Chapter Six - Riddling the Greengrasses

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!

Chapter Six - Riddling the Greengrasses

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—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Once breakfast was finished the owls started flying in. As expected, the owls heaped with their abusive letters also came.

"It's started," muttered Harry. A little louder, he said, "Everyone, you might want to back away. I expect trouble."

As the mail from the owls was released, Harry made sure the only ones opened were those from family and friends, and that morning's Daily Prophet. Those owls bearing howlers were released of their loads, and their 'screaming' envelopes were immediately incinerated before they could reconfigure themselves to howl.

Once everything else was sorted, the whole lot was levitated into the air and vanished.

"Potter!" screamed Professor Snape. "How dare you use such spells in the Great Hall! Fifty points from Gryffindor for your careless disregard of safety. And a week's worth of detention with me starting tonight!"

"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you take care of hate mail," said Harry, to the wider tables, ignoring the ranting Potions Master.

He then rose and went to the head table before Professor McGonagall. "Professor McGonagall," he loudly said.

"Mister Potter?" she asked right back with what seemed to be a sense of anticipation just behind her eyes.

"Professor McGonagall," he loudly replied, "as you are Deputy Headmistress, I come before you with complaint of unfair treatment and bias against me by Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master. He has unfairly awarded me punishment of which you, as witness, are aware."

As he spoke, Harry watched the look of glee in the eyes of the Professor.

"As you witnessed I placed no one in danger and only dealt with what we already knew to be hate mail from small minded idiots who cannot accept the simple fact we three are soul-bonded," Harry continued. "Alas, I would not have put it past any of the miscreants to have sent mail containing most foul enchantments and poisons. Immediately destroying the mail was, in fact, beneficial to the safety of the student body."

When he was done, she just as loudly replied, "As Deputy Headmistress and in charge of all student punishment, I recognise your complaint against unfair punishment meted against you by Professor Snape. Through my own witness of the events, I hereby overturn the punishment against you, returning the fifty points and cancelling the detention."

Harry gave her a short nod and said, "Thank you, Professor," before he returned to the Slytherin table. He didn't even bother looking at the fuming Potions Master.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

With the school week finally over, the three made a quick trip to the library to exchange books before they returned to their private living room to make a start on homework. They wanted to get it out of the way so they'd be free that evening for Daphne's friends and little sister to visit.

Plus, her parents were visiting the next afternoon immediately after lunch; and wanted to allow as much time as they could to spend time with them.

Daphne had warned them her father was quite stern but fair. Matthias and Candice, her parents, were typical purebloods in that they didn't show a lot of love to their children in public after they turned about eight and began their home-schooling. However, she assured them both parents were more forthcoming in showing affection when they were alone as a family.

When Harry expressed his worry about how they'd treat Hermione, she assured them they weren't 'blood snobs'; as she put it. But they still worried about the impact muggleborns had on wizarding culture; and the risk they represented to the Statute of Secrecy. That set Harry to thinking.

After a quick dinner, where they again sat at the Slytherin table - and were not bothered - the three escorted Tracey, Blaise and Horace, to whom Harry and Hermione had been introduced on the carriage between the station and the castle, up to their private apartment.

Harry had surged ahead, a little, and muttered the password to Prusilla, before holding the portrait open to allow the others inside.

Daphne showed them through the room, bedrooms and private bathrooms, before leading them back into the living room and encouraging them to sit. Crookshanks wasn't happy to get evicted from his armchair.

"So, what do you think?" she asked, a little worriedly.

"It's wonderful, Daph!" said Tracey, clearly happy for her friend.

"And how are you getting on with Bulstrode and Parkinson without me down there?" asked Daphne.

"Its fine," replied Tracey, waving off the question. "They understand you're up here because of the bond. And, they've not hassled me about it."

Leaning forward a little, she said, "Actually, I think they're happy we've gone from four to three. It means more room and time in the showers for the three of us."

Daphne was clearly relieved. "I was just worried about you, you know?"

"I know," shrugged Tracey.

"May I ask why you chose to be up here and not near the dungeons?" asked Horace. "After all, if Mister Potter was supposed to have been a Slytherin, as he said this morning, I thought it would have been easier to be down there."

"We asked for an apartment that was more central to the two Houses... such as something on the third floor," Harry replied. "However, Professor McGonagall told us that wasn't possible. And we decided that, if we had to be nearer one or the other, it would be Gryffindor.

"Now that I've thought more about it," he continued. "I think the risk was too high for Hermione... due to her muggleborn status... to be anywhere near the Slytherin common room."

"That was why I was happy to go along with having our apartment up here," said Daphne. "Safety for Hermione."

Hermione looked at Daphne in surprise and gratitude. "Thank you," she softly muttered.

Daphne just gave her a little shrug and a soft smile back.

"Anyway," said Tracey. "Tell us about the bond! You haven't been very forthcoming, you know."

Tracey had managed to change the mood and Daphne chuckled. "There's not much to tell, Trace," Daphne replied. "It was amazing to watch, though."

"Is it true there's a golden aura?" asked Tracey, almost bouncing in her seat.

