Edgecombe Residence, Manchester, 10/31/1990, 03:29
Harry and Bellatrix stood on a street in the outer suburbs of Manchester, the cold night air filling their lungs as they went about their task.
Tonight they were taking care of a couple of problems and sending a message at the same time. If they were successful, then this attack would be a major blow to their enemy.
Harry meticulously cracked the complex alert wards over the Edgecombe home while Bellatrix was watching the two-story brick house through a set of omnioculars.
Harry hadn't wanted to attack Madam Edgecombe before September when her daughter left to begin her first year at Hogwarts. Since they had waited that long Harry figured they might as well make the date of the attack one that was significant to Voldemort, Halloween.
Harry and Bellatrix had been watching the woman for months now trying to find out as much as they could about the woman. This was fortunate, as they had discovered something that would really twist the knife when Voldemort learned of this attack.
Grace Edgecombe met regularly with Corban Yaxley, usually when her husband was working... late.
It turned out that the reason Madam Edgecombe was helping Yaxley was that she was also having an affair with him. The affair had been going on for the past fifteen years if Narcissa's source was accurate. This was a much bigger deal in the wizarding world and if this information got out it would ruin the woman. Luckily for Madam Edgecombe, she wouldn't live long enough to have to worry about that.
Tonight the stars aligned perfectly, Grace Edgecombe's husband was pulling the late shift at the St Mungo's pediatric ward. Currently, Yaxley and Madam Edgecombe were pulling an all-nighter themselves if the whorish wails coming from the upstairs bedroom were anything to go by.
With one last wave of his wand, the wards were deactivated. Harry was thrilled that he hadn't needed to take them down completely as that would have alerted his targets they were there. Harry had simply rendered them inert for a few hours which would be plenty of time to do what they needed to do and leave.
"The wards are down," Harry whispered to his partner as he cast a spell to remove his magical signature from the area.
"Oh goodie, Bella gets to play," Bellatrix giggled as they began crossing the lawn.
Harry and Bellatrix made their way towards the backdoor of the house, scanning for any other hidden wards or traps as they walked.
"Alright, here we go Chimera," Harry whispered as he cast an unlocking spell on the door
Harry heard the faint click of the lock and eased the door open. Harry stepped inside and gave the room dark room a once over. Once he assured the room was clear, Harry gestured for his wife to step inside.
The room was almost completely dark but it was still easy to tell that they were in the kitchen. Harry gently shut the door and made his way across the room, Bellatrix walking behind him.
They stepped out of the kitchen into a dining room that was lit by a single candle in the centre of the table between two half-eaten plates of food. There was a brown wand beside one of the plates, meaning only one of them was armed.
Harry picked the wand off of the table and studied it for a second before slipping it into his pocket, thinking that it might come in handy for something later.
Harry could hear the squeaking of bed springs and muffled moaning from the room directly above them. Harry was grateful for this as disgusting as it was, this meant that the occupants hadn't heard him and Bellatrix enter the house.
"Not very alert right now, are they?" Harry asked shaking his head in disgust.
"No, they are too busy rutting like pigs to hear anything," Bella scoffed.
"Let's get this over with," Harry said as he tried to mentally prepare himself for what he was about to do.
"I want to take care of Edgecombe," Bella whispered, her voice distorted by the silver mask she was wearing.
"Very well, though it sounds like you'll have to get in line," Harry snorted.
"Yes, I can hear them," Bella muttered as she approached the door leading into the hallway.
"I guess that means I get to deal with Yaxley," Harry pointed out as he followed after her.
"Fine but we are not feeding them to your little beasties," Bellatrix said flatly.
"I know," Harry nodded his agreement.
"I'll take the lead," Bella whispered as they came to the foot of the stairs.
"Ladies first," Harry said, gesturing for her to go ahead.
Harry idly wondered if they should take precautions to silence their steps as the staircase was particularly squeaky but he doubted Yaxley or Edgecombe could hear anything over the noises coming out of the room.
Once at the top of the stairs, Bellatrix led the way with Harry a step behind her as they both followed the squeals to the door at the end of the narrow hallway.
"Fuck me haaaarder, Yax!" Harry heard Grace Edgecombe screech loudly.
Bella snorted under her mask as they came to a stop in front of the door. Harry gave her a nod and directed his wand at the door.
"Time to say hello," Bella giggled as she raised her own wand.
Bellatrix didn't bother being discreet, with a subtle flick over her wand, she made their presence known.
Her spell blasted the door open with a deafening 'BANG!' The door was thrown open so hard that the handle went through the plaster as it slammed into the wall behind it, getting the attention of the room's occupants.
"What the hell!" Harry heard Yaxley scream in surprise followed by a feminine scream.
"Corban do something!" Harry heard Edgecombe shriek as Bellatrix entered the room.
Harry was right behind her, stepping into the room just in time to see a nude Corban Yaxley roll off of the bed and onto the floor.
The death eater tried to grab for a set of robes wadded on the floor, no doubt to get to his wand but never got close.
Harry hit Yaxley with a banishing charm, hurling him across the room. Corban crashed into the wardrobe, shattering the mirror that was mounted on the wardrobe door, and cracking his head on the floor when he landed.
