Sailor V's Summer Vacation

August 5, 1995, Number 12 Grimmauld Place, Islington, London, England

Mina awoke from her dream with a shout, “No! Not the Princess!” She looked around the room, breathing hard, as Artemis looked sleepily at her from his seat on the foot of her bed. “Oh, thank Venus it was just a dream.”

Artemis yawned and then frowned at her, uncoiling and padding up the counterpane and then her arm to sit on her shoulder and lick her cheek, “You’ve been having more of those, Mina. I wonder if it’s this new Veela thing.”

There was a knock at the door, “Mina, can I come in? I heard you from next door.” It was Remus.

“Just a minute, Da,” Mina called softly, then got off the bed and walked slowly to the door, opening it to Remus's worried face. “I had a nightmare. Or possibly a memory.” She stepped back to let him inside, then shut the door behind him after a quick look at the empty hall outside. She gestured him to the desk chair, then sat on the edge of the bed, still breathing heavily.

Remus sat down and conjured her a mug of herbal tea, “Can you tell me what you Saw?”

Mina nodded and started to speak, holding the mug between both hands as Artemis nuzzled her cheek, “I See a blond girl, a young woman really, long blond hair tied in two tails, in a flowing white dress like a flower. She’s dancing with a handsome man wearing armor and a mask. Suddenly they stop, the music has been cut off abruptly, and men swathed all in black stream in from the open ballroom windows. One by one the Defenders of the Queen and Princess fall, until the attackers get to the Princess. One goes to run her through, but the man she was dancing with steps in the way and takes the blow. She shrieks, and tries to run away, but impales herself on another sword.”

She took a sip from the mug and continued, “The Queen freezes time and uses her scepter and the power of the crystal to send the Princess, we Guardians, and Artemis and another Mau into the future, where we are reborn with no memory of our past. I don’t know who the other Mau is, but she has black fur. The Moon Kingdom is in ruins as the Queen dies and all the attackers vanish. I don’t know who they are.”

Remus furrowed his brow as he listened, “Can you tell me anything else about this? How often do you dream it, for starters?”

Mina laughed sadly, “I didn’t dream any of it until Artemis Activated me nearly three years ago. I usually have it once a month or so, but never as clear as this. I think it has something to do with my Veela side awakening. I’ll have to write Fleur’s mother, I still haven’t officially asked for her help in any case.” She looked at the clock, “Oh, it’s only five in the morning. Sorry to wake you, Da.”

Remus shook his head, "No, I don't mind, I've been up often enough with Mel, she gets horrible migraines that make her scream. She’s been having one all this week, in fact, it started the night you met Harry. We think it's a side effect of something Aggie did when she saved all our lives."

Artemis looked suspiciously at Remus, as Mina sipped at the tea, "And what do you mean by that, exactly?"

Remus grimaced at the talking cat, "Well, Aggie performed a ritual similar to what Lily did over Harry's crib, but because it was so hastily done, things were a bit sloppy. For one thing, there was some sort of Obliviate mixed into the mess, and no one will recognize Mel and El as Potters unless I or Gwy or Artie both verbally and on paper introduce them. Gwy and Artie aren't recognized as Blacks, either. And Mother Potter thinks there's a missing woman named Olivia, one of Mel's godmothers. Except for the Goblins, of course, they appear to be outside the purview of Aggie's magic. It backfired, though, and Mel as the only surviving girl of our circle took the brunt of the backlash."

Mina blinked, then asked curiously, "What do you mean, ‘your circle’? And from what Harry said last night, this woman Alice is still alive."

Remus nodded  sadly, "She's alive, alright, but I hear she's catatonic. Says nothing, barely walks. It's like a toddler, except quieter and with a lot more staring at the walls for hours. One of the reasons Mother Potter is anxious to come back is so that she can take a look at the Longbottoms. She's the only certified Mindhealer in the world, you see, but she wasn't able to show it when she was here last. Anyway, Dorcas Meadowes was killed before you were born, Marlene MacKinnon died during Riddle's first rise to power, Molly Prewett you've met but she was never part of our circle, and Pandora Lovegood had an accident five years ago in her home potions lab. Her daughter was nine at the time."

"What do you mean, I've met Molly Prewett?" Mina looked puzzled, then her eyes widened, "OH! You mean Molly Weasley! Ok, I think I understand. And this daughter, does she go to Hogwarts with Harry and the others?"

Remus nodded, "Yes, her name is Luna, she's going into her Fourth Year. If you ever get a chance to visit Hogwarts, you'll know her by her long curly white hair and whimsical nature. She's a Malfoy as well, though Xenophilius took Pandora's name when they married. He was born to Lucius's uncle Claudius."

Mina's eyes went round as saucers, "Whimsical nature? You think she may have inherited some sort of Sight?"

Remus nodded again, "I've spoken with Mother Potter about her, and we believe so. She speaks in riddles and I've seen many of the other children make fun of her for believing in creatures no one else has ever heard of. It's probably her way of coping with the world around her." He frowned, "I spoke to Filius Flitwick before I left, he's the Charms Professor and Head of Ravenclaw House, and he promised to keep an eye on her for me."

Mina blinked, "Oh, this must be the Luna Ginny was talking about before dinner." She looked between Remus and Artemis wondering if she would be allowed to speak, and continued, "Before Harry and Artemis came down, when Hermione was talking about the research she'd done into Tom Riddle, Ginny brought up Luna. She was spitting mad that Luna has been bullied for all three years of school so far, and we made a Vow to Mother Magic. We being Ginny, the Twins, Hermione, Ron, and I. Ginny swore only to protect Luna, but the rest of us to 'protect those who need protecting this year.' Hermione said she was going to research whether or not that meant until New Year's or until June, the end of the school year, as well as see if we could amend it so that one of us wasn't running off whenever somebody got a papercut."

Remus chuckled at the image, "Would this Vow have anything to do with why Hermione asked the twins to cast the diagnostic spells? I took a look at those scrolls, it's fascinating stuff."

Mina nodded, relieved that her tongue wasn't tied on the matter, "Yes, when Hermione, Ron, and I crossed wands and swore our Vows something different happened than when Ginny did it by herself, or when the Twins swore together. The other three just got white sparks, but the three of us got actual rainbow crescent moons. Professor Cousin," here she grinned at Remus for her nickname of Hermione, and got an answering grin, "thinks it's because of the nature of my magic being so different. That's why she wanted the diagnostic run."

Remus quirked one side of his mouth, "So I saw. I noticed that you have four components to your wand. So do Mother Potter, and each of the Quads. Anyone else who picks up one of those five wands will find either a limp, dead piece of wood or an explosion. Mel's will actually spontaneously generate a thunderstorm if mishandled."

Mina and Artemis exchanged a Look, "So does that mean Mel's the same type of shifter as Harry?"

Remus shook his head, "No, not at all, there are several magical creatures that Harry could be."

Artemis spoke up as he jumped down off Mina's shoulder, "I can smell scales, Harry's definitely going to be a snake of some sort. Maybe even a Naga. I don't smell feathers, but that doesn't mean he can't grow them, or that he won't have wings at all."

Remus arched an eyebrow at this news, "Fascinating. I was speaking with Mother Potter last night, about bringing everyone back over. We agreed it should be done in the next day or so, she's concerned about this Olivia, and some other people. She also mentioned that Monty, that is to say Father Potter, should have been some sort of cat shifter, but he never explored that part of his heritage. It means that within Harry's blood lie multiple lineages which are fighting for dominance. We'll be interested to see which one wins when he turns sixteen next summer."

Mina finished the tea and set the empty mug aside, then asked, "What did Jisky mean, they can sense that Harry is Heir Potter, even though Mel and El are older?"

Remus waved his wand and the mug vanished, "Well, a House Elf, especially the Head Elf bound to that House, always knows who the Master and/or Mistress and Heir are. The Houses that Mel and El are to inherit apparently don't have House Elves at the moment, so all three of them fall under the care of the Potter Elves. Jisky as Head Elf is also afforded much more freedom of movement and choice than the others bound to the House, though the Potters have always made it plain that all of their House Elves are to be treated with respect." He frowned and glanced at the floor, "Azkaban appears to have made Siri backslide into his Heir Black ways, we'll have to re-train him before Jisky allows Kreacher to return."

Mina shivered, "Imagine, being shut up in this house with only the portraits for company, all this time. And the Locket, too. This house felt so... well, oppressive when Tonks and Mister Shacklebolt escorted Harry and me here on Tuesday. It feels as if a shadow has lifted, though. Once that mad portrait of Mrs. Black is removed I'm sure things will settle down immensely." She looked at him curiously, "Have you ever thought of just taking a hammer to the wall?"

Remus blinked, then chuckled, "Mina-mine, that's an excellent idea. We can always repair the wall once the portrait is gone. We'll bring it up at breakfast later, before you and I take Bill and Ginny over to Surrey."

Mina blinked, "Oh, I should let Alan know that we'll be arriving, so his Watchers don't freak out." She frowned at her own wording, "And I should use a different term, Harry seems to be overly affected by it. That horrid family!"

Remus nodded, "I'll let you do that, and then try to get some more sleep. That tea I gave you was Monty's special blend for Mother Potter, when she got upset by her own Dreams. It will help you calm down and rest until you need to be up again. I'll come up and knock around eight-ish." He stood up and easily pulled Mina up with him by the hand, drawing her in for a hug, before letting go and walking out the door, closing it completely behind him.

Mina reached for the plain mirror and said, "Brother," clearly.

There was a grunt, then Alan's face appeared. He obviously had either not been to bed yet or been up for a long time, "What is it now? Something new happen since last night?"

Mina shook her head, "Other than another of my odd dreams, which Artemis and Da now think is more of a memory from my previous life, I wanted to let you know that four of us will be arriving at Privet Drive around nine or ten in the morning to interrogate Petunia Dursley about the Potters."

Alan raised an eyebrow at this, "And the reason you can't allow MI6 to do their job is because...?"

"Da has Wizarding questions for her," Mina said simply, "Bill said he needs to take a look at the warding work around the property, and Ginny said she wants to see what he does. Artemis will be staying here, I don't want the Dursleys to do anything to him." Artemis had curled up on the windowseat and gone back to sleep. "I'm the only one who's been there before, though I think Da has been to Petunia's childhood home a couple times. He and Lily, Harry's Mum, were really good friends."

Alan nodded in resignation, "You'll just show up anyway, even if I tell you not to, so go ahead. I'll give the boys over there a head's-up. I don't want you staying past teatime, though, so get what you need out of her as quick as you can."

Mina nodded at the mirror, "Da is hopeful we'll be done by lunchtime, I think. Part of him going is because Petunia's met him before, and she'll be less able to hide things from us. I just hope Vernon Dursley is gone to the office by the time we get there," she gave a light shiver, "He's one of the most unpleasant men I've ever met, and that includes your old etiquette instructor on Man."

Alan chuckled, "Monsieur Tatou was simply trying to help you fit in."

Mina laughed with him, "I suppose, but I'd rather not be around the odious Vernon Dursley more than I have to be." She blinked, remembering something, "Oh, would it be possible for a group of us to visit the Tisdale Estate? Probably arriving the 14th or so, and staying for two weeks? Ginny had mentioned that she's only ever been on two vacations, and it sounds as if Ron's only ever been on one. The Weasleys are, well, not well off as a family, though I believe Bill and Charlie have done well for themselves outside England." Another thought struck her, "Also, if you can as a favor to Hermione, would you be able to track down a Percival Ignatius Weasley before the trial? He works for the Ministry of Magic, and he's had a falling-out with the rest of the clan over poor Harry." She frowned, "I want to knock some sense into him and bring him back. Maybe Bill can go with me for that, I get the feeling Percy would frown at the seeming impropriety of a strange female teenager speaking with him alone."

Alan nodded, "I can arrange for the grounds to be available to you and whoever you want to bring with you. Just make sure you have at least three chaperones." He then rolled his eyes, "And I'm guessing you want this kept a secret until you and Bill can actually go and speak with the young man. Something to do with Venus?"

Mina winked at him, grinning, "I won't tell you what she said, only that yes, Venus is involved. And thank you for letting us go. Hermione and Ginny were talking about how they were invited to attend Hogwarts in the first place, and they said all eligible students receive a Letter about a week before their eleventh birthday. I don't remember seeing any such letter, but perhaps it arrived and no one thought to mention it?"