"Nope," Daphne smugly replied. "It was silver. I didn't see when it happened between me and Harry; but I sure saw it when it happened to Harry and Hermione. It was amazing!"

"But how did it happen?" asked Tracey. "Sorry. I know it's private. But, I really want to know!"

Harry shook his head and gave them the story they'd worked out on the train.

"Typical Gryffindor," snorted Blaise. "You just decided to kiss her and see what she'd do?"

"Pretty much," Harry replied with a shrug. "I thought the worse she could do was slap me and hex me a few times."

"Not very Slytherin," said Horace.

"No, but I never said there wasn't a reason the Hat chose Gryffindor as it's second choice for me," he replied.

"And then you kissed Hermione?" asked Tracey.

"It was more like I kissed Harry," replied Hermione. "I saw the glow between him and Daphne and wanted to see if it would do the same for me. It did. Daphne told us what the glow meant."

"But, this is a private secret, guys," said Daphne. "It's not information to be shared. Alright? We shared it with you because you're friends."

"And, what about a certain pair of redheads?" asked Blaise. "What happened there?"

All three of the original teens scowled a little.

"Young Miss Weasley attempted to slip Harry a combined love and loyalty potion," said Daphne. "I guess she wanted Harry for herself."

"Both are difficult to brew," said Blaise. "I didn't think she'd have the knowledge or skills to brew something like that."

"She doesn't," said Hermione. "Harry and I stayed at the Weasley's home, The Burrow, for the last week of school holidays. I spied Missus Weasley brewing them and alerted Harry and Daphne to what she was doing."

"So, we kept an eye on both of the youngest two to see which one was going to attempt to dose us," said Daphne. "It turns out they both had the potions on their persons when young Ginevra made her move."

"Any idea what's going to happen to them?" asked Tracey.

"Not yet," Daphne scowled. "I suspect Madam Bones is still investigating. I'm sure we'll hear more when those investigations are completed, though."

Talk moved on to other matters as the six teens settled back to less serious subjects. It was about an hour later when Dobby popped in with drinks and small canapés for every one.

"Wasn't that the Malfoy house elf?" asked Horace, a little confused on seeing Dobby.

"It was," replied Harry with a smirk. "I tricked Lucy into freeing him at the end of second year. After giving him just over a year of freedom, I asked Dobby if he wanted to bond with me when we returned to the castle at the beginning of the week. He accepted."

"And the clothes?" asked Horace. "How did you manage to give him clothes and not break the bond?"

"I didn't," Harry responded a little smugly. "I told him what I'd like to see him wearing. And he took it from there. He's now wearing his own clothes without me having given them to him."

"Clever," said Blaise, a little surprised. "I think I might tell my mum how you managed that."

Harry gave him a little gesture telling the other boy he didn't mind him telling his mother how to do it.

"I'm actually surprised no one's thought of it before," said Hermione.

"I'm not," Daphne disagreed. "What a house elf wears is sign of their bondage to the House. Many purebloods... and it's usually only purebloods that have house elves... want their house elves to appear as slaves. It makes them feel better about themselves, I suppose.

"Then, there're folks like us. We just didn't know we could do it differently. I guess, we never really thought about it. But, we should have."

"Be that as it may," said Harry. "Up here, we're out of the information loop, so to speak," said Harry. "We only hear about the information people think we want to hear. What rumours are floating around about us?"

"Not much," said Tracey. "There're quite a few witches not very happy Harry's no longer available. And, a few of the male purebloods are annoyed they can no longer push their heads of houses to arrange a betrothal between them and Daphne. I'm more worried about things like the love potions you spoke of young Weasley attempting."

"They won't work," said Daphne. "Part of the magic of the bond is that love potions... and pretty much any form of mind altering substance or charm... will no longer work on us. We're now immune."

"Handy," mused Blaise. "I wish the rest of us were so protected."

"Learn the detection charms," said Hermione. "And, if anyone asks, tell them you're copying the idea from Professor Moody. You notice he detects his food and drink every time he sits at the head table for his meals?"

"Is that what he's doing?" asked Horace. "I wondered."

"He's paranoid," scowled Tracey. "He thinks everyone's out to kill him by poisoning him."

"It's not a bad frame of mine to be in if people are actually out to try and poison you," smirked Harry right back.

"True," she sighed.

"However, he makes the perfect excuse to start using the charms to detect for such potions," said Hermione. "That's how Harry detected the potions Ginny Weasley tried to slip him."

By the time curfew approached, the six had spent the rest of the evening talking about far less serious subjects and getting to know one another better.

After they'd gone, Harry said, "That was nice. I'm disappointed your sister didn't want to come, though."

"She'll join us tomorrow when my parents are here," smiled Daphne. "I think she might have also have had a little bit of a crush on you, though, Harry. She wasn't happy to learn I'd 'snagged' you first."

"Errph!" Harry grimaced. "I don't like the whole fangirl thing. They're smitten with the whole 'Boy-Who-Lived' thing rather than 'Just Harry'. I think, if they actually got to know me; they'd be disappointed."

"No, they wouldn't," she smiled.