"Owww," Yaxley groaned as he tried to get to his feet.
"Caught you with your pants down, did we?" Harry taunted as he bound the man tightly in thorny ropes, dropping Yaxley back onto the floor.
"Get this off of me!" Yaxley exclaimed as the thorns dug into his flesh.
"All that screaming we heard sneaking in here and Yaxley is hung like a gnome," Bella cackled as she flicked her wand at Grace Edgecombe who was already bound in thick chains.
The woman was thrown across the room to land beside Yaxley, she shrieked as her back was pressing into the broken glass from the mirror.
"Who the fuck are you?!" Yaxley demanded angrily as he struggled against his bindings.
"It's always the same questions, Reaper," Bella said in a taunting voice as she stalked towards the bound prisoners.
"Who are you? Crucio!" Harry mocked as he hit Yaxley with the cruciatus curse.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHRGH!
"Why are you doing this?" Bellatrix cackled, watching Yaxley convulse as Harry held him under the curse.
"Please let me go," Harry said in a voice of mock terror as he released the curse from Yaxley.
"Now we have some questions for you," Bella said as she ran the tip of her wand over Grace's stomach.
"AAAAAAAAAHRGH Stoooop t-that pleeeeease!" Grace screamed, as the skin on her stomach turned black and started to sizzle from contact with Bella's wand.
Harry thought Grace's face resembled her daughter's quite strongly. She had the same reddish-brown hair and pale skin. Grace was somewhat heavyset, looking like an attractive woman who had let herself go through years of inactivity. Her blue eyes were tearing up as she screamed in agony as Bella's wand got steadily closer to her left breast.
"I'LL TELL YOU ANYTHING JUST PLEEEEASE STOOOOP! Grace shrieked as the smell of burning skin filled the room.
"Very well, but if you lie to me, you will regret it," Bella warned as she lifted her wand so Grace could see it.
"Wh-what do... what do you want to fr-from more-me?" Grace gasped out, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Did you shut off the floo network to the Peverell home last Halloween?" Bellatrix asked, a deadly edge to her voice.
"I-I did," Grace whimpered as Bella lowered her wand so it was an inch from her nose.
"And Corban told you to do this?" Bella asked as she glanced at the bound blond man who was still panting insensibly on the floor.
"Ye-yes he said the dark lord needed it shut off," Grace stammered, tears now streaming from her eyes.
"I see. Have you done this before?" Bella asked.
"Yes, I -I used to do it in the last war before Major attacks," Grace admitted, her voice coming out in a terrified sob.
"I know you did, Edgecombe. I passed quite a few names to you back in eighty-one," Bellatrix giggled as she took off her mask, causing Grace to pale when she realised who her interrogator was.
"I-I'm sorry, p-please don't hurt me anymore," Grace pleaded, a look of terror on her face.
"You turned off the floo to my home while my babies were there. You put my children at risk, Bella is going to punish you for that," Bella cackled as she slowly raised her wand so it was pointed at Edgecombe's chest.
"No please, I'll do anyth-
"CRUCIO," Bella hissed, cutting Grace off mid-sentence.
"While the girls are talking, we're going to have a few words," Harry said as he flipped his hood back.
"We w-were right, it was you, Peverell," Yaxley stammered out softly so that Harry could barely hear him over Grace's bloodcurdling shrieks.
"It was, now hold still a second," Harry said as he directed his wand between Yaxley's eyes.
"What are you doin-
"Legilimens," Harry whispered and forced his presence into Yaxley's mind.
Yaxley it seemed was more of a secretary than a foot soldier. He kept track of dates, made arrangements before attacks and coordinated others inside the ministry. As far as Harry could tell, Yaxley never actually participated in any of the raids. Yaxley's job was to ensure the death eaters had a fifteen-minute window before the aurors could respond to the attacks so the grunts could carry out their task.
Yaxley may not have been part of the attacks but he was still just as bad as all of the others. Harry was sickened with what he saw when he delved deeper into Yaxley's mind. Corban liked young boys and would abduct muggle teenagers to play with before killing them and dropping them off in bad neighbourhoods around muggle London.
Corban had stopped in recent years when his focus had turned to relaying Voldemort information but Harry knew it was only a matter of time before he did it again.
That wasn't even factoring in the disgusting acts he participated in when he would meet with the death eaters when they were searching out Voldemort.
Corban Yaxley was undoubtedly a monster, putting him down like an animal would be doing the world a favour.
Having seen enough, Harry pulled out of Yaxley's mind only to be assaulted by the screams of Grace Edgecombe.
"Bella, please shut that bitch up. She's giving me a migraine," Harry said as he looked over at the woman convulsing on the floor.
"Very well," Bell pouted as she let up on the curse.
"Pl-eeeease I-I'm so-sorry," Grace panted out, blood running out of her mouth from where she had bitten her tongue.
"Good, remorse is said to be the first step," Bellatrix agreed.
"Please let m-me go, I won't say a word of this to anyone," Edgecombe begged.
