Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.

One day, Harry took Lucy with him and travelled to the place, where his father had bought her for him a little more than eight years ago.

He greeted the owner and immediately explained that they were time travellers and that they wanted a companion for Lucy and under which conditions.

In the end, the owner shook his head in apparent amusement, before he nodded. "We have several dogs, who are between eight months and two years old. You and Lucy can choose one, and I'll keep him for you to pick him up in eight years' time if that suits you best. Apparently, your Lucy has already found her friend."

When Harry looked around, he realised that Lucy was fully engrossed in a dogfight with a completely black dog. Only his face was white.

When he called Lucy over, she immediately abandoned her game and returned to his side, closely followed by her new friend.

"This is Marlin. He's twenty months old and still in training."

"Hello Marlin," Harry said, smiling, before he decided otherwise and transformed into his canine Animagus form to play with Lucy and Marlin for a moment. Confirming that Lucy and Marlin both were happy with each other, he transformed back and agreed with the owner to buy the dog. He even paid double the requested price to make up for eight years of care and food.

Back at Hogwarts in their own time, they immediately returned to the dog centre without going back in time. Lucy immediately took off in search for Marlin, who seemed outright happy to have her back. Mere twenty minutes later, they were back at Hogwarts, and Harry introduced Marlin as the newest addition to the family.

HP

As Lucy and Marlin quickly became inseparable, Harry had to become used to taking two dogs with him, wherever he went. It did not take long for Lucy to become pregnant, however, and sometimes, she rather preferred to remain at home instead of accompanying him to Hogsmeade or the Ministry of Magic. Every time, however, she insisted that Marlin should accompany him to keep him safe.

'I'm a big boy, you know,' Harry told her, however, obediently took Marlin with him, who had bonded with him and Lucy on the day he had come to Hogwarts.

HP

It was in the morning of Christmas Eve that Lucy gave birth to two puppies, one girl and one boy, both the spitting image of herself. They were so cute, and Felix and Eileen were over the moon with joy at the sight of the new family members, when Harry allowed them into his room only for a short time on Christmas morning.

"Giving birth to the puppies was exhausting for Lucy and she and the puppies need much sleep now," he told his siblings in apology, when he kicked them out of his room after just a few minutes.

'When they're big enough to eat by themselves, they can become your siblings' familiars,' Lucy thought to Harry.

'Thanks, Lucy. They'll be very happy, and your children will remain in the family. But we should only tell Felix and Eileen, when the puppies are old enough; otherwise, we won't have a quiet minute until such a time.'

HP

During the remaining months of Harry's seventh Hogwarts year, Lucy remained at home with the puppies, while Marlin followed him to his classes and wherever else he went.

One day shortly before the beginning of the NEWTs, Harry cleaned his workspace in his father's lab earlier than usual. Seeing that Severus quirked an eyebrow in silent question, he sighed. "There's something that I'd like to discuss with you and Mum."

Severus nodded in apparent understanding. "Give me five more minutes, and I'll be there." He swiftly finished the concoction he was working on, before they returned home together.

The instant Harry sat on his favourite spot on the sofa, he was joined by four canines, who chose to occupy the remaining space on the sofa.

Gently caressing Lucy's fur, Harry began to speak. "I am wondering about two things. One is if I should take the headmaster's position once Dumbledore is gone, and if I did so, would I still be able to remain Luna's boyfriend? She's a seventh year then and I'm a member of the staff."

His parents exchanged a glance. "Harry, should we call Minerva to join this conversation?"

Harry shook his head. "No, please don't. She doesn't know that Dumbledore's position will probably be vacant by the beginning of the holidays."

"You can still take over as headmaster, even if he's alive," Severus replied, matter-of-factly.

Harry pondered the matter for a moment. "What do you think of using some of the remaining unused parts of the castle as retirement home for professors? We could offer them apartments to live, and they could still take their meals in the Great Hall, where we could easily place a second table next to the head table…"

"I believe that this is a wonderful idea," Regina said, warmly.