"She's right," sighed Hermione. "Harry Potter's even better than the 'Boy-Who-Lived'."

Blushing a little, Harry said, "And, with that embarrassing little situation, I think I'm going to head for bed."

The girls had only joined him once more since the other night. So, Harry wasn't expecting them when both walked in a short while later. Thankfully, he hadn't shrunk the bed back down, so he didn't have to rise to widen it again.

Without a word they both just slipped into bed on either side of him, leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

"Good night," they both said.

"Good night," he replied.

Finally starting to get used to each other's company in bed, the three quickly drifted off to sleep.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Saturday meant slightly later breakfasts for the residents of Hogwarts. So, the three laid in bed for a little while. Almost physically programmed to be up very early, Harry was the first to waken. This time his hand was gripping the soft breast of Daphne.

However, unlike their first morning sleeping together, his hand wasn't up a tanktop grasping bare flesh. In a way, Harry was glad for the wizarding sleepwear of the magical world. It meant his hand was on the outside of Daphne's 'sleep robe'.

Gently, he pulled his hand away and rolled over onto his back.

Turning his head to the right, he saw Hermione was asleep facing him. To him, she looked so peaceful when she was asleep. He laid there watching her for a while before he rolled back to his left, again, and propped himself up on his elbow.

Looking over Daphne's shoulder he could see her face in full repose except for the slightest of smiles on her face.

She'd admitted to them both that she had the occasional nightmare. She had none of them when she slept with them - or, was it just Harry? Something he was unsure she knew or not.

Trying not to wake either of them, he climbed out of bed over the blankets and the foot of the bed, before heading to his bathroom.

When he finished his morning ablutions, they were both awake but hadn't risen. He walked out of his bathroom wearing only his boxers.

Both girls looked at him and grinned. "Come back to bed, Harry," said Daphne.

Knowing they still had plenty of time before breakfast finished, Harry smiled and climbed back in between them. Both girls snuggled in, making it hard for him to slide further down into the bed so his head rested properly on the pillow. He managed, though; amidst lots of giggling and laughing.

Once he was finally settled, he said, "I want you both to know... if you want to come in and sleep in here... whether together or alone... I won't stop you. We may wake in embarrassing positions... and I'm sorry about that... but I won't intentionally do anything you don't approve of in advance."

After letting that sink in for a moment, as Hermione leaned in and gave Harry another kiss to the cheek, Daphne propped herself up on her right elbow and looked down at him.

"Mmm?" he asked her.

"Harry," she began. "When you woke up this morning..."

"Mmm?" he asked again, already knowing where she was heading but letting her get there on her own.

"Were... you holding my breast?"

"Yes; I'm sorry," he simply answered. "In my defence, as soon as I woke up and noticed, I pulled my hand away. I didn't want it to frighten you."

"Really?" asked an amused Hermione. "He was doing that to me the other morning."

Daphne seemed to think about it for a moment with her eyes downcast. Softly, she said to Harry, "It's okay. Thank you for being considerate." She then thought a moment more and, looking him in the eyes, said, "It was a surprise to me that it didn't worry or scare me. I... liked it. It made me feel safe, you know?"

"I understand," Harry replied. "But, I meant what I said. Other than unintentional touching in our sleep, I won't... make a move... until you're ready; until you tell me you're ready. Both of you."

She blushed, nodded and leaned in and kissed him. "You're a good man, Harry Potter." And laid her head on his chest with a sigh as Hermione did the same from the other side.

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—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

After breakfast, study and then lunch, the three - plus a hesitant Astoria - stood in the Entrance Hall awaiting the arrival of Daphne's parents. Of the four, Daphne was the most worried.

When a couple in fine robes walked in, Harry immediately knew these two were Daphne's parents.

The man looked at Harry with an intensity Harry did not often feel. He knew the man was taking his measure.

"Mister Potter," the man finally said, "I'm Matthias Greengrass; Daphne's father," as the woman embraced Daphne and murmured a few words to her before moving on to Astoria.

Harry stepped forward to the man and offered his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir," he quietly but firmly replied. "And, please; call me Harry."

Mister Greengrass hesitated a moment before taking Harry's hand. With the same look, but a little softened, he said, "Call me Matthias. Please."

Matthias turned and indicated the lady who'd walked in with him. "Harry; this is my wife and Daphne's mother, Candice."

Harry stepped forward and took the lady's hand, bending to kiss the back of her knuckles with the barest of touches before standing back up. "Ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you, too. And, as with Matthias, please call me Harry."

The lady stared at Harry for a few moments; clearly measuring him up; before she said, "Thank you, Harry. And you may call me 'Deece'."

"Thank you, both," he said, stepping back and indicating Hermione. "Matthias; Deece... I introduce to you Miss Hermione Granger; our... third partner."

Matthias stepped forward and kissed the back of Hermione's knuckles, making the girl blush. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger. And, please, call me Matthias."

"The pleasure is also mine, Matthias," she softly replied. "And it's Hermione."

Deece stepped forward and, instead of shaking Hermione's hand, enveloped the girl in a hug.

"No doubt you both have many questions," said Harry. "May we retire to our apartment for privacy?"