"Edgecombe, you won't be able to tell anyone what happened tonight," Bellatrix assured her before directing her wand at Grace and hissed, "Avada kedavra!"
Harry watched dispassionately as the jet of green light struck the woman in the chest. Edgecombe slumped to the floor, her eyes frozen open in a look of horror as the life left her body.
"I suppose we should wrap this up," Harry said as he looked down at Yaxley.
The death eater seemed to have passed out from the legilimency attack but was starting to stir, if the groans he was making were any indication.
"Yes, did you get everything you need from him?" Bellatrix asked curiously as she slipped her mask back on.
"I think so but feel free to take a stroll through his mind," Harry offered.
"No, I trust your abilities," Bellatrix waved him off.
"Then that's that, I suppose I'll deal with Corban and we can go home," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Wh-at happened?" Yaxley asked as he blinked up at Harry and Bellatrix.
"Avada kedavra," Harry intoned, the spell striking Yaxley in a fraction of a second, killing the man before he fully comprehended what was going on.
"Let's clean up and go home, Auntie Chimera has a job for you," Bella purred as she began casting a spell to remove their magically signature from the room.
Ten minutes later they stepped outside of the house, the moon shining brightly over their heads. They walked all the way to the street before coming to a stop
"Do it, Chimera," Harry encouraged.
"Morsmordre falce!" Bellatrix bellowed as she directed her wand back toward the Edgecombe house.
Harry watched as the familiar dark mark formed hundreds of feet over the home, it was a glittering luminous green colour and looked to be formed of thousands of tiny star-like dots of light.
Harry grinned when the addition to the spell became visible as a large green scythe was superimposed over the skull of the mark. The large snake coming out of the skull was altered as well. The head of the snake was now severed, floating listlessly below the mark.
"Let's go home, Luv," Harry said as he took Bella's hand pulling her from staring at the mark in wonder.
"Yes, take me home and ravage me," Bellatrix panted.
"As you wish," Harry whispered as he turned on the spot, apparating them back to Cornwall for the next adventure of the evening.
Avery Manor, Hampshire, 10/31/1990, 13:29
Voldemort sat behind the desk in the Lord's study of Thomas' home enjoying a glass of aged brandy. He was quite pleased to be back in his home country even if progress was slow. He had a decent information system in place and his mole in the ministry was delivering useful information on a weekly basis.
He was still finding replacements for the inner circle members that had been killed. Fillip Ivanov and Todor Stefanov were showing great promise as replacements for the LeStrange brothers. A Scot by the name of Derrick Frazer had great potential as a replacement for Augustus and he was even grooming a seventh-year named Marula Snyde to replace Bellatrix as his interrogator.
All four of these recruits showed great potential but they still had a long way to go before they could earn a place in his inner circle.
The ministry was giving him a lot of headaches of late, Yaxley was having difficulty convincing people to their side... willingly. Voldemort was toying with the idea of having him start placing the imperious on key members of the ministry to speed things along.
Voldemort's thoughts were interrupted when the door banged open. Voldemort turned to see Thomas Avery staggering into the study, his face as pale as a ghost.
"My lord, I have grave news," Avery exclaimed as he came to stand in front of the desk with his head bowed.
"What is it, Thomas?" Voldemort asked testily.
"Yaxley was attacked last night," Avery answered looking borderline hysterical.
"By whom?" Voldemort asked, the glass in his hand shattering as his anger spiked.
"No one knows. The ministry is in chaos over this attack, my lord," Avery answered.
"What do you know?" Voldemort asked in a silky tone.
"The attack happened at the Edgecombes' home, Madam Edgecombe and Yaxley were both tortured and killed with the killing curse. Corban showed signs of a severe mental attack," Avery recounted.
"So the killer took the time to interrogate them," Voldemort said thoughtfully.
Th-the killer also left a calling card, my lord," Avery continued as he fished a piece of parchment out of the pocket of his robes.
"A calling card?" Voldemort asked in a calm voice, knowing whatever Avery was about to tell him was going to anger him.
"He left a mark floating in the air over the home. I drew a rough sketch of it," Avery said as he presented the piece of parchment to his master.
Voldemort took the parchment and hissed angrily as soon as he saw the picture drawn in green ink. He was looking at his own mark, an emblem that had taken years for him to design. It had been altered in the most humiliating way, the serpent decapitated and a grim reaper-style scythe superimposed over the skull at a forty-five-degree angle.
Voldemort felt fury flow through every fibre of his being and he was only vaguely aware of directing his wand at Avery and bellowing, "CRUCIO!"
The sound of his servant's bloodcurdling shrieks brought him out of the haze of his fury and he quickly got control of himself, lifting the curse before he snapped his servant's mind.
"Find out who did this, I want their head on a pike!" Voldemort demanded of his servant who was sprawled on the floor, gasping in deep lungfuls of air.
"I-I will my lord," Avery promised as he slowly staggered to his feet.
"Good, now get out of my sight!" Voldemort hissed.
Avery tripped over himself to get out of the study, due to his current state he almost fell face-first into the doorknob in his haste to follow his master's order.
