Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 1/12/1992, 09:29
Harry, Bellatrix, the children, and two snakes appeared by portkey on the beach in front of their home and were immediately hit by cool air and brisk wind coming in from the sea.
It hadn't taken as long as Harry thought it would to stabilize Adsila. Last night her gem had finished its regeneration cycle meaning she was officially healed up.
Her gem was much smaller than it had once been before the attack as that stone had taken centuries to grow but her gem would get bigger as time went by.
Harry would still have to return to give all of the serpents a once over when the curse breakers finished removing the curse from the lake but he needed to be back at Hogwarts to teach tomorrow.
"I'm c-cold, daddy," Carina exclaimed, her teeth chattering as she spoke.
"Then let's get into the house, Princess," Harry said as he made his way to the stairs leading up to the deck, Bella and the kids following behind him.
"Bella hates returning here in the wintertime, it's always colder here," Bellatrix sighed as she stepped through the door leading into the sitting room.
"I know, I still remember coming home after our honeymoon," Harry said as he watched the kids step into the house and he followed them inside, shutting the door behind him.
§Finally, we're back to the nest and no more needy water serpents§, Athena hissed happily as Harry lifted her from her place coiled around his shoulders and gently set her onto the floor.
§We have to go back there soon to put them back in the lake§, Harry pointed out trying not to laugh at how childish his familiar sounded.
§Yes but you promised there would be no more swimming this time§, Athena answered as she looked up at him.
§I did, there will be no more swimming§, Harry agreed as the kids ran up the stairs to their room.
"Is she still upset with you?" Bellatrix asked, looking like she was fighting not to giggle.
"Yes, she is still, unhappy I swam with Adsila," Harry sighed as Jangles appeared and began taking their luggage.
"Welcomes back master and mistress," Jangles said cheerfully.
"It's good to be back, Jangles," Harry said as he made his way over towards his chair.
"Oh no you don't. We have some things to take care of before you go back to work tomorrow," Bella said before he could even sit down.
"Like what?" Harry asked warily.
"We need information on the giants, dear," Bellatrix said looking amused at the crestfallen look on his face.
"Damn, I was hoping not to have to deal with Sirius today," Harry sighed.
"It's either him or Snape," Bella pointed out.
"Bugger, I would rather deal with Sirius," Harry sighed as he gave his chair one last longing look before he went over to the fireplace.
"Now now, we have to prepare for our special evening so that everything is perfect," Bella said with a dreamy smile playing on her lips.
It would seem that his last day off was not going to be as relaxing as he had hoped.
As Harry knelt in front of the fireplace and prepared to make a floo call, Harry hoped that he could get a bit of time in his favourite chair after lunch.
A few hours later Harry and Sirius were sitting on the deck watching the kids play around on the beach. It was much too cold to go into the water but the kids still liked to fly over the beach.
The twins and little Edgar were currently flying around on training brooms playing a game of tag and laughing happily.
Harry, Susan, and Hannah had returned to Hogwarts the previous Friday so there were only three children here today.
The Abbotts were in Godric's Hollow today meeting with the other homeowners who were trying to get things going on the reconstruction of their homes.
Bellatrix was in her workshop catching up on an order that had gotten behind due to their unexpected trip and Amelia was at work, leaving Sirius and Harry alone to talk.
"Still can't understand how they can play out there with all of that wind," Sirius muttered.
"Ah to be young again," Harry sniggered.
"Tell me about it. The older I get, the colder I get," Sirius grinned.
"I am already looking forward to Easter in Greece," Harry beamed.
"I kind of wish I had tagged along with Andi and Ted to Black Island," Sirius muttered as a particularly strong gust of wind blew across the deck.
"Trust me mate, no you don't," Harry said, shuddering at the thought.
"Fair point, you know I actually caught those two shagging on the beach the last time we were there," Sirius guffawed.
"Huh, well way to go, Ted," Harry snorted.
"They're lucky none of the kids caught them, that would have scarred poor Tonks for life," Sirius chortled.
"Alright this has gotten way off topic, there was actually something I needed to talk to you about," Harry said, his face becoming much more serious.
"What's that?" Sirius asked, sobering up at once.
