Secrets Are Shared

A week after Riddle's fall – the twins started calling it his 'part-ing' when Neville wasn't around – Harry snuck into Hogwarts and handed the twins the secret-keeping pendants and Neville and Luna the same but with the accompanying necklaces. And they all set theirs to keep them to only telling their secrets to family and friends.

They then told Luna all about last week's events after actually activating the pendants so no one could force them to confess their heroics.

When that was done, Harry told them about his time travelling under the same premise. – He had decided to include Neville as he had become a good friend again and Harry didn't want to exclude him after their adventure last week, so he commissioned another pendant. – Amazingly, they did believe him readily. Partly because they had seen that ritual happening, even if it didn't actually work, there was talk about time-turner sand as a mistaken ingredient for an enslavement ritual in the news, so that fit Harry's story. And partly because they all remembered that confusing conversation Luna and Harry had when they entered the train compartment on September 1st. But mostly because they knew Harry and trusted him that he wouldn't pull their chain about something like this. He left out the hunt for Horcruxes and only told them in broad terms how horrible that future had been and only hinted that quite a few people had died. Luckily none thought to ask him if one of them had been among those dead.

Luna nodded then, and shared her own secret with the pendants active. She didn't trust the Wizarding World enough to have her ability become common knowledge.

The twins didn't want to be the only ones not telling a secret, so they shared theirs about their true heritage and showed the others how they really looked.

After that long sharing of hidden truths, the twins pounced on their Mini-Moony to bounce some of their pranking ideas off of him. They had thought hard about their past 'jokes' and had concluded that they had crossed the line into bullying quite a few times too often and didn't want a repeat.

On the Enslavement Ritual

Investigations into the ritual – that had been performed by the Dark Side that October evening – showed that they had attempted to enslave someone via a ritual. One that wasn't possible anymore because the main ingredient couldn't be sourced anymore.

They learned that Macnair, who had access to the possessions of his fellow Ministry worker, an incarcerated Death Eater, Unspeakable Rookwood, had found copious amounts of some highly magical sand and brought it to his master. Said master had then concluded that it was the sand-like material needed for the enslavement ritual only he knew about (or so he thought), and decided to perform it to enslave Harry Potter because he needed the boy's blood for whatever reason and figured this was the easiest way to get it. (Well, the idiot hijacked a Triwizard Tournament for nearly a year the first time he needed my blood, Harry thought. This method probably was like playing it quick and dirty in his mind…)

All this information came from Nott Sr who had warned his fellow Death Eaters of the folly of their plans. The old man shared this after he was promised immunity from the date of Voldemort's return onward. The man shrugged and said, "Didn't do anything illegal anyway." Not everyone believed him, but all really wanted to know his information.

Harry just hoped that the deadly explosion and the now widespread knowledge that time-turner sand was not the right ingredient for that ritual would prevent all future attempts to perform it from now on, and he hoped the lesson the Aurors-to-be received, where that ritual was cited as an example, was updated accordingly.

He also shuddered at the thought of what might have happened if Riddle had sent his own consciousness back in time.

Just lucky I banished nearly all the sand before George used that ventilation charm… Fuck! Just thinking about that possibility made him feel queasy. He just hoped that was what had actually happened and they didn't send Riddle, the Carrow twins, and Avery Jr back in time…

Well, this timeline still exists. So either my spell caught enough of the sand and they are truly dead now, or their minds were transported to the past and then a new dimension or something was born? Hm. That would mean my old future would still exist somewhere and my mind left. Is my body there still alive then, like after a Dementor's kiss?

But the goblins said there was no going back. That that future was gone, lost…

Harry shrugged. He was just glad the reality he was in right now didn't disappear and didnt turn Dark after they had defeated Riddle.

The Older Weasleys at Gringotts

A week after the second fall of Voldemort, just when Harry was meeting his friends in secret at Hogwarts, Bill Weasley brought his parents for a routine check-up. He found it a bit strange but went along with it because he had heard through the grapevine that the twins had initiated the whole thing and he couldn't see any nefarious purposes behind it.

Molly Weasley was fussing quite a bit that she was all right and her husband was all right too; so Bill started to get a bit suspicious. She did protest a bit too much for his taste.

"Mum, it's a free check-up. What's there to complain about?"

"We're healthy! We don't need it. I need to try sending a ho… I mean… a letter to Harry again and check Ron's homework! This is such a waste of mo... time!"

"It would be a waste of time if we left now. Come on, Mum. Then we know for sure that you two are well."

Molly Weasley huffed but saw no good reason to refuse. And her eldest son was getting suspicious. Even Arthur looked at her a bit funny.

When in the healing cave, she snapped at the goblin in light brown robes, who just looked ridiculous, "Well, get on with it!"

Bill facepalmed, but it was out of his hands now.

Master Yordam said, "Certainly," and hit her with a sleeping spell. Making her fall backwards onto the low cot that stood behind her with a loud thump.

Arthur winced and quickly lay down on the next cot as a precaution, making the goblin bark a laugh.

Two hours later, Arthur woke up and felt great. He looked at the cot Molly had been on, but found it empty. They probably saw to her needs first, he thought and sat up.

It was like the now upright position of his head made a wave of memories flood into his mind.

He saw

- himself, catching a very young Molly dosing his food with a potion, and him ending their relationship.

- himself, making plans to restore the Weasley name to its former glory by climbing up the career ladder in the Ministry with hard work and honesty.

- the Prewitt twins, sitting Molly and him down about Gideon's sons and Molly and him agreeing to pretend they were theirs because Marlene's family was being hunted viciously.

- a freshly wounded and hastily patched-up Moody, bringing the horrible news of Molly's brothers' deaths. Molly losing it and spewing vile vitriol about Marlene, the 'scarlet woman', being to blame. That her having children out of wedlock was the reason for her brothers' deaths. An uncomprehending Moody getting chased out of the Burrow with nasty spells and then - the very strong need to 'play with his Muggle plugs'.

Many more memories of that kind came and sorted themselves rather randomly among his other ones.

Arthur fell back onto the cot and just breathed. Had his whole adult life been a lie? Him being led around while under the influence of love potions and memory charms?

Did she always dose him with love potions?

He didn't think so. He could still feel a deep affection for her and an even deeper heartache now. The goblins had unlocked his memories. They surely had been able to flush any unwanted potion, right? So his feelings now must be his own, he concluded.

He rubbed his face and sighed. What a mess. But she had gone too far, hadn't she?

He just didn't know anymore.

He loved his children and even if the love between him and his wife had been a lie in the beginning, he would never regret his kids being born. All seven of them. Five. Oh Merlin! The twins were his wife's nephews and she had made him believe they were his.

That was why he didn't feel as deep a connection to them, even if he loved the educationally challenged, fun-loving pranksters dearly.