"I don't know if that'll help for some of the older generation to retire though." Severus smirked.

"Oh, believe me, I already know who the first occupant will be apart from Dumbledore." Harry grinned, broadly.

"Who might that be?" Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Trelawney. There won't be any more Divination classes if I'm the headmaster. Instead, we're going to have several new subjects, one of them being 'Dark Arts' with Marvolo as the professor. What about Luna though?"

Severus thoughtfully ran a hand through silky hair. "It is true that relationships between students and members of the staff are not allowed."

"Perhaps, it would be different if they were engaged?" Regina cast Severus a questioning look.

"Yes, that's a good idea," Severus agreed.

"So, that means that I'll have to propose to her during the summer."

"Yes… If you're really sure." Severus smirked.

"Of course, I am sure. I don't know about her though."

"She will understand if you explain it to her, and yes, she will agree." Regina smiled.

"Thanks, Mum. I'll speak with her after the NEWTs."

HP

One the day after his last exam, Harry went to see Marvolo to ask if he was willing to teach Dark Arts from the following school year onwards.

"While I am not the headmaster yet, I will be by the end of the holidays at the latest."

Marvolo smiled. "I am happy to hear that you're finally wiling to kick Dumbledore's butt."

Harry shrugged. "He was all right as headmaster. I just have several personal issues with him."

"Oh, by the way, you must tell me everything about your time travel."

Harry chuckled. "I will. As soon as you promise to become our Dark Arts professor."

"I promise."

Suddenly, Harry heard a sound coming from the door frame, and the scent of someone else's magic penetrated his mind.

"Who is there?"

"Ah, it's just the elves."

Harry shook his head. "No, I can sense someone's magic, but it's not an elf. Hominum revelo."

All of a sudden, a relatively small but fat man appeared seemingly out of thin air. Harry was certain that he had not seen him before.

"Pettigrew!" Marvolo sounded exasperated. "What are you doing here again?"

"Harry!" The man turned to him, casting him a smile, which Harry did not like at all. "You have the means to time travel? I will help you. We can go and save your parents. Lily and James. They were my best friends."

Marvolo scoffed. "You were the one who gave them away to Lord Voldemort. Don't play the innocent in front of their son." With a flick of his suddenly pulled wand, Pettigrew was lying on the floor, seemingly stunned.

"Your godfather will berate me for calling him over every now and then to have another Death Eater apprehended." Marvolo smirked.

"He's right," Harry said, pensively, more to himself than to his friend. "People will try to change the past and right things, not caring that they might wrong others. Marvolo, I won't work on the floo powder anymore. Please don't tell anyone about it. If necessary, I will leave the Unspeakables."

Before Marvolo could respond to his outburst, Sirius strode into the room. "Same story different day? Gaunt, you really seem to attract these former Death Eaters. Oh, that's Peter! The traitor!"

"Hello to you too, Sirius." Harry grinned broadly at the sight of his unofficial godfather.

"Harry! What are you doing here?"

"Harry was the one who sensed Pettigrew in his rat form."

"That was really well done then. Thanks, Harry, thanks, Lord Gaunt."

"As often as we see each other, you might as well call me by my given name. I am Marvolo." He held out his hand, which Sirius shook, grinning.

"Sirius."

Harry grinned, glad that Marvolo and Sirius were on the same side. 'I wonder who is going to remain on the other side once Dumbledore is gone,' he thought in amusement.

HP

Back at Hogwarts, feeling relieved that Sirius had sent Pettigrew through the veil, Harry headed straight to the headmaster's office.

Dumbledore looked surprised, however, greeted him as gently as usual. "Harry, how nice of you to visit an old man. Please take a seat."

Refusing the traditional offer of a lemon drop, Harry sat down and instinctively held out his left arm for Fawkes to land on it, which the phoenix did a mere instant later. Harry then decided to immediately come to the point of his visit.