Voldemort sat there after Avery left pondering what he had just heard. The date of the attack was not lost on him, Halloween was when he usually carried out his attacks. Between the date of the attack and the bastardization of his mark, Voldemort was almost certain that someone was sending him a message
The last attack he had orchestrated had taken place last Halloween, though admittedly that was an utter failure. Thinking of the last attack made him think of Bellatrix and how she and her husband had killed ten of his followers.
Bellatrix knew the spell for the dark mark, it wasn't a stretch to believe she would know how to alter it. Still, that answer felt a bit too obvious and didn't explain what the scythe meant. No there was more to this than what he knew now, if Bella was involved then undoubtedly so was her husband.
As Voldemort thought about Lord Peverell, he did wonder if he had made a mistake in not offering Lord Peverell an olive branch. It may have been more prudent to make the man an ally. The man was obviously very talented, if Voldemort's suspicions were correct, then Peverell had incinerated all of the dementors in Britain in a single night.
Voldemort knew the chances of allying with Peverell were very slim after the attack on the man's home. He had no choice now but to follow the course he had set upon. He would have to wipe out the entire Peverell family before the Peverells became a danger to him and his cause.
'I think that I need to learn more about this man,' Voldemort thought to himself as Nagini slithered over from her basket by the fireplace and coiled around him, helping the dark lord to take his mind off of these troubling thoughts.
Hogwarts Grounds, 1/16/1991, 09:29
Harry was just getting started with his N.E.W.T class which consisted of four students. Charlie Weasley, Jeffery Meadows, Penny Haywood, and Ben Cooper.
Currently, they were studying a female Griffin named Hera who was on loan from the Greek reserve.
The N.E.W.T level curriculum was rather sparse in Harry's opinion and due to the rarity and dangerous nature of some of the creatures presented, Harry had been going over a lot of theory. Harry had been giving a lot of lectures of late much to their dismay. Though he had taken the class inside the Pensieve to let them view his memories of the kelpie, the acromantula colony, and the basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets which they seemed to really enjoy.
Fortunately, the class was so small that Harry had felt comfortable taking them to the Welsh dragon preserve last November. He was also planning on taking them to the other side of the mountains to observe the aethonans in mid-March. He thought his students might enjoy seeing the winged horses in the wild.
Harry had taken over a classroom on the ground floor, on particularly cold days, he taught them theory inside the warmth of the castle. Harry liked being outside as much as the next guy but even the most avid outdoorsman would opt to stay inside on a cold winter day in Scotland.
Unfortunately, the Greek reserve could only loan him the griffin for a week and they happened to choose the coldest day of the year thus far. The griffin was in a climate-controlled paddock that simulated the temperature of her homeland and was perfectly comfortable. The class on the other hand were shivering even though they were under layers of warming charms.
Silvanus Kettleburn had repurposed the clearing the acromantula once occupied into a paddock for the griffins he showed his N.E.W.T class every year. Harry had continued this practice as he rather liked showing his seventh years a griffin every year.
The class was assembled around the perimeter fence of the griffin paddock while Harry introduced the griffin.
"Good morning, I guess you know what this is?" Harry asked as he gestured to the paddock
"A griffin, sir," Ben cooper answered at once.
"Correct. Now, the first thing you need to know about griffins is that they are frightfully intelligent. They have also been known to have a bit of a temper. This little lady is getting ready to lay a clutch of eggs very soon so it isn't wise to approach her at all," Harry explained
"She's pregnant?" Jeffery Meadows asked in surprise
"She is. Personally, I don't know why the boys at the reserve sent a mother ready to nest. If she lays her clutch here, they won't be able to move her until the chicks hatch. It would put too much stress on her," Harry said as the griffin started wandering over to the fence.
"So we may get to see griffin hatchlings, sir?" Penny asked excitedly.
"It's a possibility, I have never seen a griffin hatching either so I am hoping she decides to nest here as well," Harry said giving the girl a warm smile.
"How many eggs does a griffin usually lay?" Charlie asked.
"Between three and seven. Now usually I would get in the paddock and bring the griffin as close to the edge of the fence but I am a little wary about approaching her directly," Harry admitted
"Sir, I don't think you have to worry about that," Jeffery chuckled.
Turning to where the boy was looking, Harry saw Hera right up to the edge of the fence, her large yellow eyes focusing on him. When their eyes met, she cocked her head to the side curiously.
"It seems I was wrong," Harry said distractedly as he approached the fence and pressed his thumb to the rune to temporarily deactivate the wards long enough for him to climb over the paddock fence.
Hera pranced over to him as soon as his feet touched the ground so that her curved beak was inches from his face and her eyes were locked with his. Slowly Harry raised his hand and rested it on her beak, causing her to coo approvingly.
"Are you getting bored in here, Hera?" Harry asked softly as he gently stroked her beak.
In answer, she nodded her head.
"She really is quite gorgeous isn't she?" Harry said as he looked back at the class.
"Professor Peverell, is that a nest?" Charlie asked as he pointed to a large pile of sticks and leaves in the far corner of the paddock.
"Yes, I do believe it is," Harry said as thoughtfully studied the construction for a moment.
"Does that mean she will lay her eggs here?" Ben asked curiously.
