„Welcome to the new age”
Harry stared at the contents of the letter that had appeared a few minutes ago in a ball of magic. He couldn't, wouldn't, believe what it said, but a few things were so explicit that they could only have come from one source. Sirius... guilt washed over him. He shook his head and furiously brushed the tears from his eyes. No. His godfather was dead. Dead because he had acted rashly, thoughtlessly and not rationally. If he had gone straight to Snape, then....
Harry could imagine exactly how that conversation would have gone. Snape would have snapped at him, slammed the door in his face and but also acted reluctantly. Possibly, maybe. Snape and Sirius hated each other for reasons that were not yet apparent to Harry, but in his opinion should not matter either.
His gaze wandered back to the letter. It was written on normal paper instead of parchment, which made it even more unusual.
“Dear Harry,
I can well imagine how you feel right now. To see someone die, and then someone close to you, leaves a pain for which there is no remedy. Revenge doesn't help. Believe me. Revenge has already taken so much from many people. You lose a part of yourself and in the end the pain is only greater.
When Sirius Black died, so did your hope for a better life. You had hoped that he would be able to prove his innocence and that he would be able to comply with your parents' wishes to take care of you. That you would be able to move in with him, as he offered when you looked over the lands of your school on a full moon night. Unfortunately, things don't always work out the way they should. But an ending often offers the possibility of a new beginning.
When you were fighting Death Eaters in the Ministry's Veil Chamber, a man was fighting for his life in the United States. The moment Sirius fell through the Veil, that man took his last breath. In that tiny little moment between life and the afterlife, the Parcae decided that each of them still had much to contribute, but each on their own would be limited in what they could do. After all, Sirius was and still is considered a convicted mass murderer.
There is so much that needs to be said... It would stretch this letter into epic lengths. I also know that an owl would take forever to get to me and you wouldn't want to put Hedwig at risk. And you currently lack the means for the path I have chosen. So a little info:
Pads would like to remind Prongslet of something he put in his hand just before he left at Christmas. Just type the name he called you on the glass in Morse code, then we can talk and I can explain more to you.”
Harry had already after reading the letter for the first time dug out the small wrapped object from the depths of his trunk, which he had almost destroyed at Hogwarts. But something had prevented him and now he was really glad he had. He weighed the silver mirror in his hand and debated with himself whether he should really start this conversation. But in the end, his curiosity won out and he tapped Pup on the opaque glass.
When his reflection started to shimmer he closed his eyes, not wanting to see disappointment or anything like that in the eyes of his counterpart.
“Hey kiddo, how are you?”
~*~
Harry focused on the man in front of him, who had appeared in the garden behind the Dursleys' house. The green eyes resembled his own and the tired look was also familiar. But apart from the exhausted posture, nothing reminded him of Pads and that realisation hurt deeply.
“Who are you?”
“My name was Anthony DiNozzo Jr. But also Sirius Orion Black. I haven't decided what to call myself in the future, since I'm neither and both.”
“When did we first meet?” Harry knew his suspicion was evident on his face. Which no one could blame him for, after all, he had not long ago spent a year in the company of someone who had taken the persona of someone else. Not to speak of Wormtail.
“That's not so easy to answer. Since there are four dates. The day you were born, the day you blew up your uncle's sister and waited for the Knight's Bus, in the Shrieking Shack when I grabbed Ron Weasley and Peter Pettigrew, and a few weeks ago when a man unbeknownst to you made contact via a communication mirror and claimed he carried the soul, memories and magical essence of Sirius Black.”
Harry swallowed, already certain that the man before him was telling the truth, but one thing remained to be clarified. There was one question that really only Sirius knew the answer to. "What was the response when I told you of my thoughts regarding my future?”
“Never be ashamed of who or what you are, Harry. You have a gift and if you want to train it, I'll be happy to help you.”
Harry couldn't stop tears from welling up in his eyes. He crossed the small distance between them and threw his arms around the older man. He didn't really care about the how at that moment, he had Sirius back. And Tony didn't seem like a bad guy either.
~*~
“Got the results yet?”
It was one of those evenings when Tony contacted Harry via the mirror. Much to the chagrin of both of them, they couldn't meet that often - partly because members of the Order were watching the house - but the mirrors were truly ingenious. Harry hoped that he would be able to leave Privet Drive soon. But he also understood that Tony needed the time to find stability; in the UICM and with Sirius. Therefore, he was still trying to be patient.
“No. But Hermione said that the results were usually sent out in mid-July. But I think that's bound to get pushed back, since I've taken additional exams later on.”
