Isla Hitchens. I’ll be your examiner today for your Charms theory and practical exams. The first, theory, will begin shortly. It will take approximately two hours to complete. We will then take a half hour break for lunch, before commencing with practical Charms. This will also take about two hours. Following that, you’ll have a one hour break, from 1:30 until 2:30, then you will be sitting your Potions theory, a three hour examination, with Sacharissa Tugwood. A young man, Septimus Weasley, will be joining you for this exam. He is homeschooled, and when his parents found out about the exams for you, asked permission for him to sit some of them with you. So I believe he will be in your Defence against the Dark Arts exams, Transfiguration and History of Magic exams. I trust that you have no issues with that?”

Harry shook his head. He had no problems having exams with someone else, especially a Weasley. He wondered if Septimus was Ron’s grandfather? “That’s fine.”

“Good, now, take a seat in here. On your desk is a question and answer booklet. You have five minutes reading time. You may begin,” said Mrs. Hitchens. 

The rest of the day passed in a whirl for Harry. He felt that the Charms exams went well, as did the theory for Potions. Septimus turned out to be a 16 year old boy, with shocking red hair and freckles. He confided in Harry that he hadn’t been able to sit his exams the year before because he caught Dragon Pox, and they couldn’t afford private exams. While nice enough, Harry found him rather young. Fighting, and then raising Dark Lords really made a person grow up. They parted on friendly terms that evening, and had plans to go to lunch at the Cauldron the next day after their Potions practical. Tom had had a nice time with Vesta. Well, Vesta actually said that he’d spent most of his time on back on the bunny rug sucking furiously on his dummy. But he hadn’t caused any trouble and Vesta was happy to watch him again the next day. Harry took him home, and Tom fell asleep to the sound of Harry reading aloud from his textbook. “Confusing and Befuddlement draughts have effects similar to the Confusion Concoction. Ingredients include sneezewort, scurvy-grass, lovage and ginger. Strengthening solution, used to increase the strength of the drinker. Ingredients include salamander blood and pomegranate juice. Needs to mature for 2 days after step seven. Simmer on low heat…..”

 

Harry felt that his Potions exam went well. He had only made a slight error with his Draught of Peace but was very confident about his Draught of Living Death. He had remembered the Prince’s advice to crush the sopophorous bean before adding it to the cauldren. He was quite sure that he’d get at least an EE for that part. His afternoon classes were for Care of Magical Creatures, and involved correctly handling Nifflers, bowtrunkles, Porlock and Crups. The theory was a bit harder, with questions pertaining to the various ratings animals held, as well as location, diet and properties of various creatures. He was disapointed to find questions about centeurs under the beast section. Wednesday saw Harry taking Transfiguration theory and practical and Astronomy. For Astronomy, the Ministry had a room set up to look like the night sky, so Harry didn’t have to sit the practical part of this subject at night. Thursday had Herbology, which Harry found enjoyable, and strengthened his decision to cultivate Potions ingredients. His final day of exams were for History of Magic, which only actually had three questions about Goblin rebellions. The rest was covering famous witches and wizards, what was invented when and various wars and treaties of the Wizarding world. All in all, it was a thoroughly mentally exhausted Harry who apparated home Friday afternoon.

 

Dawn looked up at Harry’s entrance. “Hello. How’d the last exam go? I just put Tom down for a nap and Asta is at mothers. The kettle’s just boiled. Want a cuppa?”

Harry nodded. “God yes. I’m parched! Thinking is very tiring work. But all done know. Ooh, are they some more of your homemade biscuits?”

Dawn smiled, “Yes. Oatmeal and honey. Great with tea. So, what are your plans now that the exams are over. Mum said that you’re moving soon?”

Harry munched on a biscuit before swallowing. “Yes. Mathius Prewett and Walter Picks have been renovating an old farmhouse for me out in Devon. I plan on moving next weekend. The house itself will actually be ready by Wednesday, but I’ll use the Thursday and Friday to get furniture in. I’m paid up with Vesta until then, so I hope she’ll be fine with that.”

“Fine with it. She loves you Harry. Thinks you’re wonderful for bringing up Tom. She’ll miss you when you go, so be sure to invite her round lots, or I’ll hex you!”

Harry chuckled. “I’m sure you would. Bloodthirsty wench with a penchance for baking.” They both chuckled at that. At five foot 3, Dawn was not the most imposing of figures, though her tongue could get quite scathing, as Harry had found out when she’d talked about Asta’s father.

Flashback

After Harry’s exam on Wednesday, he’d bought a bottle of wine to share with Dawn. A thank-you-for-helping-a-stranger-in-need type thing.They’d put Tom to sleep and Asta was at her grandmother’s so they had sat by the fire, in the old brown armchairs, and had gotten quite tipsy. After a couple of drinks, Harry had confided in Dawn that he’d never actually been with a woman. He’d explained that he’d had a girlfriend, but they hadn’t progressed much beyond furtive above clothes groping. “Ginny, she’d always push for more. I’d have been happy to just snog, fool around a bit. She kept trying to put her hands down my pants. I’ve thought about it since, and she was with a lot of guys before me. Dean, Micheal. And she was only 15 when we started dating. It started to make me wonder just how far she’d gone with them. Then, when we were apart, I just, dunno, decided that I didn’t really like her that way anymore. What about you? What’s the story with Asta’s dad?”

Dawn had glared at Harry. “Asta’s dad was an unmitigated bastard.  His name was Arcturus. Blue eyes, dark hair. He bloody- well seduced me. Told me he loved me. Said we’d get married. Gave me a ring and everything. A small diamond and emerald. So we became, intimate. I found out I was pregnant with Asta. I was only seventeen. Three months later I saw him in the newspapers with a woman called Melania McMillan. They were announcing the Wedding of the Year. Black Heir marries daughter of Wizengamot Chief Warlock!I confronted him about it and he laughed. Said ‘you don’t honestly think we were going to marry? The Black Heir and a shopkeepers daughter’. I left with him still laughing. I moved up to Edinburgh, had Asta. I worked for a couple of witches, brewing potions, cooking, cleaning. I heard that he had a daughter the year after I’d had Asta, Lucretia. I couldn’t come home, everybody knew about Arcturus. They called me a slattern, and such. So, I stayed up north, let the scandal die down. I’m glad I’ve got Asta, but I’m even gladder to have had my eyes open about men. I’ll not be taking another tumble with a man until the ring is firmly on my finger, that’s for sure.”

So Harry had found out that his good friend Vesta was the grandmother of his Godfather’s half aunt. The wizarding world is a small world indeed!

End Flashback

So Harry and Dawn had a nice chat over tea and biscuits, then Dawn left at 5pm, to help her Dad close up the shop. Vesta and him were taking Asta for the evening as Dawn was catching up with some of her friends from Hogwarts, reestablishing friendships that had drifted since she’d left London for Edinburgh. Harry and Tom were spending much of the weekend at Bolton Farm, with Harry planning what they’d need to move in.

Chapter Four: Tom

Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter belongs to Rowling. I merely try to make them do my bidding.

AN: A special thanks to tonks*is*cool for her detailed review. I hope you like future chapters. Also, please note that previous chapters have changed to give Harry an extra 100 galleons. He went broke too quickly.

Bolton Farm was on 25 acres of land in the town of Dittisham in Devon, about 20 km from Dartmoor National Park. The farm consisted of a run down house, with 6 bedrooms, reception room, kitchen, dining, lounge and 2 wash rooms. There was an outside necessity. At present, the house had a badly kept slate roof, peeling paint and creeping damp in some of the rooms. It reminded Harry of a better maintained, less dark Grimmauld Place. There was also an outside barn about 100 metres from the house which was a set of walls, with the thatched roof caved in. The barn would once have held cows, pigs and horses; now it contained rats, squirrels and spiders. The land had lain fallow for many years. There was an old greenhouse, with no glass in the frames, a riotous apple orchard and several badly fenced fields. Harry was devastated.