Alan shook his head, "I don't recall such a thing, but you go ask Missus Goodwife the housekeeper, she'd know if anyone at Tisdale House does."

Mina looked delighted, "Missus Goodwife is still there? That's wonderful! I was sure she would have been pensioned off by now."

Alan shook his head again, grinning, "Not at all, she's often declared that the only way she'll leave Tisdale House's employ is in a coffin."

Mina smiled, "I'm glad, I couldn't bear it if she had passed while I was away on a mission. Anyway, if you could let her know that we'll be needing rooms for myself, three other girls, seven boys, Da, probably Bill and his girlfriend Fleur, at least one older witch, and possibly the Weasley parents, Tonks, and Sirius as well? I refuse to leave him all alone in this drafty, moldering, possessed house. And just while we were talking I was thinking that we should invite their friends Luna and Neville along also. I don't recall, does Tisdale House have that many bedrooms, or will most of us teens have to double up?"

Alan was writing down all the people she had listed off, and looked up when she asked the question, "I don't rightly recall myself, but you should plan on at least two to a room. Do you think Bill and Fleur will want to share, or should we place her with Tonks instead?" He frowned, recalling something from the previous night's meeting, "She got really quiet when your Da showed off that Patronus of his. Do you think she might be jealous?"

Mina furrowed her brow, "Come to think of it, you're right. I don't recall her saying much for the rest of the meeting. Just to be on the safe side, you should probably put her with Fleur. That leaves Da to share with Sirius, Bill we could put with Ron, Fred and George probably would force-feed me their latest prank sweet if I tried to split them up, Ginny and Luna together, me and Hermione and the last girl in my room, Neville and Harry together, and the last three boys with each other, and then there's the Weasley parents and the other witch." She looked thoughtful, "I wonder if we can get Charlie home from Romania, last time the nine Weasleys were together happily was two years ago when they all went to Egypt to visit Bill at his work. I'll bring it up at breakfast later."

Alan guffawed, "Mina, you are a whirlwind of change in their lives, I only hope they all fall in line like the good little ducks you want them to be. I'll phone Missus Goodwife later today, tell her to get the House and Estate ready for you and a large number of friends. She'll be tickled pink to know you have friends now! Anything else you wanted to discuss before I let you go back to bed?"

Mina shook her head, "Not that I can think of urgently. When we get back from Privet Drive we might have a few more things to discuss with the whole group. Would you be available after teatime?"

Alan smiled, "Anything for you, little sis. See you later." He put the mirror facedown in a drawer and the connection terminated.

Mina placed the mirror back on the bedside table and snuggled back down under the blankets to get some more sleep, a smile stretching her lips.

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Exactly at eight o’clock, there was a rap on the door, “Mina-mine? You awake yet?”

Mina opened her eyes and stretched languidly, “Yes, Da?” She rolled to the side and stood up, going to open the door.

Remus smiled down at her, “You ready for breakfast, sleepyhead?”

Mina looked up at him and smiled, "Give me ten minutes and I'll be down."

Remus laughed and turned to go, "Better get down quick, Ron and the twins are like bottomless pits." He held the door open as Artemis yawned and jumped down from the windowseat, trotting under his arm, "See you soon." He closed the door behind him.

Mina dashed to her suitcase and pulled out a mint dress that went to her kneecaps with ruffles around the neckline, hem, and cap sleeves and quickly changed. She slipped on her white socks and black Mary Janes, then grabbed her grass-colored denim jacket and Sailor V wand, hesitating over the communication mirror, before pocketing that as well and going out the door. She closed it behind her and slid the wand into a pocket as she slung the jacket over one shoulder and walked down all the stairs into the kitchen. Remus, Molly, Sirius, Bill, Fleur, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George were there, passing platters and pitchers back and forth. Mina quickly squeezed into a chair between Fred and Ginny and reached for the orange juice, "I've told Alan to have his Dursley Watchers expect us around nine or ten. He's not pulling them off their detail, just letting them know that the four of us are coming."

Bill nodded down the table at her, "Good thinking, we don't want them startled. Thanks for that, Mina."

Mina grinned, "I also asked him about inviting you all up to the Tisdale Estate next week after Harry's 'little chat' at the Ministry. He says he'll notify the housekeeper." She looked at Harry and Ginny, "Think your friends Luna and Neville would like to come meet me?"

Harry blinked, then nodded, grinning, "I'll write to Neville once I finish eating, hopefully his gran lets him come. I'll tell her it's a belated birthday party."

Ginny squealed, "I'll go write Luna right now! Harry, can Hedwig take my letter, too?" She dashed up the stairs without waiting for a response, to general laughter.

Molly looked at Mina, "Are you sure there aren't too many of us, dear?"

Mina shook her head, "No, Alan said Missus Goodwife would be thrilled to meet my friends. She's the housekeeper out there, and the head of all the servants. I haven't seen her since my birthday four years ago, I thought she'd retired."

Molly smiled at Mina, "If you're sure. I'm presuming you'd like Arthur's help with teen-wrangling." They all chuckled at Molly's choice of words.

Mina nodded eagerly as she served herself some bacon and toast, "If he can get the time off, it would be lovely. I'll also like to meet the rest of your family, I hear you have another son in Romania working with animals?"

Molly beamed at her with pride, "You'd like to meet our Charlie? Yes, he works with dragons. I'll write and ask him. Oh, I hope the letter gets to him in time."

Mina smiled, "I'm not sure about any magical creatures, but I know there's a couple bird species on the island, and a rare breed of cat." She grinned, "Maybe he'll discover a magical one!"

Fred and George grinned down the table at her, "Oh, Charlie'll-"

"-just adore you if-"

"-you tell him that-"

"-there're magical-"

"-creatures to find!"

Mina blushed, "Pretty sure I'm too young for your brother, boys."

Ron laughed, "You're right, Charlie's twenty-three, he'd never faff about with an underage witch."

Fleur broke in, "Eef 'ee eez annyting like William 'ere, zee witches and wizards must flock to 'eem." She gazed at Bill adoringly.

Bill's ears turned pink, "Well, he was more concerned with Care of Magical Creatures than he was with dating, but you could ask Tonks, they were in the same year. I think she's his best friend, or was."

Ginny thundered back down the stairs holding a scroll, some parchment, and a Self-Inking Quill, "I've got my letter to Luna written, here's parchment and quill, Harry, hurry and write Neville."

Harry laughed and took the proffered implements, starting to write a letter.

Neville, Happy belated birthday! Sorry I haven't written, the Dursleys don't like Owl Post, you know. Anyway, I'm out of there, in a safe location, and from the way my escort was talking I don't think I'm ever going back. Good riddance, I hate Surrey. Anyway, I made a new friend named Mina and she's invited a bunch of us (me, Hermione, the Weasleys, some other folx you don't know but are really kind) to her foster mother's House on the Isle of Man starting the 14th for two weeks. (Don't give me that face, you know I'm not interested in girls.) She's nice, though, saved my life and everything. Can't tell you everything right now, but if you come with us we should be able to let you know more then. Mina's even inviting Luna, and extending an invitation to Ron's brother Charlie! Please say you'll come, I promise Fred and George won't slip you more Canary Creams. If your gran says yes, we'll meet you at the Leaky on the 14th at 9am, Remus says to keep an eye out for his blue sweater.

Your friend and almost-twin, Harry.

P.S. We can go school shopping when we get back on the 28th, and you're more than welcome to stay with us the rest of the holidays.

"I'll need some also, Mina's invited Charlie as well," Molly said to her excited daughter with a smile.

Ginny screeched and flung her arms around Mina's neck, narrowly avoiding knocking into Fred's shoulder, "Mina, you're amazing! My favorite brother, home again!"

"Oi!" came a chorus of indignant shouts from Ron and the twins, while Bill just chuckled.

Mina gasped, "Gin-ny, can't breathe!"

Ginny loosened her grip and blushed, "Sorry, Mina, it's only that I haven't seen him since before I started Hogwarts."

Harry looked up from his letter to Neville and laughed, "You saw him last summer, Gin, when we went to the Quidditch Cup World Finals! Is it alright if I tell him we'll meet at the Leaky Cauldron on the 14th at 9am?"

Remus nodded, bemused, "Yes, that's fine. Tell him to look for my blue sweater, he'll remember the one I mean."

Ron chuckled, “And you saw him when we went to visit Bill in Egypt two summers ago, when Dad won the Daily Prophet grand prize.”

Ginny flopped back into her chair, "Yeah, but it wasn't for very long! He was only at the Burrow for like two days before you showed up. Something about not being away from his beloved dragons for too long. And Egypt was… well, Egypt!" Remus hid a smirk into his teacup at her words.

Sirius bounded to his feet, "When did you say this little trip was for, Mina?"

Mina giggled, "I told Alan the 14th, and we'd stay for at least a week, possibly two."

Harry finished writing his letter and pushed the spare parchment across the table to Molly, "Here you go, I'd like to see him again myself." He folded up the letter to Neville and grinned, "Oh, I hope Neville and Luna can come." He frowned suddenly, "Even if we stay up there for two whole weeks, it'll still only be the 28th when we get back. Will they stay here with the rest of us until then?"

"I'll make arrangements with a friend, if we can't find them a room here." Remus smiled, "Any daughter of Pandora Lovegood will be over the moon with excitement for a trip like this. Don't you remember Panda, Siri? Always floating around looking for Billywigs and warning us against nargles?"

Sirius nodded, rubbing his hands together, "I remember. Oh! I just remembered that her dad's your cousin, Mina."

Mina chuckled at his enthusiasm, "Da told me this morning when I had my nightmare. I'm excited to meet another one of us."

Ron looked at Mina curiously, "Us?"

Mina nodded, "Da says Luna Lovegood's father Xenophilius was born to my mum's Uncle Claudius, but he took Pandora's name when they married."

Ginny giggled, "I thought she had the Malfoy hair. Except hers is all curly, and Draco and his dad have super straight hair."

Sirius smiled, nodding in agreement, "Yeah, Panda's hair was a curly ash blonde, not platinum like the Malfoys. I haven't seen Xeno since they got married."

Remus chuckled, "Well, except for the color, Luna's a dead ringer for Panda." He looked thoughtful, "I wonder if she's got the same shifter form, too."

Molly blinked at this, "What are you talking about, Remus?"

Remus blushed, "Er, I'll explain tomorrow." He turned to Bill, Ginny, and Mina, "Are you three ready to go?" The three of them nodded and stood up, "Alright, we'll see the rest of you later. Hopefully we'll be back by lunchtime."

The four of them hastily escaped as Ron said to Molly, "Hurry up and write that letter, Mum, Charlie'll go spare if we forget him!"

Mina looked curiously at Remus as they and Bill and Ginny stopped in the entrance hall, "Da, do you know how to get to the Dursley's?"

Remus frowned, "Come to think of it, not really. I've been to Surrey, but never their place."

"If only I had my team, we could use the Sailor Teleport." Mina sighed, then continued, "Ok, their address is Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging. But Mister Shacklebolt and Tonks Apparated us from the corner of Privet Drive and Magnolia Crescent."

Remus nodded and held out his arms, wand at the ready, "Alright, I think I can find that. Hang on, everyone." Mina held one arm and Ginny's hand, Ginny reaching out her free hand for Bill. Remus waved his wand and the four of them disappeared with a crack, setting off Walburga's portrait to caterwauling again.

The four of them appeared in the Magnolia Crescent tunnel. Mina giggled, "Oh, I shouldn't laugh, but this is where the Dementors caught Dudley."

Remus checked her over with a worried eye as Bill did the same for Ginny, "Everything here? Nothing Splinched and left behind in London?"

Mina and Ginny both shook their heads, "I'm fine, Bill, don't pull a Mum." The girls laughed at the look on the younger wizard's face.

Mina started walking, the others following her lead, "It's this way, hopefully that odious man has gone to work for the day." She led them out of the tunnel, turned a couple corners, and then stopped in front of a perfectly manicured lawn. "Good, the drive is empty, that means he's not here."

Remus held Ginny and Mina by the elbows, "Alright, Ginny, I want you to stay out here with Bill. Mina, stay ready."

Bill, meanwhile, had been waving his wand at the house with a look of utter disbelief on his face, "Remus, there's nothing here. No blood ward, no Dark Mark repelling jinx, it's clean. I can tell there used to be some wards, one of them strangely for mail redirection, but they've all gone."