"That would be wise, Harry," said Matthias. "Please, lead the way."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

On the way up to the apartment, Harry took them through the trophy room and showed them the displayed award given to one Tom Marvolo Riddle, and showed his name in gold leaf on the board of the previous one hundred Head Boys and Girls.

When Matthias had asked why Harry was showing them this, he replied, "All will be explained in private. But, once you hear it, you won't want to believe it."

Once in the apartment, with Crookshanks getting another bum-steer off the armchair, Matthias and Deece seemed to relax; as did Daphne and Astoria.

"Mister... Harry," said Matthias, starting the conversation. "Perhaps you'd best start with how all this came about. A soul bond being initiated between two is extremely rare. For it to be a three-way soul bond is completely unheard of.

"I worry for my daughter to... be in a position where she'll be sharing her bonded with another," he explained. "I'm concerned the bond, and her, will be harmed by this situation."

Harry nodded and turned to Daphne. "Daphne? Do you feel as if I do not give you enough attention? Do you feel the bond between us could be harmed by this?"

After a moment she replied, "No. But, we also have no experience of this situation on which to fall back upon. How would we know? Other than..." and she shrugged.

Turning to Hermione, he asked the same.

"I know even less, Harry," she shrugged.

Then he turned to Matthias and asked, "Is there a reason you're concerned? Or, is it just a concept of which you don't know, and it concerns you as such?"

Matthias sighed and said, "That's just it. No one knows. We know a pair bond is fine. But a three-way?"

"Then, perhaps, we can ease your mind on that."

As fast as Harry could move, even he was surprised by the speed at which Matthias rose from his seat, spun about and raised his wand. So did Deece. Only their wands were no longer in either of their hands.

"What in Merlin's...!" exclaimed Matthias, as Astoria let out a little shriek of surprise.

The three Grim Reapers - or, Guardian Angels, as they preferred to be called in this form - stood near the corner of the room, a little apart from the couches.

"Be at peace, Matthias Dean," said Della. "We mean you and yours no harm."

"Wh-who are you?" he asked.

"We three are the guardian angels for your Daphne Anna, Hermione Jean and Harry James," she replied.

"Whaaat?" he exclaimed.

John chuckled and said, "You heard right, Matthias Dean. You and Candice Marigold have nothing to fear, here. Nor does young Astoria May."

Daphne approached her father and said, "It's alright, father. They are who they claim to be."

Matthias looked at his daughter for a moment before turning back to the three beings. "How do I know you're who you say you are?"

Roma replied, "Because you know it to be true. Your soul tells you it's true."

Matthias started to shake a little, but it was clear he knew and understood.

"You're worried about the soul bond between these three," said Della. "You need not worry about what it is you're worrying about. We would not have allowed the bond to be if it was going to be a problem for them."

"So it's true then?" asked Deece. "A soul bond is magic made in H-heaven?"

"Yes," John simply replied.

"Harry James has a favour to ask of you, Matthias Dean," said Della. "Please, help him."

And, with that parting comment, the three beings winked out. At the same time, Matthias and Deece found their wands back in their hands.

"Mother... father... please, sit down again," said Daphne.

Both adults returned to their seats, clearly stunned by what they'd just seen and learned.

"This is incredible!" sighed Matthias, trying hard to comprehend what he just saw. He then looked up at Daphne and asked, "Which one was yours?"

"The dark skinned lady," she softly replied with a smile. "Her name is Della."

When Matthias turned to Harry, Harry answered, "The young man. His name is John."

"And, of course, the auburn-haired lady, Roma, is mine," said Hermione.

The three let Daphne's parents and her sister process what they'd learned by keeping quiet for a few moments.

"Alright," said Matthias. "Alright, then. I don't need to worry about the three-way nature of the bond."

"It seems not," sighed Deece before she turned to Daphne, clearly concerned. "And you, daughter? Are you happy with this?"

"I am," Daphne replied with a smile of contentment. She indicated Harry and said, "Small, dark and broody over there is the one that needs convincing. But, he's very good to me, Mum."

"Is the bond finalised?" Matthias suddenly asked.

"Matthias Dean Greengrass!" exclaimed a scandalised Deece. "That is not for you to ask!"

Though he winced at the rebuke, Matthias quickly brushed it aside. "I'm her father. Her happiness means as much to me as life itself. You know what happens if the bond is not finalised.

"On top of that, our daughter is a beautiful young woman. And, Mister Potter is clearly a fit young man. I don't want to see our daughter hurt!"

"The answer is no, Sir," Harry firmly stated.

"Harry!" rebuked Daphne. "You don't need to tell him."

"Maybe not," Harry turned to the girl and replied. "But he clearly cares about your welfare. I respect that." Turning back he said, "We do not need to rush this. And I believe I'm just as concerned for your daughter's welfare as you are.

"We know it needs to happen. We also know it does not need to be rushed. And it most certainly won't happen until both girls want it to happen. As I've already told them both, I will not force the issue with either of them. Merlin, I don't even know if I'm ready yet."

Matthias stared at Harry for a few long moments before he blinked and stated, "You're a most unusual young man, Mister Potter."

