Chapter 8: Chapter 8: “A Child’s Tale and a Family’s Future Part - 1”
After everyone had calmed down and the mood in the room had improved a little, Dumbledore approached the young Harry with a gentle inquiry. "Harry, do you recall the events of today?" he asked, his voice soft yet probing.
Harry, instinctively wary, shifted his gaze away from Dumbledore. He had a lot of secrets and did not want Dumbledore to attack his untrained mind with Legilimency and go through his memories or worse alter them. Harry knew Dumbledore could go to any lengths for his 'Greater Good'.
Lily, noticing Harry's reaction, sought to reassure him. "What happened, Harry? It's alright, you can tell us. Dumbledore is here to help," she said, her voice soothing yet tinged with concern.
Harry, channeling the innocence expected of his age, relayed his grandfather's warning. "Grandpa said never look at strong wizards in the eyes till you have something called mind shield. He said they can see my memories and play games with my mind. He said I might go mad if someone reads my memories." he explained, his voice reflecting a child's understanding of complex magical concepts.
Dumbledore's face registered surprise. He hadn't expected Fleamont to have taught his grandson such a cautionary lesson. Dumbledore had intended to gently probe Harry's memories, considering the knowledge of that night's events to be of paramount importance. But he wasn't about to admit this.
The experienced Auror and Order member, Mad-Eye Moody, observing the exchange, let out a gruff chuckle, his magical eye swirling independently. "Good advice, boy. Constant vigilance! Remember, never look other wizards in the eye if you don't have strong mind shields." he remarked, appreciating the prudence in Fleamont's words.
Lily, attempting to alleviate Harry's concerns, reassured him. "Dumbledore wouldn't harm your thoughts, dear," she said softly, then gently prodded, "Can you tell us what happened today, Harry?"
Harry understood this was his chance to change the narrative. He didn't want his brother to be seen as the chosen one by the outside world. He wanted Charles to live an ordinary life. So, he decided to recount the events truthfully, strategically omitting his own role. He decided to credit the miraculous survival and the defeat of Voldemort to his grandmother's actions and the mysterious runes she had drawn. He liked the idea of his powerful Grandma being seen as a hero by the wizarding world.
With a quivering voice, betraying the emotional toll of his narrative, Harry began. "Grandma was telling us a story with dragons when suddenly Grandpa stood up and said the bad guy was here. He told Grandma to take us upstairs and protect us. Grandma took us to Charles's room and started drawing something on the floor. She kept doing that while I could hear shouting from downstairs and lots of things breaking." Harry recounted, his young voice faltering slightly.
"After some time, Grandma finished writing, and suddenly there was a thud and everything went quiet. Grandma started crying and placed me beside Charles's crib. She then took out her wand and stood in front of the door. A ghost-like monster opened the door and came in. He asked her to move away, but she didn't, and then a green light came out of the bad guy's wand and Grandma fell down." Harry continued, his eyes brimming with tears at the memory.
"Then the bad guy approached us. At that time, Grandma's drawings lit up the whole room and everything glowed. Suddenly there was a white dome around the crib of Charley which I could tell the bad guy couldn't see. When the bad guy tried to hurt us, the green light from his wand didn't work. It hit the dome and stopped. Then a golden light from the dome hit him, and he just disappeared. Then the whole room started shaking. That's all I remember," Harry concluded, his recounting leaving the room in a hushed, somber silence.
Lily, her heart aching for her son's witnessed horrors and her mother-in-law's sacrifice, hugged Harry closer. The room absorbed Harry's words, each person grappling with the weight of his testimony.
The room, steeped in the somber revelation of Harry's account, was enveloped in a reflective silence. His narrative, painting Euphemia as the night's unlikely hero, resonated more deeply with the assembly than Dumbledore's initial theory.
The concept of a pureblood witch defeating the most feared Dark Lord through sacrificial magic found a more receptive audience among the wizards and witches present, many of whom held deeply ingrained beliefs in blood supremacy, than a one-year-old half-blood child defeating the Dark Lord with unknown love magic.
It seemed, to Harry's relief, that his grandmother would be remembered as the hero of this tale, sparing Charles from an unwanted destiny. In his heart, he knew Grandma would approve of his actions.
The gathered crowd began to scrutinize the rune remnants, validating Harry's description. Skeptical and curious glances were cast towards Dumbledore, whose initial theory now appeared less convincing. Dumbledore, perceiving the subtle shift in the room's sentiment, remained outwardly unruffled, though inwardly he acknowledged the delicate predicament he now faced. The flow of events Harry described matched what Dumbledore had concluded upon first entering the room. He had ulterior motives for putting Charles in the forefront, but he knew he could salvage this later. For now, he conceded gracefully.