"Professor, I'd like to inform you that I am going to take over the headmaster's position from the beginning of August onwards. I can offer you an apartment in the wing for our retired staff, which will be established on time for your retirement."

Dumbledore nodded in apparent understanding. "Thank you, my boy. I appreciate it, as it will give me the opportunity to still be of assistance to you and the rest of the staff."

"Exactly." Harry nodded in confirmation.

Dumbledore held out his black hand. "I don't know how much time I have left, before I'm going to head to my next great adventure though. I suppose that you can't try to heal my hand?"

"The only person able to heal you is Marvolo Gaunt, sir. If I even attempted to do such a thing, I'd be in trouble with Death."

"Exactly."

Both Harry and Dumbledore jerked around only to see that Death was standing in front of the windows.

"Master, is he mine now?"

"No sir. He…"

"I am not a sir. I am Death."

"Death, he will be yours, when I'm going to take over as headmaster, which will be on July 1."

"All right, but that date is fix now. I won't tolerate any more delays."

"Excuse me, who are you?" Dumbledore stared from Harry to the black clothed figure in apparent confusion.

"I am Death, as I stated earlier, and Harry here is my master."

"You're the Master of Death? You have the three Hallows?"

Harry merely smirked.

"How do you believe you survived the last two years in spite of the curse you're under?" Death scoffed. "Young Harry here saved you from dying. Just get ready, Dumbledore. When you fall asleep on June 30, you will be mine."

"Err, Death?"

"Master?"

"On a different note, I believe that Sirius Black sent you Peter Pettigrew earlier?"

"Yes?"

"Doesn't that entitle me to add another name to my list, considering that I was the one who found the traitor and asked Lord Gaunt to alert the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to his whereabouts?"

"You're going to be my Death." Death sighed, theatrically. "Very well, keep your headmaster for another twenty years."

With that, Death vanished as unceremoniously as he had come.

"Well done, Harry. But I believe I made a mistake sorting you into the founders' quarters. You're a true Slytherin."

"Thanks, Sopho." Harry smirked at the Sorting Hat on the shelf, deciding that he was going to remain at the same spot for the foreseeable future.

"He's as much a Gryffindor as a Slytherin." Godric glared at the hat. "Sopho, behave yourself."

#Thanks Harry for saving the old grumpy one's life.#

Harry merely shrugged.

"It was you who stole the ring from my desk."

"It was not yours in the first place, and Marvolo needed the Horcrux to consume it back into his body. He has taken back all pieces of his soul by now. He only returned the ring to me, so that I could have the stone, after I saved his life by taking your wand from you. At that time, I didn't even know that it was the Elder Wand. I still thought that the story of the Three Deathly Hallows was a mere myth."

Dumbledore merely stared at him in obvious confusion. "Why would Voldemort willingly make you the Master of Death?"

"Because he's my friend, and he isn't Voldemort anymore. He'd never willingly harm anyone, and he's brilliant. Just in case it interests you, he's going to become a professor from the next school year onwards along with several of my classmates. I suggest that you let him cancel the curse on your arm."

Dumbledore nodded, pensively. "Did I understand that correctly that you just bought twenty more years of life for me?"

'Marvolo, could you floo to the headmaster's office and take off the curse from Dumbledore's arm?'

'Did he agree? That is surprising to say the least. I'll be there in a blink.'

"Lord Gaunt will be over to cancel the curse in a moment."

"Thank you, my boy."

#Young nestling, is it all right for me to become your familiar, when you take over the headmaster's position?#

Harry gently petted the phoenix' crown feathers. "Of course, Fawkes. Just know that Lucy and her family as well as Amaterasu are my familiars as well."

"Amaterasu?"

"She's the basilisk living in Salazar's Chamber of Secrets."

Dumbledore's eyes widened in shock. "The monster…"

"She is not a monster."

Just then, the fireplace flared and Marvolo stepped out. "Headmaster, Harry."

"Marvolo, thanks for coming on such a short notice. Will you please take the curse off the headmaster's arm?"