"I want to know if the order has any leads on where the giants are being kept," Harry said as he watched Edgar try and fail to catch Carina.
"We have an idea, whether it's true or not is anybody's guess. Word is that they're being kept at the Carrows' property in Wales," Sirius said, giving him a knowing look.
"And they haven't been sighted since the other night at the Burrow?" Harry pressed as he turned to meet his godfather's eye.
"No, Snape said that no-nose has halted any more attacks with the giants," Sirius answered as he continued to give Harry that knowing look.
"Interesting," Harry muttered as he made a note to look into the Carrows property this weekend.
"You're going after them, aren't you?" Sirius asked as he looked Harry in the eye.
"I am," Harry answered, seeing no point in lying.
"Need any help?" Sirius offered, looking like he already had Harry's answer.
"Not on this, I already promised Bella we would do something special for Valentine's Day," Harry admitted.
"You two are definitely suited for each other," Sirius sniggered as a cat patronus flew through the sitting room wall and came to a stop in front of Sirius.
Both men watched on as the silver cat spoke in Minerva McGonagall's voice.
"There has been an attack at Hogwarts, Harry was injured."
Harry and Sirius both looked at each other in horror before Sirius jumped to his feet.
"Go on, I'll watch Edgar," Harry said and got a grateful nod from Sirius before he apparated away leaving Harry sitting on the deck wondering what could have possibly happened at Hogwarts.
Thirty Minutes Earlier, Hogwarts
Harry and Draco made their way towards the great hall after spending their morning catching up on their holiday homework.
They had taken the train back to the castle the day before yesterday and had been doing homework ever since they had returned to school.
They were just heading past some unused classrooms when a blue spell struck him in the chest and a powerful force hurled him back down the hallway. Harry was brought to a sudden stop when he collided rather painfully with a suit of armour before he tumbled to the floor, collapsing in a heap in the middle of the floor corridor.
"Omph," Harry gasped out as he felt pain in his back and the back of his head where he had made contact with the suit of armour.
Seconds later, Harry felt Draco crash into him causing the suit of armour to fall to the floor with a deafening 'CRASH'.
"Ow," Draco groaned as he rolled off of him, holding the side of his head.
Harry looked down the hall noticing that his vision was blurry and he could feel something warm running down his forehead. He was almost certain they were being attacked but he still couldn't see anyone else in the corridor.
"Malfoy, this has gone on long enough," a female voice sneered making Harry look sharply toward the direction he heard the voice.
Harry watched as a short Slytherin girl stepped out of an alcove on the left side of the corridor, her wand drawn and aimed at the two downed first years. She looked to be a fifth year and had curly brown hair, greyish-blue eyes, and a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.
"You are disgracing Slytherin house by associating with an enemy of the dark lord," another voice added as a girl identical to the first girl stepped out of an alcove on the other side hall.
"So we must show you the error of your ways," They said in unison, sounding very creepy like something out of a horror movie.
That was all the warning the two first years got before the twin girls directed their wands at them.
Harry and Draco were both hit with matching red spells as the twins cried.
"EVERBERATIUS LEVIOSA CORPUS!"
Harry was lifted off of his feet as an invisible force lifted him under the armpits and held him into an upright position so that his shoes were a foot off of the floor. Before Harry could process what was happening, an invisible force slammed into his stomach, knocking the breath out of him. Harry barely had time to gasp for breath before a second blow struck him in the face, shattering his nose with an audible 'crack'. The magical force felt like he had been hit with an invisible fist and caused blood to spurt out of his nose and mouth.
Beside him, Harry heard Draco cry out as he was hit with the effects of the same spell. Harry grunted as the invisible force hit his arm and he heard a sickening 'crack' as the bones in his arm broke.
Stop this!" Draco screamed seconds before he was hit in the face and blood exploded out of his lip.
Suddenly the spell ended and Harry was dropped to the floor, his head hitting the stone hard enough to make him see stars.
Harry groaned feebly as he heard the 'click-clack' of high-heeled shoes approaching as Draco fell to the floor beside him.
"Now that I've softened you up a bit, I can make this more... personal," one of the girls said as she came to stand over Harry.