He heard steps and saw Bill coming towards him, some folded parchments in his hand.

Arthur sat up again and Bill pulled up a small stool to sit on, "Dad. How do you feel?"

"I don't know. Very good physically. Mentally and emotionally... not so much."

"Okay... Well, the goblins took Mum in for questioning and further evaluation. They are saying they found grievous irregularities with you. But not what exactly."

"This stays between us for the time being, Son, alright? Your mother potioned me – at least in the beginning of our relationship – and obliviated me many times – planting suggestions in my mind, like 'Go, play with your Muggle plugs'."

Bill jumped up, the stool clattering onto the floor and yelped, "What?"

To distract his son, Artur asked, "What do you have there, Son?" Artur pointed to the forgotten parchment in Bill's hand.

"What? Oh, your health scan results," Bill handed them to Arthur while ranting, "That controlling, conniving woman. Everything has to go exactly like she wants it. But I never thought she would stoop so low as to Obliviate her husband!"

Arthur nodded and mumbled, "Me neither," while studying the healer's results.

He had been right. The love potions had left his system by the time Charlie was conceived, but the memory charms had kept coming. The goblins could even detect if a new impulse had been implanted in his mind. Just not what. Only that some had started to deteriorate.

Otherwise, he was in good health.

Bill was still ranting, and Arthur caught the last part, "... no wonder Charlie and I left home as soon as possible. What's the deal with Percy though, why did he leave? He was always her favourite."

"Oh, he left us because of me. He is ashamed of me, the laughingstock at the Ministry with a dead-end job."

"Oh."

"Right, but that's mainly due to the suggestions she planted in my mind, too, now that I think of it... I just don't understand why she did that. Why keep me in that job that makes us live in near-poverty? Why dampen all of my aspirations?"

"Do you think she wanted you for herself? Like, if you had risen in the ranks, you would have spent more time away from home and might have become more interesting to other women."

"But she made me develop an obsession with Muggle items and I spent most of my time while at the Burrow in that shed!"

Bill's face darkened, "Don't you see? That way you were safely under control, but not underfoot."

"I wish I could refute your conclusions, but these results say something else..." Arthur felt mentally extremely tired as if his mind had run a race. "I feel like my whole adult life has been a lie. And I had so many plans in my youth... Some of them do somehow align with the ones I have currently, but those are so... idiotic. Like plans of a small child. And Merlin, did I bumble about in the Muggle world," Arthur winced when some memories of his blundering rose to the forefront of his mind.

"I always wondered how you could have been so brilliant at school and so well, you said it, bumbling as an adult."

"The most idiotic thing is that I believe she fell in love with me because I was so smart back then. And then she did her best to dumb down that intellect..."

"Yes. And she could only make you interested in her with love potions," Bill scowled.

"Well, my head was a bit in the clouds at that time. Chasing theories and obscure knowledge so I bet it was hard to get me to notice anyone. But how did you know it was back then that she dosed me?"

"Because I was conceived under the influence of it. It came up at my check-up before Gringotts employed me. And Mum never hid that knowledge from us."

"Right... It never really sank in. But to be conceived under that influence means..."

"...that my ability to fall in love of the romantic kind is challenged..."

"Oh no!"

"That's why Fleur and I fit so perfectly. We like, even love each other. Maybe not romantically exactly, but there is lots of attraction, believe me. Just none of that starry-eyed stuff. I'm okay, don't worry."

"Well, I'm rather unsure about romantic love right now, considering the circumstances."

Bill nodded.

"So what now?" Arthur asked.

"Well, the goblins are questioning and evaluating her right now, but it looks like she never got over the shock of her brothers dying. It seems to be the straw that broke the camel's back so to speak. But she had strong obsessive tendencies before that already."

"They told you all that?"

"Yes. I'm a Gringotts employee, and she is mentally unstable. So they could tell me. I was also the closest relative at hand that she didn't influence with potions or mind magics."

"Right."

They sat there in silence for a while.

Arthur sighed, "I think I want two things. First, she gets the best help we can afford and second, I want a divorce."

Bill nodded, "They'll keep her here for the time being. You can think it over for a few days if you want to.

Arthur certainly needed that, so he nodded, "Make sure they warn me before they release her. I don't want her to appear at the Burrow unannounced."

"I will."

An hour later Arthur stood in front of the house he had lived in for his whole adult life.

The house all of his children had been born in.

The house Molly had so lovingly run and managed.

A random thought flitted through his mind, Must feed the chicken and the pigs. And water the plants... How do I manage that without Molly, the familiar thought ran along familiar neural pathways in his brain.

Then an old thought managed to fight his way up to his conscious mind, As Weasleys always do. House-elves.

"Ferdy!"

A wizened old house-elf appeared after a moment, "Master remembers Ferdy at last?" he asked weakly.

"Yes! Oh dear, I'm so sorry Ferdy. I was memory-charmed to forget about you! Please be welcome at this house! And you only need to obey my son Bill and I for the moment, alright?"

As soon as those words left Arthur's mouth, the elf seemed to regain some of his strength and he stood straighter, "Yes Master! May Ferdy work here?"

By the evening, the livestock was fed, the plants watered, and the house sparkling.

That was how Bill found it when he and Fleur arrived at the Burrow to help his dad.

After they had been introduced to Ferdy, the humans sat down in the comfortable living room.

"Molly is a good homemaker..." Arthur sighed when he looked around.

"Yes."

Arthur added, "But it feels like a fairy tale home now. As if she was living out a daydream."

Fleur blinked and said, "Bill only told me his mozzer is unwell and you need help with ze household."

"That's not untrue, but not the whole truth. You're part of our family... What does she know about your conception, Bill?"

"All that I knew. You should know, Dad, that I had Charlie checked and they found he was conceived without any help of love potions, and you seemed happy, so I never told you."

Arthur nodded, "Our world has very lax standards concerning love potions. They are seen as a trivial inconvenience at best."

Fleur scowled, "Zey are rape-drugs! Many wizards try slipping zem in my food. Zey should be punish...able?" She looked to Bill.

"Their use should be punishable, that's right," He gently corrected. "And the wizards in question should get punished."

"Exactement!"

Bill added, "I heard there is a Foundation in the making that has exactly that as a goal. To make the use of love potions anathema and punishable by law. I believe some rich client found they had been conceived under their influence as well and decided to do something about it."

Fleur sat up straight, "I vill tell zem I'll help, however I can. And if it is only as the face of zis fondation, so be it."

Arthur and Bill nodded, it was a good idea and a good cause.

"If they could use me, I'll gladly help as well," Arthur added.

"Me too," Bill nodded. "I'll talk to my superiors."

Arthur sighed, "On a different note, I also need to contact the twins. I'll tell you why later. I need to talk to them first."

"Okay. But you should know that it was them who initiated the check-ups for you and Mum."