Tony cocked his head to one side and frowned briefly. A movement Harry had learned to recognise by now. He thought through Sirius' memories, which were often more buried than Tony's own. They had talked about it and Tony had explained that it might be different at some point, but for now this seperation was helpful. Otherwise, what Sirius had experienced in Azkaban would become too overwhelming. Tony had explained that it was easier to deal with one trauma at a time. Harry realised from this that the end of his life in America hadn't been easy either, but didn't dare ask.
Tony nodded slowly, unsure how to act. Sirius and his thoughts and memories were beginning to blur more and more. He feared that he would eventually lose that part of his personality. He might have to take the time to stop by Nonna Amato's. He had been putting off this visit, but suspected that it would soon become unavoidable. But, he couldn't leave Prongslet alone yet.
“It feels so wrong,” Harry's voice snapped him out of his gloomy thoughts. “How can I have your will executed if you're still alive?”
It was a more rhetorical question, as they had talked before about what could happen and what was expected of Harry. Tony had also warned the teen without going into exact detail. At that moment Tony realized that he already made a decision for himself.
“While you are at Gringotts, I will visit Nonna Amato. I have put this off for far too long. But she is the only one I know who can help me with my two souls. It's time to finally move forward.”
“Have you decided on a name?" asked Harry with interest and Tony started to grin.
“Indeed and it will clarify who I was and am. Marauder style, though.”
He then revealed his new name to Harry and he could only laughingly agree. The choice was excellent.
~*~
“Nonna, ho una richiesta urgente.”
Tony turned his eyes to the matriarch of the family. She was already well over 100 years old, but still looked fit as a fiddle. Her skin had a slightly olive complexion, which was more pronounced in some of her descendants, but not in the DiNozzos. Common to the whole family were the green eyes - in various shades. But what had always impressed Tony most about her was her power, together with her warm nature. The Amatos were an old Venetian magical family, but over the years they had been hit by several misfortunes in a row. Those who had not died in the war against Grindelwald had served in the defence of Venice in the Mundane World Wars. As a result, Tony DiNozzo Jr, son of Nonna Amato's Dormant-born great-nephew, was heir to the family - with all that entailed. Therefore, he had no problem with Harry taking the Blackwood title. Being an Amato was exhausting enough.
Many things could be said about Giulietta Catarina Amato, but the best way to describe her was to look at her family tree. She was a Medici, a Borgia and an Auditore di Firenze. She had married Matteo Amato against the wishes of his family, who claimed there could only be the devil in someone with those origins. In the end, she had outshone them all. She had lived longer than all those who thought badly of her. The last doubters were silenced when she accepted the half-blood Tony as her heir instead of the young, pure-blooded Blaise Zabini (the only other living male descendant of the family with magic).
Now that same Tony sat before her, aura practically screaming in pain, in need of his matriarch's knowledge and skills.
“Lo so, ragazzo mio, you have done something very brave and incredibly stupid. But you are now who you were always meant to be. However, you are afraid that one day you will no longer know who you are. I can help you. Make two whole into one without it being incomplete. Nothing will be lost. You will be Tony and also Sirius Black. A new person, considered a Pureblood.”
“Nonna, what you are talking about will cost you everything!” Tony interjected, startled. What Giulietta was suggesting was only possible in a ritual and one of the kind that would take everything from her. He could not allow that. He wanted to jump up to protest more vehemently, but his counterpart shook her head.
“I am old, my boy. Old and so incredibly tired. You can't tell by looking at me, but since my Matteo went into the sea, there's nothing left for me here. Except to wait for the day when you come before me and tell me about the second soul in you. So you see, it comes as it should come. I will help you and then embrace La Serenissima like all my ancestors.”
Tony bowed his head, bowing to Giulietta's knowledge and premonitions. To embrace La Serenissima, to give one's last breath, one's remaining magic to the preservation of Venice at the end of one's life, that was something they all held sacred. That had been what had so preoccupied him as he had been in the quarantine ward. The fear of not being able to follow his ancestors. But now he was given a second chance.
“I have only one request, Tony. Take care of young Blaise. His current stepfather is leading him down a dangerous path. I know Harry Potter is important. But Blaise is an Amato, he must never forget that. And until you have a biological offspring, he is your heir. Never forget that!”
Tony knelt in the ritual room of the Palazzo di Amato and held Giulietta's hands. With his next words, one life would end and a new one would begin. But, she had made it abundantly clear to him that this path was meant for them.