“Don’t look so glum mate,” Mathius said, ‘it’s not as bad as you’re looking! It will take a bit of work, a bit more galleons but we can get this fixed up. The foundations are all right. Starting with the barn, the walls are sound. Built to last. There are a few blokes I know, muggleborns from farms, who could be paid to re-thatch the roof. Some household spells could take care of the rest. It’s not planting season right now, so there’s no rush to get the fields ready. I could put some new glass in the greenhouse and you could start off your own special herbs and warmer fruits, like tomatoes.” Mathius paused and turned Harry back to the main house. “Now, your main concern, the house. I’ve been doing this for a long time, so I’m pretty good at estimating the cost of things. I got a feeling that it’s all structurally sound, though I’ll check that properly before we start. The roof will need retiling. There are special architectural spells for drying the walls, getting rid of some bundimun infestations and doxies. You’ll need new bathrooms put it; indoor plumbing wasn’t heard of last time this place was lived in. So piping, bathroom refits, scraping back all the paint work, repainting, new fittings in the kitchen, get you a better stove. New carpets, or tiles if you prefer.”

“It’s starting to sound really expensive and time consuming,” Harry said.

“No, it’ll be done real quick. To tell you the truth Harry, it’s a quiet time of year. Christmas and New Year just gone. Still winter. Not many people like to renovate now. If Walter and I get a couple of boys to help us, we could get it sorted within the fortnight, three weeks tops. That’s the beauty of magic. Now, depending on cost for carpeting and fittings, I reckon you’re looking at between 150 to 200 galleons. I know it’s expensive, but that’ll be everything done. House, greenhouse, barn, fences for your fields. The whole kit and caboodle. I can write you up an official quote tonight, and you can let me know,” Mathius said. Taking a closer look at Harry, he added, “Or if you’d like to just start with the house, I can break the quote up for you. House being so much, and farm being another. You haven’t said if you can even afford this.”

Harry thought it through. He had barely enough to fix it all up now. But that would leave him only 100 galleons, unless he could sell off some heirlooms from his vaults. 100 galleons is rather a lot of money for him to have here in 1927, but he didn’t know how long it would take him to find some kind of work or how much to budget for weekly expenditure. So while 200 galleons wasn’t really a lot in 1998, here it was almost an astronomical amount. About 2000 pounds, which could buy him about 5 Model T Fords. So, if he thought about it, his 200 galleons here was probably at least worth 5 times what 200 galleons would be in 1998. So 2000 pounds would have been 10000 pounds, which was actually quite cheap for this much renovation, at least from what he could tell from hearing Vernon go on about rising steel and housing prices. 

“Well Mathius, I can just about afford to do the whole lot. It wouldn’t leave me with much of a buffer. I was wondering though, I’ve never lived exclusively in the wizarding world. What is the average weekly cost of living? Because if I knew that, it would help me decide whether I do the whole lot, or just the house,” Harry asked. 

Mathius scratched his head as he thought things over; “I suppose, a young lad by yourself, no rent to pay, probably about 2, maybe three galleons a week.”

“I actually have a baby nephew,” Harry said. 

“Probably 3 galleons then” Mathius reckoned, “though it’ll go up as the lad gets older. My sister-in-law, Margaret Prewett, feeds a family of 5 for just over four galleons a week, though she does have a mighty fine vegetable garden and good laying hens.”

Harry thought things through a bit more. If things cost me about 3 galleons a week, I can survive without a job for about 6 months, maybe a bit more. Surely that’ll be enough time to get settled with a baby and find a job.

“If you could get me an accurate quote, I’d like to get the whole place fixed up. Now, I really have to be getting on, it’s already almost five. I have to get my nephew from the orphanage.”

Mathius agreed to write Harry up a quote and Owl it to him the next day. Then, if acceptable, they’d sign the paperwork and get the reconstruction underway.

Five o’ clock saw Harry once more outside the front of the orphanage. He rang the doorbell, waiting for Mrs. Cole to answer. Instead, an older woman answered the door. “Can I help you?” she sneered at him. Taken aback by the unfriendly greeting, Harry replied, “I have an appointment to see Mrs. Cole, about my nephew, Tom.”

The woman sneered at him again as she ushered him into the building. “Ah yes, the mysterious uncle. I’m afraid that Mrs. Cole was above her station when she said that you could just take him. There wasn’t even any check of identification. A young man like yourself could have many a nefarious purpose, absconding with a young boy,” the woman said. 

“Now see here,” Harry started, “I don’t know what you’re insinuating, but I assure you, I am taking Tom with me today. I have already signed for him, and paid quite a sum of money for his upkeep until now, and have spent the last day re organising my life to include Tom in it. Now, I’ll no longer deal with you. Take me to Mrs. Cole and my nephew!”

Harry hoped his bluster and bravado would work. Thankfully, whilst at Gringotts yesterday, Bonesnapper had provided him with identity papers for the muggle world, as well as for the wizarding world. It seemed the return of goblin artifacts dramatically sweetened goblin disposition. The woman, who had still not pro-offered a name, hissed at him, “Your kind will get what’s coming to ‘em. Prancing about, waving your sticks. Looking down on the rest of us. Oh, yes, I know what you are. And what that pallid bitch was too. Not to hardy without your wands though. Couldn’t stop the bleeding, and I was conveniently unable to hear her pleas for assistance. One less witch in the world, and the Lord will rejoice.”

Harry was horrified. The truth of the death of Merope, denied medical assistance by an insane muggle (or squib). Then Tom grew up with this harridan. God, no wonder he turned evil! 

“I’ll see you pay for Merope’s death. Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Cole. Harry Ashby here to see Mrs. Cole,” he yelled.

There was the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. “Oh Harry, there you are. I was wondering if you were ever going to return.”

“Mrs. Cole. I left a note yesterday, stating my intention to collect Tom today. Did you not get it?”

“No, there was no note. I honestly thought that you had washed your hands with him, after giving us a donation for his care. I am glad though that you returned. It is important for children to be with family. Oh, have you met Ms. Malfay. She’s the assistant director of this and St Bart’s orphanage on the east side of London. She’s been visiting us since you left on Wednesday.”

 Harry turned to look at the bitter woman, Ms. Malfay. Malfay, greying blonde hair and grey eyes. Malfay, more like Malfoy. So, resentful squib relative of the Malfoy’s, out for revenge against all wizards. Still a bitch.

“Yes, she’d just finished telling me of the night Tom was born,” Harry replied.

Mrs. Cole nodded. “Yes, tragic. It was bitterly cold, and I was stuck in the blizzard after visiting with my late husband’s family for Christmas. Ms. Malfay was here all by herself when your sister appeared. Helped her deliver the babe, but was unable to help your sister. So tragic.”

Harry coughed and Malfay glared at him, as if daring him to say something. Realising there was nothing he could do now to avenge Merope, he let it lie. The important thing was getting Tom away from her. “Yes, she’d said. Now, can I have Tom now?”

Mrs. Cole looked a bit embarrassed. “Yes, well, come to the office.” Harry, Mrs. Cole and Ms. Malfay all went to the office, where Ms. Malfay took the seat on the opposite side of the desk to Harry, leaving Mrs. Cole to stand. “Your application for custody is incomplete. You have provided no proof as to the relationship between yourself and Merope Riddle. There is no forwarding address, no proof of income or proof of your own identity. All must be provided before I’d let such a special boy out of my care.” Ms. Malfay stated.

Mrs. Cole looked like she was about to interrupt, but Ms. Malfay silenced her with a glare. Harry leant forward and placed a pile of documents on the desk. 

“My birth papers, stating my name, age and date of birth. (Harry had had the goblins make this up, and had changed his birth date, so that he was 18. His new birth date was 12 November, 1909.) There is also a birth certificate for Merope Ashby, three years older than me, a postal address to the village post office in Dittisham and a bank statement from Lloyds Bank declaring me to have an inheritance of 3000 pounds sterling in my account, (Gringotts had dealings with Lloyd’s, so the statement was a muggle version of his own Gringott’s holdings)” Harry stated. 

Ms. Malfay took up the papers and looked through them; her scowl darkening with each page she read. After some shuffling, some sniffing and stalling, Ms. Malfay put the papers down on the desk. “Well, you certainly have been thorough. If  this is correct, then you are, of course, free to take the child today. But it is five fifteen, almost close of business..”

“You can call Lloyds now. They’re open until half past”, Harry interrupted.