Ginny paled, "W-when did they disappear, Billy?"

Bill frowned and lowered his wand, "June. Last week of it, I think. This is bad, Remus. Harry's been here with no protection whatsoever since Dumbledore sent all the kids home."

Remus frowned also, as the girls shivered and drew closer together, "Right, change of plans, all of us are going inside. Bill, while Mina and I 'speak' with Petunia, I'd like you to do some snooping. Use Historiam Recordio to check out everything you can find."

Ginny spoke quietly, "Harry said his first Hogwarts letter was addressed to 'The Cupboard Under The Stairs.' And then two summers ago Ron and the twins broke him out of the smallest bedroom. I'd check those, the kitchen, the bathroom, maybe even the backyard."

Bill nodded, "Thanks, Gin. I want you to stay quiet. I know you've got a temper, but we don't need more Aurors coming out for underage magic. Understand?" Ginny nodded.

Remus walked up to the front door, Bill and the girls following, and knocked. After a couple minutes, Petunia Dursley answered the door, wearing an apron and long rubber gloves, "Ye--oh, it's you. Go away." She looked repulsed, angry, and scared, all at once.

Petunia tried to close the door, but Remus stuck his foot out and blocked it, "Now, now, Petunia, the sooner you speak with us, honestly, the sooner we'll go away and never come back."

Petunia hesitated, then opened the door wider and hissed at them, "Alright, inside, but hurry."

Remus led Bill and the girls inside, Petunia swiftly closing the door and nearly catching Ginny's heel. Bill immediately started waving his wand and muttering under his breath in a language none of them understood as he walked around, Remus and the girls sitting uninvited on the sofa, "Alright, let's start at the beginning. You know what I am." Bill was poking his head and wand into the cupboard under the stairs as Remus spoke, frowning at whatever the spell showed him.

Petunia sniffed haughtily as she sat on a chair, "I know you're a freak, just like Lily and that wastrel she married. I'm guessing the ginger brat with you is the same."

Remus laid a hand on Ginny's arm, preventing her from responding, "Yes, this girl is a witch and a good friend of Harry's. You've already met Mina, aka Sailor V. The other redhead is Ginny's older brother Bill. He's going to be taking a look around your house while you answer some questions. Now, how did Harry come to be in your custody?"

Petunia looked frightened as Bill made his scowling way up the stairs, "Well, I woke up the morning of November First to put out the milk bottles, like I do every week. There was this basket on the doorstep, with that brat inside, and a letter."

Remus frowned, "What did the letter say?"

"That his parents were dead, and I was the only family the boy had left. We were offered a monthly stipend to take care of him." Petunia's gaze wandered over to the fireplace, "We were told we'd be protected from anyone who came after him as long as he lived here."

Mina spoke up softly, "But you didn't take care of Harry, did you, Mrs. Dursley. I saw how you treated him when I helped him bring Dudley home that night." She looked around, "Where is your son, Mrs. Dursley?"

Petunia looked terrified, "Why, do you wish to hurt him some more?"

Remus shook his head, "Not at all, we just want to ensure his health. That was a nasty shock to the system he had. Even being in the vicinity of a Dementor is an unpleasant experience, and yet your son was nearly Kissed. He'll need therapy, at the very least. I can leave you with the names of several discrete ones if you like."

Petunia darted her eyes from side to side, "Are they fr-like you?"

Remus shrugged, "A couple are muggle-born witches and wizards, yes, but most are non-magical. Mindhealing hasn't been a priority in the Wizarding World, so there are no doctors here in England who specialize in it. I only know of one in the world, and she's in America at the moment."

Petunia sneered at him, "Then what good is she to me?"

Remus sighed, "Luckily for you, she's returning to England to deal with some other personal matters. I can ask her to come by and speak with you all, if you're interested."

Petunia frowned, "Vernon thinks talking about your feelings is for nancies."

Mina frowned, "It's not, my brother goes to therapy once a month. MI6 has several on retainer, if you'd rather speak with one of them."

Petunia took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, "Alright, Dudley is over at Surrey General. He hasn't said a word since he accused Potter of using his, his w-wand on him. Vernon's at work, screwing his secretary." She sneered once again, "He thinks I don't notice. That poor girl, she's too afraid of him to tell HR."

Remus blinked, not expecting her to be so cooperative, "Petunia, are you alright?"

Petunia sighed, "I just, I wish I could tell Lily I'm sorry. Sorry for not standing up for myself, and sorry for not standing up for her son to Vernon. Sorry for allowing things to be this way."

Mina stood up and walked over to Petunia, laying a soft hand on her arm, "Mrs. Dursley, does Mr. Dursley hurt you as well?"

Petunia froze as Bill came back down the stairs and headed into the kitchen, a black look on his normally cheerful face, "I-I, well..."

Remus spoke up, "Petunia, we can help you, if you need it. MI6 and the Wizards both."

Petunia frowned, "Dudley too? He-- he's actually a very sweet boy."

Ginny and Remus exchanged looks, before Remus asked, "What about his games of Harry Hunting? You looked the other way when Harry had broken bones, black eyes, and I don't even know what else. Your son is a bully, Petunia, because you've been too spineless to step up and discipline him properly. Harry never wants to see any of you again, and his godfather agrees."

Petunia sneered, though it seemed as if she had less vitriol than usual in her voice, "The godfather who is a mass murderer? That's a lovely example."

Ginny, her face as red as her hair, shouted, "You don't know anything about it! Sirius was framed!"

Remus pulled Ginny back onto the couch as Petunia blanched at the vitriol in the young witch's voice, "Ginny, you promised to be quiet."

Bill came out of the kitchen, "Remus, I've got everything." He was shrinking down a scroll as he walked over, "It's a mess, but I have eight magical signatures inside this house. One looks like a house elf, he Apparated three times and then used a levitation charm. Kingsley and Tonks from earlier in the week, and obviously Harry's for the last fourteen years. Two Squibs, I'm guessing one is Arabella Figg around the corner, and a very faint one from someone else. This person didn't use their magic at all. And the last is recorded as unknown, but who hasn't been here in a good thirteen years.  That's the one that set up the wards outside, which no longer exist."

Petunia looked at the tall man with a ginger ponytail, a look of absolute fear on her face, "Don't exist? You mean, we're at the mercy of any of your kind who want to hurt us?"

Bill nodded, frowning, "I can set up some temporary ones, but I really need to go to the office and record all this with my boss. If you want permanent ones, I'll have to come back another time and spend a couple hours on it." He looked at her blandly, before picking his next words with care, "And then there's still the matter of the siphon and hexes embedded in the wards that fell."

Petunia turned wide eyes at Bill, "Wh-what are you talking about?"

Bill studied her, "Well, there were some carefully hidden Dark Magic hexes in amongst the wards. One to make you angrier than you already were at all things magical, one to escalate your jealousy of Lily, and one to..." He looked at Remus, shocked, "One to force you to make those feelings physical by hurting Harry, specifically, any and every chance you got. And that siphon? It was very cleverly keyed to draw away magical power from all those with Evans blood under this roof."

Petunia blanched, "You mean to tell me that my feelings aren't my own?"

Ginny blinked, "What do you mean, Bill, I thought Lily Potter was the only magical Evans?"

Bill shook his head slowly, "That's what a couple of the wards were there for. The Department for the Welfare of Magical Children is going to have a field-day once they see my Pensieve memory of today. Mrs. Dursley, you have next to no magic to draw from, but your son? That young man should have received a Hogwarts Letter of his own, except this siphon was removing his magic quicker than it could be replenished."

Remus's eyes widened, "The Magicus Deletus? Sirius and I were just discussing that last night, he said he thinks there's a book with that spell on it in the Black Family Library, and he was going to try to find it today. I was unaware it could be placed as an active, ongoing spell. But I thought it could only be cast by a fam--" He stuttered, "Of course. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is the Adopted Father of Harry's grandmother."

Bill shook his head again, "No, it's not the Magicus Deletus, though it acts in a similar manner. I'd have to check with Gringotts for the exact name of the spell used. It's old, though, older than Hogwarts herself or even Gringotts, which has been around for nearly two thousand years. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it's as old as Herpo the Foul."

Ginny and Mina exchanged frightened looks, "Billy, what does this mean? For us and for the Dursleys?"

Remus sighed and answered before Bill could, "It means, Ginny, that the Dursleys will need to come into Witchness Protective Custody. Mina, if you'd be so kind as to inform your brother Alan about this new state of development, I would appreciate it." Mina nodded and stepped into the kitchen, drawing the mirror from her pocket and activating it for a private conversation. Remus turned back to Petunia, "I'm sorry about all this, I really am, but the sooner we get you, Dudley, and Vernon away from this place the better off you all will be."

"No," Petunia said suddenly, a hard and indecipherable look on her face, "Not Vernon, he can stay. I... he... it's better if he can't find us." She softened slightly and turned a pleading expression to the two wizards, "You're sure he won't be able to follow us?"

Remus stood up and crossed the room to kneel next to Petunia's chair, wand held loosely in his hand, "I, Remus John Lupin, do so solemnly swear on my wand and my magic that Vernon Dursley shall never again cause you and your child harm, and shall never find you if you do not wish it." He and Petunia glowed white for a moment, signifying that Mother Magic had accepted his vow. "You'll need help, you can't get out of here on your own," he stood up abruptly and turned just as Mina walked out of the kitchen, sliding the mirror back into her pocket with a nod in Remus's direction, "Kaltia, please come here?"

A soft pop preceded a small female house elf wearing a clean, nicely-pressed blue dress which had the Potter Family Crest on the bodice, "Master Moony is calling for Kaltia?"

Remus smiled fondly at the elf, "Yes, please, Kaltia. This is Petunia, Miss Lily's sister. She and her son Dudley need to pack and move away from this house. Would you please help her collect both their things and then take it all to Potter Manor for me? The son is in hospital right now, but we'll be going to fetch him momentarily." He glanced at Petunia before adding, "No electronics work around magic, so you'll have to leave the television and games machines here, Petunia." She nodded at the admonition.

Kaltia's large purple eyes grew wider still as she bobbed a curtsy to Petunia, "Miss Lily's sister! Kaltia be honored to help."

Mina came over to Remus and said to him, "Alan wasn't too happy with me, but he's agreed to let the detail outside know that Petunia's leaving permanently and not to go searching for her." In a lower voice she whispered in his ear, "I may have mentioned that Petunia's scared shitless of Vernon, and he suddenly saw the wisdom in letting her come with us."

Remus chuckled quietly, "Language, Mina-mine, though that was a good idea. Loyal as a Hufflepuff, cunning as a Slytherin, witty as a Ravenclaw, and brash as a Gryffindor, the Sorting Hat will have a hard time deciding for you if you ever meet him."

Petunia frowned at the creature in front of her, then drew a deep breath and nodded, "Alright, Kaltia. Come with me, I'll show you what needs to be packed." She led the house elf up the stairs and disappeared, though the two wizards and teenage girls could hear her strident voice and several things thumping and flying through the air.

Bill raised an eyebrow at the two interactions, then turned, "I'm just going to check out the backyard until they come back downstairs. Ginny, want to come?"

Ginny nodded and stood up, "Sure."

Bill smiled slightly as they headed into the kitchen and out the back door, "Alright, Gin, but don't touch or say anything, it could mess up the diagnostics I'm running." Ginny nodded again and mimed zipping her lips shut.

Mina watched the two gingers walk out the door, then asked Remus quietly, "Da, how are we going to get Dudley out of the hospital? Last I checked, none of us is a doctor."

Remus grinned, "No, but Mother Potter is, she got her M.D. at the University of Nebraska, Omaha about five years ago. She wanted to be able to work in both the Wizarding and the No-Maj worlds. I'd wager ten Galleons that the doctors here in Surrey have even heard of her." He chuckled at the shocked look on her face, "Watch, I'll drop her name and you see what they do."

Mina nodded slowly, "Alright, but I'm going in as Sailor V. Hopefully that will help speed up his release."

Petunia and Kaltia descended from the upper story, "No, Kaltia, I'm not taking anything of Vernon's, I desire a clean break."

Kaltia bobbed her head, "As Miss Tunie commands. Will you be bringing food?"

Petunia smiled wryly, "Yes, take everything in the kitchen and pantry. Dishes, crockery, utensils, I want it all with us, especially the pie plate from our mother. I presume you have ways of keeping food stored in hot, cold, and freezing environments without electricity?"