"They did?" Arthur frowned. "Do they know?"

"About the love potions?"

"Oh... no. There is something else that I remember now. But I really should talk to them first. They are good boys, even if they are not as smart as the rest of you."

Bill started laughing and Fleur soon joined in with her tinkling laughter.

"You think... haha... you…," *snort* "... that the twins are not as smart as us? Hahaha…"

Arthur blinked, "That's what Molly...oh dear... So, they are not actually educationally challenged?"

Bill snorted again and said, "Hell no! Dad, think! How many wizards can create new spells and potions in this day and age? Even if they are for pranking reasons, they are still ingenious!"

Arthur blinked again. His son was right. They were geniuses, even if a bit morally ambiguous like their true father...

"Right... you're right," Arthur nodded, "There are so many misconceptions and so much false information littering my mind... Fleur, my wife obliviated me multiple times during our marriage and planted new thoughts and impulses... The goblins seem to have restored all the memories... how that is possible I have no idea… Hm, I always thought, once obliviated, the memory is lost forever."

"Zat is 'orrible! Zat she made you forget. We vill 'help you regain your sense of self, n'est-ce pas?" She looked at her fiancé.

Bill nodded, "Yes, we will. Do you want to stay at the Burrow, Dad? Or do you need some distance?"

"Hm. No. While it is mainly Molly's house, it's where you kids were all born and there are many good memories here," Arthur looked around. "Maybe I'll have Ferdy redecorate a bit and pack away some of Molly's things, like her knitting."

"Sounds good, Dad. I just wonder why Mum made you forget about him. She always complained about all the work she had to do, seems idiotic."

"I thought about it and think that she needs to be needed and in control…well, and praise for how hard she is working…"

"Sounds about right," Bill nodded thoughtfully.

"You could always ask 'arry and his godfazer to come and repair ze 'ouse to make it more your own?"

"That's an idea! I might do that." Arthur nodded to Fleur.

Arthur Visits the Twins

Arthur officially visited the twins at Hogwarts the next weekend.

When he arrived at school, he nearly ran into Minerva who seemed to await him at the castle gates.

"Good day, Arthur."

"Good day, Minerva. I'm here to meet Fred and George. Did you need something?"

"Well, yes. Where is Molly? She disappeared last weekend and never returned. And I couldn't reach her via owl or Floo."

Arthur winced. He had forgotten to inform Hogwarts in all the emotional chaos. "I'm sorry, Minerva. I should have contacted you."

She huffed, "Yes, you should have."

"Well, you see, Molly had a health check-up and they found something was wrong with her. Old trauma leading back to her brothers' deaths and such. So, no owls can reach her right now and I closed the Floo. I needed some time to myself."

Minerva's face softened a bit, "Oh, well, the oversight is more understandable then. We managed for the week, but will she be able to return?"

"I don't know, and her healers don't know either, I'm sorry to say."

"I see. Are you alright, Arthur?"

"Yes. Bill and Fleur are helping out. Thank you for your concern."

"Very well, let me show you to the meeting room the twins are waiting at. I need to find a new Charms teacher in addition to a new History teacher now..."

Arthur entered the room and found the twins counting money.

"Does this have anything to do with Minerva looking for a new History teacher?" he asked, chuckling.

The twins beamed at him and said innocently, "We have no idea what you're talking about."

"I see," Arthur sat down. "So, which one left?"

"Binns! Bagnold wore him down."

"Well, that's good then. He was such a sleeping potion."

"Our thoughts exactly. So, Bill wrote to us that you and...Mum went to Gringotts to get a check-up last weekend. And Mum didn't return. What's going on?"

"Well, Molly was found to be mentally unstable and is still getting helped and I ... well, you seem to know already..."

"That she isn't our Mum? Yeah."

"I'm sorry, boys."

"Did you know?"

"I did until your biological father died. We agreed to hide you two with our lot during the first war, telling everyone Molly had magically concealed you before that for safety reasons. She wasn't happy with Gideon and Marlene having children out of wedlock but agreed to help anyway. And you two were just too cute to say no to."

The twins chuckled but said, "They were married in secret, but because our real mum's family was hunted, they kept it quiet. Even from their sister/sister-in-law (each twin said one of the words at the same time).

"Oh Merlin. Well, to tell you the rest, after Moody informed us of the Prewett twins' death, Molly lost it. She chased Moody off the premises with some spells unknown to me and obliviated me, telling me you were my sons."

"Wow, that's harsh."

"The healers believe that she never really recovered, and that her controlling tendencies got even worse over time."

"That explains so much! And you, Dad/Uncle Arthur? Are you okay? Do you remember everything now?"

"Please call me Dad. You two are my sons in my heart, even if the family magic says otherwise. But yes. They restored my memories. And how would I know if I remember everything now?"

"Okay, that was a stupid question."

Arthur chuckled, "I always wondered about questions like this. Like, when we arrived at Hogwarts as little firsties and Hagrid asked if we were all that were coming... How should we know?"

"Haha, right! We asked back how many he was expecting, and he huffed and led us to the boats... Er... Maybe we should tell someone."

"Good idea. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry I listened to your... I mean... that I listened to Molly about your intellect. Bill set me straight. Said you were smarter than him, Percy, and Charlie together."

The twins grinned.

"But I also wondered, why do you look so much like Charlie? I mean yes, Molly is your paternal aunt and Charlie takes after her, but..."

The twins looked at each other and then at the room, seeing no portrait and they had checked for listening charms already anyway. Luckily, they had set the secret-keeping pendant to allow them to tell their friends and family their locked-in secrets if they wanted to.

"You see, we went to Gringotts a couple of weeks ago and had a health scan like you and an inheritance test. They found M...Molly had cast spells on us, making us look close to Charlie for some reason."

"Maybe she thought that she wanted more kids looking like they took after her side of the family with Bill and Percy looking more like me. Ron was too little to tell, back then."

"Possible. So, the goblins gave us disguises. Do you want to see what we really look like?"

"Yes and no. No, I mean yes. Hmph! I want to see."

The twins deactivated their disguise amulets and sat there looking at Arthur, who blinked away tears, "You look like the perfect mix of your real parents."

"That's what Sirius said, too, when he saw us at Gringotts."

"Sirius was there?"

"Yes. For Harry. We don't know why exactly. Harry wasn't happy though. Must have learned something, too."

Arthur's now quick mind connected a few dots and frowned, it didn't paint a pretty picture if his suspicion was true about who wanted to start up that new Foundation Bill told him about.

"Yes, some family secrets should stay just that, secrets. But what do you two want to do?"

The twins looked at each other, "We want to revive the Prewett name and maybe the McKinnon one too, later. So we would like to take on the Prewett name after we leave Hogwarts."

Arthur nodded sadly, "If you think it best. Then in about half a year, give or take?"