"Who are you?" Harry croaked as he looked up at his attacker.
"Flora Carrow at your service," the girl smirked before she rared back and kicked him.
Her foot connected with the side of Harry's face at the same time her twin began attacking Draco, the sounds of their muffled grunts echoing down the hallway.
Harry saw darkness on the edges of his vision as her foot connected with his face and was jerked from drifting into unconsciousness when her next kick caught him in the stomach.
Harry tried to get up and was hit by a punching hex to the side of the face, dropping him back to the floor.
"Oh damn, the little brat passed out," Harry heard the other girl whine, sounding almost childish.
"Then help me with Potter," Harry's attacker giggled as she stomped his hand making him scream as the bones in his hand gave an audible 'snap'.
Harry's last conscious memory was the twin girls standing over him as they mercilessly kicked him over and over again until one of their kicks connected with the side of his head and everything went black.
Hogwarts Grounds, 1/13/1992, 10:18
Harry dismissed his class feeling very glad to be back at the castle. He was getting ready to set up for his fifth years when a throat-clearing caught his attention.
Turning he was surprised to find his sister-in-law standing on the other side of the trestle table, her face an emotionless mask.
"Cissa, what do I owe this visit?" Harry asked though he could already tell that this wasn't a social call.
"I need to ask you to do something for me," Narcissa answered and Harry noticed the playfulness she usually had during these meetings was absent from her features.
"Oh?" Harry asked, giving her his full attention.
"Draco and Harry were ambushed yesterday by two older students," Narcissa said, her blue eyes becoming darker at this statement.
"I know Whoever attacked them, obliviated them afterwards," Harry nodded.
Dumbledore had held an emergency staff meeting this morning to discuss the attack on Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy yesterday afternoon. The two boys were found unconscious on the third-floor corridor and appeared to have been beaten pretty badly. According to the headmaster, they showed signs of being attacked both magically and physically. More concerning was the fact that the two boys had most of the details of the attack wiped from their minds by their attackers.
"Have they found out who attacked them?" Narcissa asked though it looked like she already knew the answer.
"No, although the boys only woke up a few hours ago so they may be able to give us a clue as to who did it," Harry sighed.
"I just came from seeing Draco and neither of them has any idea what happened after leaving the library yesterday afternoon," Narcissa said and there was no mistaking the fury in her grey eyes.
"We think they were older students. The spells used were fifth-year and above... though they could have been taught advanced magic by a private tutor," Harry said not sure why she was coming to him about this.
"I want you to teach my son how to defend himself," Narcissa said, answering his unasked question.
"I'm not sure I can, technically speaking. There is a clause in my teaching contract about not teaching students anything that could be harmful to themselves or others," Harry said placatingly.
"I am a Hogwarts governor, I know how to navigate around such problems," Narcissa waved him off as she handed him a slip of parchment.
I Narcissa Malfoy holder of the Malfoy seat on the Hogwarts board of governors do hereby give Harry James Peverell my permission to instruct Harry James Potter and Draco Abraxus Malfoy in the art of duelling for competition purposes in accordance with Hogwarts bylaw A31b.
Signed ,
Narcissa Lyra Malfoy
Member of the board of Hogwarts Governors
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Headmaster
Guardians' signature,
Narcissa Lyra Malfoy
Sirius Orion Black
Harry read the slip of parchment twice before setting it onto the table and looking at Narcissa.
"You're sure this is what you want?" Harry asked.
"I am, Draco was helpless and he very well could have been killed yesterday," Narcissa said, her face a mask of barely suppressed fury.
"Draco is going to hate me for this," Harry muttered, more to himself than Narcissa.
"So you will do it?" Narcissa asked, sounding almost desperate.
"I will, I've grown rather fond of my nephew though I imagine his opinion of me will change after I start his training," Harry said with a soft chuckle.
"Thank you," Narcissa said, giving him a grateful smile as she came around the table and pulled him into a bone-breaking hug.
"We're family, Cissa, there is no need to thank me for this," Harry said as she released him.
"All the same, you have my gratitude," Narcissa smiled.
"So how did you get Albus to sign off on this?" Harry asked as he went back to setting up cages containing crups onto the table for his fifth years.