Kaltia nodded as they walked past the amused pair of Remus and Mina, "Yes, Miss Tunie, that part of Leppo's duties as kitchen elf. You be meeting him later."

Mina chuckled softly, "I see those two are getting on like a house on fire. Was there a concern she might not accept the help of a magical creature?"

Remus nodded, "Yes, she's been stridently anti-magic ever since we were children. It got worse after she met Vernon. I remember they attempted to cause a scene during our double wedding. Sirius was quick with his wand and shot a nonverbal silencing spell at them. The two vanished before cake was served, though, and Alice refused to ever say what happened."

Mina smiled, "I can't wait to meet more of your friends, Da. I'm sure Mother Potter will help them."

Bill and Ginny re-entered the house at the same time that Kaltia vanished with the entire contents of the kitchen except for the small television, "Blimey, Mrs. Dursley, anyone would think you weren't planning on coming back."

Petunia nodded gravely as she collected a few photographs from the sitting room, "I'm not. Vernon will be served with divorce papers along with whatever else your people dig up on him. I refuse to stay and be another statistic. If that means accepting m-magic, then so be it." She turned to Remus with a sigh, "Alright, Surrey General Hospital is just three miles from here. Vernon has the car, so we'll need to call for a taxi."

Remus shook his head, as Ginny smirked behind Petunia, "No need for a car when we can Apparate, Petunia."

Petunia frowned warily, "What's Apparate?"

Mina replied, "It's similar to teleporting, Mrs. Dursley. Instantaneous travel from one place to another."

Remus chuckled, "Yes, except most of us can't do it over long distances, and some of us can't do it at all. We learn how when we're sixteen or seventeen, the age of adulthood in the Wizarding World."

Petunia frowned again, "But how will we get Dudders out of the hospital to do this teleporting thing? I'm sure you don't want the rest of the population seeing you."

Bill frowned, "Dad used to have a Ford Anglia, but it's, er, gone feral. Too much magic used on it, I think, and it lives in the forest next to Hogwarts now."

Mina rolled her eyes at the three adults, "Ugh. Give me three minutes and Alan will have a car on its way. Honestly, anyone would think you'd never done this before." She stepped back into the bare kitchen, pulling the mirror from her pocket, and spoke with Alan again.

Ginny snorted with laughter at the expression on the faces of the two wizards and Petunia, "You three are supposed to be in charge here, and Mina's the one doing all the planning."

Bill waved a finger at her, "Hush, brat, or I'll tell Mum."

Ginny's eyes widened and she clapped both hands over her mouth, "Eeep!"

Remus chuckled, "It's obvious you two are siblings." He got a faraway look in his eyes, "Siri used to do the same thing with Reggie."

Mina came back from the kitchen, "All sorted. A car will be round to pick us up in five minutes, and it will wait at the hospital for us. The Watchers out front know Mrs. Dursley is leaving with us." She turned to Petunia, "Are you leaving him a note?"

Remus started humming 'so long and thanks for all the fish' in the background, causing Mina to giggle at the pop-culture reference.

Petunia sighed, "I supposed I should." She found an old receipt in her handbag and a pen, then wrote a short note, "Vernon, I'm gone. Dudley is with me. Don't try to follow, you'll never find us. Have fun with Jessie. Petunia." She stuck it on the fridge and smiled, looking years younger, "Alright, I'm ready." The five of them walked out the door, Petunia turning to sneer as she looked at the house, "Hmm, no, I don't think I'll lock the door. I don't care what happens."

Mina chuckled as she led the way to a dark blue minivan, "Vindictive much, Mrs. Dursley?" She didn't wait for a response as she opened the passenger doors, "Hiya, Kev, thanks for driving us. We didn't think about needing a ride earlier." Mina directed them all into the back seats, except for Petunia in the navigator's seat, and showed them how to put the safety belts on, "Mrs. Dursley, if you'd tell Kevin our destination, please?"

Petunia nodded, visibly relaxed to see a vehicle without magic, and began to give instructions, "We're going to Surrey General Hospital to check out my son. It's down Wisteria Drive, turn left onto the A30, and take the fourth exit. The hospital will be a right at the next intersection once you're off the ramp."

Bill leaned over to Remus, "One of us should probably tell Mum that we've been delayed. And I think after we pick up the Dursley kid both of them should be checked over at either St. Mungo's or Gringotts. Right now I'd honestly say Gringotts, given what I heard from you last night."

Remus nodded, "Can you send those Patroni while Mina and I help Petunia get the boy? I'd like you and Ginny to stay here with the van and driver, a Muggle Hospital is a bit different from St. Mungo's."

Bill nodded, "Will do."

Just then Kevin pulled up at the visitor's entrance to Surrey General, "Here you are, Miss Mina. Give us a shout or a wave when you're ready to move on."

Remus and Petunia climbed out as Mina drew her Sailor V wand, "Venus Power Make Up!" She was surrounded by a rainbow light, briefly blinding the others, which faded to show a grim-looking Sailor V.

Kevin laughed, "I see, breaking out the big guns today. Good luck, to the other fella." He chuckled as he drove around to find a parking spot.

Sailor V took a deep breath and turned to Petunia, "Mrs. Dursley, if you'd be so kind as to show us the way."

Petunia scrutinized Sailor V for a long moment, then nodded and turned to go inside, "This way, he's on the third floor. Follow me, and please don't speak to anyone until we get there." Sailor V and Remus nodded and trailed along behind her to the elevators. Once on the correct floor, she led them over to the nurse's station, "Hello, Petunia Dursley here, I'd like to check my son out."

The nurse, a slip of a girl whose name tag read 'Lizzie Helder,' nodded, "You'll need to speak with his doctor, Mrs. Dursley. I'll just page him."

Petunia gave a brusque nod, "We'll be over there." She led Remus and Sailor V to a small room with chairs in it.

Before they had a chance to sit down, a tall man with a large beard entered, "Hello, I'm Doctor Andrew Singh, I was told you wish to take Dudley away?"

Petunia nodded again, "Yes, I don't think you can do any more for him, and I want my boy home."

Doctor Singh frowned, "I can certainly sign the paperwork, but in whose care will he be afterwards?"

Remus cleared his throat, "I'm sure you've heard of Doctor Seannan Westing, out of Nebraska?"

Doctor Singh raised an eyebrow, "You are taking him to America, Mrs. Dursley?"

Remus shook his head, "No, Doctor Westing is coming here. She has other patients in England to see, and young Mr. Dursley was easily added to her list."

Sailor V stepped forward, gathering Doctor Singh's attention, "Doctor Singh, it would really be in the best interest of all parties to allow this." She smiled sunnily at him, "After all, MI6 would be most grateful for your help in this small matter, and we would owe you a favor in return."

Doctor Singh blinked, gawping at Sailor V, before he recovered and stroked his beard thoughtfully, "So MI6 would owe me a favor, eh? Alright, I'll expedite the boy's dismissal. Gods know we're really not helping him any here. Yes, it's best he goes home with his mother." He scribbled a few lines on an official-looking document he'd been holding, then handed it to Petunia, "Give this to Lizzie, she'll help you." He sent one last look around at the unlikely collective, then left.

Petunia breathed a sigh of relief, "I was worried he wouldn't let us take Dudders. Who is Doctor Westing, and why would she be willing to look over my boy?"

Remus shook his head as the three of them returned to Lizzie Helder's desk, "Not now, I'll explain later."

Petunia gave him a sharp look before handing the document to Lizzie, "Doctor Singh gave us this, said you would help."

Lizzie took the document and read it over swiftly, then nodded, pressing a button on the desk, "Yes, an orderly will be along shortly to help Dudley get dressed and collect his things, please wait." Said orderly, a beefy man with a black handkerchief around his head, appeared and took the document, nodded, and walked down the hall.

Petunia was wringing her hands as they waited, "Oh, I hope he's alright, this is the first time he's ever slept away from home."

The orderly was soon back, pushing an extra-large wheelchair with a glassy-eyed Dudley inside it, "'Ere y’are, madam, one son ready t'go 'ome."

They went to the elevators in silence, rode one down, and walked out the front door. Sailor V whistled loudly and waved a hand. The dark blue minivan drove up in front of them a minute later, Kevin pushing the buttons to open the doors and grinning, "That was right quick, Sailor V."

Bill and Ginny silently helped Dudley up into the back of the van, strapping him into the bench seat between them, as Petunia turned to the orderly stiffly, "Thank you, sir, we can take it from here."

Remus silently waved his wand, hidden up his sleeve, at the orderly, and the man walked off without the wheelchair, "Hurry, Sailor V, get this inside with you and close the door. Petunia, in, we have a stop to make before you and Dudley are settled into your new lodgings." Remus swung himself into the navigator's seat as Sailor V and Petunia wrestled the wheelchair into the van and closed the door behind them. He turned his attention to Kevin as they buckled themselves in, "Kevin, I'd like you to take us to a pub on Charing Cross Road, please. It's two blocks from the train station."

Kevin nodded and put the van in gear, driving away from the hospital. Sailor V looked across at Remus quizzically, "Why did we take the wheelchair, Da? And what did you do to the orderly?"

Remus chuckled sheepishly, "I Confunded him. And we'll need the chair to get Dudley around Diagon Alley, the puppet spell isn't an option at the moment."

Petunia gasped, "So I'm finally allowed to see your world, am I?" She sniffed, then whispered, "Would have been nice when I was a child."

"Petunia," Remus sighed, "you were on the Platform every year, I saw you with your parents. Just please, stay quite and be polite to everyone. Especially the goblins. An insulted goblin is a dangerous one."

Kevin turned onto Charing Cross Road, "Tell me where to stop, I'm not familiar with this part of London."

Remus gestured to the record store, "That's close enough, we'll walk from here. Sailor V, you should probably turn that off. We'll get enough strange looks at Dudley's wheelchair."

Sailor V nodded and waved her Transfiguration wand, was surrounded by rainbow light, and when it vanished Mina was sitting there, "Good idea, I'd nearly forgotten. Thanks, Da." She got out of the van and smiled at Kevin as the rest made their way down, "Thanks, Kev, we've got it covered from here. You can go back to the office."

Kevin tipped his hat at Mina and the rest, "Nice to meet all of you, and I'll tell Lord Farrell you're safe." He drove off as Mina giggled.

Remus waved his wand and two bottlecaps came whizzing at him from the debris scattered around them. He tapped each with his wand and they glowed briefly, then handed them to Petunia, "Put one in Dudley's pocket and one in your own, it'll help you get through the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley. And for Merlin's sake, try to contain your feelings, I don't want you getting jinxed in the middle of the street." Petunia nodded and did what she was told, white-faced and silent.

"Ginny," Bill said, "I'd like you and Mina to push Dudley. If there's a problem, you two head straight for the bank, tell them I sent you and we need help."

"Yes, Bill," Ginny nodded and took up her position, Mina at her left. The two girls grunted and started pushing Dudley's chair into the tavern, the three adults following.

"Hallo, Tom, just passing through," Remus said cheerfully to the bartender, who nodded and kept pouring the beer he was holding. Remus ushered their party into the back alleyway, where he tapped his wand against the bricks and opened the secret door. The six of them passed through the archway and the door collapsed back into a wall, "Now, straight down the street, you can see Gringotts, it's the big white building."

The party hastily made their way passed all the shops. They garnered a few strange looks because of the chair, but Remus's scarred face and Bill's grim look scared away any who would have approached them. Once inside, Bill looked around for a free goblin, "Ah, Barksplitter, I sent my Patronus ahead for Lady Twyla, and we're needing Lady Stonebreaker's services."

Remus interjected, "We were also told to ask for Master Skullcrusher."

Barksplitter gave them both a terrified look and nodded, "Lady Twyla is waiting for you in her office, Cursebreaker Weasley, and the other two will be sent to you." He whirled and glowered at a passing Novice, "You there, go find Lady Stonebreaker and Master Skullcrusher, send them to the Consort's Office immediately!" The Novice scuttled off as Barksplitter gestured to the party, "Follow me, and no dawdling." He led the six of them down a hall and turned into a large office, where a beautiful curvy woman with blue hair awaited them.

The woman nodded and smiled, "Thank you, Apprentice Barksplitter, that will be all. I trust the others are on their way?" Barksplitter nodded and vanished. She turned her attention to the rest, "Oh my, thank you for bringing them in, young Bill. I am Twyla Scamander, Lord Gwynedd and Consort to the Goblin Crown Prince. Please, take a seat."