Hermione snickered. "Sorry," she giggled. "But that wraps Harry up in a nutshell. He jumped on the back of a twelve foot tall mountain troll to save my life at age eleven. And killed a basilisk with a sword... the Sword of Gryffindor, no less... when he was twelve. And drove off about one hundred dementors with a single patronus charm, last year, when he was thirteen. So, yes; Harry is most definitely a most unusual young man."

"The stories are true?" asked Deece, clearly shocked.

"Well, what Hermione said is true," Harry shrugged, looking to the older witch. "However, those silly books where I'm supposed to have spanked a naughty nundu and the like; they're lies. You know the ones? Harry Potter and the... whatever."

"I know the ones," smirked Deece. "Daphne has the whole set, back home."

"Mother!" Daphne whined and blushed, before dropping her face into her hands, clearly mortified.

"Ooohhh! I like those books," Stori happily said, cutting in.

Harry chuckled and said, "It's alright, Daphne. I heard they were big sellers. I'm no longer surprised when a fellow student admits they had one, more or all of them in their possession at home."

"Is that what those... people... alluded to, Mis- Harry?" asked Matthias. "What favour you were going to ask of me?"

"Partly, Matthias," Harry replied. He sat a little forward, stared straight at Matthias and said, "What I'm about to tell you is going to come as quite the shock. And, if you want my oath on it, I'll give it to you."

"I... don't think we need to go that far, Harry," the older man frowned. "Just ask it and I'll see."

Harry nodded and said, "Sirius Black is my godfather. My sworn godfather. He would sooner give his own life than harm me."

"But... that's not possible!" exclaimed Deece. "The man attacked your parents. He led He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to your parent's cottage!"

Harry turned his eyes to Deece and said, "No, Ma'am; he did not. You, like pretty much everyone else in the wizarding world, believe a lie. It was Peter Pettigrew who was my parent's Secret Keeper. It was Peter Pettigrew who led Riddle, the wizard you call He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, to my parent's cottage.

"My godfather, in a moment of grief stricken rage over the death of his best friends, my parents, made a Merlin-bedamned foolish mistake of going after Pettigrew on his own. He finally caught the rat in a muggle street near his muggle home. It was Pettigrew who cast a blasting hex at the street, blowing a gas main in the process, before cutting his own finger off, and escaping in his unregistered animagus form of a common brown rat down the now opened sewer system.

"The blast from the explosion knocked my godfather out. He woke up in his prison cell in Azkaban. He never had a trial. And no one even interviewed him to simply ask if he was actually guilty. Bartemius Crouch, with Millicent Bagnold's support, just dumped him in Azkaban. Merlin; even all the marked Death Eaters got a trial. But, not my godfather."

Both adult Greengrasses looked back in shock.

With a small smile, Harry asked, "Want me, now, to give that oath as to what I just told you was the truth?"

Matthias replied, "No... no, I do not." He sighed, then ran his fingers through his hair and looked back at Harry. "How do you know this?"

"I've met him, as has Hermione," said Harry. "A couple of times, actually. Both of us have also met Peter Pettigrew. He was hiding out at the Weasley's, and here in the castle, in his animagus form."

Matthias seemed to muse things over for a bit and asked, "Harry, do you know what a pensieve is?"

Harry frowned and said, "No. Sorry, I don't." That was information he couldn't share from the future.

Matthias nodded and called a house elf, "Jelly!"

The little elf appeared and Matthias gave it instructions to get his pensieve from the Greengrass home. The elf was back in a few moments with the pensieve appearing on the coffee table.

"Alright, Harry," Matthias said, bringing his wand out again. "This is a magical artefact that allows people to see the memories of others. If you can think about the memory of how you know Black is innocent, I can draw that memory out of you and place it in the pensieve. Then we can see it for ourselves.

"And, don't worry. Once we've seen it, I can return the memory to you. So, will you allow me to do this?"

Harry frowned a bit and looked at Daphne. She nodded back.

With a firm nod back at Matthias, he asked, "Alright, Matthias. What do you need me to do?"

"Concentrate hard on the memory of where you learned of Black's... your godfather's... innocence. Think hard on the entire event. I'll draw the memory once you give me the okay to do so," Matthias instructed.

Harry gave another nod and thought hard about the night in the Shrieking Shack. Once he thought he had the whole thing in his mind, he gave a firm nod and said, "Now."

Matthias reached out to Harry's temple with the tip of his wand and began to gently twirl it. To Harry, it felt a little cold and he began to feel as if the memory became quite 'fuzzy'; almost like an afterthought. While he'd viewed quite a few memories in the old timeline, he'd never given one.

When Matthias was done, he drew his wand away. Once the wand tip passed in front of his face, Harry saw what looked like fine silvery cotton wool surrounded the tip - his memory. It's extraction felt quite weird; and he realised the memory he had of the event was now almost fleeting. He couldn't quite focus on it.

Matthias moved the tip over the centre of the pensieve and, tilting the wand down, allowed the silvery mass to slip off the end and into the stone bowl. "Roughly, how long does this memory take, Harry?" he asked.