Ms. Malfay sniffed again. “Very well.” She went to the wall where a large telephone was mounted. She picked up the telephone. “Operator, I require a line to Lloyds of London. Yes, I’ll hold. Thank you. “Hello, Lloyds Bank? Yes, I have a query about a supposed account in the name of Harry Ashby. Yes. Yes. Really. I see. Thank you for your time. Goodbye.” Ms. Malfay hung up the telephone and sat back down at the desk. ‘It appears that your name and account are correct with the bank. However, …” she began, before being cut off by Mrs. Cole. “Really, you are dragging this out so. Do you have a particular gripe with Mr. Ashby, Ms. Malfay?”

“You’ll mind your manners missy, or I’ll see you reported! Go and get the brat. The papers are fine.” Ms. Malfay spat out, glaring once more at Harry before sweeping out the room. 

Mrs. Cole began apologising profusely to Harry. “Honestly, I don’t know what’s come over her. She’s normally terribly formal, but not rude like this. Would you like to come with me to get Tom?” They both jumped at the sudden slamming of the front door. Upstairs, children began to wail. “Yes I’d better. You’re not alone her now are you?”

“No, no. There are a couple of girls who alternate care between the youngsters and the older children. Now, this is the baby room. We only have 6 babies here at the moment. Tom’s in the cot by the corner.”

 Harry crossed the room. It was plain. White walls, plain cots. Nothing to stimulate a child, but it was clean. Tom lay on his back, swaddled tightly in a blanket. He was wiggling impotently, wailing alongside the others, in his displeasure at being awoken. “Pick him up, support his head. There. Now rest his head in the crook of your arm. You can loosen the blankets a bit if you’d like. Let him wave his fists about. It’s about all he can do at his age,” Mrs. Cole said from across the room, as she successfully began settling the other babies. 

Taking a deep breath, Harry picked up Tom. He freed his hands and began to gently pat him on the bottom. “There there. Shush. Its okay. The evil woman has gone. You’ll soon be out of here. Sshhh.” Tom slowly began to settle down. The tears stopped rolling down his cheeks. They stared at each other, dark eyes met green, and a moment was shared between them. “I promise, I’ll do my best to care for you Tom,” Harry whispered, “you’re just a baby. Just a baby.” Tom sighed and began rooting around at Harry’s chest. “Look he’s hungry. There, I’ve got the others settled, we’ll go to the kitchen and you can give him a small bottle, to tide him over until you get back to where you’re staying. Martha, please keep an ear out for the babes.” Mrs. Cole said as she escorted Harry and Tom towards the kitchen. She sat Harry down in a chair, and went to the cool box. “We give the baby’s fresh cow’s milk. We get it delivered every day. Its not mother’s milk, but there’s nothing else. Here, test its temperature on your wrist. Now offer it to Tom.”

Harry took the bottle and dutifully shook some milk drops onto his wrist before placing the teat at Tom’s mouth. Tom snatched at it hungrily and began suckling. “Such a change from usual. Its often hard to get him to drink. He must feel safe with you. We thought we’d lose him a few times,” Mrs. Cole said. 

Harry nodded, fascinated by the little person in his arms. Tom had stopped sucking, and had fallen asleep again. “They do that dear. Sometimes they get tired from drinking. Try slipping it out his mouth, there that’s woken him up,” as Tom began sucking once more. 

Within a short time he’d finished. Mrs. Cole gave Harry a bag with a cloth diaper in it to take with him. Harry wrapped Tom up in the blanket he’d brought, (Blue with tiny embroidered golden snidgets) and they were shown the door by Mrs. Cole. 

“Thanks for your help Mrs. Cole. I really appreciate it. And I hope you don’t get any trouble from that harridan Ms. Malfay,” he said. 

“That’s quite all right Harry. And please, call me Beatrice. Also, if you’d like to send word of Tom as he grows up, I’d appreciate it. I’ve grown fond of him.”

Harry assured her that he would, and after saying a final farewell, strode off into the darkening night to find an appropriate place to apparate.

 

AN: The owl that Harry ends up buying looks like the one found on this page:

http://www.owlpages.com/image.php?image=species-Asio-otus-3 or here:

http://www.owlpages.com/image.php?image=species-Asio-otus-2

 

Chapter Six

 

The next week and a half passed in a blur for Harry. It took Tom a while to get used to the difference between cows milk; which he was fed at the orphanage, to wizarding baby milk; which was specially formulated for babies. It also took Harry a while to get used to caring for a baby, though Vesta frequently came around in the afternoons for a chat and a cuddle; with Tom, not Harry. Harry would often have bad days, where he would cry because he missed his friends, didn’t know what he was doing and felt alone. Harry had also come to the realisation that the people he missed most were actually Hermione, Ron and Luna. His thoughts about Ginny made him realise that he was really only with her because of her connection to the Weasley’s. If he was totally honest with himself, their personalities were completely different and they wanted different things. Harry had spent some time while Tom was sleeping to write and plan what he was going to do in this new life as Harry Ashby. Harry had basic history knowledge from his muggle school years and could remember that the Great Depression occurred in the 1930s, though he wasn’t sure how it would impact on wizarding society. Thus, he decided that he needed to be as self sufficient as possible. He realised that Bolton Farm had enough land for him to make a modest enough living for himself and Tom, so Harry had purchased a book from Flourish and Blotts about Magical Farming. It was able to give him plenty of information about keeping chickens, rabbits, pigs and agriculture, as well as pest control like keeping out foxes from hen houses and rabbit hutches. He had also bought a few interesting looking books on transfiguration, household charms for cooking and cleaning, Herbology: grow your own potions ingredients and an arithmancy text, which he found relatively simple to follow. He remembered that Hermione had told him that arithmancy was quite simple for muggle math’s educated people, but hadn’t believed her in third year when choosing subjects. He read them all through quite thoroughly, and hoped that that reading, combined with his other knowledge would be sufficient for taking his OWLS next week.

 

Harry had Tommy bundled up in a little woolen robe and booties and was getting ready to wheel him in his perambulator (from the second hand store on the corner of Knockturn Alley, 8 sickles, just needed a bit of work) to visit Vesta at the candle store. He also planned to make a stop at Prewett and Picks, to see how things were progressing on the house.

“Morning Vesta. I thought we’d come visit you for a change,” Harry called out as he entered the shop. It was very nicely organised, with candles of many varieties decorating the walls and shelves, along with candelabras, chandeliers, and candle stick holders. There were coloured candles, plain candles, scented candles, ritual candles, fat ones, thin ones, oddly shaped ones and some really cheap ones that the poor could get. It reminded Harry a lot of some of the fancy candle shops in the shopping centre at Greater Wingeing.

“Oh Harry, have you brought Tommy boy to see me. How lovely. My Dawn, you haven’t met her have you? She arrived here yesterday, it’s why I didn’t make it round for a visit. Anyway, Dawn here has come back to London to stay. Isn’t that wonderful,” Vesta said as she pulled along a young woman from the back of the shop. Dawn appeared to be in her early twenties, had blonde hair, brown eyes and was quite curvy.

“Hello, I’m Dawn. My mother has told me a lot about you. I have to say I am impressed that a young man like yourself would be willing to take responsibility for your son,” Dawn said as she stepped forward to shake Harry’s hand.

“Oh no, he’s not my son. He’s my nephew.” Harry replied.

“Uhuh. Nephew. If you say so,” Dawn said suspiciously, “If you’re going to look after him, you may as well own up to his paternity.”

“Tommy’s not mine! Honestly. His mother was Merope Ashby, my sister. His father was a muggle who doesn’t want him. I’m bringing him up as he’s family.” Harry was quite indignant. Who was this witch to question his word. Even if it was a whole pile of lies. “Tom means a lot to me and I dislike your aspersions towards me and him. Perhaps Vesta I’ll come back later,” and he turned to leave.

“Hold up, I’m sorry. I’ve just met men here in London who are not as kind as you are to their kids, or nephews in your case. I thought you were hiding his legitimacy. Don’t blame Mum, she thinks the world of you two.”