"Sirius threatened to transfer Harry to Beauxbaton unless he agreed to let us hire a tutor for the boys," Narcissa answered with a smug look.
"Yeah, that would definitely get Dumbledore's attention," Harry agreed.
Before Narcissa could reply, the bell sounded over the castle signalling that the morning break was over.
"I will see you this weekend, I have my own class to teach very soon," Narcissa before she began walking toward the gates.
This was not something Harry was expecting to happen, he had basically just agreed to train himself in defence.
Still, Harry couldn't deny that his younger self could use all the training he could get. If the boy's time at Hogwarts was anything like his own then it couldn't hurt to prepare him.
True Harry had spent the last decade dealing with all of the problems he faced during his time at school but as yesterday showed him, there were still dangers lurking in the shadows.
As Harry's class lined up in front of his table, Harry pushed those thoughts from his mind and began explaining to his fifth years the differences between a crup and a Jack Russell terrier.
As Harry gave his lecture to the class, he noticed that the Carrow twins were batting their eyes at him as had become a common occurrence during these lessons.
Harry ignored this as he had learned to do by now and began explaining the magical properties of crups. He had really come to enjoy teaching though he could do without teenage girls making eyes at him.
Once Harry set the class to sketch the crups, he began to ponder how he was going to go about training Harry and Draco.
'They are really going to hate me for this,' Harry thought to himself as he looked at Flora Carrow's sketch and gave the girl a nod before moving on.
Great Hall, Hogwarts, 1/13/1992
Harry was sitting next to Susan at the Gryffindor table still feeling a bit off after yesterday afternoon.
"Are you alright?" Susan asked before she took a large bite out of her sandwich.
"Yeah, I guess," Harry shrugged as he pushed his half-finished plate away from him.
"They'll find out who did it," Susan soothed.
"I just wish that I could remember who did it," Harry sighed.
"I know, it's scary to know somebody in this school could just attack two first years in the middle of the corridor," Susan admitted.
"Tell me about it, I bet you anything that it was a Slytherin," Harry said as he glanced across the hall at the Slytherin table.
"That's what I think too," Susan agreed.
"Which means Malfoy will always be in danger inside the castle," Harry said putting voice to what had been on his mind since he woke up in the infirmary this morning.
"True especially since he has no idea who to watch out for. He can't really trust anyone in his house," Susan reasoned.
"That's what I'm thinking," Harry agreed.
"So what are we going to do?" Susan asked.
"Keep away from him...for now," Harry said as if it were obvious.
"What?!" Susan exclaimed much louder than she had meant to.
"We stay away from him...well at least where anyone can see us," Harry corrected.
"You think that's why you two were attacked?" Susan asked.
"I don't know but that's what Draco thinks," Harry shrugged.
"It does make sense, the Slytherins hate Gryffindors on principle so Draco hanging out with you had to have upset some of them," Susan said, looking thoughtful.
"Exactly. On the plus side, I think Slytherin will be a good place for our next prank," Harry said, an evil grin playing on his lips.
"From that look, I am guessing it is going to be a nasty one," Susan said, her grin matching his own.
"You can bet your bum on that," Harry chuckled.
"Itching powder?" Susan asked.
"Yes, we have tons of the stuff might as well make use of it," Harry agreed.
"I wish we knew those prank wards Tonks used when she was here," Susan said with a wistful sigh.
Before anything else could be said, the bell sounded over the hall and the two Gryffindors made their way to their least favourite class, history of magic.
As Harry walked out of the great hall he studied the faces of every Slytherin he saw trying to jog his memory of the other day.
Madam Pomfrey had told him that it was very unlikely that those memories would ever be recovered but he hadn't given up hope yet.
"Well school definitely got more interesting this term," Harry muttered to himself as he and Susan followed the other Gryffindors up the stairs.
"Yeah and not in a good way," Susan agreed as they followed the Patil sisters.
It didn't take long before they made it to the history classroom. Harry noticed that the Ravenclaws were already seated and there were only two seats left by the time he and Susan entered the classroom.
With an internal sigh, Harry took a seat on one side of the bushy-haired Ravenclaw while Susan sat on the other side of her.