"I think so, if she does nest here this may be a very exciting term," Harry said as he summoned a ferret and offered it to Hera.
The rest of the class passed with Harry assigning his students to give a detailed sketch of the griffin while he stayed in the paddock with Hera until the bell sounded through the trees. After he set the class an essay on the mating habits of the griffin, he climbed out of the paddock and called an end to the lesson.
Harry was surprised at how calm this particular griffin was and was already regretting that she would have to go back to the reserve.
'Though she might be staying here much longer than planned,' Harry thought to himself as he led the class back to the castle.
Great Hall, Hogwarts, 6/28/1992,13:49
Harry sat at the head table with the other teachers as the seventh years were called up one at a time by Professor McGonagall to receive their certificate for completing their magical education
Harry was pleased to see Tonks standing in line with the other seventh-years, looking hilarious in her pointed hat.
Harry still couldn't believe she was already graduating from Hogwarts. It seemed like just yesterday she was a skinny little brat who had flown his broomstick through the sitting room. Now she looked almost as he remembered her from his timeline.
"Nymphadora Vulpecula Tonks," Minerva called loudly, causing a few students to snigger at her middle name
Harry couldn't help but smile as her name was called. He felt his chest swell as she made her way to the podium. He had to fight a laugh as she scowled at a few of her peers who were still chuckling about her middle name.
Harry watched as Minerva handed her a certificate stating that she had completed her formal education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Thank heavens, I thought this day would never come," Harry heard Minerva mutter as she shook Tonks' hand and the room burst into applause.
Harry stood up with the rest of the Black family and cheered loudly as Tonks made her way over to the Slytherin table where her mother, aunts, father, and many cousins were seated.
"I thought we'd never see the back of that one," Snape muttered to Harry.
"From what I gather the Weasley twins are already filling the vacuum," Harry whispered back as the applause died down.
Elizabeth Mary Tuttle," Minerva called out before Snape could reply.
Harry watched the tall dark-skinned girl with big round glasses make her way across the hall to loud whoops from other students clad in green and silver.
Harry tuned out the ceremony as he thought about what he had learned from Albus this morning. According to the headmaster, Tonks had earned seven N.E.W.T's and had already been accepted into the auror academy. This wouldn't be made official until her N.E.W.T scores were certified by the I.C.W department of education but Albus was confident they wouldn't contest the results.
"Charles Septimus Weasley," Minerva called out and a gaggle of redheads roared their approval from the Gryffindor table.
Charlie made his way up to the podium grinning widely. Harry knew that Arnold Pillsworth had already accepted Charlie as a trainee dragon handler on the Welsh reserve.
Harry had put in a good word for the lad but Charlie had already made a good impression with the warden when the class had visited the reserve last November.
Charlie was the last student to be called and Minerva gracefully moved back to her seat as Dumbledore stood from his seat, bringing the hall to complete silence.
"It is always a great honour to certify new witches and wizards every year. I want nothing more than for you to go out into the world and use what you have learned here to improve our world. You are our future aurors, Wizengamot lords, healers, potion masters, and teachers. Among your number may one day be our future minister of magic, the next chief warlock, or the captain of the Holyhead Harpies. You all have the power to change our world and I have every confidence that you will. Congratulations class of nineteen hundred and ninety-one, I expect great things in all of your futures," Dumbledore exclaimed, grinning widely around the hall.
When Dumbledore's speech was finished the hall rang with applause as the graduates tossed their hats in the air. Dumbledore taking his seat was a cue for dismissal and the graduates were set upon by their friends and family eager to give their congratulations.
Harry clapped along with everyone else as he got up from his seat and made his way over to his wife and children, the latter were looking around the hall in awe.
"This place is amazing, daddy," Carina gushed as soon as she spotted him.
"It is," Harry agreed as he spotted Tonks being doted on by her parents.
"Can you take them back home?" Bellatrix asked as she looked in his direction.
"I can, we need to set up the party anyway," Harry agreed.
"Thank you, I'll be home shortly. Cissa wants me to come by her place for a few," Bellatrix said after she placed a kiss on his lips.
"Come on kids, we have to go set up for Tonks' party," Harry said to the twins, noticing the hall was starting to empty
"Is there going to be cake?" Ignotus asked hopefully as Harry led them across the hall.
"Of course, it's a party," Harry said only to come to a stop when Arthur Weasley blocked his path.
"Lord Peverell, can I have a word," Arthur said nervously.
"Just Harry will be fine, Arthur," Harry said.
"I just wanted to thank you for helping Charlie get the position at the reserve," Arthur said with a grateful smile.
"Charlie has a gift with magical creatures, I actually didn't do very much," Harry shrugged.
"He's always been good with animals, but we had heard the only reserve with an opening was in Romania," Arthur said as the four of them stepped into the empty entrance hall.
"Technically the Welsh reserve didn't have an opening but Warden Pillsworth thought your son had potential," Harry admitted.
"That's wonderful news," Arthur beamed.
"Yes, though I don't envy him. Can you imagine shovelling dragon dung all day long?" Harry sniggered.