Dumbledore merely nodded his agreement, and Harry noticed that he seemed tired. A moment later, he stared at his then white hand and arm in apparent amazement. "Thank you, Lord Gaunt. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome, sir. Harry, will I see you on the Summer Solstice?"

Harry nodded, smiling. "I am looking forward to it."

With that, Marvolo stepped into the fireplace and Harry left through the door with the intention of returning home to speak with his parents and Minerva. 'I hope she'll remain the deputy headmistress. I really need her expertise.'

HP

During the ten days before the leaving feast and his official end of his time as a student at Hogwarts, Harry busied himself arranging an unused wing near the rooms of the primary school and playschool for the retired staff. With Hogwarts' assistance, he made a dozen small apartments, each equipped with a small living room around a fireplace, a bedroom and a bathroom. Following a suggestion from his mother, he also made a common room similar to the common rooms of the houses, in which the retired teachers could spend their time together. It was situated between the apartments and the playschool rooms. As a special treat for the professors, he had a spare portrait of the four founders oversee the common room.

'Perhaps, some of the retired teachers would be willing to assist in supervising the little ones,' he thought, as he contentedly examined his work. So far, he had only showed the rooms to his parents and Teddy, but he fully intended to show the facilities to the professors, as soon as the students had left the castle.

'Thank Merlin most of my friends are going to come back before the end of the holidays,' he thought, as he readied himself for the leaving feast.

HP

Deciding that there was no need to further hide his identity as a Potter, Harry invited his friends to a birthday party on Inis Rún for July 31. Although his birth name had been occasionally mentioned over the last decade, no one seemed to have really picked it up. Therefore, Harry informed his friends first, deciding that they should learn it from him and not from the Daily Prophet or the Quibbler, which Luna's father was publishing.

Harry was happy to confirm that the twins' apothecary and joke shop was still as much a huge success as it had been the previous summer, and the twins informed him that they had bought Zonko's and were planning to open their own combined apothecary and joke shop in the old Zonko's shop at Hogsmeade.

"Would anyone be willing…"

"… to assist with our two shops?"

"You don't even have to be a Potions Master…"

"… as we only need someone…"

"… to sell our products…"

"… mostly in the Hogsmeade shop..."

"… and sometimes here at Inis Rún."

"I'd like that." Everyone stared at Draco with combined surprise and amusement. "I mean, sorry, but teaching an elective is not exactly a full-time job, so that I should have time enough to assist."

Harry nodded. Draco was going to teach the newly founded subject of Latin. "We'll see to it that your classes take place in the early mornings. If you work together with these two, you should consider studying for the Potions mastery as well though. You're good enough at brewing."

"We'll teach him." Two red heads bobbed up and down in promise, causing Harry to grin.

After a huge birthday party, to which the twins and Healer O'Brien after receiving note of the changed date from the twins had invited the whole island, Harry returned home late in the evening together with his friends. They took the floo straight into the founders' quarters, where everyone apart from Luna and him were going to stay for the time being. Luna remained in his parents' guest room as usual during the summer holidays.

"My first act as the headmaster will be to make the living quarters, offices and classrooms for each of you," he promised them. "Tomorrow, you can tell me the details of what you need. Until then, please choose rooms here in the founders' quarters and make yourselves comfortable." 'Thank Merlin Minerva already made the contracts with them; that spares me much hassle during my first weeks as headmaster,' he thought, as he stepped through the connecting door with Luna after biding his friends good night.

He had hired Neville as Professor Sprout's apprentice, knowing that Pomona Sprout wished to retire in about three years' time. She had even gone as far as select her retirement quarters, as the specific rooms she chose had a straight view onto the greenhouses from one of the windows. Neville's girlfriend Susan had decided to become an additional teacher for the playschool and primary school together with Ginny, and Harry was glad that they had volunteered for the positions, knowing that they were both very good with young children.