"Weeell, about that."

"What?"

"We decided to home-school after Yule. The workshops are done by then, and the rest of the lessons are a bit boring, to be honest."

"The workshops? I didn't know you applied to any."

The twins told Arthur of their deal with Sirius and Remus, and he couldn't believe it. They were protégés and got an N.E.W.T. each after only reviewing for a week after their fifth year!

"I feel like I let you down, boys. No, don't protest. Even if Molly is mainly to blame, I went along. Letting her handle raising you."

"It's, okay Dad/Uncle Arthur."

Arthur chuckled, "That twin-speak comes in handy, sometimes, right?"

The twins beamed at him, and it was like seeing his old friends.

It was a bit disconcerting.

Harry's Ongoing Education

Harry sat his OWLs for the next few months and received 11 O.W.L.s by February. All Os. He took care not to seem too smart, to avoid getting tested for his N.E.W.T.s, too, like the twins had. He took the tests under his new name Harry Black, without the glasses and a different hairstyle that left his scarless forehead clear for all to see. No one recognized him.

They probably assume Sirius blood-adopted some random Muggle-born kid to have an heir and did cast some of those secret enchantments that no one talks about, and now they are politely ignoring the elephant in the room, Harry guessed, quite correctly. And apparently, no one finds it strange he called that kid 'Harry' too. Idiots.

By the time Harry had finished writing his O.W.L.s, a few old and new housemates had moved in. The twins and Snape at the beginning of the Yule holidays, and Tonks officially moved in with Remus on January 15th, much to Harry and Sirius' delight.

In February, the portrait of Walburga Black started to teach Harry and Severus (as they all called him by now) all about the sacred task of being the Head of an Ancient and Noble House. When she learned the twins would be the Heads of the Ancient and Noble House of Prewett, she was adamant that they needed to join the lessons too.

This led to a huge portrait being hung in the drawing room, so she could move between the entrance hall and the drawing room, where she now taught her four pupils.

It took years of an hourly lesson each day to impart all of her knowledge and when she got to the finer details, Sirius had to join in as well, much to his (hidden) disgust.

They never would figure out how the painting could have been repaired the way it was, as the painter's guild was extremely secretive. Well, as she had been mightily improved, no one cared all that much.

Then, after Sirius deemed Harry to be competent enough, they brewed the Animagus Revealing Potion, together with the twins and Severus, who also wanted to know their inner animals. Sirius didn't mind. One or four potions, that expensive ingredient he had gotten for Harry would be enough for them all.

Harry – as expected – was a bird. A kestrel to be precise. The twins, even with their shared soul, were two different animals. A racoon(George) and a red squirrel (Fred). And, last but not least, there was Severus who learned that his Animagus form was also a bird, much to his surprise. A black raven with sleek black feathers and a huge beak. ("Explains the nose," Sirius muttered.)

Soon they were learning to transform body parts and much hilarity ensued. All were happy they had some form of goblin disguise at hand to hide some of their mishaps quickly.

But by late spring they all could transform fully, and Harry and Severus went on long flights after practising on the roof garden for a while.

Luckily Buckbeak was intelligent enough to know none of them were prey and left them alone. He even defended Fred once when a buzzard zoned in on him.

Arthur

At the Ministry, Arthur surprised everyone with his regained competency and sharp wit. The one thing that hadn't changed was that he was incorruptible. But the current administration was losing their hold on power quickly anyway after Malfoy went on a long journey when news about his conduct at Hogwarts 92/93 became known after a concerned reader's letter caused a reporter to investigate.

The Ministry and the public also learned of Hogwarts' way of keeping its secrets in-house, and issued a decree that only if the safety or privacy of a student was in danger was Hogwarts allowed to activate it. As it was what that feature had been about, before a line of corrupt headmasters had taken over, no one protested the new rule. (It worked perfectly for Harry.)

Now everyone knew about the possession and death of Quirinus Quirrell, the Basilisk scare (even if the possessed student's name remained a secret), the Dementors on Hogwarts grounds and so much more.

Minerva McGonagall's hold on her job as deputy headmistress became increasingly shaky while Fudge got voted out of office soon after Voldemort's fall and Malfoy's disappearance.

For Arthur, things started to look up. He was quickly promoted to the Head of the Improper Use of Magic Office, a Main Division of the DMLE, and not a subdivision like the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office had been.

But more importantly, Percy started talking to his father again. It took them a while but after a month with his new job, Arthur invited Percy to visit the Burrow because he had some news.

There Percy learned of the divorce between Molly and Arthur and that his mother wasn't allowed to enter the premises anymore, or she would be arrested. Arthur just knew she refused further help in healing and lived with her Aunt Muriel now. Arthur refused to start any legal proceedings against her, and Bill had raised a ward around the Burrow that caught Howlers.

It had been necessary was the only thing that Arthur said about that.

"But why, Dad?"

So, Arthur told his shocked son about the Obliviations.

"That is unbelievable and so scary, Dad!"

"It is. I established a rule that all Weasleys and their brides or grooms need to be checked before their wedding and later too."

"Oh!"

Arthur blinked, "Do you plan to marry, Son?"

"Well, yes. Penny and I got engaged on New Year's Eve."

"Wonderful! I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you. So, you don't mind? Mum was a bit reserved about her, because she is Muggle-born."

"I don't mind at all! I didn't lose all of my appreciation for Muggles, you know? But I respect and distrust them now, too."

"Sensible. There's so much more of them than us."

"Exactly, and some are incredibly smart and they develop their technology at a much faster pace than we do magically. So, if you want to save money for your wedding and marriage you're welcome to move back in. Ferdy, the old family house-elf, is looking after the house and grounds and cooks too. So you would have very little expenses."

"Really? That would be amazing, Dad!"

"Really. You're always welcome."

"Then I'll give my notice for my flat in London as soon as I return there. But oh! Would Penny be welcome to visit from time to time, too?"

"Sure," Arthur waited with inviting her to stay at the Burrow full-time until he got to know her a little. He had no problem with keeping propriety. They were adults and could decide for themselves what they wanted to do when in private.

Percy blinked. He seemed to be a bit overwhelmed, so he studied the room for real for the first time since his arrival.

"Oh! You've redecorated! And did you get repair work done?"

Arthur chuckled, "Yes, last week I had some visitors who know an awesome repair spell and are really powerful. They cast just one spell together and this was the result."

"Amazing! Who are those people?"

"Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Sirius' blood-adopted son, and Fred and George. They call themselves the Marauders' Enterprise."

Percy gaped; he didn't know where to start with all of his questions that popped up in his head.

After a minute he stuttered, "The twins? Aren't they at Hogwarts?"

"No, they left to homeschool themselves."

"The twins?" Percy squeaked.