They made themselves comfortable in various chairs around the office and then Remus took the lead, "Thank you for seeing us, Lady Twyla. My name is Remus Lupin-Black, I've had dealings with Axebeard over the years. Bill you apparently know, the redhaired witch is his sister Ginevra, the blonde girl is my Blood Adopted daughter Minako who also goes by Sailor V, and the other two are Harry Potter's aunt and cousin, Petunia and Dudley Dursley."

Twyla nodded around at each in turn, raising an eyebrow at Mina, and then her gaze rested on Petunia and Dudley, "You've been cursed, you have. Stonebreaker will be able to tell us more, but Petunia's been suffering under one in particular for..." Twyla counted off on her fingers, then sighed, "for twenty-five years. And there are more, layered on."

Stonebreaker, Axebeard, and an old goblin arrived. Stonebreaker immediately started sniffing the air around Dudley and Petunia, "It absolutely reeks of Dark magic in here, Twyla, mostly centered on these two." She leaned in closer to Dudley, "This one's supposed to be a wizard, but something's been draining his magic. Or was, until about a month and a half ago." She looked at Petunia, "Has anything happened recently?"

Petunia, stiff as a board, replied, "In June my nephew was assaulted by the so-called Dark Lord, and earlier this week both boys were attacked by Dementors."

Stonebreaker's eyes widened, "Oooooohh, that'll do it, then. Cursebreaker Weasley, I'll want to see your memories of that house. I'm presuming you came directly here from examining it."

Bill nodded, "Yes, Lady Stonebreaker, I also performed a Historiam Recordio at Remus's suggestion." He pulled a couple scrolls from his pocket and tapped them, "Geminio." The scrolls duplicated themselves and one set floated over to Stonebreaker, "There, a record of everything magical that happened at the property for the past fifteen years. It also took note of major occurences of physical abuse to one Harry James Potter, as well as several towards Petunia Evans Dursley." Petunia blanched at this information.

Twyla waved a hand and a small crystal vial floated off a shelf and over to Bill, "Your memory, if you'd be so kind."

Bill nodded again and put his wand to his temple, concentrating. A silvery, taffy-like liquid stretched between his head and his wand as he withdrew something and placed the liquid in the vial, "Geminio." The vial duplicated itself and one floated over to Stonebreaker, while the other went into his pocket, "I think that's everything from me. I'd like to make a verbal note that one of the items I found was a collapsed magic siphon, keyed to the Evans name. Remus and I think it's related to the Magicus Deletus spell."

Skullcrusher gaped, as Twyla gasped, "That's Olde Magic, you'll need to delve into the Horde Archives for references. I'll write you a pass, if your Cursebreaking Master hasn't already given you one."

Bill waved his hand, "Bronzehaft wrote me one after my second year with Gringotts, but thank you, Master Skullcrusher."

Stonebreaker had been giving Ginny a deep, assessing gaze, "You, child, have also been touched by Dark magic. Have you had any Healing done for it?"

Ginny gasped and hid her face in Bill's chest, crying. Bill wrapped his arms around his baby sister soothingly, "She was possessed by a Horcrux three years ago. Related to the one I sent in last night, as a matter of fact, as well as the one I spoke of to King Ragnok yesterday morning."

Remus spoke up softly, "We are in contact with Ariana Potter, and my cousin Hermione has been doing research into Tom Riddle. Mother Potter is furious that her brother has gone so far down this Dark and dangerous path. Three Horcruxes, that we know of. There may even be more."

The old goblin beamed, "So Ariana is alive, eh?"

Remus scoffed, "Come off it, she says Gringotts helped her when she escaped St. Mungo's. Just like they helped me later, after that terrible Samhain."

The old goblin sighed, but smiled, "Eh, spoil an old man's fun, why don't you. Alright, yes, Gringotts has always known that Ariana Dumbledore Potter survived dragonpox."

Remus quirked an eyebrow, "Did you know that she's the older twin sister of Tom Marvolo Riddle, the self-styled Dark Lord Voldemort?"

All smiles dropped, "No, we were unaware of that connection. We've been hunting for her birth family for decades, ever since Albus Dumbledore brought her to us the day after her Adoption."

Half of Remus's mouth twitched, "Well, she'll be back in England sometime today, you may send her a letter Monday if you like. Address it to Lady Ariana Potter, Theia Riddle, or Doctor Seannan Westing, all will be directed to her."

Stonebreaker cleared her throat, "So I'm not doing anything with the girl's taint, got it. That will be left for Lady Ariana the Many-Named." She looked over Dudley and Petunia with appraising eyes, "Well, you both will need a purging potion at the very least. And I'd like to get you into our Ritual Chamber, to see about unravelling the rest of those spells." She sniffed again, "Also, there's something strange about you two, would you agree to an Inheritance Test?" She looked at Axebeard and Skullcrusher, "If I'm remembering correctly, Lily never had one, right?"

Axebeard nodded, "That's right, they kept saying they would come in, and with the raids and all it was never safe. Why, do you think there's something to be concerned about?"

Stonebreaker shook her head, "Not concerned, exactly, but definitely something odd." She looked Petunia in the eye, "What's your middle name, Mrs. Dursley?"

Petunia, startled, replied truthfully, "It's Morgan. Why?"

Remus's eyes grew wide, "Lily never had to go through the Animagus process like the others, she had a natural shift. Do you think she's like me and Sirius, Lady Stonebreaker? A descendant of a god?"

Stonebreaker cogitated on this bit of information, then replied, "It's certainly a good case for it. What was Lily's animal form, do you recall?"

Remus smirked, "She was a grackle, her nickname was Gwyrddlas. We all laughed because her feathers matched her green eyes."

Skullcrusher laughed, "A grackle is a species of Corvid. They're related to blackbirds, jackdaws, magpies, and ravens."

Mina grinned suddenly, "Wasn't there a goddess of crows and warfare?"

Stonebreaker nodded, "Yes, a couple I believe, but first thing's first." She reached into her pocket and drew out two crystal vials full of a greenish-brown sludge and handed them to Petunia, "The purging potion, and I'm sorry it doesn't taste very good. You and your son both need to drink these."

Petunia nodded and drank one vial, then helped Dudley down his own. Both of them shuddered as various colors flashed across their faces, "Eugh, that tastes horrid, like rotten leather left to ferment for ten years."

Stonebreaker nodded and handed her another vial, this one's contents a bright and cheery yellow-orange, "Sorry, but it has to taste rancid to work properly, this next one should taste like gingersnaps. Half for you and half for your son, it's for nausea and general stomach upset."

Petunia followed the new instructions, smiling slightly, "Reminds me of Gran's secret family recipe." Her smile fell as she continued, "Lily inherited the cookbook, I haven't seen it since I we were teenagers."

Stonebreaker blinked, "Lily Potter designed that potion, Mrs. Dursley, I was unaware it had Muggle origins. Brilliant witch, she was. We corresponded on occasion, when she was working towards her Mastery." She frowned sadly, "I regret that she left it incomplete, the world is a poorer place without her in it."

Petunia's lips thinned, then relaxed, "I, also, regret her loss. And that I was not more kindly to her memory. It feels as if a fog is being lifted." She looked at Remus, "I apologize for making a scene at your wedding."

Remus's jaw dropped, "You remember??! But not even Sirius remembers the whole day!"

Petunia nodded slowly, "It's all hazy, but I remember Lily, and you." She closed her eyes and wavered on her feet, and Mina hastily moved a chair behind her as she slumped backwards, opening her watery blue eyes and looking up at him tearfully, "I remember your husband, the boy Regulus. And that you and Lily both were great with child. And that Miss Alice Mayfair took me and Vernon aside to warn us against hurting Lily. I couldn't remember, for the longest time. Headmaster Dumbledore was partially to blame for my actions, but also some great eraser swept over my mind the night before Harry was left on my doorstep, removing a lot of knowledge." She frowned, "Harry's not the child Lily was pregnant with at the wedding, is he? There's too much time in between, I think."

Remus brought his teeth together with a clatter, "You're right, he's not, the weddings were the week before we had our graduation ceremony in '78, and Harry wasn't born until '80. Your niece and other nephew are on their way back here with my boys, and their grandmother." He took a ragged breath and continued, "And their father, who has been in a coma since that night in '81."

Stonebreaker gasped, "Why was Gringotts not informed that Lord Potter still lived?"

Remus shook his head, bemused, "Because Mother Potter deemed it necessary for him to remain a secret. I did not know myself until I arrived at Songsmith in '83 and was safe under Henrike Archon's watchful eye. Jamie and his nurse are arriving under house elf power today."

Stonebreaker exchanged glances with Twyla and the other goblins, "Sounds as if Lord Black needs the same purging potion. I'll send it along with you when you leave, if I may, along with the anti-nausea."

Remus looked thoughtful, "I believe you may need to send along more than one. Bill's parents are at the house as well, and something Molly said last night led me to believe she's been Obliviated more than once. Ginny, do you recall the Howler she sent your first year?"

Ginny, having borrowed Bill's handkerchief to wipe her face free of tears, nodded, "Of course! Ron was embarrassed for an entire week because he and Harry stole Dad's car and flew it to Hogwarts."

Petunia frowned, "I wasn't told about that. But then, I've never been told anything about Harry's years at school. I knew more about Hogwarts when Lily attended."

Remus frowned also, "Well, Mina and I were talking in the kitchen with your mother after our meeting with Lord Farrell, and it seemed as if she couldn't recall anything about what happened regarding the car. Not that three of your brothers took it to Surrey, not that Harry was in such dire straights as to need rescuing," and here he shot a dirty look at Petunia and Dudley, Petunia having the sense to look abashed as Dudley was still catatonic, "and certainly not the fact that the Platform was blocked, which made Ron and Harry miss the train."

Bill frowned, "Even I heard about that, all the way in Egypt. I wonder what Dad remembers. Yes, send potions for both my parents, and I'll talk them into taking them. Can anything be done for the Obliviates?"

Stonebreaker shook her head, "Not by me, but Lady Potter might be able to help."

Twyla spoke up, "You should send some for everyone in the house, Stonebreaker. How many reside with you, young Lupin?"

Remus nodded and started counting off on his fingers, "Me, Mina, Bill, Arthur, Molly, Fleur, Fred, George, Hermione, Ron, Harry, Ginny, Kreacher, and sometimes Nymphadora Tonks. Oh, no, Kreacher's with the Potter house elves, the Head Elf said he needed Healing."

Stonebreaker nodded, "Yes, the elves will help him more than I can. Mina, you should be alright, unless you've come into contact with Dumbledore recently. Fleur will need an altered potion, though, the one I gave to Petunia and Dudley is for humans only." She studied Dudley for a moment, then added, "If you two turn out to have creature inheritances as well, I'll need to give you a supplement."

Mina shook her head, "No, Lady Stonebreaker, I've never met the man. And from some things I've overheard, he’s a horrible person."

Bill looked embarrassed, "Er, I think you'll need to make it altered for all of us. Ginny and Ron wouldn't know of it yet because they're too young, but the family has creature inheritances."

Stonebreaker studied him for a moment, then clapped her hands gleefully, "Oh, ho, a family inheritance? I thought there was something more than human about your smell."

Bill rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Yeah, except for Charlie, we've all got mustelids of some sort so far. I'm a mink, George is an otter, Fred is a tayra, and Percy's an ermine. I haven't had the chance to ask Ron what his is, yet." Ginny next to him scowled at the mention of her least favorite brother.

Stonebreaker had wordlessly summoned a sheet of parchment and a quill and was writing all of this down, "I see, I see, and what's this Charlie?"

Bill grinned, "He's a sphinx. Oh, and a new friend suspects that Harry might be a Naga."

Twyla gasped, "There hasn't been a sphinx shifter in centuries! Your mother, what House was she born for?"

Ginny, looking confused, answered, "She was a Prewett, why?"

Skullcrusher grinned toothily, "Your Charlie gets his lionform from her." He laid a finger along his nose and tilted his head to one side, "And that's a secret that won't leave this room."

Stonebreaker ignored him and counted aloud, "So that's one Naga, two canines, one Veela, two possible lions, seven possible mustelids, and Miss Granger-Lupin." 

Remus looked thoughtful, "Will Hermione need a shifter potion, now that we've uncovered her Lupin heritage?"