He took a deep breath. “Giuro di fare quello che hanno fatto i miei antenati. Giuro di onorare il nostro nome. La Serenissima sarà mia destinazione. Io sono e d'ora in poi sarò Tonius Noiro Amato.” (“I swear to do what my ancestors did. I swear to honour our name. La Serenissima will be my destination. I am and will henceforth be Tonius Noiro Amato.”)
He felt a jolt run through him. He became momentarily dizzy and felt reminded of the moment when he was fighting for his life in the hospital. In his head Sirius cried out and in his mind's eye the other's whole life rolled by. Then there was silence. Tony looked up, noticed Giulietta swaying and managed to catch her just in time.
“Grazie, ragazzo mio. I see Matteo...” She put a hand to his cheek. “Remember your promise. Take care of Blaise.”
Tony nodded and then watched with a heavy heart as her body slowly turned into a mixture of light and dust, giving the last of her magic to La Serenissima.
He stood up and looked down at his left hand. The family signet ring had appeared on the middle finger. Clearly visible was the Lion of St Mark, with the city of Venice between its front paws. The ring was made of mithril, while the coat of arms was made of galvorn and its black colouring was a stark contrast to the light material of the ring. Across the band were runes representing the motto of the Amato family.
“I will do as you asked, Nonna.”
He gave a final order to the house elves and apparated to Rome. It was time to work on the future.
~*~
"Harry,
If it is convenient, I will drop by Privet Drive on the morning of 15 July to accompany you to London for the reading of Sirius' will. Afterwards, I will take you back to your family to spend the rest of the holiday. You will understand that this is the safest course of action, given the situation.
Until we meet...,
...I remain
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Order of Merlin (First Class), Grand Wizard, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards
Harry made a frustrated sound and looked after the owl that had delivered the Headmaster's letter. So much for pleasantries and the like. It was clear that Dumbledore expected Harry to be waiting tensely and eagerly to be picked up. That Harry would have preferred to spend the rest of the summer with his friends did not matter to Dumbledore. He would treat Harry like luggage and maybe... Harry shook his head. He would tell Tony about the letter, maybe the older man had ideas what was really behind the Headmaster's behaviour. Possibly he hoped Harry would be willing to continue to make Grimmauld Place available to the Order as a headquarters. Ignoring the known security holes.
When his aunt called out to him and threatened that he would have to go another day without food if he didn't move his lazy freakish butt into the shade immediately so that he wouldn't look even more abnormal, Harry just sighed and complied - knowing that it didn't really matter. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon would hold his Anglo-Indian ancestry against him forever. To them, James Potter and his abnormal ancestry were the sources of all evil. What would their reaction be if they knew that James Potter was far from being the poor slob they always made him out to be? That the Potter family actually had an ancient, far-reaching and prestigious history? That one branch of the family had long fought for the British Crown in the Empire of India before they were drawn home to England and the two remaining branches merged to revive the ancestral home in the south-west of England?
Harry shook his head. He knew exactly what would happen. First they would be astonished, then angry, and afterwards they would forget their aversion to anything magical for a moment and empty his vaults at Gringotts down to the last Knut. Oh no, the Dursleys would never under any circumstances learn who he really was and what financial resources he had at his disposal. Although, perhaps just before he left Privet Drive for good, he would reveal the truth to them. Along with a clear order never to contact him under any circumstances ever, should they not wish to be questioned by the authorities regarding their behaviour towards him.
He left the garden, wadding up Dumbledore's letter in his pocket. One more week, in a week he would claim a little piece of freedom for himself and no one could say anything against it.
~*~
Harry had been keeping an unobtrusive distance ever since he had been picked up by the headmaster, which he seemed to notice slowly. But there was only one thing that really mattered if the plan he and Tony had been working on for the past week was to succeed. Tony was in Venice to do his part and Harry would do his as well. For a better - and hopefully happier - future for both of them. That there was a bit of revenge involved, well, who cared?
He turned his gaze to Sharptooth, the Blacks' account manager, who had tried again and again to address him directly, but had been stopped each time by Dumbledore. Slowly Harry understood what Tony had meant when he had told him about the letter. That the headmaster thought he had to take care of things that were none of his business and neglected other - really important - things as a result. He took a deep breath and spoke up.
“I, Hadrian James Cleander Potter - Earl of Avon, do solemnly swear that I will, of my own free will and without any outside influence, assume the duties of the Noble and Ancient House of Black and uphold its prestige as my father in blood and magic, Sirius Orion Black, intended for me. Magicis hæreditatem. Semper fidelis et purus in animo et magicae.” What a surprise it had been when Tony explained to him that the motto Toujours pur had only been modified - chrm, chrm... perverted - from its origin in recent generations and was actually about fidelity, the purity of the soul and magic of the individual and never about the purity of the blood.