Arthur chuckled, "Surprised me as well. But Hogwarts just bored them."

Percy blinked and then looked thoughtful, "So I was right about them. They are so smart that normal education isn't right for them. I tried to tell Mum when they started their third year..."

"Let me guess, she scoffed and convinced you they weren't bored but stupid."

"In a nutshell."

"I'm sorry, son."

"Not your fault, Dad. So, do they know about what Mum did?"

"They were the ones to get the ball rolling, but that is not my story to tell."

"Okaaay," Percy stretched the last part of the word.

"Why don't you figure out if you want to move in first and we invite the twins for dinner after you have decided."

Percy nodded, "To be honest, my flat is a dump, and in a really bad area. I would move in today if I could."

"Then get your things, son, and move in now."

"Really?"

"Really."

Harry

Harry relaxed in a sun chair on the roof garden, enjoying a warm spring day, and watching a red squirrel run up and down the trees. The little fellow was playing a strange version of hide-and-seek with Hedwig, who hid nuts somewhere in the trees and Chitter then went searching for them.

Harry was quite content with his life, his family and friends, and even his looks. No glasses, hair in a low ponytail, about a foot taller by now, and dressed in black Muggle clothes again. He didn't think he would ever change that. He imagined himself in Dumbledore-like clothes and snorted.

The only thing that was… not really a problem, but an open question, had been addressed by Bill yesterday. Harry thought back to their conversation they had under a silencing charm.

Bill had asked him point blank if one of his parents had been dosed with love potions.

Harry had been quite taken aback at first until Bill told him about his and Fleur's conversation with Arthur about love potions and the new foundation, who later heard from the twins that Harry had called for Sirius after an inheritance test at Gringotts because he had gotten bad news and soon after the new foundation was in the making. Arthur had put two and two together and told Bill of his suspicion, but only because his son was in the same boat.

Harry blinked, "What do you mean?"

"Well, people who are conceived while one of the parents is influenced by a love potion have a hard time feeling romantic love."

Harry started. Did that apply to him, too? Dumbledore had said the same thing about Riddle in his LF, didn't he? But he had...

"I see you need some time to think about it," Bill had smiled reassuringly. "Just wanted to let you know I'm there for you, should you have questions."

Harry had nodded, "Er, okay. Thanks for the heads-up. I really need to think about it."

Bill had nodded too and walked over to the twins who were in deep discussion with Percy and Penny of all people.

Harry's mind wandered to the part of the Weasley family he was in contact with, now.

The twins, naturally, but also Bill and Fleur, and most amazingly Arthur, who brought Percy and Penny.

Arthur, who now was much smarter and self-assured. The man had repeatedly been obliviated by his mentally unstable ex-wife. He had told the shocked inhabitants of Grimmauld Place a while ago when they had visited the Burrow. The twins had known this, but had kept their mouths shut. It wasn't their story to tell.

All this had been brought to light when Arthur and Molly had gone to get that 'mandatory check-up' parents of human employees 'had to get'.

Harry couldn't really comprehend what Arthur must be going through. He'd thought being thrown back in time 13 years into his 15-year-old self was preferable to waking up in a 45-year-old body and just then remembering how one's whole adult life had been manipulated and based on a lie.

On the other hand, my own childhood was like that until now... Well, maybe I have an inkling of what Arthur is going through.

But I haven't been raped via Love Potion, that's a plus. Hmm, but not for any lack of trying...

Okay, his mind returned to that topic like a dog with a bone.

Did he have romantic feelings for anyone in his LF?

Well, there was Cho. He had found her attractive before she whammied him with that airborne potion, right? But did he feel like only she existed in this world? Like he couldn't live without her? Like all the love songs suddenly made sense?

Nah. The songs had been as puzzling as before.

Harry frowned. So, attraction yes, crush no?

Well, let's look at the others.

Ginny was attractive too. And they did have sex a few times in his LF. But all-encompassing love?

Nope.

Even under the influence of love potions, as he now realised.

Maybe he was more attracted to... his mind had a hard time finishing that thought as the voice of Uncle Vernon of old started ranting about 'fairies' in his head.

Damn. He really needed to chuck that brainwashing of his childhood.

Boys. Men. There. Easy.

Maybe he was more into them?

Some attractive faces went through his head, like Cedric, Oliver, the new Fred, and others.

Meh. The same as with girls. Attractive was attractive.

Well, duh.

Could he see himself in bed with a male?

Sure. It would be pleasurable, right? If it was the right one. Same as with girls.

"Well, fuck me."

"No, thanks," a male voice sounded behind him. "You could ask Fred though. He probably wouldn't say no."

Harry turned his head around quickly and saw George grinning down at him.

"Goof. Looking for your brother? He's somewhere in the trees."

"Is Chitter playing with Hedwig again?"

"Bingo."

"Hm, do you think Buckbeak would agree to play with Chatter?"

"I don't think he's here. Took flight a while ago. You know how he likes to make those days-long trips."

"Hmpf. Then please conjure such an awesome sun chair for me too."

Harry lazily waved his wand and an orange sun chair with bright pink dots appeared on the other side of the little low table next to Harry.

"What were you thinking so hard about?" George asked while patting the chair appreciatively and then gingerly sat down on it. One never knew in this household after all. He was lucky, nothing happened.

"Something Bill said. Stuff. Private."

"Oh, okay. Well, should you want to talk, we are here. We're not only about chit-chat you know?"

Harry snorted.

"By the way, Severus agreed to turn Sirius' hair black again. There was much haggling going on beforehand."

"Who knew Snape was so awesome at pranking?"

"Right?"

"That raven within probably brought it to the forefront. Ravens are not only smart but also mischievous."

"True. Oh, apropos animagus forms, I looked up purring and racoons. It's not solely Chatter who can do it. No, it's a thing with all of them."

"Wow, strange. Who would have thought, right?"

A small red squirrel raced down a tree trunk and hopped onto Harry's chair about 3 metres away from the ground. It carried a hazelnut between its sharp front teeth.

As soon as it had found its balance it started to crack the nut.

"All praise the mighty hunter and his prey!"

Chitter chittered at George for a very short time and went back to his task.

Meanwhile, Harry decided to talk to Bill again.

Later that day, after dinner, Tonks announced to all of them that she and Remus were expecting a child and planned to marry this summer.

Harry probably was the happiest of the inhabitants of Grimmauld Place next to the future parents.

As it was Spring Break at the moment, Luna had been invited for a visit and was now sitting with Harry on the roof again. The others left them alone so they could spend some time alone.

Sirius had even waggled his eyebrows, the idiot.

Luna relaxed in the sun chair Harry had conjured for George a day before and happily closed her eyes, letting the sun shine on her face. She asked, "Why does Stubby think you and I are a thing?"

Harry sniggered at her name for Sirius and answered, "Because he likes to be a nuisance. He sees romantic entanglements everywhere."