Harry turned back to Dawn. She did look sincere, even if her tone was a bit bitter. The answer soon presented itself. “Mama, Nanny. Asta waken up. Want biccy. Please.” A little brunette girl toddled in from the back room of the shop. She was about 3 years old and was rubbing sleepy out of her eyes. She stopped suddenly as she saw Harry. “Who you? Got biccy?” Dawn swept her up into her arms. “Little girls don’t get biscuits until after they’ve had their milk,” Dawn turned back to Harry, “This is Asta, my daughter. Asta, this is Mr. Ashby and his nephew Tom. Can you say hello to Mr. Ashby and Tom?”

Asta nodded brightly and said hello. “See baby? Please.” Dawn looked to Harry for permission. Harry nodded. “It’s alright, just be careful, he’s very little. Vesta though can tell you that I was a complete beginner when it came to babies, so if Tom has survived me, he’ll survive being prodded by Asta.”

Vesta chuckled and agreed. The adults looked on indulgently as Asta babbled away to Tom, only one word in three making sense. “So Harry, what did you come in for?” Vesta asked.

Harry got out his shopping list and explained, “I’d like some new candles for my farm. Hopefully, we’ll be able to move in in just over a fortnight. I was also wondering if there was anyone in the area I could pay to look after Tommy while I sit my exams in a few days. It’ll be pretty full on. The timetable owled to me had two or three exams a day for five days straight. Thankfully because I’m sitting privately, I should get my results pretty quickly, which will help me find a job. Though I don’t know what I’ll do with Tom then either.”

“I could probably look after him for a few days Harry. Monday and Tuesday are rather quiet days, we can pop him out the back in his pram and I can keep an eye on him” Vesta offered.
”And if you don’t hate me for my remarks earlier, I could sit for him at the flat the other days. Unfortunately though, I would have to charge you. Sorry, but I need every knut I can get.”

Harry thoughtfully gazed at Dawn. He gathered she cared deeply for her daughter, but it didn’t look like there was a man in the picture. In fact, she seemed bitter about men and children, which could mean that Asta’s dad left them. “I can afford to give 2 sickles a day. Would that do?” Harry asked. Dawn quite happily agreed and it was decided that she would take care of Tom for the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Harry offered Vesta the same amount. “Don’t be silly. I think of Tommy as my grandchild now too. You’re a good boy. Save your sickles for something else.” Harry thanked Vesta and Dawn, made his candle purchases (which he suspected he was undercharged for) and made his way with Tom to Prewett and Picks.

 

It was a warmer day in the alley today. It was the beginning of February, but the sun was making its way out from behind the clouds, and the good weather had tempted out many shoppers, so Diagon Alley had quite a crowd. Harry took his time, still unsteady with wheeling a pram, pausing occasionally to peer in shop windows. After leisurely browsing, they arrived at the architects. Mathius greeted him warmly.

“Harry, good to see you. Oh, and this must be your young nephew. Fine boy, strong grip,” for Tom was holding tightly to Mathius’s finger. “I suppose you’re here about the house. Come in, sit down. Now, the greenhouse is completely finished. Quite simple, though it did come in slightly over budget. There was some new charms for the glass panels, added an extra 2 galleons to the job, but well worth it in the long run. I got a bargain on slate, though it’s a different colour than the previous roof, and we got that on the roof yesterday. Walter is there now, overseeing the wall painting and establishing a floo connection. I’ve got the paperwork for you here. Just calling it Bolton Farm for now. You can change the password later if you’d like. There’s been a small hold up with the barn, the boys I want to do the thatching aren’t available until late next week, but the inside has been remodeled. There are some samples here for you to look at. Tiles, carpet and curtains. If you could take a look and let us know what you’d like in each room.”

Harry took the sample book from Mathius and flipped through it. For his bedroom, which had green walls, he decided on a cream carpet, Tom’s room was blue with a darker grey carpet, to keep stains from showing. The other four bedrooms were cream walls with brown carpet. For the kitchen and laundry, Harry chose terracotta floor tiles and creamy tiles for the bathrooms. For curtains, he just decided to get colours that matched the rooms; Green for him, navy for Tom, and either cream or brown for the rest. The lounge and dining rooms had floor length crimson curtains, made from heavy velvet, cream carpets and a golden cream paint on the walls. This was to accompany the dark wooden furniture he was moving in from the Evangelos vault.

“Did you want to have a look at the house today?” Mathius asked. Harry declined. The floo wasn’t quite ready and he’d learnt his lesson about apparating babies. He made an appointment to view the house the following Friday afternoon, as his last exam that day finished at 4. It would also give Mathius and Walter more time to make the house as close to ready as possible. Harry was also told that as the work was going so smoothly, he would definitely be able to move in by Valentines Day. Harry thanked Mathius and he went o his way. He stopped off at Gringotts to check his vault balance, (98 galleons, 64 sickles and 53 knuts), had Tom added to his will, (at a coast of 1 sickle) then began to make his way back to the flat. On the way, he decided to stop at the apothecary. He was running low on ready made calming potion (Tom’s colic had taken its toll) and needed some more. Looking around he noticed the sparseness of ingredients in the shop. What ingredients that were available were quite common and more expensive that he’d thought. It gave Harry something to think about. Maybe he could grow some of the more dangerous, and thus more profitable plants in the greenhouse. Harry purchased his calming potion and left in thought. While he’d never been particularly enamored with herbology at Hogwarts with Professor Sprout, he did quite a bit of gardening for his Aunt Petunia. It was one of the few chores he could take pride in. It was a possibility.

Harry continued his wanderings down the various alleys of wizarding London. He’d never been this free to explore before. Whilst previously all he’d ever known about were Diagon and Knockturn Alleys, there was also Fraction Alley, which was a more residential area, Increment Alley, Vertical Alley and Historic Alley. Historic Alley contained some of the more expensive stores and an up market restaurant, Vertical Alley contained more businesses than shops, with wizarding private detectives, a private healing clinic and Prewett and Picks were on this Alley. Interestingly, Knockturn Alley, while shabby and run down, didn’t have the reputation as a dark place now. It was in fact, the street on which Harry bought the second hand pram, and the shop also had some furniture that Harry wanted to take a closer look at another day, prior to moving in to Bolton Farm. Harry rather enjoyed his walk and it was one more thing that was making him see that living in this time was good for him. Here he was no one special, so everyone he met saw him simply as Harry Ashby, uncle to Tom Ashby; the bastard son of his ‘sister’ Merope. His new life was shaping up well, and Harry began to realise that things weren’t so bad, even if the price of his new happiness was the loss of Ron and Hermione. The last shop on the street Increment Alley , which intersected with the residential Fraction Alley at the other end to Diagon Alley was an animal shop of sorts. Called Etnie's Exotic Emporium, the shop had a variety of magical animals and birds for sale. Inside were Kneazles, Mokes, Owls of every variety from Europe and a few from further abroad, Jobberknolls, Fwoopers (under silencing charms), Ashwinders in a enclosure containing a brightly burning green fire, crups, salamanders, and a plethora of snakes, including a couple of runespoors. Stepping inside, Harry was amazed at what was available. He hadn’t had an animal friend since Hedwig died. He took a look at the owls, his chest constricting at the sight of some Snowy's. No, he couldn’t get another Snowy Owl yet. He walked along the wall containing the various owls in cages or perches. Little Pygmy owls, Scoops owls, Barn owls. There was also a funny fellow on his own, at the end of the row. Grey, orange and brown with orange eyes and large tuffs that look like ears, it was quite a comical looking owl. As Harry approached, it sat up straight and began bobbing its head up and down. Tom gurgled and reached his hand upwards towards it. The shop clerk took this opportunity to approach Harry.

“It’s a fine specimen of an owl. Are you interested?”

Harry thought it over. He could do with an owl, to hunt mice in his barn, as well as to post letters to, well he hoped he’d find some friends at a later date. He could always post letters to Vesta, she’d become like an honorary Aunt to him over the past couple of weeks. Always warm, friendly and helpful, he knew he’d miss her when he moved. Also, an owl would be useful for ordering things by post, and correspondence with the ministry and collecting newspapers.

“Yes, possibly. What type of owl is this one?” Harry asked, pointing at the owl with long ears.