Hermione was going to be the professor for the new subject Computer Sciences. She would spend half of her time studying at a muggle university to make herself acquainted with muggle digital devices, such as computers or mobile phones, which Artemis and Rebecca would help her adapt to work in the magical world. She had already asked Dudley to become her student assistant, and Harry had happily agreed, knowing that Dudley was very computer affine.

Teddy was going to oversee the Office for Elven Affairs at the ministry together with Harry, and he was going to teach an elective class from fifth year onwards, the Animagus Transformation.

Theodore would take over the Ancient Runes class, and his fiancée Daphne had decided to work part-time as an apprentice to Mr. Oniche, the instrument maker at Diagon Alley, who had taught Harry to play the Suikan. In addition, she was going to teach the new elective subject Magical Music from third year onwards. In two years' time, Harry intended to install another new subject of Magical Arts, when Astoria was going to become the professor while studying the topic with a master, on whom she had yet to decide.

HP

After breakfast in the Great Hall on August 1, Harry made his way to the headmaster's office with apprehension, unsure what to expect. Lucy and Marlin walked on both sides of him, while the puppies had remained at home with Felix and Eileen. 'At least, I know that Dumbledore officially vacated the office and moved into his retirement apartment,' he thought, when the gargoyle kept him back.

"You must fix a new password."

"Family." He thought for a moment, before adding, "If anyone doesn't know the password, please give them a hint. The hint is 'What does Harry Potter-Prince value most?'. Thank you for keeping my new office safe."

To his relief, the office was completely empty apart from the desk, a couple of chairs, the bookshelf, on which Sopho was perched as usual, and Fawkes' perch, from which the phoenix greeted him in apparent happiness.

#Welcome, nestling, in your new office.# An instant later, Harry felt a known happiness spread though his mind und smiled, knowing that it resulted from Fawkes bonding to him.

During his first day in his new office, Harry called each of his professors to him for thirty minutes, during which he asked them if they had any wishes, requests, opinions, advice and whatever. He assigned each of them, who did not have a personal house-elf yet, one of the elves who were bonded to him.

HP

On the day before the next Wizengamot meeting, which took place on August 15, Harry went to see Buckbean and accepted the position as head of the Potter, Slytherin and Gryffindor families. He also asked Buckbean to add Felix' name instead of his own as heir to the Lestrange family and Eileen's name for the Prince family.

Back at home, he asked his parents to introduce him at the Wizengamot meeting, so that he could take up the Potter seat.

"Mind you, it won't be an honour to introduce me, as I'm going to say things, which will upset many people," he warned his parents.

"That's fine. I shall introduce you." Severus smirked.

"Can I go to the Wizengamot meeting with you?" Felix looked questioning from Harry to his parents.

"No, son."

"But why? Harry has attended the meeting for years now."

"That's because Harry is the heir to each of our families, as our oldest son."

Harry shook his head. "No, Dad. We need to remedy that. In fact, I already did, but the two of you still have to confirm it. I am not going to marry three or more wives. I told Buckbean to make Felix the heir to the Lestrange family and Eileen the heiress to the Prince family. I still have the Potter, Slytherin and Gryffindor families to head." 'I just hope that Luna will be ready to have three children, so that we can split them up,' he thought to his father, just when an owl from Gringotts made its way into the dungeons.

HP

In the end, Felix and Eileen were allowed to accompany Harry and their parents to the Wizengamot meeting. However, Lucy was the only dog permitted in the chamber.

To Harry's relief, he was not the only new lord, as Draco was introduced by his mother as the new Lord Malfoy, and Harry was glad to be able to share the attention between the two of them.

He waited patiently, before Remus was through with the main points of the session's agenda, before he asked for permission to speak. When he was given the floor, his point was simple. "I request the rescindment of the Statute of Supremacy made by the British Ministry of Magic in 1256." Knowing that not everyone would be aware as to what it entailed, he shortly explained the main point.

"I second the headmaster's suggestion. It is a valid argument." Marvolo's voice was firm, and Harry's family including Sirius and Amelia as well as his colleagues and friends quickly voiced their agreement.