"Hm, maybe he needs a different target. You don't really tangle, right?"

"I'm starting to realise that."

She turned her head and looked at him closely, "The drops of snake and bird are very slowly erasing the effects your parents' love potion had on you. By the age of 33, it should be gone."

"Oh, wow," Harry perked up, "Does that mean, I have 17 years to fool around and then I can start looking for a partner for life?"

Luna nodded.

"Oh! Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Are you interested in anybody?"

"Yes. He just needs to learn to stand up to his grandmother then we'll become a couple and marry."

"Neville?"

"Yes."

"Oh, wow. And you see all of this with your mage-sight?"

Luna tilted her head a bit, "My sight is geared to the present and the future, so yes. I see it."

"Amazing! I had cast the mage-sight spell on my glasses last summer and I saw enchantments and stuff like that. But no future, or Nargles."

"Be glad, Harry. They are pests!"

"Except when they tell you that meeting Rhodochrosite at the edge of the Forbidden Forest is okay."

"Except then," Luna nodded agreeably.

"So how is Hogwarts? How are your classmates treating you? How are the teachers?"

"Hogwarts is happy. She loves that her Charter is adhered to again and bullying is at an all-time low. My classmates are treating me much better, now that I keep what I see to myself, and the teachers are getting there. None are overworked anymore, and History and Potions have become well-liked."

Okay, one question at a time. Mine multiplied now, Harry thought and asked, "How are those two Americans holding up, running such an old-world institution like Hogwarts?"

"They're doing great. They're not in awe or were indoctrinated from early on, so they come with an outside view and find many things to improve."

"That's great!"

"They said the Charter was reasonable, and that they can easily work within its limits. And they called an assembly and spoke to us about decent human behaviour and things like that. Like staring at other people was bad, table manners were expected, such as closing one's mouth when chewing and swallowing before speaking."

Harry laughed, "I wonder who he possibly could have meant."

Luna giggled.

Harry asked, "And Defence Against the Dark Arts?"

"The new administration contracted Gringotts to find the curse, but they said it was gone with the death of Voldemort." Luna had no problem with saying that name, it seemed.

"That's good, right?"

"It's still hard to find good teachers. I wish Remus would agree to come."

"Nope, he's very busy with our company Marauders' Enterprise. He runs most of it and is earning bucket loads of money. He's making a name in the Muggle world as well, who sees him as an eccentric genius in repairing the most delicate old paintings and books and such. They're trying to strong-arm him into showing them his workplace but if they get too insistent, he declines the job and they have to go to another craftsman. He just tells them he has enough money and that he only does it for fun. So, his way or no way."

"He needs to take care not to get too known in that world."

"Oh, okay. I'll tell him."

"He should send an intermediate under goblin disguise so no one can recognize the person in either world."

"Okay. That's good advice. Thank you."

Luna smiled and nodded.

"How are my former dormmates?"

"Good. Still in two rooms because they are six now. Neville and Rajiv hang out a lot and Dean, Seamus, and John are the new golden trio. Not really golden, but you get my meaning."

Harry sniggered.

"Ron tried to join both groups but was so abrasive that they told him no. He hangs out alone most of the time and without anyone forcing him to do his homework he is slipping. He might not get more than one OWL if he doesn't buckle down."

"I'll tell the twins. Maybe they want to alert their dad."

"That would be good. Ron's very lost right now."

Harry nodded, "Yeah. But not my problem to solve."

"No."

Visiting the Dursley Home(s)

During the Summer of '96, Harry visited the Dursleys after an insistent letter from Dudley, and Harry at once understood why he had needed to come. The Dursleys were in the process of moving, it seemed. So when he arrived, he only found his cousin at home, packing boxes.

The now sixteen-year-old had slimmed down considerably thanks to a new diet, sport, and a watered-down potion that Master Yoda had prescribed, as Dudley told Harry sniggering.

Well, that happened after Harry convinced Dudley that it really was him. After all, he had changed quite a bit, too.

They spent some time wondering if the little Jedi in the films had been 'invented' by a Muggle-born, but then Harry couldn't help but ask about the move and the reason for it.

Dudley told him quite gleefully that sometime during the Easter holiday the alarm-wards the goblins had installed had gone off and soon a group of disguised goblins had come to defend them as their contract demanded.

What they found was quite unbelievable.

Apparently, after being let go by Hogwarts when more competent teachers had been found, Vance* and Diggle decided to start an agency called Brass Cat Tours and they sold tickets to interested wizarding folks to look at the house the Boy Who Lived had grown up in. (Dudley had taken care to remember all the names because he wanted to tell Harry everything in detail.) The group of badly disguised wizards and witches masquerading as Muggles had tripped the wards, and they had started taking pictures with very old-fashioned cameras.

Harry gaped at Dudley, "They didn't! Brass Cat Tours... The audacity! How many escaped?"

"None. Those wards trapped them. Not that they noticed in the beginning, they were too busy taking pictures."

"Un-fucking-believable!"

"Right? So, anyway, the goblins collected them and carted them off. We were later told that they destroyed the films in their cameras and that everybody had been... er... obliviated?"

"Exactly, which means they were memory-charmed – made to forget. Good. Diggle and Vance too?"

"Yup."

"That's all?"

"Nah, I think they had to pay a fee. Our location has been taken from their minds, but not that they took people to your childhood home for money."

"Why didn't you tell me in one of your letters?"

Dudley sniggered, "I wanted to see your face when you heard about that. Grobhook promised not to tell you, either."

Harry grinned, he could understand that. "And now you're moving? Did any more come to 'visit'?"

"Nope, but Mum doesn't feel safe here anymore. And she says there are some bad memories connected to this house now, too. I feel the same. I want to get rid of that horrible bully I was. And to do that in a place where everyone knows who and what I have been is hard. They expect me to behave a certain way and I don't want to. So we're all frustrated."

Harry nodded. He got that.

"But it's different at Smeltings, right?"

"Oh, yes. I have real friends there now. What is a bit annoying is that I'm like their model student. The reformed bully who also lost a ton of weight. All due to their awesome concept..."

Harry snorted, "Right. Well, good for them."

"That's what I thought."

The two had migrated to the kitchen where the table with its four chairs still could be found and had sat down while talking. Dudley even served Harry some sugar-free lemonade without being asked.

"So, where are your parents?"

"They are at the new house measuring the windows for the curtains or something, I think."

"Ah! And you were left to pack the rest?"

Dudley sighed, "Yeah. It's no fun, let me tell you."

"Well..."

"What?"

Harry pulled out his wand, "Do you want me to speed this up a bit?"

"YES!"

Harry laughed, "Well then, we have to pack every electrical and electronic item by hand first and then I can do the rest in minutes.