“He’s known as a long-eared owl. Specially bred to be diurnal, unlike their non-magical counterparts. Like to hunt in cleared lands though they prefer to nest in tree and forests. Not normally a city bird. Live quite a while, the oldest I’ve known has lived 20 years, though the non-magical ones normally only make 10. This boy has been here a while. We normally sell them at four months, so they’ve left their parents and had a bit of training, but nobody has wanted this guy. He’s about 7 months old now. Very friendly, a bit of a joker. Likes to pull on hair. He costs 28 sickles. A bit pricier than your common barn owl, plus as he’s older has had more postal training. Or we do have Barn owls for 12 sickles, Scoops for 11 knuts.”

“I’ll take this one thanks,” Harry said firmly. He also purchased some owl pellets, and a supply of mice and rats to supplement his hunting. Before he left, Harry also had a look at some of the species that could be used for potions ingredients, either themselves or by-products. He resolved that if he went with becoming an independent ingredients supplier, that he would use his parseltongue ability with runespoors, whose eggs are valuable, as well as other varieties of snakes whose venom, eggs and sheddings could be sold. Finally, after telling the owl the address to fly to (No. 2 Fraction Alley), he and Tom walked back to the flat. On the doorstep was a covered plate of biscuits and a note.

Mr. Ashby,

Please accept these as a further apology for my rudeness this morning. Asta and I had quite a lot of fun making them. I’m sorry there are only 11 left, Asta ate one while my back was turned. Perhaps we could catch up before Monday so I can get to know Tom before I start sitting for him.

Dawn Williams

 

Munching on a biscuit, Harry thought that a friendship, perhaps more, with Dawn had great possibilities.

 

As I'm trying to (trying being the operative word) write a fan fic set after chapter 35 of Deathly Hallows, I've reread it again, and I have to say, the more I read it, the more disappointed I am.

They really are just a bunch of bumbling kids. Hermione memory charms her parents, sells there practice and house and sends them to Australia, brings dozens of books packed in a clever Mary Poppinsesque bag, yet forgets to bring food!

Ron is just an idiot (no change there really).

Harry, just, I don't know. Didn't seem like himself. Moping about Ginny when he's on a quest to save the wizarding world. Molly, going from
mild (ish) mannered house wife to "Not my daughter, Bitch!"

And the epilogue. Please, it was like a 12 year old fangirl broke into the publishing company and added her own pages for an epilogue.

Personally, I can't stand the Harry/Ginny pairing, and think that the chest monster Harry has around Ginny is the result of a love potion. I mean, little girl with elbow in butter, rescued from Chamber, nothing, nothing, goes to ministry,  seen being promiscuous at school to
TRUE LOVE! Don't see it myself.

So, thats my rant over.Thanks for listening.

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns everything you recognise. Please don’t sue me.

AN: The conversation between Harry and Vesta is very similar to one I had with my husband, when trying to explain to him exactly how I ‘bounced’ to settle our daughter when she had colic. Alas he never learnt, and was just amusing to watch. Thankfully our son never had colic so there was no repeat of his ungainly movements.

This chapter will be very short, as it just deals with the first night at home.

 *******
Chapter Five

Vesta met Harry at the door to the flat.

“Oh there he is the poor dear. You were gone quite a while Harry. Was there a hold up?”

“A squib Malfoy I believe. Had a huge grudge against wizards and went out of her way to make it hard for me to take Tom. She also virtually admitted that she had caused the death of Merope-umm, my sister.”

Tom’s screams continued.

“Sshh shhh. Vesta, I don’t know what to do. Ever since I apparated him here he’s been crying his head off. I’m surprised that you didn’t hear him as we came up the alley. I just can’t get him to stop. Beatrice, the orphanage matron said he rarely cried but its all he’s done with me.”

“You apparated! With a baby! No wonder he’s screaming. The sensation alone….Give him here. Oh the poor dear. You should never apparate with babies. Too much risk of splinching. There, there Tommy. Sshh. See Harry, the way I’m bouncing. Constant movements up and down, side to side. It’s very soothing. My Hector, he could never get the hang of it. Said it was the way a woman was built, but as a single parent, you’ll need to find a method of soothing him. Here, he’s settling a bit. You have a try.”

Harry carefully took Tom back from Vesta and tried to imitate her movements. “Not so bouncy. Make it smoother. Not both legs, kind of jiggle up and down on one. Yes, that’s better. And nonsense words help too. Now, does he need anything before we get him settled down? Have you had dinner? I could whip you up an omelet.”

Harry nodded his thanks for the suggestion of food and kept up the bouncing. After a short while Tom began to settle down and start rubbing his eyes, and pulling at his ears.

“Poor dear’s all worn out. See how he keeps grabbing his ears. A classic sign of tiredness. At his age, he should only be up for about an hour at a time. Then try to get him to nap. His awake time will increase as he gets older. Why don’t you get him out of those horrible muggle things and get him ready for bed. Might want to give him a bath too. Muggle orphanages aren’t the cleanest places. I’ll help you get him settled, give you a few tips, then I must be off. Hector will think I’ve run off with you.” Vesta said with a giggle.

Harry nodded thankfully for the help and lay Tom down on this bed to take his clothes off.   Tom looked sleepily up at Harry and Harry once more pondered what he was doing. This baby murdered his parents, murdered Cedric, tortured and killed so many people over such a long time. Yet at the same time, it wasn’t this baby. God, time-travel is confusing, Harry thought to himself.

“Harry dear, I’ve filled up the sink. Have you stripped Tommy’s clothes off yet?”

“Coming Vesta,” He answered, thoughts temporarily banished from his mind.

Vesta then spent some time showing and assisting Harry in the best ways to hold a wet baby in the water, how to dry and powder him before putting on a nappy and how to get some clothes back on him and swaddle him ready for bed.

“I’ll just hold him for a moment Harry, while you go make him a bottle. Oh he’s so cute. I cant wait until I get Grandchildren. All the benefits of a baby, with none of the disincentives.”

Harry chuckled at this as he made up the bottle. So far, apart from the crying after apparation, Tom had been a great baby. Easy to clean, easy to feed and a quiet temperament. Looking after a baby wasn’t too hard.

 

“Wahhhh, wahhhhh.” Four hours later, Harry realised that babies weren’t always easy. Tom had been rather unimpressed with the milk supply from the wizarding world. Or rather, the milk didn’t agree with his tummy, for Tom had glugged it down quickly enough. He’d slept for about 20 minutes, during which time Vesta had had an omelet with Harry, but shortly after she’d left, he’d started crying and wouldn’t shut up. Harry had jiggled, wiggled, bounced, cooed, made soothing sounds and nonsense words. He’d given Tom a sip of colic calmer, taken a larger swig of calming potion for himself. Tom just wasn’t happy. Harry paced the floor throughout the night.

“Sshh. Please just shush,” he’d beg, but Tom wasn’t listening. After 3 hours, Harry snapped.

“God, I hate you so much. Why won’t you just SHUT UP! Shut up, shut up! I need to sleep. You need to sleep. I could have killed you rather than adopt you. You’re horrible, and evil and…smelly. Really, really smelly.” Apparently the self cleaning nappies could only handle so much.  Harry settled Tom on the bed, where he continued to thrash his arms and legs around and attempted to change the nappy. “Scourify”. A few cleaning, and air freshening charms later, Tom was clean. His wails had turned to whimpers, tears dripped slowly down his cheeks. Harry’s hair was messier than ever, he had an unidentified smear down the back of his shirt and was bone tired.

“Okay little man, just let me sit down in the armchair for a minute. Ssshhh. It’s ok. (Yawn) Just let me close by eyes, now you’re a bit quieter.” Harry closed his eyes, his head lolled back. Tom lay reclined on his chest, with his arms tightly holding him. Tom snuggled up against Harry and they both, finally, fell asleep.  

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns everything you recognise. Please don’t sue me.

AN: This will be a bit of a boring chapter, getting things sorted to make Harry fit into 1927. Hopefully things will perk up next chapter.

Chapter Three: Getting stuff sorted.