Chapter 9: Chapter 9: “A Child’s Tale and a Family’s Future Part - 2”
"Harry's words hold truth," Dumbledore conceded, his voice embodying calm authority. "As I had suggested, Euphemia's sacrifice invoked a powerful magic. I initially thought this magic empowered Charles to defeat Voldemort, but it seems the magic did not need a medium. It appears I need to study these runes further. Their capacity to counter the Killing Curse is a significant subject to explore."
Dumbledore, his expression thoughtful yet decisive, turned to Lily. "Lily," he began gently, "I believe it would be prudent to take the children to Hogwarts for a checkup with Madam Poppy Pomfrey. St Mungo's might not be the safest place at the moment, given the confusion surrounding Voldemort's apparent demise."
Lily, her maternal instincts in full force, nodded firmly. "Of course, Albus," she replied, her voice steady but laced with exhaustion. "I want to ensure they are both alright after tonight's ordeal."
As they prepared to leave, Harry interjected, "The bad man mentioned Neville. He said after Charles, Neville would be next." Harry hoped this warning might alter the fate of the Longbottom family, whom he knew were close to the Potters.
Moody, ever the vigilant Auror, reacted promptly. After a brief discussion with Crouch, he hurriedly left, promising to warn the Longbottoms and enhance their security.
With the situation clarified and a plan in place, Crouch prepared to depart. He stood, his posture commanding and official. "I must brief Minister Bagnold on these developments," he announced. Turning to his team, he left instructions for the Aurors in a clear, authoritative tone. "Secure the scene," he ordered, "and ensure all evidence is preserved. We need a clear and thorough report for the Ministry." With a final, respectful nod to Dumbledore and a sympathetic glance towards James, he strode from the room.
Lily, cradling Charles in her arms and holding Harry's hand tightly, prepared to leave for Hogwarts. Her eyes, red and swollen from tears, met James's. At that moment, their shared grief and love for their family were palpable.
"I'll remain here," James stated, his voice a mixture of grief and resolve. "I must see to my parents' arrangements and settle matters concerning the house."
Lily nodded, tears welling in her eyes again, but she understood. She leaned in, giving James a deep, heartfelt kiss. "We'll be waiting for you at Hogwarts," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Please join us as soon as you can."
With heavy hearts but a clear purpose, Lily, Harry, and Charles departed for Hogwarts, leaving James to face the daunting task of dealing with the aftermath and beginning the process of healing and rebuilding.
In the cool embrace of the night, under a star-studded sky that offered little solace, Lily led her children away from the remnants of their shattered home. The weight of the evening's events hung heavily upon her as she moved towards the safety of Hogwarts, each step a solemn march away from a past now irrevocably altered.
Behind them, James stood amidst the debris of a home that once resonated with happiness, now a somber monument to loss. His gaze lingered on his departing family, his heart heavy with the burden of what had transpired and the daunting tasks that lay ahead.
Harry, walking hand in hand with his mother, cast a wistful look back at the house. A surge of melancholy washed over him, tinged with the realization that this childhood haven might soon become nothing more than a memorial of tragedy, much like Godric's Hollow in his past life's memories. This poignant moment underscored the stark divergence of his current reality from the narrative he had known in the books.
As they journeyed towards Hogwarts, Harry's mind was abuzz with thoughts of the future. He wondered if his path would lead him to the Dursleys as it had in the books, or if a different destiny awaited him. Plans and contingencies spun in his mind, preparing him for any eventuality that might unfold.
Meanwhile, back in the Potter residence, Sirius Black, assisting with the investigation, stumbled upon a telling clue. His acute sense of smell, a gift of his Dog Animagus form, detected an unmistakable familiar scent amidst the ruins - the scent of Peter Pettigrew.
Conveying his discovery to James, Sirius's expression was a turbulent mix of anger and determination. "I've caught Peter's scent here, James. He was present," Sirius stated, his voice laden with a sense of betrayal and resolve.
James, momentarily distracted from his grief, was jolted by a wave of shock and anger. "Find him, Sirius. Make him pay for what he's done to our family," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within.
Sirius nodded, his eyes alight with a grim resolve. "I'll bring Remus. We'll hunt him down. Pettigrew will face justice," he declared, his tone resolute.
As Sirius vanished into the night, intent on his mission, Harry watched from a distance. He understood the challenges Sirius and Remus would face in tracking Pettigrew, especially given the rat's ability to hide in the most inconspicuous places. Yet, he held a glimmer of hope that with their combined skills, they might succeed in bringing Pettigrew to justice.
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