Sharptooth looked at him in amazement, but also with a slightly amused gleam in his eye, rolled up the parchment containing Sirius' will and rose. “Quod herede facta est.” He nodded to Harry and with a snap of his fingers, the signet ring of the House of Black appeared on Harry's hand. That was the part of the plan he didn't like. The title belonged to Sirius, not him! Sirius was...alive, sort of. But, the freedom that came with his new status was not to be sneezed at and so he would pursue that path. He straightened up and said the words that would bring about another, important change. Hopefully Tony had already done his part or they would fail.
“As the new guardian in magical and non-magical worlds, I elect Tonius Noiro Amato.”
A short snapping sound was heard as another parchment joined the others on the desk declaring Harry's changed status. Sharptooth nodded and was about to declare the appointment over when Dumbledore felt he had to speak up again.
“You had no right to make those decisions, Harry. As your Magical Guardian...”
Harry raised his hand and stopped the Headmaster mid-sentence. “You are not and never have been my Magical Guardian, Headmaster. That was since the day my parents died Sirius Orion Black. With the death of his grandfather, Sirius became Lord Sirius Black, Duke of Blackwood. He has never been stripped of this title as he has never been legally convicted. Therefore, I should have been placed in his care. Which did not happen. The unlawful placement in the Dursleys' house and the injustices that followed are on your head, Headmaster. Honestly, if I hadn't had a conversation with Sirius last year about a few things, including what I was entitled to under inheritance law, would you ever have informed me of it? Or would you have just stood by and watched my rights expire? You haven't done anything that's really part of a guardian's duties in the last few years, so you shouldn't be surprised if I've now taken steps to remedy the situation.”
“I have always acted for the Greater Good.”
Harry laughed contemptuously. “The Greater Good? Possibly. But not for my own good. For, without Sirius telling me how to assume the title of Earl of Avon without stepping foot in Gringotts, the title of my ancestors would have been extinct. A title that goes back to the times of Arthur, Merlin and Avalon. But that doesn't seem to mean anything to you. Otherwise you would have informed me of it long ago. On second thoughts, however, it fits in with your whole behaviour. After all, you had the incredible audacity to give away something that doesn't belong to you.”
“I never did that!” outraged Dumbledore and Harry could only shake his head sadly at this gaslighting.
“So you didn't give me my father's invisibility cloak, an Earl of Avon heirloom, for Christmas in my first year at school? Please, Headmaster, we both know you did.”
“If you're so desperate for a new magical guardian, Harry, I'm sure I can recommend someone.” Dumbledore ignored what Harry had said and the suspicion arose in Harry that there might be more things in his possession that possibly belonged to people other than the Headmaster.
“No one,” Harry said, fixing Dumbledore out of cold eyes, “that you consider suitable I would even remotely consider. The Order knew Sirius, you all knew he spent his life standing up to his family and their thinking. Yet none of you thought for a moment about visiting him in prison and confronting him. None of you wondered why his trial could not be remembered. We know why that was. Sirius Black sat innocent and without trial for twelve years in the worst place imaginable. So, no. I stand by my decision. Tonius Noiro Amato, Il Signore Amato is my guardian from now on and you, Dumbledore, you have nothing more to say to me except as it relates to my conduct while at Hogwarts in school.”
Harry rose and was about to head for the exit when he remembered something else Tony had said was absolutely important that he take care of.
“Sharptooth. From now on the title will be Duke of Blackwood-Avon. Should I be blessed with only one son, he will inherit the title on my death. Should our Lady bless me with more sons, Blackwood will fall to the first born and Avon to the next. Should I be blessed with only daughters, they will similarly act as regents for my titles until they themselves have sons or other male descendants who will be entitled to inherit those titles. So I have decreed, so it is written.” He noticed how the rings of Avon and Blackwood merged into one.
Sharptooth frantically made a copy of the oath and then cleared his throat slightly. “Duke Potter, might I suggest that you leave a note that any changes in the succession or access to your assets may only take place if you have been declared free from any influence through potions, spells, curses or other tampering by a qualified member of Gringotts.”
Harry thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement. “Thank you Sharptooth, that is a good thought. While I have absolute faith in Gringotts, one can never be too careful.”
“My word, Duke, my word. May your enemies tremble at the mention of your name.”