Harry woke in tears the next morning. The realisation that he was in the past and would probably never see his friends again had caught up with him. He would never get to play chess and lose against Ron, listen to Hermione prattle on about Hogwarts: A History or kiss Ginny. The previous day he had kept going through the shock of his arrival and decision to adopt Tom, but today he felt like curling up into a ball and wailing in a corner. Harry had pretty much been alone his entire life before Hogwarts and it looked like he was going to be alone again. He lay in bed for a while before remembering that Vesta was due to meet him this morning to help him buy baby things. Reluctantly getting out of bed, Harry ran a bath, washed and then realised that he had no clean clothes to wear. “Bugger” he swore softly. Performing a cleaning charm, he put back on yesterdays clothes. They were no longer dirty but still didn’t feel quite right and they had seen better days. Well, they had been dragged across Britain in a backpack and shot with the killing curse.

 

Mrs. Williams arrived just after 8 with a small basket. “Dearie, I noticed that you didn’t have anything with you yesterday, so I brought some of my home made buns, a pint of milk and some tea. There’s an old kettle in one of these cupboards, we’ll give in a wash then have a nice breakfast while you tell me where you need to go today. I’ve got my niece Gloria watching the shop so I have all morning for you.”

Harry was very pleased to see such nice food. The current buns were emitting a mouthwatering scent that made his stomach growl in appreciation. They sorted through the cupboards and managed to find the kettle, a couple of chipped plate and mugs and sat in the armchairs to talk.

“Well, as I said yesterday, I have a farm in Devon, it will need a lot of work to make it livable, I suppose. It’s been unoccupied for about a century. Is there a wizard building firm or something? Also, I need lots of things for Tom, a bed, clothes, nappies. And I suppose lots more stuff. I know I could get some food from the grocery store on Diagon Alley and some new clothes for me. I also need to find out if I could take my OWLS.” Harry had thought this through last night. As he didn’t exist in this time, there would be no record of him. No record meant no OWLS. No OWLS meant no qualifications and a poor chance of getting a decent job. He would also like to try to sit his NEWTS sometime, to honour Hermione, who always tried to push him to do his schoolwork. He had come up with a back story for his new life. “I thought I was muggleborn, you see. My mum died when I was little, so I guess she could have been a witch, but my dad was a squib. My sister couldn’t do much magic. We moved around loads and I never went to Hogwarts. I learnt some magic over the years from people my dad knew and from books, so I think I have a good chance of passing some OWLS. Is it possible to arrange to sit them at the Ministry?” Harry asked. Vesta looked thoughtful. “I suppose there must be. Not everyone attends Hogwarts, too expensive. Though Elphaba Sprogg is using the idea of Hogwarts scholarships in her bid to be Minister. So plenty of witches and wizards are home schooled. You could apply at the Ministry, see if they have set testing times and book to sit. You may want some more books to read, to refresh your memory. Now, as for building, there are a couple of lads down on Lantern Way who are good hands at fixing up buildings. Mathius Prewett and Walter, oh what’s his name. Walter Picks. You could go see them. As for things for your boy, well, let’s go.”

Harry and Vesta spent the next two hours shopping for necessities. Under advisement from Vesta, Harry bought a wooden cot, bedding, self cleaning nappies; only change once-a-day; formula, bottles, several warm baby suits and a tiny baby robe. Harry paid extra to have them charmed to grow a couple of sizes with Tom. It would end up cheaper in the long run. They went to the apothecary and got some simple home medicine potions for ailments such as headaches, colic, colds and anxiety. “Sometimes at 3 am, it pays for the parent to have a calming potion, to keep themselves sane,” declared Vesta. Harry also got himself a couple of pairs of trousers, three shirts, new underwear and socks, and several robes in a winter fabric. He’d noticed that the wizards here dressed more formally, and people in muggle attire tended to stand out. He did a brief shop in the grocery store, stocking up with bread, cheese, milk, tea, eggs, bacon and sausages.  There was little fruit available but was able to purchase some apples. Harry figured that he’d learn’t enough cooking at the Dursley’s to be able to manage by himself. He returned to the flat and parted ways with Vesta, who promised to return that evening to help with Tom, and show Harry how to bath and feed him. After a quick bite of cheese on toast for lunch, Harry apparated to the Ministry.

 

The red phone box wasn’t at its usual spot anymore. Instead, there was an old dilapidated horse box. Looking inside, Harry saw a chair in the centre. Sitting on it, he was unsurprised o drop down. Phone boxes aren’t common now, so the entrance is something else, Harry thought. The welcome witch asked Harry the reason for his visit today. “Harry Ashby, OWL enquiries.” Retrieving the badge, Harry pinned it on his robe as the doors to the atrium opened.

The atrium looked different. There was no golden statue and Harry wondered when it would be installed. There was a wizard at the welcome desk. “Wand registration over here,” the man called to him. Handing it over, “Phoenix and Holly. Thanks sir.” Harry pocketed his wand and asked where to go. He was told that the Office for Education was on Level Six, next to the apparation office. Harry reminded himself that he doesn’t actually have a license so made a mental note to go there too. The lift ride was short. Harry shared the lift with a young witch. She looked in her early twenties. “Hello. What level?” she asked. Harry told her he was after level six. “Oh, I work up there. What are you after?” she asked. Harry explained, “I’ve never sat my OWLS. I could pass them, but I was home schooled. I am looking to see if I can sit them privately, and maybe even my NEWTS.”

“Oh, my supervisor could help you with that,” she said, “my name is Mafalda Hopkirk. I’ve just started here. Aren’t you rather old to have not sat your OWLS?” she asked. Harry looked at her closely. Hopkirk, she was the witch Hermione impersonated to get into the Ministry. “Hi, I’m Harry. Yes, I’m 18 but never got around to taking them. Home schooled,” he said.
Mafalda then chatted to him for the lift ride and showed him back to the office. “Mr. Jerkins, Harry would like to talk to you about sitting his OWLS privately”.

“Ah, yes, Harry is it. A bit old for OWLS aren’t you? Have you sat them before?”

Jerkins asked.

“No,” Harry replied, “never had an opportunity to. But I realise their importance and feel confident about sitting them.”

“Hmmm, well we have testing times every 6 months, for both Hogwarts and Fairfax school students that private individuals can sit at the same time. That involves a cost of 28 knuts a test. Or you can book a private test anytime at the cost of 1 galleon and 6 sickles per test. That is to pay for the extra paperwork and time for exam supervisors. The next scheduled tests aren’t until early June. If you want to sit NEWTS, you have to wait at least 3 months after passing your OWLS.”

Harry thought it over. Even after his spending today and paying his rent, he had about 310 galleons plus change left. If he sat for 6 exams, it would be less than 15 galleons. Whilst a lot here, he could afford it in the hopes of using his OWLS towards getting a job. “I’d like to take them privately if I could. As soon as possible. Could I sit for Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy and History of Magic? Here’s 11 galleons. That should cover them.”

Mr. Jerkins looked astonished. Very rarely do young wizards go depositing such large sums of money on his desk. “How are you able to afford this Mr. Ashby? I hope this isn’t ill-gotten money.”

“Oh no, I have just received an inheritance and feel that education is the best way to spend it.” Harry replied. “It can be checked with Gringotts, the Evangelos family.”

“No, that’s all right. But you shouldn’t be carrying this much about with you. Thieves and pick pockets in London. Now, if you’re sure that’s what you want to do, here’s a receipt for the galleons, and a booking slip. February 4th, just over a week away. You’ll take two or three a day, theory and practical. Thank you, have a nice day.”

Harry took the slip and receipt and was ushered out the office. He popped in to the Apparation Office and was able to take his test now and was quickly issued his license. He then used it to apparate to the premises of Prewett and Picks.

 

Mathius Prewett was an older wizard, in his fifties. He had a smiling face, reddish brown hair and firm handshake. His skin was sun roughened, making him appear older than he was, a rarity for magic users. Walter Picks was younger, early forties. Blonde haired, blue eyed and serious. Harry explained his problem. “I’ve inherited a property, its in Dartmoor, and has been uninhabited for quite a long time. About a century. I’d like to live there, either in whatever house is available or build a new one. It was recommended that I come and see you two for advice.”

It is swiftly decided that the best thing to do would be to evaluate the property first. Mathius offered to go with Harry now to see what was left. Harry looked at his watch, and seeing it was only 2:30, decided he had a bit of time to look before collecting Tom. The pair apparated to the farmstead; Bolton Farm.