"Hello Hermione, why are you over here by yourself?" Susan asked cheerfully as she pulled out a quill and parchment.
"Funny story, it turns out that the house that prizes intelligence over all else gets really upset when you make your housemates look like a bunch of knuckle-dragging apes in potions class. Honestly who adds porcupine quills to a potion before taking it off of the heat, Mandy Brocklehurst, that's who!" Hermione ranted much louder than necessary, making Brocklehurst shoot her a scathing glare.
"So they're mad at you because you got your potion right?" Harry asked in confusion.
"No, they are mad because I didn't stop working on my own potion to try and save Mandy and Lee from making a mistake they would have known to avoid if they had bothered to read the chapter on the boil cure," Hermione huffed as the professor flew into the room through the chalkboard.
Hermione fell silent as the professor began today's lecture and Harry fell into a state of severe boredom as the man's dry wheezy voice droned on about goblin rebellions.
It seemed that the Ravenclaws had their own hierarchy and Hermione had upset things. He also knew that she got on Daphne's nerves and the Greengrass heiress usually avoided Hermione like the plague.
Personally, Harry liked Hermione, she was a bit high-strung but she was okay conversation as long as you avoided talking about academics otherwise she would go on and on about what it said in the textbook.
Harry jumped when Hermione nudged him with her elbow.
Harry glanced over at her and she pointed at the blank piece of parchment in front of him with her quill.
'Though I can't deny that she can be annoying,' Harry thought to himself as Hermione went back to writing her notes.
Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 1/1/13/1992, 18:39
Harry stepped through the door to find the twins doing their schoolwork on the coffee table while Bella read one of her trashy romance books.
"Dad!" Ignotus exclaimed a bit over-enthusiastically in Harry's opinion as soon as he noticed his father step through the door.
"It's nice to see you to son, now finish your homework," Harry chuckled as he hung his robes on the hook by the door.
"How was school?" Bellatrix asked as she shut her book.
Idly Harry noticed the book's title and barely suppressed a laugh.
The Mudblood and the Heiress by: Devi Ann Twanker. The words were written on the book's cover over a painted picture of a very muscular blond man carrying a scantily clad brunette up a set of stairs while they were locked in a heated kiss.
"As well as can be expected though Narcissa paid me a visit today," Harry shrugged.
"Dad I swear it was an accident, I didn't mean to push him into the fountain," Iggy said looking alarmed.
"Push who into the fountain?" Harry asked in confusion as he looked over at his son.
"Oh um never mind," Iggy quickly answered, causing his sister to giggle beside him.
"Well I'll deal with Ignotus in a minute, what did Narcissa want?" Bellatrix asked, shooting her son an exasperated look.
"She wants me to teach Harry and Draco self-defence," Harry shrugged as he got comfortable in his chair.
"And I take it she got you to agree?" Bella asked, looking amused.
"Well yes, it isn't a bad idea," Harry defended.
"Why am I not surprised," Bellatrix sighed.
"Well after the attack yesterday, she's freaking out," Harry sighed.
"I have no doubt about that, she is very protective of Draco," Bella agreed.
"We have no idea who attacked them so it wouldn't be a bad idea to give them a bit of training," Harry reasoned.
"Who is the one calling the shots in Slytherin house?" Bellatrix asked catching him off guard at the change of topic.
"Not a clue," Harry admitted.
"Well, whoever carried out that attack probably did so under their direction and since a Slytherin was caught up in the attack, it's a safe bet that this was house politics and Potter probably wasn't the primary target," Bellatrix said, looking thoughtful.
"You're sure?" Harry asked.
"That's how things worked when I was a Slytherin," Bella shrugged.
"And just out of curiosity, who controlled Slytherin house back then?" Harry asked as his wife got up from her seat.
"Me," Bella smirked as she sat down sideways in his lap.
"I thought for sure you were going to say Narcissa," Harry chuckled.
"She took control after I left," Bella admitted.
"And I will take over the house when I go to Hogwarts," Carina said matter-of-factly.
"We'll see," Harry sighed, knowing that she probably would.
"Yes well back to the attack, I am pretty sure that was just a warning for Draco. If you want to find out who did it, then you have to find out who's in charge of Slytherin," Bellatrix advised.