Stonebreaker stared at Remus for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, I'll make a note. What are the shifter heritages I need to be aware of?"

Mina piped up, "My friend Artemis says Da and Sirius are probably descended from Anubis, Fenrir, or both. Isn't Anubis a jackal?"

Stonebreaker nodded again, "Yes, yes he was. It's a distant relative of both the hyena and the wolf." She sniffed deeply in Remus's direction, "Yes, I smell the underlying wolf beneath your werewolf. That means Lord Black is the jackal godkin." She added to her notes, then blinked, "Anyone else?"

Mina grinned, "Well, I extended an invitation to two of their friends when I asked them to come to my foster family's home on the Isle of Man next week. Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom, I believe the names were."

Remus interjected, "I know Neville's parents were Animagi, but both Luna's parents had creature inheritances. Xeno's a Veela, like his cousin Lucius, although neither of them have presented, and Pandora was a born unicorn. As she's currently only fourteen, we don't know which one will prevail over the other. Or even if she'll end up with some combination of them both, the male Potter Twin is a flying jaguar, combining two of the several heritages in the family."

Stonebreaker added the two new names to the list, "I'll formulate something for both them and their guardians, who knows what's been thrown at them all these years. That Dumbledore has an accounting coming his way."

Dudley was stirring groggily in the stolen hospital wheelchair, "Uuuuuughhh, M-mum? Whazzat?"

Petunia was on her feet in an instant and next to Dudley, a calming hand on his arm, "Dudders, I'm here sweetie. What do you remember?"

Dudley ran his tongue around his teeth, "Erm, uh, I remember teasing Harry about his dreams, about Cedric." He blushed, "I was stupid, I could hear that he was scared, but I just kept pushing, saying Cedric was his boyfriend. Then everything got cold, and those flying bedsheets came at us." His eyes darted to Mina, "That girl, she helped Harry get them away from me. They brought me home, Mrs. Figg's a barmy old coot, isn't she? I remember Dad yelling at him, and all those owls. I got stuck inside my own head, though, couldn't say or do anything for myself. You took me to hospital the next morning. Dad didn't want me to go, said I was just playing up for attention like always." He shuddered, "Dad's never been kind, though Harry got the worst of it." He looked pleadingly at the redheads, "You must be some of Harry's friends, 'm sorry for whatever he's told you about me. Dunno why I was such a wanker all these years."

Stonebreaker sniffed, "You weren't yourself, young man, you were under the influence of some very powerful magic. I'm happy to say most of it's gone now, and your own will soon be under your control again."

Dudley blinked, "M-me? M-magic?" He looked at Petunia, terrified, "You'd let them use that dirty word, Mum?"

Petunia nodded, "We were both doing and saying things beyond our control, Duddy, but the m-magic that hurt us is gone now." She looked quizzically at Stonebreaker, who smiled, "And you are supposed to be a w-wizard yourself. One of the things the bad magic was doing was taking away your magic." She turned to look at Bill, "I swear on Lily's grave, I had no idea anything like that was around our house. You have the thanks of the Last Evans." A shimmering green magic enveloped her and Dudley. When it cleared, Petunia looked a decade younger and much happier, and Dudley was eyeing their surroundings sharply. Petunia turned her gaze to Twyla and Skullcrusher, "What just happened?"

Skullcrusher chortled, "You, Mrs. Dursley, just dropped one more weight on the scale. If you are willing, we'd like you to take an Inheritance Test to prove our theories."

Petunia appeared hesitant, "And what exactly would that entail?"

Skullcrusher waved his hand and a sheet of parchment flew into her startled grasp, along with his obsidian stamper, "This is a family heirloom. Cut the forefinger of your dominant hand on the edge and drip ten drops of blood onto the parchment. It will reveal Lordships, Heirships, Properties and Vaults that may be in your name, magical affinities, and even creature inheritances if you have them."

Petunia hesitated, "Just me, or my son as well?"

Skullcrusher shrugged, "That is up to you, you are his mother, and his guardian until he comes of age."

Petunia bit her lip, thinking, then nodded, "I'll allow it, if he wishes to." She turned to Dudley, who was watching all of this with growing amazement, "Well, Popkin, do you want to take the test?"

Dudley cocked his head to one side, "Will it hurt?"

Stonebreaker shrugged, "As much as a knife slipping while chopping meat, less than a sword to the abdomen."

Dudley laughed, pure and unadulterated delight in his voice, "Doesn't sound nearly as bad as my boxing matches, then. I'll do it."

Petunia pursed her lips as she moved to Twyla's desk and set the blank sheet of parchment on it. She took a deep breath and slashed the stamper across her finger, wincing as she let exactly ten drops of blood drip onto the clean off-white sheet. They all waited as the blood unfurled lettering across the page. Her finger healed itself without leaving a scar.

Petunia Evans Dursley
Magical name: Petunia Morgan Evans Dursley
Born: September 2, 1957
Parents
Mother: Rhedyn Morgan Evans - Deceased, October 15, 1938 to November 20, 1980
Father: Rhys Dafydd ap Lewis - Deceased, June 13, 1936 to November 20, 1980
Godparents
none
Lordships   /   Heirships
none                 /                  Le Fay (ineligible)
Vaults
Le Fay Trust Vault 33 (ineligible)
Properties
26 Clapham Circle Cokeworth
Status
Adult Squib
Magical Strengths 
Potions (blocked 50%) / Indomitable Willpower (formerly blocked)
Bonds
Soulmate Bond (unknown, blocked 100%)
Creature inheritance
Godly shapeshifting (magpie) (blocked 100%)
Compulsions
Hatred of Lily Evans Potter  (broken) / Hatred of Magic (partially broken)
Jealousy of Lily Evans Potter (broken) /  Jealousy of Magic (partially broken)
Hatred of James Charlus Potter (partially broken) / Hatred of Harry James Potter (broken)

Petunia gasped as she read the parchment, "What does it mean, Godly shapeshifting? And what's a Soulmate Bond? And why am I listed as ineligible for the Heirship and the Vault?"

Twyla lifted the page and started reading it for herself, "Well, that certainly answers a few things. A Soulmate Bond is the other half of your heart, to put it simply. And Godly shapeshifting means you won't need to go through the Animagus procedure to turn into your animal form, because you're descended from a god. Well, goddess in your case. The Le Fay witches are said to be daughters of the Morrigan herself. Stonebreaker, she's still got six blocks on her, you'll want to break those before they leave. You've had quite enough damage to your body and soul already, my dear Petunia, it's time for you to heal."

Axebeard and Skullcrusher exchanged glances, before Axebeard spoke slowly, reluctantly, “Although you are the Elder Sister, you cannot inherit because you are a Squib. The Family Charter is quite clear, the witch who become Lady Le Fay must have clear attributes, and the only ones you possess are shapeshifting into a bird, a talent for Potions, and Indomitable Willpower. I am unsure how yours was blocked, honestly, it usually protects your mind from being invaded and/or altered in any way. Being named ‘Morgan Evans’ in the female line simply isn’t enough, Mrs. Dursley, I am truly sorry.” 

Remus spoke up, "You'll want to speak with a therapist, the both of you. It would appear to be all the rage now.” He chuckled wanly, “If it’s any consolation, your niece fulfills every requirement, including a Soulmate Bond with a mythical creature inheritance. Who, we’re not sure yet.”

Dudley staggered to his feet and made his way shakily over to the desk in the stunned silence that followed, "My turn, I guess."

Twyla chuckled and waved her hand, a clean sheet of parchment appearing on the desk in front of him, "You watched your mother, do the same thing."

Dudley nodded solemnly and slashed at his finger with the stamper, stoically accepting the pain from the cut, and dripped ten drops of blood onto the blank page, then watched in awe as the cut sealed up without leaving a scar, "Cool."

"Cool," Skullcrusher grunted with amusement, "Youth these days. Alright, let's see what yours says."

Dudley Vernon Dursley
Magical name: Dudley Vernon Rhys Dursley
Born: June 23, 1980
Parents
Mother: Petunia Morgan Evans Dursley - September 2, 1957
Father: Vernon Patrick Randall Dursley - August 9, 1956
Godparents
none
Lordships  /    Heirships
none                                    none
Vaults
Le Fay Trust Vault 33
Properties
Number 4 Privet Drive Little Whinging Surrey
Status
Child Wizard (blocked 85%)
Magical Strengths 
Charms (blocked 100%)  /  Transfiguration (blocked 100%)
Elemental Affinity Air (blocked 100%) /  Elemental Affinity Earth (blocked 100%)
Nonverbal Magic (blocked 100%) /  Wandless Magic (blocked 100%)
Potions (blocked 50%)  /   Indomitable Willpower (formerly blocked)
Bonds
Soulmate Bond (unknown, blocked 100%)
Creature inheritance
Godly shapeshifting (jackdaw) (blocked 100%)
Compulsions
Hatred of Magic (partially broken) /  Hatred of Harry James Potter (broken)

"Cor," said Dudley in awe, "so I really am the same as Harry?" He suddenly looked ashamed of himself and he quickly made his way back to the wheelchair.

Skullcrusher picked up the test and snorted, "Yes. Congratulations, it's a wizard." Bill, Twyla, Remus, Mina, Ginny, and Stonebreaker snickered at his deadpan delivery. "Stonebreaker, obviously you have more work to do here. You've been gifted a Trust Vault, young Evans. Use it well. And that green glow that surrounded the pair of you a few minutes ago was your Family Magic breaking some of the Compulsions laid on you. It's difficult to ensnare the mind of a Le Fay, I would be quite interested in finding out how this was done."

Petunia spoke up, "As you are a bank, would you happen to have a solicitor on-hand that could advise me in divorcing my husband? I would like to revert to Evans."

Remus spoke up, "About that, can we have a look at Lily and James's wills? I smell something rotten in Denmark." Mina and Twyla giggled at his Shakespeare reference.

Skullcrusher frowned, "I'm afraid we cannot check the status of the wills without Lord, Lady, or Heir Potter's approvals, but we can certainly suggest a number of solicitors we work with for your divorce, Mrs. Dursley." He suddenly gave a wicked smile, "I believe you'll get the best results with the firm of Tonks and Tonks. He is a Muggle-born wizard while she was born a pureblood heiress."

Remus grinned back, "And the fact that she's also Sirius's disowned cousin for marrying said Muggle-born, creating Bill and Charlie's young friend Nymphadora in the process, has no bearing?"

Skullcrusher smiled even wider, "You know it was taken into consideration, Master Lupin. I highly advise both Lord Black and Heir Potter to avail themselves of the services Tonks and Tonks provides, they shall need them greatly in the coming months."

Twyla snorted inelegantly, "You sure you're not related to our favorite green seer? You certainly talk a lot, Skullcrusher, and you know things you somehow shouldn't." At the befuddled looks on the faces of the other humans, she chuckled, "Someone posited a theory about, oh, I think it's fifty-seven years ago now, that Skullcrusher is also a godkin, descended from Ptah, the Egyptian god of Craftsmen and Prophecy. He's been trying to disprove it ever since."

Goblins can't blush well, but Skullcrusher was definitely making his best effort to turn from green to purple, "Bite your tongue, Consort. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't wish my great-grandson to suffer under the stigma, young Filius gets enough calling out as it is, for being half-human."

Bill, Ginny, and Remus blinked at each other, before Ginny shrieked, "Professor Flitwick is your great-grandson??!"

The three goblins winced, and Axebeard shook a finger at her, "Volume, young witch, we goblins have much more sensitive hearing than humans do."

Ginny nodded, chastened, but continued excitedly, "Oh, but that explains why he's a world-famous duellist. I wonder why he's teaching Charms?"

Skullcrusher shrugged, "I asked him that when he applied at Hogwarts after winning the European Championships five times in a row. He said he would much rather help mold the future than expand his own hoard. As several of his former students have gone on to secure Championship belts of their own, I'd say he's doing both. Not to mention Cursebreaker Weasley over there, one of the best Wardmasters we've ever had." He inclined his head at Twyla, "Present company excepted, of course."

Twyla waved a hand merrily, "No offense taken, Skullcrusher. After all, I've had over sixty years to hone my skills, and young Bill has had less than fifteen. You're a credit to your family, Heir Weasley."

Bill's ears turned bright red at the compliment, "Th-thank you, Lady Twyla." 

Mina jumped in, "Sixty years, Lady Twyla? You barely look older than Bill or Da."