"It builds character," Arthur beamed.
"I have to go set up my niece's party and get these two home. Oh where are my manners, this is Carina and Ignotus Peverell, my twins," Harry said gesturing to the twins who looked bored out of their minds.
"Pleasure to meet you both," Arthur said smiling warmly at the two eight-year-olds.
"Pleased to meet you, sir," Both children said in unison.
"I'll let you get going, " Arthur said as he shook Harry's hand.
Harry waited until Arthur re-entered the hall before he led the kids outside, blinking in the bright sunlight of the fine summer day.
"How long until we can come here, dad?" Ignotus asked curiously.
"In three years, hopefully, the school will be ready for the two of you by then," Harry chuckled.
"I am a perfect pureblood princess," Carina protested cutely.
"You are also a bundle of trouble," Harry rebutted.
"I won't get in any trouble when I start Hogwarts," Carina said matter-of-factly.
"I won't get in trouble either," Ignotus promised.
"Because you'll both be on your best behaviour?" Harry asked sceptically.
"Because the teachers will never catch us," Ignotus grinned.
"Son, I am a teacher and I always catch you two," Harry smirked as he took out a portkey to take them home.
"Daddy, can we go flying when we get home?" Carina asked as she and Ignotus touched the old ink bottle.
"We'll see, beachhouse," Harry said as the portkey activated.
Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 6/28/1992, 15:49
Harry had just finished setting up the beach when Tonks arrived. Harry had set up a bunch of one-time portkey for the guests to make getting them here easier. Harry planned on staying out of the way and letting the graduating seventh years have their fun but at least this way he could keep an eye on them.
Iggy and Carina were a bit upset they couldn't stay for the party but Harry feared things would be a bit too rowdy for them.
"Congratulations, Tonks," Harry said as soon as his niece came up to him.
"Thanks Uncle Harry, and thank you for setting all of this up," Tonks beamed.
"Yes well there are three rules that you lot have to go by," Harry said, figuring he might as well get this part out of the way.
"What rules? Tonks asked looking a bit put out now.
"I don't want anyone running around naked on the beach," Harry said, thinking of Hestia Jones.
"I'll make sure Jones keeps her top on, we don't want a repeat of last sumner," Tonks nodded.
"No shagging on the beach," Harry said giving Tonks a pointed look.
"No worries there," Tonks sniggered.
"And lastly, If you lot get pissed there are tents set up to sleep it off, so don't let anyone apparate if their shit-faced," Harry said looking at her deadly serious
"Alright, I think we can work with that," Tonks agreed looking a bit relieved at his conditions.
"Good, the last thing we need is the ministry being called here to fix a case of drunken splinching," Harry snorted.
"Gotcha," Tonks nodded.
"Alright, I'll get out of your hair but congratulations again, I am very proud of you, Nymphadora," Harry said as he pulled Tonks in for a hug.
"Ah, I knew you really liked me," Tonks giggled as she hugged him back, not commenting on his use of her first name.
"You're alright when I'm not your teacher," Harry said as he released her from the hug
"Hopefully I'll be the auror academy's problem soon," Tonks said a look of nervousness coming over her.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll make it," Harry said with a knowing grin.
"You know something," Tonks said suspiciously.
"If I did, I couldn't say anything," Harry shrugged as he turned to walk back to the house before turning back, "I almost forgot, there is a case of mead in the middle tent," Harry said giving Tonks a grin
"Thanks, Uncle Harry. Oh, there are Hestia and Charlie," Tonks said as a portkey arrived a hundred yards away near the edge of the wardline.
"If she's here, then I'm definitely leaving. Don't tell your mother I left you the booze or she'll have my head," Harry said as he made his way back to the house before he had to put up with Hestia's nonsense.
Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 7/31/1991, 13:48
Today they were celebrating Little Harry's eleventh birthday. Both he and Draco would be starting Hogwarts in a month's time. Harry was quite pleased with how much healthier this version of himself looked compared to how he looked on his own eleventh birthday.
Harry, Draco, Susan and Daphne were down by the beach. This was going to be quite a large affair as Sirius wanted Harry to get acquainted with his classmates. Little Harry was really excited to meet his future classmates.
Harry had agreed to let Sirius hold the party here simply because it would allow him to catch a glimpse of the younger version of his classmates. Many of them hadn't made it through the war or had been killed shortly after when the Serpent's Vengeance had started killing D.A members.
Guests had already started arriving, Harry and Carina were sitting on the deck watching the first years and their parents getting to know one another.
"Daddy, when are we going to go down to the beach?" Carina asked pulling him from his observations.
"When your brother finishes cleaning up the mess he made in the kitchen," Harry replied as he sipped his Coke.
"Why can't I go down now, though?" Carina pouted.
"Because I know you put Ignotus up to trying to get the cookie jar," Harry smirked.
"I did not," Carina protested unconvincingly.
"Of course not, Princess," Harry said patronizingly.
"Why did you put wards around the cookie jar?" Carina asked innocently.
"Because you two have been trying to get into it since you could walk," Harry pointed out.
"It sprayed him with lemon custard," Carina giggled.