'This wouldn't have been possible under the previous ministers and with all the Death Eaters on the Wizengamot,' Harry thought, when his request passed with seventy-five percent of the votes.

Only then, Bandhu made himself visible in the visitors' gallery. "Thank you, Lord Potter-Slytherin-Gryffindor, for a very generous approach, and thank you, lords and ladies of the Wizengamot. The elves very much appreciate your decision, and we promise to always support the British magical world, as we have done in the past."

"Thank you, Bandhu," Harry replied, smiling, before he turned to Remus. "Sorry, but I have another request." Seeing that Remus waved his hand, smiling, he nodded, gratefully.

"I believe that we should have at least four more seats on the Wizengamot. One for the Weasley family, considering that they're an ancient family as well, and I believe that Arthur Weasley as the head would be a good addition. The second one should be taken by one of the elder elves, for example, Bandhu, as is already very much acquainted with our world. The third seat should be available for one of the goblins, for example Buckbean, who already works at the Office for Goblin Relations at the Ministry of Magic. Last but not least, we should reserve one seat for the Queen, considering that she is the head of the British magical world."

A huge discussion followed, interrupted by a lunch break, during which Harry visited all three members and asked them to join Bandhu in the visitors' gallery.

"Oh Merlin, I feel too old for this," Amelia whispered to Harry, when they returned to the chamber next to each other. "I hope you'll soon be ready to become my successor as the Minister of Magic."

Harry chuckled. "Sorry, Amelia, but no thanks. You're a brilliant minister, and I hope that you're going to remain in the office for many years to come."

In the end, the requested four new seats were set up and taken by the members Harry had suggested. Arthur Weasley was given the task to head to Gringotts and accept the lordship over the Weasley family, as the family was now entitled to the position. Finally, Harry once more rose from his seat. "I thank you all for your generous cooperation and I apologize for making so many requests during the first meeting I attended as head of the Potter family. I promise that I will not continue in the same pace."

Everyone laughed at his promise, and Remus quickly ended the meeting.

HP

During the following two weeks before the beginning of the school year, Harry concentrated on his tasks as the headmaster. He also assisted Severus with a research potion and spent some time training with the Unspeakables.

One day, he was ready to speak with his colleagues about a topic that had bothered him, ever since Pettigrew had overheard his conversation with Marvolo and had promised to help him save his birth parents a few months ago.

"Felina and Whisker, I am sorry to say that I will give up on finding a floo powder for time travel." Ignoring the collective gasps coming from his colleagues and friends, he continued, "I have the best family in the world, and I would not want to endanger my parents' happiness, my siblings' and my godchildren's life as well as my friends by enabling someone to somehow change the past. I believe that I can do a good enough job for Team 13 using my healing magic and my ability of sensing magic." 'Apart from being the meddling Master of Death,' he thought to himself, smirking.

Rebecca smiled and gently pulled him into a careful hug. "I understand all too well, Harry. You've done a brilliant job here in this time, and I wouldn't want anyone to change anything either."

Artemis nodded. "There is nothing I can add to my wife's words. Thanks, Harry."

HP

Feeling extremely relieved after his conversation with Felina and Whisker, Harry finally got a grip on himself for a long overdue conversation with his girlfriend.

Together with Lucy and Marlin, they headed out for a walk around the lake in beautiful summer weather. Harry fidgeted, somehow unable to decide how to begin the conversation, even if he had spent two months considering the matter in every free minute.

Luna suddenly stopped walking, giving him an airy smile. "Just ask," she whispered, before she unexpectedly transformed into a borador like Lucy and Marlin and began to play with his familiars.

"Will you marry me?" he forced himself to ask, while his mind screamed, 'She has a canine form; how cool!'

He instinctively transformed as well, only to be pulled into an instant mock fight by the three other dogs. Only when they quietened down for a moment, he could clearly hear her response.

=Yes.=

The End

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