Twyla winked at the young superheroine, "Ah, that's a State Secret, young witch, and not my own to tell."

Axebeard cleared his throat, "Actually, Lady Twyla, Princess Minako here is allowed to know everything."

Twyla turned and raised an eyebrow at him, "Princess? I was unaware the Lupins had royal blood in them, Axebeard."

Axebeard shook his head, "No, they don't, but she's the reincarnation of the Princess of the Planet Venus, and long ago the Goblin Horde swore Blood Oaths of Fealty to the Moon Kingdom. When the Princess came in the other day and took the genealogy test, necessitating a Blood Adoption, your father-in-law was ecstatic to see her."

Twyla's other eyebrow ascended to be in line with its mate, "I see. Does that courtesy apply to her companions, though?"

Skullcrusher replied for Axebeard, "Yes, young William has proven himself trustworthy, otherwise he would never have been named Goblinfriend and Moon Kingdom Liason. Master Lupin is the Princess's new father. Young Ginevra and the Evanses will need to swear a Vow of Secrecy if we continue, however."

Ginny giggled, “I’ve already made a couple, what a crazy week this has been.” She looked at Mina, still cracking up, “Is your life always so eventful, Mina?”

Mina shrugged, though she had a small smile on her face, “Sort of. Usually it’s spying or catching thieves for Interpol or some such. All this magic stuff is a nice change of pace.”

Petunia seemed wary, “What exactly would this Vow of Secrecy entail? Will we be harmed?”

Bill shook his head slowly, “Not quite, as was explained to the Lord Farrell last night, making this solemn oath only harms you if you try to speak about the secret with someone who doesn’t know. The severity could be as simple as biting your tongue and drawing blood, or even loss of magic and/or life if you force the disclosure.”

“Mum,” Dudley said slowly, “does this mean we’re not going back to Dad ever?”

Petunia looked around at the witches, wizards, and goblins, then took courage and smiled, “Yes, Dudders, we’re never going back to him. I’m sorry you’ll have to change schools, but we don’t want him finding out that you’re a wizard like Harry. I, I’m afraid of what he might do to you, to us.”

Dudley lumbered out of the wheelchair and took a startled Petunia into a hug, “I’m glad we’re not going back. I saw the bruises you tried to hide, I know he hurt you just like he did to Harry. I don’t want you to be afraid of him anymore. It’s one of the reasons I took up boxing at school, though I couldn’t say it back then.” At Dudley’s kind words, Petunia finally broke down and started sobbing.

Twyla had summoned a sheet of parchment with a silent wave of her hand and started writing, then folded it and tapped it with a jewelled dagger she took from a hidden sheath on her belt, “To Tonks and Tonks.” The letter vanished in a puff of smoke that looked like a blue goose, “There, they’ll contact you for a meeting to discuss everything.”

“Do you think they’ll be willing to help get a retrial for Sirius?” Remus had a slightly feral look on his face as he continued, “Or, rather, a trial at all, since he never had an initial one after Lily’s death?”

Twyla looked furious, “They did what to then-Heir Black?” Her hair began to move in agitation around her head, “That’s a blatant disregard for the laws of both the Wizengamot and the ICW! I should know, I’ve sat on both bodies since ’39.” She began pacing as her floating hair caught fire. “Next session of the Wizengamot, I’ll bring it up.” She stopped suddenly and looked fiercely at Remus, “Wait, it’ll have to be the one after, the next session is a special one, Heir Potter’s trial for underage magic.” She snorted, hair still flaming and waving in all directions, “Why we’re interfering in the discipline of a child is suspicious. I’m going to root around, see what I can find out.”

Mina looked cautious, “Be careful of my uncle, Lady Twyla, I hear Lucius Malfoy is a dangerous person.”

Twyla gave Mina a goblin grin, “So am I, Princess Venus, so am I. Oh, Abraxas’s son has been needing a comeuppance for a very long time, I can’t wait to be the one to dish it out.”

Remus returned her smirk, “Would you be interested to know that my brother-in-law was not the Secret Keeper for James and Lily? That instead it was Peter Pettigrew, who had been hiding as a pet rat until Siri escaped Azkaban two years ago.” He cleared his throat and attempted to look more serious, “As Black Family Proxy and Heir’s Widow, I officially request a Cursebreaking team, led by Heir William Weasley or Lord Twyla Gwynedd, to explore the graveyard and town of Little Hangleton, home of the parents of Theia Marie and Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lady Ariana Dumbledore-Potter and the self-styled Lord Voldemort. It’s where Heir Potter and Heir Diggory were kidnapped to at the conclusion of the Maze in the Triwizard Tournament. Evidence given by Heir Potter is that that is where Heir Diggory was killed by Peter Pettigrew, on Voldemort’s orders, and where Voldemort was returned to a body. If asked, I believe Heir Potter would be amenable to giving a memory of the event. It’s well-known that Veritaserum injures those underage, as well as those of creature inheritances. As Heir Potter is both, it would be both unwise and unsafe to subject him to the Truth Serum.”

Stonebreaker interjected, “Speaking of inimical potions, has Lady Ariana the Many-Named counselled you on Wolfsbane?”

Remus looked confused, “Pardon?”

Stonebreaker frowned, nodding, “We’ve had news of a recent study out of Castelbruxo, that the Wolfsbane Potion causes irreparable damage to both the nerves and the connection to your shifter self.”

Remus frowned back, “But if I don’t take it, I’m a danger to non-pack and non-shifters.”

Stonebreaker shook her head, “I’ll send a copy of it when I write to Lady Ariana. The base of the potion is mercury, aconite, foxglove, and fly amanita. It basically translates to a potion version of the Cruciatus and is pure poison. It’s also highly addictive, causing you to ingest more and more until you either seize to death or have organ failure.”

Remus paled beneath his scars and staggered backwards onto a couch, Mina immediately sitting next to him and taking his hand, “Th-that’s impossible! Dumbledore and Snape told me I was safe. Snape is the preeminent Potions Master of Great Britain, and one of the top ten in the world. I can’t believe… Wait, no, yes I can. He holds a grudge against me and Harry like nothing else.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “When we were in Sixth Year, Sirius tried to play a ‘prank’ on Severus, which would have resulted in his death if it had succeeded. Sirius told Severus how to get past the Whomping Willow and implied a huge secret would be revealed at the end. If Jamie hadn’t caught wind of it and dashed after Severus, I would have either killed or infected him, earning myself a one-way ticket to Azkaban and the Dementors.”

He sighed again, “At least, that’s the version Dumbledore told me the next morning. After spending over a decade with Mother Potter in America, I’m suspicious that things were different. Especially since she asked me last night about a witch named Olivia, who supposedly is one of Melantha’s godmothers. Siri and I don’t recall an Olivia at all, and several instances from school are fuzzy. She’s going to take a look when she comes over.”

Axebeard stroked his impressive beard thoughtfully, "You believe that your schoolyears may have been other than what you recall? Can you prove it?"

Remus sighed, "Well, for one thing, Jamie and Siri. I don't trust my own memories. I'm sure, almost positive, that they were never such cruel and... well, heartless little shits. It's one thing to hex a pair of antlers onto somebody, but quite another to willingly send them to face down a fully-grown werewolf. I just don't get it."

Twyla looked angry enough to spit fire, "I will certainly be speaking with Lord Black and Master Snape personally."

Stonebreaker shook her head, "Best wait until Lady Ariana and I have seen to them, Lady Twyla, it's highly probably the stories will change once they are Healed properly."

Skullcrusher shook his own head, "I would suggest speaking with them before and after their purgings, to see what has been altered."

All eyes turned to the door as a novice knocked, "Lord Gwynedd? Apologies for interrupting your meeting, but you have an urgent guest."

Twyla walked over to the door and opened it for the young goblin, "Yes, Novice Copperhead?"

A mellifluous voice sounded from behind Copperhead, "I Saw that you were talking about my family." A gorgeous woman with one blue eye and one grey eye gently pushed the goblin out of the way and entered the room regally, "Thank you, Novice, for guiding me." She closed the door, then turned her attention to the room at large, "I am Doctor Seannan Westing, once called Lady Ariana Odette Dumbledore Potter, and born as Theia Marie Riddle. You may address me as any of them." Her eyes zeroed in on Remus and Mina, then moved to Petunia and Dudley, "Oh, you poor children." She started towards them, then stopped as she passed Bill and Ginny, turning to the young redhaired witch, "You feel like my little brother. I'm so, so sorry for all the damage he has wrought. As the Eldest Child, I will do all in my power to fix it. I swear on my wand and my magic, Voldemort shall be no more, and Tom Marvolo Riddle shall be restored to himself." A brilliant flash of blue and silver light encompassed her.

Remus chuckled weakly, "You always did know how to make an entrance, Mother Potter."

Ginny gulped and blinked at the short blond woman in front of her, "You're Harry's Gran?"

Theia nodded, "You may call me that as well, my dear, I See that you look on my youngest grandchild as a sibling."

Bill cleared his throat, "Thank you, Lady Potter, for arriving so soon. My sister was possessed by a diary two years ago, and until this summer has refused to seek help for it. After the events of this week, we believe it may have been the First Horcrux Vol-" He stumbled over the pseudonym as Theia's mismatched eyes flashed warningly, "Well, T-tom Riddle ever made. There's a ghost up at the school who will need treatment as well, though how you administer such a thing to someone who has no body is beyond me. Her name is Myrtle, and she died to the basilisk in '43, according to Harry, Ron, and Hermione."

Theia smiled, "Legilimency doesn't require a body to work, I've had success laying to rest many wandering ghosts with it." The smile vanished as she continued, "I believe it's a large part of how Tommy survived his years as a wraith. Where is this diary, as well as Mother's locket?"

Ginny spoke quietly, "I think the Headmaster still has the diary."

Remus shook his head, "No, Harry told me he used it to sneak Dobby the house elf a sock, to free him from the Malfoy family. I'm unsure where it went after that."

Bill responded next, "I sent the locket here, to King Ragnok, as soon as we discovered it was a Horcrux, Lady Potter. I don't know where it is now."

Twyla grinned and pulled a small black velvet pouch with the Gringotts seal on it from her pocket, "He dropped it off at breakfast. Said he was going back to the Forge, he was too angry to stay long." She handed the pouch deferentially to Theia, "A greeting, fellow Lady."

Theia gratefully took the pouch, "And to you, your majesty." She pulled the undamaged locket from the pouch and smiled with relief, "So, Ragnok was able to remove Tommy's soul shard without harming my family heirloom. I'm eternally grateful to him." She clasped the chain about her neck and turned to Bill again, "Now, tell me what happened when you looked at Harry's scar yesterday."

Bill looked slightly nervous, then took a deep breath and dove in, "Well, I had thought it was a simple curse scar, but most don't bleed and cause headaches over a decade after they're acquired. Harry said it hurt when he had a nightmare, when the-er, other person was feeling strongly about something. We went upstairs to his room and I had him lie on the bed. Remus held a dowsing rod and I ran some old Egyptian diagnostic spells. I'll write them all down for you, or give you a Memory, whichever you prefer. Something black, greasy, and smoky dribbled from Harry's head. It twisted to form a tiny Dark Mark, that began screaming. Harry appeared to have a flashback, to that night, he was shrieking for Lily, James, Remus, and Sirius. Begging 'Snakyface' to go away. I cast some more spells and the snake kind of ate itself and disappeared. I-oh! Do you think the soul shard was reabsorbed into the main part? One of the spells I cast was basically a Return-to-Sender thing. Then I used a spell to put Harry to sleep." Mina gigged at the phrase.

Theia's face was fluctuating between fear, anger, pride, and concern as Bill spoke, "I believe it was. Thank you, Heir Weasley, you've done a great service to all my Houses." She turned her attention to Skullcrusher, "Parev, hin ynker, yes karotel yem mer zruyts’nery. I'm guessing Ragnok will have something similar to say about Mother's locket. I wonder if the shard in the diary acted in the same manner. I'll have to ask Harry later, unless Miss Weasley has something to share?" Ginny shook her head and burrowed closer into Bill's shoulder. "Right, then. Axebeard, have you the papers for the children's transfer from Songsmith? Henrike said she was forwarding them."

Axebeard nodded, "Yes, but we'll need to change a couple things before we send them on to Deputy Headmistress McGonagall. You're sure you only want to enroll three of them?"