Thinking about it, Harry now only had a general idea. With a shrug he murmured, About twenty to thirty minutes, I guess."

With a slow nod, while looking at the bowl, Matthias said, "Then I shall be back in about twenty to thirty minutes." And then dropped his face into the liquid within the bowl.

Pretending to be surprised by the motion, Harry was about to reach out and draw the man back out. However, Deece was quicker and said, "It's okay, Harry. This is normal."

Looking at the now immobile man, Harry thought for a few moments and called Dobby. When the little elf appeared, he said, "Dobby, could you please organise a serving of tea for everyone?"

"Yes, Master Harry," replied the elf with a little bob of his head before he disappeared with a light crack.

He was back moments later with the tea serving before disappearing again.

The other four sat and waited for Matthias to return. When he suddenly pulled his head out of the liquid, Harry almost dropped his saucer.

Matthias blinked a couple of times, before turning to look at Hermione and Harry. "Well, that's a surprise."

Harry nodded as Matthias sat back, deep in thought.

"How is it that we are unaware of all this happening?" Matthias asked. "You'd caught Pettigrew... and I know it was Pettigrew because I knew him when he was a student here... why have we not heard anything yet?"

"Then that takes us to what happened after that," said Harry, sitting forward again.

Harry then stepped all four Greengrasses - Daphne had not heard the full story before - through what happened after the confrontation in the Shrieking Shack. All three older Greengrasses interrupted, at times, to clarify a few points. Harry was happy that Hermione was able to answer many of their questions.

In concluding, he said, "So, no one will believe three school kids, Remus is a werewolf and considered a dark creature, Snape won't say anything because he despises Sirius... Padfoot... and wants to see him Kissed, when we spoke to the Minister about what we knew he brushed us off and still demanded the Dementors be brought in to see my godfather Kissed rather than admit the truth. Even Headmaster Dumbledore couldn't get the Minister to see reason and at least get my godfather a trial, because it would make him look like a fool to the wizarding public."

With a sigh of his own, Matthias said, "And I'm guessing the favour you want to ask of me is to see to it that Black gets his trial."

"In part," replied Harry. "The favour I want to ask of you is to organise for me a solicitor to represent both my godfather and me in all legal matters. There are other issues as well that we simply cannot discuss with you as yet."

Matthias was nodding along as Harry spoke. Then he said, "I can do that. You'll need a solicitor who has political clout, is experienced in criminal trials, can liaise directly with the DMLE, and won't take being browbeat by Minister Fudge."

"Plus," Harry continued, "I need him, or her, to be able to go after the publisher of those books about me for using my name and image without permission, has experience in matters relating to libel... especially with the publishers of those books and the media... and is, above all else, scrupulously honest; and known for being so.

"As soon as it becomes public that Sirius is being represented by a legal firm or individual, Fudge is going to directly attack through slander myself, Hermione and Ron, at least; probably even Professor Dumbledore. I want him slapped down if he tries to go that route."

Matthias sat and thought before he frowned and muttered, "He would."

After they sat for a few moments to let that bit of news sink in, Matthias shook himself a little and said, "Now, you said you were going to tell us why you showed us those names on the school Honour Roll, and the award for that young Mister Riddle."

Harry smiled and said, "I was just going to tell you about it. However, that was before you showed me what a pensieve was and what it could do. How about I give you the memory of Ron Weasley, me and Professor Lockhart heading down into the Chamber of Secrets to rescue Ron's little sister, Ginevra Weasley? It's related."

"How long?" asked Matthias.

Already having thought about it, Harry immediately replied, "About an hour. But, it's a very intense hour."

"Fine," said Matthias, after a few moments. "However, I think we'll display this memory above the bowl, so we can all watch."

First, Matthias scooped the memory out of the bowl and showed Harry how to return it to his mind. Once Harry was satisfied it was back, Matthias then took a much larger memory out. This time the mass gathered on his wand tip almost like silver cotton candy.

Once Harry was satisfied it was all out, Matthias withdrew his wand and allowed the mass to drop into the bowl.

This time, instead of dropping his face into the liquid, he used his wand tip to activate a couple of runes. And the image played out in an almost ghostly fashion above the surface of the bowl.

The memory started with Harry and Ron cornering Professor Lockhart in his office, forcing him to accompany the two at wand point to the girl's bathroom on the second floor. It went through the opening of the entrance leading to the Chamber, Lockhart's attempted mind-wipe of both boys, the collapse of the tunnel roof, and Harry going on alone and opening the inner door to the Chamber proper. Then the talk with Riddle's 'shade', the battle with the basilisk - where both girls immediately went to Harry and nearly cut off the circulation to his fingers holding his arms so tightly from either side - Harry being wounded, Fawkes's tears, the destruction of the diary and Riddle's shade, Ginny waking up, and Fawkes carrying them all back up to the bathroom.

When it finished with Harry, Ron, Ginny and Lockhart meeting Professor McGonagall in the bathroom, the others sat there in stupefied silence for a few moments.

Matthias shakily called one of his house elves and practically demanded a glass of firewhiskey for himself and Deece. Both adults downed the fiery concoction without a further word.