So, they went and did just that. They put everything in boxes that had some electricity working in them and put the boxes in the back garden for the moment.

Harry then made sure no Muggle could look inside the house and brandished his wand to pack. One room after the other with Dudley gleefully trailing him.

They had just sat back at the table when his Aunt and Uncle entered the house.

It was the second time that day that Harry gaped. His Aunt was pregnant!

"Harry! You came to visit us!"

The once again standing boy was hugged tightly, which was strange with the belly and such.

"Er."

Dudley howled with laughter at Harry's befuddled face.

"Oh, yes. I'm pregnant. Surprise!"

"Uhm, congratulations?"

"Thank you. It was kind of planned, Harry. After Grobhook showed us the results of the items that Dumbledore had enchanted to influence us, I knew he had made me unable to conceive. Well. We decided to still leave off the contraceptives and sometime during Christmas it happened," she said beaming.

"Wow, I'm happy for you. But isn't moving while pregnant a bit much?"

She huffed, "I'm not allowed to do anything with these two. It's terribly annoying and...," She looked around. "Dudley! You finished already! How? Did you wave a magic w... oh!"

Vernon, who had kept standing while his wife greeted her nephew and told him their news, chuckled, and said, "Was that you, Harry? Thank you! That saved so much time. And welcome here! Do you want to visit us in our new home too and unpack in a couple of days?"

"Vernon!" Petunia hissed at her husband.

But Harry waved her off and answered, "Sure, just say when. I can also repair anything that doesn't run on electricity somehow. Just point me in the right direction. But fair warning, if I leave the house looking like new, the neighbours will surely talk. They do expect to see some work getting done, would be my guess."

"Hm, that's true. Too bad, though. Hmm, but maybe clean the gutters? The neighbours probably won't think of it and that would save quite a bit of money."

"Sure," Harry went outside and did just that.

When he came back, Petunia asked him to sit, and they decided when it was a good time for Harry to visit.

The move was planned for tomorrow and they had thought they would need to pack into the night. But had two hotel rooms for the night.

"The moving company said they'll be done by three in the afternoon if everything's packed."

"Why don't I come at four then to help you unpack? And as the house is probably freshly renovated, no one will wonder when I improve it a bit more, right?"

"That would be great Harry, but you don't have to."

"I know, Aunt Petunia. But I love doing it, to be honest. We repaired my godfather's whole house, which is huge, and had so much fun! Also, if you want any other colours on the walls, just tell me. Wallpaper too. No problem."

"That would be amazing. The new house has some wall-colours inside that I don't particularly like. But I wanted the move to happen quickly because of the pregnancy."

"Understandable. I would need the address though."

Dudley wrote it down for Harry and he put it into his wallet, "I won't share this with anyone magical, I promise. So that some idiot doesn't decide to make money again by selling tickets to gawk at my relatives..."

"Thank you. That was so incredibly rude."

"It sure was. The whole wizarding world needs lessons in polite behaviour. But at least the students at Hogwarts are getting them now."

"Good. So, Harry, tell us about your new looks. I see so much more of Lily in you now. And it looks like it was a good idea to let the hair grow. It's not as unmanageable as it was before, right?"

"Exactly. Er, I also decided to take on my godfather's name. It's Harry U. Black now. He also adopted me."

"Oh, congratulations, Harry! Are you happy?"

"Yes, I am. Very happy. You already know that I left Hogwarts. I just couldn't stand it there anymore. It was Dumbledor's terrain and even with him gone, I still was this celebrity. You experienced their audacity yourself. Anyway, it was the right decision."

"And new looks and a new name will differentiate you from that child hero."

"Exactly."

At six p.m. the next day, the same group of people sat in the living room of the new home the Dursleys had bought. It was about as far away but on the other side of Vernon's workplace in a house, about as big as the old one, but with a bit more individuality. There were no rows and rows of the same model in every direction.

Apparently, Petunia didn't dream the suburban dream of her youth anymore.

Harry, after arriving, had walked into the middle of the house on the ground floor and had pointed his wand to the floor and had yelled "Reparo Maxima!" and had done the same again with the wand pointed upward.

The Dursleys watched with amazement as the magic washed along the walls and everything else in its way, repairing it to make it look as if new.

Harry grinned and bounded up the steps quickly followed by a curious Dudley, and soon Petunia and Vernon heard the spell being cast once again.

The two boys came down again, with Dudley gushing, "That's so amazing! Everything looks so good now! I wonder how the outside looks now," with that, he rushed outside.

"I did point my wand to the ceiling upstairs so the attic should be done as well. I just hope my adjustment for all electric wiring worked and I didn't fry it. I practised yesterday evening in an abandoned building that is soon to be torn down. – Oh man, I should have warned you and asked if you wanted to take the risk!"

"Harry, relax. The goblins already warded the house and made the wiring somehow magic-resistant," Vernon tried to calm Harry down.

"They can do that? Wow, they amaze me more every day. – Well, Aunt Petunia, did you think about colours?"

So, while Harry and his Aunt discussed interior designs, Vernon tested the light switches and the oven and soon nodded to Harry. Everything still worked.

At six, Dudley ordered some food and Harry and Petunia were sitting in the perfectly decorated living room, with all the walls in the house the right colour, and nearly every box unpacked.

The Dursleys learned with amazement that even the contents of the boxes had been repaired.

Now Petunia was showing Harry some old photo albums while Dudley unpacked the boxes that had waited in his dad's car – the ones containing the electronic/electric stuff.

*I found no evidence that she was an Auror as one comment suggested, so in this story, she isn't.

Outlook

And thus, life went on. Harry stayed at Grimmauld and sat 10 N.E.W.T.s by Yule in 1997.

His true identity had been figured out at some point, but he didn't excite the masses all that much anymore. First of all, he wasn't the one who had vanquished Voldemort in the end (as far as everyone knew) and secondly, people were a bit disillusioned with him since the 'history books' that told of his early life, which the children had loved to read for the last 1 1/2 decades, were now blinking red on every single page, and were therefore unreadable. This happened sometimes in the summer of '96. While people knew it wasn't Harry's fault, they still were miffed a bit about it. So Harry Black got accepted readily and without much fanfare and Harry Potter's name disappeared into the real history books.

The publishing of the children's-'history'-books was stopped soon after the taboo had been cast on them. Had they just changed their category on the blurb from 'history' to 'fiction' the books would have been fine again. Maybe even moving them into the fiction section might have worked. But no one informed them and they didn't think of it. So sad.

On September 29, 1996, Petunia gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and they named him Bradley Harry Dursley. ("Well, better than 'Dudley'," Harry's cousin said laconically.) Harry became the baby's godfather, which was good, as little Brad soon showed signs of being magical, much to the Dursley's joy and trepidation. Luckily, they could get help from Harry and his lot, and also from Gringotts. Harry then had a fight with Vernon because Harry wanted to forgive the rest of the debt the Dursleys still owed him. Vernon protested vehemently. So, they agreed on a compromise both could live with. This reminded Harry of the reverse salary discussions he had with a house-elf which then led him to remember Winky and Dobby who soon got employed by Marauders' Enterprises.