“May wealth and battle strength be a constant companion.”
With that, Harry walked out and apparated to Surrey as soon as he reached the front steps. Gone were the days when he had kept his skills under wraps. He had always been able to Apparate, had just had no idea what the magical ability was called until Tony had informed him of it and explained that he didn't have to rely on the Headmaster for the way home. Not now that he had also officially accepted the Earldom of Avon - in addition to the Dukedom of Blackwood. He was now considered an Emancipated Minor, had actually been since the moment he was forced to enter the Triwizard Tournament. Tony's appointment as his magical guardian was really just a formality that gave him an extra bit of security. And, of course, to prevent him from being forced back to the Dursleys once he was gone for good.
~*~
Since Harry had returned from London, conditions in Privet Lane had been different, even if much had remained the same. His uncle and cousin would never change. Even Dudley's encounter with the Dementors last year had done nothing to change that.
When Harry had appeared in the corridor of number four, he had been greeted by his aunt's shrill voice asking him who he thought he was, turning up in such a freakish way in her good and normal house. What was he thinking of and what he was allowing himself to do. Harry listened to her for about half a minute, then calmly drew his wand and pointed it in her and Uncle Vernon's direction, who had appeared like a looming shadow in the doorway to the living room.
“From now on, things are going to change around here. First, I will not allow you to continue to insult and slander me or my parents like this. Secondly, I will not continue to be treated like your personal house slave. If that fat slob behind you or that thing you call son but is more like a stranded whale wants something to eat, let them take care of it themselves. All these years I had hoped that if I did what you said, behaved the way you wanted me to, that at least you would show some affection. But you know what, Aunt Petunia? The only normal person in this house is me. I only came back because I have to.”
“You can... you little freak! You know perfectly well that if you use your freakish stick, they'll throw you out of your institution!” Vernon was getting redder and louder with every word. Harry wondered, not for the first time, if the neighbours were deaf or if perhaps there was something in the house that prevented everyone from seeing what Vernon and Petunia Dursley were really like.
“Oh, Uncle Vernon... How wrong you are. I took an important exam before the holidays. Even if they were to kick me out of school, I would retain the right to use the wand. But more importantly... I was declared of age by a magical item over a year ago. Which means I could curse you two and the fat whale into the next millennium and as long as I didn't use Dark Magicks, no one would be able to do anything to me,” Harry tilted his head and looked coldly at his relatives in turn. “But I won't. Because my mother would not approve. My mother, who was not a whore, but who died for me.” He lowered his right hand but continued to hold his wand visibly. “I will only stay here until my new quarters are ready. After that, if I have my way, you will never see me again.”
With that, he went up the stairs and resolutely locked the door to the room. Now it was just a matter of waiting for the results of his O.W.L. and Tony, whichever would arrive first.
~*~
In the week before Harry's birthday, the longed-for and anxiously awaited owl from the Ministry with the test results finally arrived. He hoped, but did not know whether his subsequently submitted tests had been accepted or not. He hoped and trembled as he offered the animal a piece of bacon as payment for its services. Carefully he tied the bundle of documents from the animal's leg. What if he had not achieved what he hoped? Tony would... no, Tony wouldn't anything. He would be proud that he had done his best. Whatever the outcome. Slowly he opened the envelope and unfolded the parchment.
Dear Mr. Hadrian James Cleander Potter,
We hereby congratulate you on achieving a total of ten O.W.L.s. The tests you have subsequently performed have been subjected to a thorough examination and have been accepted.
The marks are therefore as follows:
Ancient Runes O
Arithmancy O
Astronomy E
History of Magic A
Herbology E
Care of Magical Creatures O
Defence against the Dark Arts O
Transfiguration O
Divination P
Charms O
Potions O
The exams in Defence against the Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures and Charms were completed with the highest marks of the year. Congratulations.
Please note that Divination cannot be taken as an N.E.W.T. course.
Please notify Professor M. McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, of the N.E.W.T. courses you wish to take no later than 15 August.
Grinning, he lowered the letter. He had done it! The fact that he had only barely passed History of Magic and that he had not passed Divination at all had been to be expected. But the remaining grades... Now there was hardly anything standing in the way of his plan: two remaining years at Hogwarts, followed by an application to the Istituto Medico Magico Internazionale. Already when Tony told him about his new position in Italy, Harry knew that this could be the right path for him. Especially since the IMMI offered some courses especially for Parselmouths. Healing with Parselmagic was a very specialised but still sought-after field, as long as one was outside the UK. And those who were trained in this field were usually highly respected.