Chapter Two: Creating Harry Ashby

 Disclaimer: All bow before the mighty JK for she is the creator. I merely dabble with her genius.

Diagon Alley looked similar yet different. Gringotts was still down one end with shining white marble walls, and Ollivanders was there, along with a few other stores he remembered; such as Slug and Jiggers, Madame Malkins and Flourish and Blott, but there were also new, or rather old stores that he hadn’t seen before. There were a realtors, small grocery store, a candle shop, a herbology store and a lolly shop. The streets were swept clean of snow and there was still a few Christmas decorations left up. It was also a lot busier than he remembered. Of course, the last time he had been here, it was during a war and people were less likely to be shopping. Harry strolled down the alley, glancing into the shop windows. He stopped at where Quality Quidditch used to be. It was still a broom shop and held quidditch gear, but they were very different from what Harry was used to. ‘Brand New Cleansweep One. Revolutionary Quidditch broom. Priced at 3 galleons. Moontrimmer broom, only 15 sickles. Blimey they’re old. And the prices are cheap. Well, not really if you’re accounting for inflation from now till the 90’s. I suppose it works out at about 80 pounds in 1998. Or about 15 pounds now. What prices are things now, I wonder.’ Harry thought. “Dress robe made from acromantula silk, 1 galleon. Books; knuts and sickles. Flat for rent. Two bedroom flat at corner of Fraction Alley. 4 galleons a week. Enquire at Vesta’s Candles. Will have to check that out.” Harry said to himself.

 

At the end of the alley stood Gringotts:

Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.

(Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone)

“Well, I haven’t actually stolen anything yet, so I should be fine.”

Harry entered the bank and headed over to the tellers. A largish goblin with numerous warts on his head called; ”Next.”

“Hi, I’m looking to open a bank account with you, and also, is it possible to see if I have any inheritance left to me?” Harry asked. He figured it couldn’t hurt. Maybe he had a long lost relative that didn’t have any direct heirs. He knew that he wasn’t entitled to the Potter vault, as he had older living relatives.

“Name?” the goblin asked.

“Harry Ashby. I’d like to deposit 78 galleons and 150 pounds sterling into a new account.”

“ All right. This is your new key. We can either take the cart down to your vault now, or give it to one of the vault goblins to deposit for you. It works out at an extra 14 galleons, 15 sickles and 6 knuts for the muggle money, minus a 7 sickle fee for exchange. An inheritance check is 2 galleons or 2 % of your inheritance, whichever is larger. Do you still wish to go ahead?” the goblin asked.

Harry nodded. “That’s fine for a vault goblin to deposit the money. I trust the bank. And the fees for the inheritance test sound fine. How about this, I will also give back ownership of any goblin made articles I inherit to the bank too, as a gesture of goodwill. Now, if I could also have your name, good goblin.”

The goblin stared at Harry. “My name. Wizards never ask for names. Or give back Goblin-made goods. It’s Bonesnapper. Now, follow me to my office.”

Bonesnapper got up and Harry followed him to a small office at the rear of the bank. Once inside, Harry sat on a small chair and waited whilst Bonesnapper sorted through some papers.

“Here. Prick your finger and place seven drops of blood on the parchment. If you are eligible for any inheritance, it will list it.” Bonesnapper handed Harry a pin and parchment.

Pricking his finger, Harry let the blood drip onto the parchment. Nothing happened at first, then lines started forming on the page. He handed it back to Bonesnapper.

“Now, this doesn’t give you a copy of your family tree or anything. It just tells you what you can inherit due to being the closest blood connection to a deceased vault holder. Now let’s see. There is a small vault once belonging to the Peverells, which you can inherit. It only contains 6 galleons and some paintings and crockery. And a slightly larger vault belonging to the Evangelos family. It contains some family heirlooms, including a set of 6 goblin silver goblets, 3 wands, a Mediterranean flying carpet, a set of cauldrons, a dining suite made from imported ebony, some ivory candlesticks, paintings and 126 galleons, 15 sickles and 72 knuts. Oh, and the deeds to a small farmstead near Dartmoor  in Devon. Uninhabited for the past century, so doubtless needs work. The Evangelos family was a Greek family that immigrated to England in 1621 to avoid the Black Death spreading through Europe. They were a pureblood family that flourished here for many years. The last known wizard Evangelos was Marcus Evangelos, who died in 1813. He had only one child, a boy called Stephen who was a squib. There are no further records after that. I assume that you must be related to the squib son somewhere in your line. Only wizards can inherit from this family, so you must be the first male wizard since 1813 who has been eligible. Congratulations.”

Harry looked shocked. “Well, the bank can have the goblets. Could I empty and close the Peverell vault and link the Evangelos vault to my new one? If I could also take a look in that vault, find out where this farmstead is, and the condition of the paintings and furniture?”

Bonesnapper nodded and the pair walked to the carts. “Vault number 611 please.”

The cart sped off, deeper into the bowels of the bank. “The vault will require a drop of your blood to access. It will then present you with a key for future use. If you lose the key, you will have to notify the bank so it can be destroyed and a new blood key will be issued at a cost of 12 sickles,” Bonesnapper explained. Harry nodded. The cart stopped. Upon opening the vault, Harry saw a small pile of gold, and a large carved dark wood table and chairs. Exquisitely made, with firebird engravings and red velvet cushions, all carefully preserved under charms. There were portraits of dark haired men and women, with twirling moustaches and dimples. There was also a portrait of a wedding of a dark haired man; with one of the largest moustaches Harry had seen; to a young brunette woman with sparkling green eyes. “Evangelos, Evans. My mother is descended from this family. Not a muggleborn after all.” He murmured.  The deed to the farmstead was on the table, with apparation co ordinates and an address available. He directed Bonesnapper to collect the goblets, pocketed the deed, took one last look around, then left.

 

Back on Diagon Alley, Harry hurried to the Candle Shop. A plump witch greeted him. “Hello, I’m enquiring about the flat advertised in your window. Is it still available and could I possible view it?” he asked.

The witch, Vesta, was quite happy to show him the flat. She hung a closed for 15 minutes sign on the door and they hurried up the alley to the intersection with Fraction Alley. “Its only small, more of a bed sit than a flat really.” Vesta explained, “it belonged to my husband’s brother who passed away recently. We are looking at renting it out until we can sell it. The market is quite slow at the moment. There are two bedrooms, though one is little bigger than a closet, a small bath and toilet, kitchenette with a cool box and wood fired oven. It comes furnished, with a table, single bed and a couple of arm chairs. Though a bright young man like you could surely transfigure some nicer things. We require rent paid a week in advance, so 2 weeks up front. Is that acceptable?” Vesta asked.

Harry took a look around. It was nothing glamorous, but he had to admit, it was much better than anything he had at Privet Drive. The second room could be used for Tom, he thought. “Mrs. Williams, “ “Oh call me Vesta dear.” “Vesta, I would be interested in renting this flat from you, but I am only looking for short term. I have inherited a farm in Dartmoor that is in need of repair. Once I get that sorted, I will move there. I can give you, say three weeks rent now, and we can see how the farm renovations go. Would that be all right? I also have a nephew, a one month old boy called Tom, who is orphaned and will be living with me. Do you know where I could get appropriate baby things. I don’t have a clue where to get or what to get!” Harry asked.

Vesta Williams quite happily agreed to the short term rent and was also able to advise Harry of where to go to purchase baby things. She also offered to take him there tomorrow, as it was now too late to get anything today. Harry thanked her and gave her the 12 galleons for rent in exchange for the keys. He then went up to the Leaky Cauldron for a supper of Shepherds pie and a butter beer. He would need to add food and clothes shopping to his list tomorrow, Harry thought. Just before dark, he apparated back to the orphanage. It was locked up for the night so Harry left a note.

Mrs. Cole,

I have found suitable lodgings for both myself and Tom. I will be able to collect him late tomorrow afternoon, if that is acceptable. Yours

Harry Ashby.

Pushing the letter under the door, Harry walked back to the alleyway he woke up in this morning, looked around and apparated back to the little dingy flat that was to be his new home for a while. His last thoughts before sleep claimed him were, it’s not a tent…

AN: The usual disclaimer. If you recognise a character, its not mine. If you dont', it probably is. I have no money, please don't sue me. I just want to play with JK's toys for a bit. Its my first try, please don't be too harsh.