On Samhain, Tonks gave birth to a healthy baby girl, and they named her Zoe Cassiopeia Lupin. Sirius became little Zoe's godfather and Harry was a bit confused. He had hoped for Teddy, but maybe the timing wasn't right? Teddy had only been born in April 1998, after all. And Harry was right, as Edward Remus Lupin was born in that very month and year and Harry was convinced it was him. He knew it in his gut. When Remus and Dora asked him to become little Teddy's godfather he was over the moon.

The children grew up together. Them, and those of Fleur and Bill. They all learned to live in the wizarding world as well as in the Muggle one. Winky helped. A lot.

The two Foundations Harry owned in secret, flourished. The Peverell Foundation indirectly kept the number of teachers up at Hogwarts with the number of recipients of money for education. It also now helped poor Muggle-born students, like the Creeveys, much more than it had in the past. The Charlotte Foundation really made an impact legally and in the minds of all wizarding folk over the coming years. Bill and Fleur were its official heads and quite open with their own experiences with the potions. The attractive couple managed to sway a lot of people with their stories alone. What also helped was that Hogwarts now taught critical thinking, ethics, and common decency. It made a huge difference over time. – The name Charlotte was of French origin, according to Fleur, and meant 'free will'. The name apparently gained popularity in the 14th century and remains so. Also, Fleur's Grandmother's name was Charlotte and there had been some bad history with love potions as well. The name did fit perfectly, they all agreed.

The twins opened a joke shop as part of Marauders' Enterprise just like they had wanted to and called it 3P-Oh! short for Prewitt's Practical Pranks formerly known as Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. It was a huge success just like Harry had predicted.

Marauders' Enterprises' division of repair work flourished under Remus and became an internationally active company that restored uncountable historical treasures in both worlds. Even if Lupin never did make any appearances in the Muggle World himself again, heeding Luna's warning. The new administration of Hogwarts tasked them to restore some of the more threadbare or faded antiques they had lying around. Like the Sorting Hat for example. The old headwear wasn't recognizable after a Reparo Maxima and in a much more even temper.

There was also an anonymous writer publishing articles in the Prophet once in a while that all helped the Wizarding world to advance in the right direction. One article advised what rules a family should establish to avoid gold-diggers and forced marriages, and keep the fortunes safe by regular audits every century or so. Another advice was to do a Ritual of Recall to get any blood/hair back someone might have illegally collected, as well as stolen and forgotten things. Arthur Weasley, who did this right away, got the surprise of his life. He was a rich man, after the ritual, the elusive Lucius Malfoy not so much. Many thought the writer was a goblin, but no one ever guessed his true identity.

Marauders' Enterprise hit a bit of a snag, when a lot of their stock that they had sourced in the Wizarding World started disappearing after it became popular to do that Ritual of Recall, but they didn't complain too much as they hadn't come by a lot of the things quite legally. They just shrugged and donated half their earnings from selling things from the Room of Requirements to the Peverell Foundation.

Grimmauld Place stayed the home for the initial six wizards, their respective partners, and all the children that were born.

So, when seven years after Voldemort's fall Harry read a children's story to the many small additions of Grimmauld Place, called The Tale of the Three Brothers, it made Harry remember the Deathly Hallows and especially the ring.

This made him go on a quest to find it.

He just hoped it was his last one that was connected to his LF.

A week later he stood alone in front of the Veil of Death in the Department of Mysteries and quite unceremoniously threw the still-closed box containing the ring through the veil.

A minute later he heard an eerie voice say, "Thank you."

Harry started a bit. Is that Death? Oh Merlin! But his Gryffindor courage helped him answer, "No problem. I'm keeping the cloak till I die, though. You can have it when you come for me."

The voice of Death answered, "Works for me."

The end.

A/N 1: The last scene is a contribution by randomskittles. I had forgotten about the Hallows at that point and didn't really check my notes either. *g*

A/N 2: If any of the French is incorrect, sorry. It's generated by the google-translator. So, if you want to tell me the correct way to say/write it, feel free.

A/N 3: Added 2 paragraphs due to 's review. Thanks!

The Potter and now Black rules that were mentioned or added in this story:

Any Potter about to marry needs to have a health scan first. Especially for love potions. → re-established. Addition: Check the groom/bride as well.

Audit and inventory, the Potters now do every 100 years – established by Harry. He later also established an Audit should be done when the Head of House dies and (if necessary) when a new one is named. → Gringotts copied this and now does an AUDIT every hundred years and one when there is a change in leadership.

Only a legal magical guardian can sign a marriage contract and the child would need to agree. Harry later changed it, so that all contracts need the child's agreement as soon as it is over 14 and contracts before 14 need Gringotts approval or aren't allowed (tricky!)

Children in need are to be helped by the Peverell Foundation

If people wonder what happened to other characters, here a few bullet-points:

Ron managed to get 3 O.W.L.s (after Arthur heard of his difficulties) and left Hogwarts after. He worked for the Chudley Cannons and was reasonably content, but never stood out in any way.

Hermione and her parents moved to Australia, where she got a lot of mundane and magical help after her breakdown and she learned to be a nice and empathetic person with time. She had a happy life, even if she had a few regrets about her youth. About ten years after leaving the UK she visited London and met with Harry, whom she gave a heartfelt apology to. Harry accepted gladly and the two of them stayed friends for life.

Ginny got her act together after Molly couldn't influence her anymore. She became good friends with Fleur's sister and both had a good laugh about their respective childhood infatuations with The Boy Who Lived.

Minerva was let go by the new administration and the governors after she got a health check and no outside manipulations had been found. Some of the reasons that were cited were the 50 Points three first years lost after being found during curfew and the fact that she had ignored warnings about the Acrumantula infestation in the Forbidden Forest. She faded into obscurity and never really accepted that she had done anything wrong.

Fawkes stayed at Hogwarts and bonded with the castle. He had enough of human bond-mates.

Dolores survived 30 years in the goblin mines and got released by Gringotts, only to get bitten by a werewolf with a long-time grudge against her at the first full moon after her release. She became what she had always hated and feared the most.

Molly had to live with Aunt Muriel for the rest of her life and got no visits from her children as she never apologised to Arthur (or, in Ron's case, because there was no real benefit).

Albus and Peter never left the mines alive.

Harry was happy and led a long life full of fun adventures, freedom, and love.

The end.

A/N: So here it is. My huge time-travel fic. I'm so happy it is finished and wanted to thank you for your participation and motivation. It was greatly appreciated.