"Which is why he's cleaning the kitchen," Harry explained.
"Yes, our son made a huge mess in the kitchen. It looks like a bakery exploded," Bellatrix giggled as she stepped out onto the deck.
"The ward was a tad much," Harry agreed.
"I'm not the one cleaning it up, I don't mind," Bella shrugged.
"You look stunning in those robes, Luv," Harry complimented as he caught sight of his wife in her new Roman-style toga. They were made of thin acromantula silk in a deep emerald green colour, the toga hugged her body wonderfully, emphasising her womanly curves.
"Daddy, you didn't say anything about my robes," Carina huffed.
"Because there are no words that could express how pretty you are, Princess," Harry smiled as a freshly washed Iggy stepped out onto the deck, looking very upset.
"Did you get enough sweets, son?" Harry asked a teasing grin playing on his lips.
"That was a dirty rotten trick, dad," Ignotus huffed.
"Did you get the mess cleaned up?" Bellatrix asked, narrowing her eyes at Ignotus.
"Yes mum," Iggy answered.
"Good, I see you took a bath as well," Bellatrix said as she scrutinized his appearance.
"Yes mum," Iggy nodded at once.
"Then we can go down to your cousin's party as long as you promise to behave yourselves," Bellatrix said as she looked between her children, their faces had a look of innocence that fooled no one.
"We promise to behave, mother," Carina assured her, Iggy nodding his agreement.
"Alright then let's go see how things are going," Harry said as he stood up from his seat.
Harry sat with Sirius and Frank thirty minutes later watching the kids play in the waves. Sirius had been very thorough when making the guest list and had even invited the first-year muggleborns. Harry was quite surprised to see Hermione Granger here, though from the look of things, she wasn't fitting in very well.
"That one will have trouble in school," Frank muttered as he heard Hermione telling Lavender about some spell she had read about in her textbooks.
"Reminds me of Evans a bit," Sirius admitted.
"She was a bit of a know-it-all," Frank conceded.
"She'll be fine, Harry assured the other two as little Harry came up to Hermione and the two started talking.
"Did Albus ever find a new defence professor?" Frank asked, looking over at Sirius.
"Yeah, some bloke named Quirinus Quirrell," Sirius answered making Harry cough into his drink.
"Quirrell, the old muggle studies professor?" Harry asked warily
Harry had hoped that after Voldemort had gained a body that Quirrell wouldn't get involved with him. Granted Harry had no idea if Quirrell was involved with Voldemort or not. Harry had learned during his time at school that the defence professors were more often than not, the ones that caused problems at Hogwarts.
He had already dealt with Lockhart, the gilded fraud was currently serving twelve years for stealing credit from others and obliviating them afterwards. Harry was just glad the rumours of him taking advantage of young girls turned out to be untrue.
He was going to have to keep a very close eye on Quirrell this year to make sure he wasn't taking up the post for nefarious purposes.
"Yeah, bloke knows his theory but is dreadful at practical," Sirius shrugged.
"I see you took time off this year. Aren't you usually in Africa about now?" Frank asked, looking in Harry's direction.
"I am only here for the weekend, Cissa keeps upping the order size every damn year," Harry scowled.
"That's Cissa for you," Sirius snorted.
"You don't have to tell me. Did you know she has me going to the Greek XXXXX reserve again during the last week of August?" Harry exclaimed.
"Better you than me," Frank shuddered.
"I won't be going alone this time. I already volunteered Sirius to be my assistant," Harry smirked.
"The hell you have!" Sirius exclaimed loudly sloshing his beer down the front of his robes.
"Like I would take you with me," Harry sniggered.
"I think old Sirius has a problem with snakes," Frank pointed out.
"He always has, you should have seen the first time he saw my familiar. Sirius damn near pissed himself," Harry guffawed.
"I stepped out of the floo and there it was coiled up on the hearth and showing its fangs," Sirius defended.
"Heart of a lion that one," Harry snorted.
"What are you after at the reserve?" Frank asked before Sirius could reply.
"A large order of basilisk venom for Gringotts," Harry answered as he watched Narcissa mingling amongst the other parents.
"The Weasley kid actually managed to talk her into it?" Sirius exclaimed in surprise.
"I guess. She wanted me to go last spring but the griffin that the reserve loaned me laid a clutch of eggs and I couldn't leave the castle," Harry shrugged.
"Griffins lay eggs?" Sirius asked looking flabbergasted.
"Yeah, can you imagine trying to pass a razor-sharp curved beak to give birth?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Fair point, I just always assumed they gave birth the other way," Frank admitted.
"They carry the eggs for three months and then lay them like a bird. Once the eggs are in the nest, it takes three or four months to hatch," Harry explained.
"And you can't move them once they're nesting?" Frank nodded.
"Exactly, I.C.W law says that a griffin's nest cannot be disturbed until the hatchlings are at least ninety days old, and that is only if they are being transported to an I.C.W reserve," Harry lectured.
"Bet your class loved that," Sirius grinned.
"They did, the griffin hatchlings are quite cute," Harry admitted.
"What about the people from the reserve?" Sirius asked.