With steam coming out of his ears, and a light burp of flame, Matthias sat forward and almost moaned. Daphne walked over to Deece and, sitting alongside the woman, they cuddled each other.

"Y-you were twelve," Matthias softly said.

"Yes," replied Harry. He then pulled his wand and, with almost a mutter, cast, "Expecto Patronum!" His patronus, Prongs, surged forth from the tip of his wand into the fully corporeal animal shape of an adult stag.

Prongs moved around the room a little bit before returning to face Harry. The almost solid white and glowing shape effused a feeling of love to all in the room.

"Thank you, Prongs," Harry smiled before banishing the charm.

Looking to the others he asked, "Feeling better?"

"Merlin, that was a powerful patronus," said Deece. "Thank you, Harry."

Harry just smiled in response with a tiny shrug.

"And that sword," said Matthias, finally gathering himself, "The Sword of Gryffindor?"

"Yes," Harry replied. "I believe the Headmaster currently has it in his office in a display case."

"Amazing," breathed Matthias, shaking his head; still somewhat disbelieving what he'd just witnessed in the memory. "And, how much did you make from the potion ingredients and hide of the basilisk?"

"Sorry?" Harry quizzically asked. "I... don't know what you mean."

"When you harvested the basilisk," explained Matthias. "Surely, you've done that."

Harry slowly shook his head. "I didn't know I could."

Quite surprised Matthias asked, "Do you mean to tell me the carcass of the basilisk is still lying down in the Chamber?"

"Well, yes," shrugged Harry.

Matthias looked quite pained and explained, "That'll be something else I organise for you, then. A basilisk of that size will be worth millions of galleons, Harry."

"I never thought about it, really. I was just happy to get out of there alive." Changing the subject he looked resolute and asked, "After listening to Tommy-boy's story; do you understand, now, why I took you to the trophy room, first?"

Nodding, his mind elsewhere, Matthias replied. "He Who-Must-Be-Named is really named Tom Marvolo Riddle."

"Yes," said Harry. "Tom Marvolo Riddle; born the 31st of December 1926. As you saw in the memory, his made-up name is an anagram of his real name.

"His mother was Merope Gaunt; a near-squib witch who lived in Little Hangleton in a shack in a small copse of wood. His father, Tom Riddle, was a muggle squire of the same village, living just up the hill in Riddle Manor. So, Tom junior is a half-blood. So much for his pureblood supremacy nonsense, yes?

"His mother, apparently, dosed his father with Amortentia to get him to pay attention to her. When she stopped using the Amortentia before Tom junior was born, Tom senior dumped her in London. Tom junior was born and, an hour later, his mother died due to complications with her health and the birth. The muggle medical staff was unable to help her.

"Tom junior was then raised in a muggle orphanage in south London. An orphanage where the other children knew he was different and treated him as an outcast. That treatment may have tipped him over the edge into what he became in later years. Though, even before Professor Dumbledore took him his acceptance letter to Hogwarts on his eleventh birthday, he was already doing nasty things to his fellow orphans; and was somewhat of a sneak thief and vicious. He used to kill the pets of the other children, just to spite them. And see it blamed on others.

"Once he became a student, here, he hid his origins; but knew little of it, anyway. However, he spent a lot of the school breaks researching. It was during first year he discovered he was actually an heir of Salazaar Slytherin, himself. He told very few people about that, at the time. Those he did were all purebloods. It led him to tracking down his maternal uncle, Morfin Gaunt, in that same shack in Little Hangleton. During that meeting he discovered his birth father was a muggle. He then killed his birth father and family, implanted false memories of the murder in the mind of his maternal Uncle Morfin, and bespelled his uncle into confessing to the DMLE he'd done it. It saw the man sentenced to Azkaban; where he later died.

"In 1943, he also discovered the Chamber of Secrets and released, at that time, the basilisk. That's how Myrtle... you know her as Moaning Myrtle, the ghost... died in the girl's bathroom on the second floor. Tom... he was a prefect by then... and as with his uncle and kids at the orphanage, blamed the whole thing on another; a fellow student and Gryffindor, Rubeus Hagrid. That's where his award came from.

"Tom junior figured out pretty quickly that the money in the wizarding world is mainly with the old pureblood families. To get hold of that money, he knew he had to pass himself off as a pureblood. So, soon after he finished Hogwarts, he ventured over to the mainland and learned what he could. When he returned, he came back and out with the name of Lord Voldemort. And told all and sundry he was a pureblood.

"Using his false background of a pureblood he demonstrated how he was the heir of Slytherin. He then used that to gather pureblood supporters to himself. And they brought him the money he needed and wanted to prosecute a war against the wizarding world.

"He told them that their perceived difficulties and fear in life stemmed from muggleborns and muggles. He then turned their fear of those people into hate, and sent them after the muggleborn. That's a tactic that's been used by megalomaniacs for many centuries. Adolph Hitler was one such recent expert at doing that. Later, he sent them against his real targets... other purebloods... by referring to them, just as Grindelwald did, as blood traitors.