Harry Potter and a New Life

Chapter One

 “I’ve got to go back, haven’t I?’

‘That is up to you.’

‘I’ve got a choice?’

‘Oh yes.’ Dumbledore smiled at him. ‘We are in King’s Cross, you say? I think if you decided not to go back, you would be able to…let’s say…board a train.’

‘And where would it take me?’

‘On,’ said Dumbledore simply.

Silence again.

‘Voldemort’s got the Elder Wand.’

‘True. Voldemort has the Elder Wand.’

‘But you want me to go back?’

‘I think,’ said Dumbledore, ‘that if you choose to return, there is a chance that he may be finished for good. I cannot promise it. But I know this, Harry, that you have less to fear from returning here than he does.’

Harry glanced again at the raw-looking thing that trembled and choked in the shadow beneath the distant chair. (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: London, 2007. p. 578)

 

‘And what happens to that if I go back?’ Harry asked.

Dumbledore sighed. ‘He has made his choices, Harry. But by going back you can perhaps help your friends. If you went with that, I don’t know what would happen.’

‘So, if I picked up the...baby, I would go back somewhere. Maybe back to the beginning?’

‘Harry my boy, your heart if full of compassion, but I say again, he has made his choices. Go back to your friends. They still have hope.’

Harry stared at Dumbledore and then moved decisively across the platform to the baby creature. It had stopped whimpering and was looking up at Harry and held its arms out imploringly. With a flicker of distaste, quickly stifled, Harry bent down and picked up the baby.

‘Professor, you once told me about making a choice between what is right and what is easy. Going back to my friends would be easy. But what is right is to try and save this, Tom, too. Yes he made the choices to get to where he is now, but he wasn’t born evil. If he makes different choices, there may be no need for a Boy-Who-Lived and all the people who have died could be saved.’

‘Harry…’

‘I’ve made my choice. I’m going with Tom.’

 

 

‘Uggh’. He was lying on the ground again. He slowly lifted his head and took a look around. He wasn’t in the Forest anymore. In fact, he wasn’t quite sure where he was. Harry slowly stood up and took a look around. He was in an alley way looking out at cobbled streets with old fashioned black cars driving along it.  He took a closer look at a car and realised that they were black Model T Fords. A clip clop clip clop sound approached and Harry saw a grey horse pulling a coach along behind it. The building directly opposite Harry was rather square, grim looking building with railings surrounding it. It looked vaguely familiar. ‘Wahhh’ A baby cried and Harry looked around, panicked. ‘Shite. Where’s the baby?’ He began to look further into the alley but couldn’t see Tom anywhere. A young woman came around the corner, dressed in a long skirt and pushing a perambulator with a chubby faced baby inside.

‘Um, excuse me; you wouldn’t have seen a baby anywhere around here would you?’ Harry asked.

The woman stared at Harry.

‘There are lots of babies in the orphanage across the road. Perhaps your child is there.’ She sniffed and continued on her way.

‘Bloody hell,’ Harry muttered, "the orphanage.” That’s why the building looks familiar. He had seen it in the pensieve memories. Which means…? ‘Bloody hell. I’ve gone back in time.’

 

‘Shite, now what do I do? I need Hermione and her magic bag. What do I have with me? Harry looked down at himself. He was still wearing the clothes he had worn going into the forest. His invisibility cloak was folded up and in one pocket. He had his wand, his mokeskin wallet with 195 galleons, 56 sickles and 17 knuts in it. He also had some pound notes. He was about to discard the notes as useless, due to the fact they were printed in 1992 when he realised that they looked different. They were a mix of 10 and 20 pound notes, except they were really old, or rather, recent. Printed in the1920’s. ‘Right. So I have wizard and muggle money, my wallet, wand, cloak and what I’m wearing now. And I am outside the orphanage where Riddle grew up. I wonder what the date is. And what should I do? If he’s a baby or a small kid, I could easily kill him. But that’s making me as bad as Voldemort. I want to help him change. Or rather become a new person. Blimey this is confusing. I’ll just go to the orphanage and ask about him.’

Decision made, Harry crossed the cobbled road and knocked on the door. After a few minutes it was opened by a woman, also familiar, though the last image Harry had seen of her, she was older.  

‘I’m Mrs. Cole, matron of the orphanage. How can I help you today?’ she asked.

“Hello. Umm, I have an enquiry about a boy, a baby really. I think my … sister might have left him here. Her name was Merope and she was going to call her boy Tom….” Harry explained.

“Oh, yes, the boy baby. Yes, your sister was here, however, she didn’t leave the baby behind. I mean, she died. I’m very sorry for your loss. It was about a month ago. The boy, Tom Marvolo she said to call him, he’s quite healthy. I am glad that there is a relative to take him in. You are here to take him, aren’t you?”

Harry looked at Mrs. Cole, nonplussed.

“I hadn’t really thought this through, I, guess I wasn’t expecting to have to make this decision. I haven’t anywhere to stay or a job…”

“That’s perfectly all right dear. You were not expecting such tragic news. But, if you could take Tom, it really would be the best thing for him. We try our best here, but we have little funds and if a child has relatives, it really is best to stay with family. So, umm, what is your name?”

Mrs. Cole asked.

“Harry, Harry Ashby.”

“Right, well Harry, if you would like to sort out a place to live, and employment, it really would be best for Tom to go with you. And Merope, she died before being able to sign his birth certificate. As her next of kin, there are some legal matters to take care of. His name, we all call him Tom but it is not official yet.”

“You can call him Tom. Just Tom Ashby. Marvolo is a rather odd name. Makes him stand out. And Merope wasn’t actually married to Riddle, just thought she was. So really, Ashby is the best surname for him.” Harry said decisively. And he can’t get the name Lord Voldemort from Ashby either. So I’m already changing things, he thought.

“Right, well that would explain the letter from Mr. Riddle. We wrote, you see, to tell him of his wife’s death and he wrote back saying he had no wife and to not contact him again. So, shall we sort out this paperwork, and then see you in a day or two?” Mrs. Cole pressed.

“Okay, sure. What do I have to sign?”

 

Harry left the orphanage about two hours later. He had signed paperwork for Tom’s birth certificate, with the name Thomas Ashby, and had agreed to take Tom within the week. He’d left behind 20 pounds, which seemed to be quite a lot in these times. Harry also had held Tom, and looking down into his brown eyes, had reaffirmed his decision made at Kings Cross. Only a baby looked back at him. This wasn’t the monster that killed his parents and Cedric. Tom was just an innocent baby, and Harry was going to do his best to make sure that this Tom grew up different. And if he ever went bad, well, Harry would deal with that too.

His first stop after leaving the orphanage was to head to the Leaky Cauldron. He knew roughly whereabouts it would be, but the streets were quite different from his time. There were hardly any cars, only the Model T and similar looking Model A. There were people walking, coaches and trams. There were also people riding horses on greens. Harry supposed he looked odd and out of place in his jeans and knitted jumper. After wandering for a while, Harry noticed some owls flitting above him. As it was still daylight and he was a wizard, he correctly assumed that he must be seeing postal owls and that the Leaky Cauldron was nearby. Sure enough, he soon saw the Leaky Cauldron, with people coming in and out wearing long cloaks that surprisingly, didn’t look too out of place. The Cauldron didn’t look as shabby as he remembered it, but reasoned that it is 70 years younger. Taking a deep breath, Harry strode through the doors of the Leaky Cauldron, ready to face the wizarding world and change his life.

Hi, welcome to my page. I'm not particularly computer literate so it's actually taken something like 2 years for anuthing to get posted.
A little about me:
I am female, aged 26, married and live in Western Australia. I have two kids, a 2 year old girl called Ella and a 10 week old boy called Leo. I am an avid fan of Harry Potter and love reading fan fiction.  I also love books by th author Laurell K Hamilton, both her Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series.
I am studying at uni to be a teacher. and I also love horses. I have a yearling quarter horse gelding called Socks that I'm working on at the moment. I would love to be able to write fan fiction, but my free time is limited. Oh well, one day.