"They didn't seem to mind, they sent a trainee to check the griffin's health once a week," Harry shrugged as they watched Neville flying around on a training broom with Ron Weasley.
"Is that little Neville?" Sirius asked.
"That's my boy, he's still a bit too timid thanks to mum but he's starting to come out of his shell," Frank beamed.
"I think he'll make a fine Slytherin," Sirius smirked.
"Piss off, Black, if anything he'll be a puff. Lad's got a real knack for plants," Frank bragged.
"Pomona would be thrilled," Harry nodded.
"I would bet he'll be taking creatures as an elective," Frank predicted.
"That'll be a nice change, last year I had a third-year class full of silly giggling girls," Harry grumbled.
"And we can't forget the Jones girl sunbathing topless on the beach last summer either," Sirius added,not noticing his wife making her way over to their table.
"Little Harry and Draco were captivated," Harry chortled.
"Can't say I blame them, if I was twenty years younger I'd-
"You'd what, Sirius?" Amelia's voice cut Sirius off mid-sentence.
"I think I hear my wife calling, good luck mate," Harry said, making a hasty retreat before Sirius could reply.
"That takes me back," Frank chuckled as he caught up to Harry.
"Sirius getting himself neck-deep in it?" Harry questioned as he caught sight of Bellatrix talking to Monica Granger of all people.
"Yeah, he and his little gang were three years below me but he dated one of the wife's friends. He was always getting himself in situations like back there," Frank chuckled.
"Well as long as it's not happening to us, I think it's hilarious," Harry said as he saw Seamus Finnigan being led around by his mother.
"If Sirius survives Amelia's wrath, I'll have to congratulate him on this party," Frank said as he spotted someone.
"He will but he'll definitely be sleeping on the couch," Harry predicted.
"I have to run and have a quick chat with an old friend, I imagine I'll catch up with you later," Frank said before he wandered over to talk with the McMillan lord.
Harry continued walking through the crowd saying hello to people he knew before he spotted Lord Greengrass by the drink table pouring himself a glass of wine.
"Lord Greengrass, getting into the drink a bit early, I see," Harry said by way of greeting as he grabbed himself a glass bottle of Coca-Cola from the bucket full of ice positioned in the centre of the drink table.
"It would be a shame to let such fine booze go to waste," Jonathan shrugged.
"Never liked the drink much though I will admit the oak-matured mead is something else," Harry said as he vanished the cap from his drink and took a sip of the ice-cold beverage.
"Lord Black, certainly outdid himself this time," Jonathan Greengrass said as he watched Little Harry chasing after his oldest daughter.
It appeared that Daphne had gotten ahold of Harry's training broom and was zooming away while the younger Harry desperately tried to catch her.
"Lord Black wanted the Potter heir to have a good send-off before term starts," Harry said as he watched his younger self try and fail to catch the giggling Greengrass girl.
"He certainly supplied enough top-shelf booze for the occasion," Jonathan said as he sipped from a goblet of elf-made wine.
"Looks like Daphne is pretty good on a broom," Harry said as he continued to watch the children's progress.
"She is though I doubt she will ever put it to good use," Jonathan sighed.
"My daughter is convinced she's going to play for England one day," Harry beamed.
"With the way she flies, I wouldn't be surprised," Jonathan said as he indicated the game of tag going on twenty feet over the beach.
Harry watched Carina easily evade the other participants turning and twisting her body around so that none of the other flyers could get anywhere near her.
As Harry took in all that was going on around him he couldn't help but thank that the world was in a much better place than it was at this same time in his timeline.
True, he had only changed so much but it still made all the difference. Sirius was a free man happy and healthy without bearing the weight of over a decade in Azkaban. His godfather had a wife and a son of his own that he had been denied in his timeline.
The same went for Neville Longbottom, the boy was still a bit shy but he was a much different child than the one Harry had first met on the Hogwarts express. Neville had a certain amount of confidence in himself and didn't seem terrified of his own shadow.
Luna still had her mother, he had learned the amulet he and Bellatrix had designed for her had prevented a catastrophic accident from happening last year. Granted, that act had caused some all new problems as Pandora Lovegood was now convinced she was to be Harry's 'love' slave until she worked off her debt.
Bella thought it was very amusing and was no help at all when Harry tried to explain that he was unable to hold her to such an agreement. The terms of the betrothal contract he and Bellatrix were under would incur very painful consequences if he were to entertain such an idea.
Besides that slight hiccup, the plan to save Pandora had worked as he planned. Luna would have a mother and hopefully, live a happier life than she had in his timeline.
The only downside was that Voldemort had been restored to a body and was trying to rebuild his forces to make a second attempt at taking over the wizarding world. Harry would stop him just like he had before, he just hoped the cost wasn't near as high as it was in his timeline.
As Harry watched his daughter fly through the air, he realized the biggest difference between the first time around and now.
The first time around he had nothing to lose and had actually walked to his death content with the knowledge that his death would save everyone.
Now he had a lot more to live and so much more to lose if he failed in his plans.
'I will not fail, I can't afford to fail.' Harry thought with a new determination as he watched his son fly after his daughter.
'I can't afford to fail.'