"Tom is... was... not really a 'blood bigot'. Or, not in the way people think. He's a 'blood bigot', alright. His bigotry, though, goes counter to what people think. He despises purebloods and their bigotry. He despises that the purebloods control the wizarding world. It must give him great joy to use the very people he despises to attack and kill other purebloods.

"Look back at how many pureblood lines have been wiped out by Riddle and his people - Meadowes, Prewett, McKinnon, and Fenwick are examples. Take a look at how many lines are close to extinction - Potter, Bones, Longbottom, Rozier, Lestrange, Greengrass, to name a few. Riddle was either directly or indirectly responsible for them all.

"So, everything you thought you knew about Voldemort and his origins, unless it gels with what I've just shown and told you, is a lie. Sorry."

Both Greengrass ladies were in tears; Matthias, nearly so.

"It was all a lie," sniffled Deece.

"Yes, Ma'am," replied Harry.

"How in Merlin's name do you know all this?" asked Matthias, before he provided his own answer. "Wait. Those three."

Harry couldn't correct the man's belief, due to the confidential 'contract' but it didn't matter so long as he was believed. Besides, he simply couldn't tell them he knew the knowledge from their future. That was still forbidden.

"Will you help us, Matthias?" he asked instead. "Will you organise such a solicitor for me?"

"Yes, Mis... Yes, Harry; I will," replied the shaken older man.

"Thank you," said a relieved Harry. "I thought I might have had to go to the goblins to organise one for me."

"Oh, they'd organise one for you, alright," Matthias nervously chuckled. "But, only one who was willing to pay them sufficient kick-backs. But, that's not the sort of one... or more... you need or want."

"That's how I figured it," sighed Harry.

Nodding, Matthias continued, "I'll owl you with the details; and ask, what ever solicitor I find, to do the same. But, given the nature of the issues, it might be more than one."

"Understood," Harry frowned and nodded. "I... hadn't thought of that, before. But, of course, you're right."

For the rest of their visit, the Greengrasses and the future Potters spoke of inconsequential matters. It ended with an invitation.

"This Christmas is out, if what I'm hearing is correct," said Deece. "But, I'd like for you two," she said, indicating Harry and Hermione, "to think about coming to stay with us at Greengrass Farm for at least part of both the Easter and summer breaks."

Harry glanced at Hermione and, between them, they each knew the other would want that.

"We accept," replied Harry. "And, thank you."

Deece smiled and said, "There's no need to thank us. You're bonded to our eldest daughter. You're now family."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

After the Greengrass parents left, and Astoria headed back to her own House, the three sat down to talk about what was discussed.

"Why didn't I know of all this, Harry?" asked an upset Daphne. "I was here. Why does none of the rest of us know this? Not how big the basilisk was, not about Riddle, not the true story about your godfather, nothing."

"Because Dumbledore's been hiding it all," replied Hermione. "Think about what would have happened if the wider wizarding community knew of all this?"

"Dumbledore would have been sacked on the spot," said Harry. "If not lynched."

Thinking a bit, he asked Daphne, "What do you know about what happened to Professor Quirrell in first year?"

With a quizzical frown, Daphne said, "He was injured in the last month of the year and retired. Understandable, really; as a defence Professor rarely makes it to the end of the year."

"Daphne, Professor Quirrell is dead. He was being possessed by Riddle and I killed him in self defence," Harry flatly said.

Daphne stared back in dawning horror as she went white. "No!"

"Yes," said Hermione. "I didn't see Harry actually kill him; but, I know when and where it happened. Clearly, that's something else Dumbledore's covered up."

"But, how?" asked Harry, clearly confused. "We've got... what... three hundred and fifty students, here? How could news of all this not have gotten out?"

"Area wide charms?" Daphne asked while looking at Hermione.

Hermione frowned back and said, "It's possible. Something tied into the wards, perhaps?"

"It would have to be something very subtle," mused Daphne. "It'd be detected by parents or guardians each time the students returned home on breaks, otherwise."

"It would only need to be subtle," Harry cut in. "All it would have to do is make the student think it was unimportant to discuss with others. It wouldn't be an obliviation, so much as a consideration that the information the person had wasn't important enough to tell anyone else."

"A mild compulsion, then," said Daphne. "It could be tied into the wards; or, it could be in potion or charm form. The first makes more sense than the second or third, because there are some students who deliberately carry around potion and poison detectors... especially in Slytherin... and a compulsion potion, no matter how weak, risks being detected.

"And a charm would have to be quite powerful to last the entire time of the student's break. That's the sort of thing that's also aimed at an individual, rather than an area effect as this seems to be. No, it's a ward based on a charm; it has to be."

"Then, it's Dumbledore," sighed Harry. "No one else has control of the wards. Dumbledore's supposed to hand the wards off to McGonagall if and when he leaves the school grounds. However, I'm very sure he never does that. The fact there is compulsion charms tied into the wards should be spotted by McGonagall pretty quickly if she gets the wards handed to her."

"If it's hidden under or behind other wards... or forms part of another or more wards... she wouldn't," argued Daphne. "She'd have to go looking for them; and she has no reason to do that."

After the conversation petered off, the three decided to shelve everything else and head down to the Great Hall for the evening meal.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