"Probably Markus Flint," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Doubtful, you are looking for a model student. Well-liked by the professors, top of their year, and very popular in the house. If Flint is anything like his father, he is little more than a dancing monkey," Bellatrix said, seeming to be enjoying this conversation.
"Great, I guess I will have to talk to Snape," Harry sighed.
"No need, Cissa already has and I would hazard a guess that she is already getting to the bottom of this little mystery," Bellatrix smirked.
"Oh bugger!" Harry exclaimed, looking very alarmed at that thought.
Harry knew how vindictive Narcissa could be during normal circumstances, she had once paid him to cut off a man's finger for insulting her. Then when you factored in how protective she was of her son and Harry realized there was a very good chance something bad was going to happen at Hogwarts soon.
"Daddy, language," Carina admonished, looking scandalized.
"My apologies princess," Harry said distractedly as he glanced down at his smirking wife.
"Don't look so worried, dear, Narcissa won't kill a child," Bella assured him.
"Good," Harry said feeling a bit relieved.
"But it is amazing what a person can live through," Bella added helpfully.
"Now you're just messing with me," Harry scowled at his wife's smirk.
"A bit," Bella conceded.
"Anyway I promised to train the boys though I am going to have to stick to the small spells," Harry said deciding it was best if he had no idea what Narcissa had planned for Draco's attacker.
"Good, they both should have been taught the basics already," Bella said.
"Agreed," Harry nodded as he looked over at the twins.
Bella had been teaching them occlumency since their seventh birthday while Harry had taught them the basics of muggle fighting that he had learned during his unspeakable training.
He would have to wait until their eleventh birthday when they got a wand to train them in any magic which was over two years from now but his children would know how to defend themselves when they started Hogwarts.
"So did anything exciting happen today?" Harry asked.
"Astoria kissed Ignotus on the cheek," Carina giggled, making her brother flush crimson.
"Shut up Carina," Ignotus hissed.
"You got your first kiss son?" Harry asked with a teasing smile.
"He brought her a flower and she gave him a big wet kiss in front of everyone," Carina chortled.
"I'm warning you, Carina," Ignotus growled his face getting even redder.
"Anything else?" Harry asked, hoping to avoid another argument between the twins.
"Aunt Cissa took us to the aviary and Iggy tricked that older boy into jumping in the fountain," Carina said, giving Iggy a wide smile.
"Who did he trick?" Harry asked with interest.
"Malcolm Harper," Carina said, her eyes alight in mirth.
"Good, wasn't he the chap that danced with you at the ball?" Harry asked innocently.
"That was him, he stepped on my toes," Carina said looking annoyed at the memory.
"Then that's two things I don't like about him," Harry grinned.
"I pity your future suitors, dear," Bellatrix sighed as she looked at her daughter sympathetically.
"There will be no suitors, she'll stay my little girl forever," Harry said stubbornly.
"I'm not a little girl," Carina protested.
"Of course your not, Princess," Harry agreed.
"I have a meeting with the Delacours next Friday," Bella said as she rolled her eyes at her husband.
"So you are considering branching into the French market?" Harry asked as he looked down at his wife.
"Yes, I am going to talk with Apolline's contact and see what she's offering," Bella said as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"I will talk to the goblins about building you a permanent workshop," Harry said as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you, the spare bedroom is getting a bit cramped," Bella smiled before pulling his head down to hers and giving him a soft kiss on the lips.
"Adults are gross," Carina huffed.
"Hush dear, you have homework to finish," Bella said distractedly before kissing him again.
Harry spent the rest of the evening relaxing as he pondered how he was going to go about training Harry and Draco. They were still too young to train them in advanced fighting but he knew of quite a few simple techniques that can even the odds in most situations.
This should be an interesting experience since he hadn't spent much time with his younger self since arriving in this timeline. At first, he was still a bit leery about the two of them spending much time together even after he met with Saul Croaker.
Now he would have to get over those reservations, it was about time his younger self was trained and this attack was a convenient reason for him to be the one to do it.
Harry had other things on his mind as well, he knew that somebody was about to have a very bad day when Narcissa figured out who attacked her son.