Theia nodded firmly, "Yes, El is better off hidden in plain sight at the moment. He'll be going to the school anyway, but not as a student." She scowled suddenly, "My erstwhile father has much to answer for." Her face cleared as she continued, turning her attention to Twyla, "Your majesty, I trust you can aid me in acquiring the empty teaching position?"

Twyla giggled as if she was Ginny's age, "I can pull a few strings, Lady Potter. Your brother will be jealous, when he comes back to himself, that you got the job he's been wanting all these years."

Theia nodded again, "Alright, until I say otherwise, my name in public is Doctor Seannan Westing, Defense Against the Dark Arts Mistress." She stepped over to Petunia and Dudley, who had been observing all of this with various expressions of curiosity, fear, and shock, "Hello, Petunia, it's good to see you again. I'm only sorry it wasn't sooner, all of you could have been saved so much pain and grief."

Dudley blinked, then slightly pushed Petunia behind him, "Who are you to speak to my Mum about pain?"

Petunia gently laid a trembling hand on Dudley's shoulder and stood next to him, "Dudley, dearest, this is Aunt Lily's mother-in-law. She's here to help us, to help everyone."

Theia smiled gently up at Dudley, "You may call me Gran, young man." She blinked, studying him for a moment, then smiled, "And we are going to be getting you the best tutors available! I can't promise to fit in enough that you'll be ready to sit your O.W.L.s in June, but hopefully you'll be far enough along to at least join the second-years at Hogwarts when they return in January."

Ginny snickered, "I bet five Galleons he's either another Gryffindor or a Slytherin."

Bill watched Theia and Dudley with a smile on his face, "Well, he's certainly no Ravenclaw, but that display right there? It's all Hufflepuff."

Dudley looked fearful, "Tutors? But I'm failing all my classes. Stonewall said I'll be off the boxing team if I don't have my grades up by November." Then he pulled himself up short, "Oh, right, I'm not going back to Stonewall. But still, I'm a duffer and a plodder, and I've always been bad at everything."

Theia winked at Dudley, "You may surprise yourself now that you're a wizard, young man. Besides, I was told I would be enrolling in my second year, and Albus didn't believe I would be caught up with my yearmates until December at the earliest. I corresponded with my Elemental Mistress the rest of that summer and was able to not only catch but surpass them by the end of our second month."

Dudley screwed up his face, "Mistress?"

Theia nodded, "Yes, Mistress. None of those BDSM thoughts, young man, it simply means that she was the Head of House. I trust you understand that much, at least."

Dudley nodded, "Yes, we have Houses at Stonewall."

Theia smiled, "There, you see? The Houses at Hogwarts will be Sorted depending on your strongest personality attributes. Before today, I would have agreed with young Miss Weasley and said Slytherin or Gryffindor. Now, however, I believe Heir Weasley would be more correct with his belief of Hufflepuff. As much as you are a direct descendant of Morgana and the Le Fays, I sadly doubt you would be a Ravenclaw."

Dudley flushed, "You truly think I'll be accepted at this m-magic school?"

Theia nodded, "Why wouldn't you be? You've magic enough to start the walls shaking, just like your cousins."

Petunia spoke up hesitantly, "You don't think he'll be ostracized, do you? Because of his past with Harry?"

Theia shrugged, "As long as both he and Harry begin and continue with their Mindhealer visits, which I assure you will remain confidential until the boys agree otherwise, I see no issue with it."

Stonebreaker interjected, "I should take the pair of you down to the Ritual Chamber and get the rest of those bindings off of you. Cursebreaker Weasley, I ask that you speak with your parents about making an appointment to get the rest of you cleansed."

Bill nodded eagerly, "I'll ask them as soon as I get home, Lady Stonebreaker. Also Fleur, Sirius, and Tonks."

Mina looked thoughtful, "Lady Stonebreaker, Lady Potter, do you think that those who have undergone the Animagus ritual can attain their godkin forms?"

Theia and Stonebreaker exchanged startled looks, before Stonebreaker hesitantly replied, "I don't see why not, Miss Lupin, though we would need to wait until all the blocks on them have been removed. Why do you ask?"

Mina shrugged, "It was just a thought. Da's a born shifter, according to my friend Artemis, but it's been submerged by his werewolf attack. He said the same with Sirius Black about his Animagus form, and presumes the same with James Potter. Artemis is a Mau, an alien species who presents as a talking cat here on Earth."

Theia raised her eyebrows at this information, "Indeed. I look forward to meeting this friend of yours, Miss Lupin."

Mina blushed, "I'll tell him you asked for him, Lady Potter." She suddenly laughed, "Artemis hasn't been able to speak in front of people other than me since I was Activated as Sailor V on my twelvth birthday, so I'm sure he's talking up a storm to Sirius, Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys when he's not snoozing in a patch of sunlight with Hermione's familiar Crookshanks."

Remus laughed at this, "I'll never stop being grateful that Harry met up with you, Mina-mine. And Crookshanks is half-Kneazle, a Wizarding breed of feline. Far more intelligent than any non-magical cat. He kept trying to sneak that rat out of Gryffindor Tower to Sirius the year I taught Defence Against the Dark Arts."

Theia frowned, "But your Mastery is in History, Remus, why in Merlin's name did my former father have you teaching that?"

Remus shrugged, "I think it was because Defense is the only position available. History is still taught by that dreadful ghost Binns, and I hear his classes have slid even closer to Troll than they were when I was one of his students."

Theia glowered again, "Well, this just won't do. I'll have a chat with the governors, and see if we can't convince them to exorcise the old drill. That will pave the way to hire you, my dear."

Bill interposed himself into the conversation, "If McGonagall is still the only Transfiguration Professor, we should really see about lightening her load as well."

Ginny nodded eagerly, "She's also the Head of Gryffindor House, as well as the Deputy Headmistress. Any one of those positions is a full-time job, and she's performing all three."

Theia frowned, "I'll see if I can't get the governors to agree on something." Her eyes turned blank for a moment, then she blinked and smiled, "Heir Weasley, what would you say to taking over? Just for Transfiguration and Head of Gryffindor, not as Deputy Head."

Bill blushed to the tips of his ears, "If you think that's best, Lady Potter. And as long as it doesn't interfere with my Cursebreaking duties, or my future Ambassadorship to the Moon Kingdom."

Theia gave him a goblin's grin, "Why, I think it would mesh perfectly with all of your positions, Heir Weasley."

Twyla spoke up, "I believe the Hogwarts Governors hold a meeting on the 23rd, a little over a week before school starts again. You should present your 'complaints' then, Lady Potter."

Theia nodded gravely at Twyla, "As you insist, your majesty. Now," she turned and clapped her hands, "Lady Stonebreaker, take Mrs. Dursley and Mister Dursley to the Ritual Chamber, then I shall Side-Along the pair of them to Potter Manor. Miss Lupin, if you would be so kind, please inform your friend that two more will need a room at the House on Man. Heir Weasley and Miss Weasley, I thank you for all you have done in aid of House Potter. Remus, your sons are settling in, and are awaiting a mirror-call from you between now and bedtime."

Stonebreaker chuckled and nodded, "If you two would step this way, please, I'll have the rest of those bindings off quicker than two shakes of a Kneazle's tail." Petunia and Dudley followed her out of the room with bemused and puzzled looks on their faces.

Remus stood up and pulled Mina to her feet, "If there's nothing else, Mother Potter, we should be heading back to Headquarters." A thought struck him and he turned to Skullcrusher, Twyla, and Bill, "Is there a way to remove the Fidelius from a dwelling without killing the Secret Keeper? Sirius is having, well, serious second thoughts about allowing Albus to cast one on his house. The kids had a theory that Gellert Grindelwald was the true victor of that duel."

Skullcrusher nodded slowly, "There is a way to remove it, but I don't think that method has been used since I was a child. I'll look it up and let you know. Look for my owl." He started scribbling Arithmantic computations on a sheet of parchment, Axebeard consulting now and then in their own tongue.

Ginny added, "I'll give you a memory of that whole conversation. Since Mina's the one who gave the Prophecy, there's a bit she wasn't conscious for." Bill held his wand to her forehead, catching the crystal vial Twyla had thrown him with his free hand, and pulled out the memory when she nodded at him.

"Geminio," he said softly, doubling the number of vials he held, then one floated over to Twyla's desk. He handed the original vial to Ginny with a nod.

Theia had been eyeing both Ginny and Mina, "So, you are a Veela with the gift of Sight. Unusual. And you, witch who feels like my brother, you are powerful. Tell me, how many siblings have you?"

Ginny blinked, "I have six older brothers, Billy here's the oldest."

Theia grinned, "If Tommy hadn't been led astray by extraneous influences like Sibyl's Prophecy, you would be the most powerful person of your generation. How long has it been since a girl was born for House Weasley, Skullcrusher?"

Skullcrusher looked up and grinned, "A very long time, little one. Nigh on three or four hundred years, I believe. And as the Seventh, you automatically had more power to begin with." He frowned suddenly as Stonebreaker led Petunia and Dudley back into Twyla's office, "Why is it your twin brothers have mustelid forms when they are the heirs to House Prewett?"

Bill shrugged, "I have no idea, Magical Genetics is Charlie's passion, as a Dragonhandler. We can ask him next week, assuming he accepts Mina's invitation to the House on Man."

Theia smirked, "Oh, he'll accept, don't you worry about that. I look forward to meeting the rest of your family, Heir Weasley." She glanced at Twyla as she walked over to stand next to Petunia and Dudley, "Do I have your permission to Apparate from this room, your majesty?"

Twyla inclined her head regally, though her eyes were dancing with mischief, "You may, Lady Potter. You also have permission to return here without an appointment."

Theia nodded, "I'll try not to disabuse your hospitality." She turned her attention to a very quiet Petunia and Dudley, "Now, you'll need to take my hands and I'll Side-Along Apparate you to Potter Manor. It's normal to feel somewhat queasy after the process, but I'm sure the house elves will be prepared for us." She waited for the two of them to take her hands and then Disapparated with a loud crack.

Skullcrusher chuckled, "She ought to know, she's been having trouble with Apparition, Portkeys, and Flooing since she joined the Wizarding World."

Mina sighed, "Da, they left the wheelchair. Should we take it with us?"

Remus chuckled, then tapped the wheelchair with his wand and it shrank. He picked it up and slid it into his pocket, “I’m sure Mother Potter left it for a reason. Or we can sneak it back to the hospital.” He shrugged, “It’s not important right now.” He looked at Bill and Ginny, “Ready to return to Headquarters?”

Bill nodded, Ginny taking his arm once again, “Ready, Remus.” He dipped his head to Twyla, Stonebreaker, and Skullcrusher, "Many thanks for agreeing to see us on such short notice."

Ginny approximated a bow, "Thank you all." She turned her attention to her brother, nudging him out the door, "Billy, can we take a quick detour? I want--" Her voice trailed off as the two Weasleys rounded a corner and vanished from view.

Stonebreaker cleared her throat, “Expect a parcel of potions in the next day or so, as soon as I finish brewing them all.”

Remus grinned, “Thank you, Lady Stonebreaker, for all your efforts, on behalf of myself, my family, and our friends.”

Stonebreaker grinned back, waving a hand, “You, Master Wolf, bring me the most interesting puzzles. I look forward to the next time we meet.” She turned and exited Twyla's office, cackling.

Skullcrusher and Axebeard vaguely waved, engrossed in their calculations, as Twyla chuckled, "It's been very nice to meet you both. And I extend to you the same open invitation as I did to Lady Potter."

Mina essayed a curtsey, "Thank you. Why does Lady Potter call you your majesty? I've been wondering all afternoon."

Twyla laughed, "Oh, it's because the Lordship of Gwynedd is entailed to the Fairy Throne." She leaned in and whispered to Mina and Remus conspiratorily, "That means I technically outrank my wife, the Goblin Crown Prince, but being Fairy Queen doesn't mean as much as it did two hundred years ago."

Remus chuckled at Mina's look of consternation, "Don't worry, Mina-mine, you've done fine. Tonks would love to meet you, though. She's a Metamorphmagus friend of ours, and her favorite color hair is bubblegum pink." Mina giggled.

Twyla smirked, "Just a friend? I look forward to meeting her, and perhaps your Mau friend as well."

Remus muttered something neither of them could catch, then turned to escort Mina out of the room, "Next time, Lord Gwynedd." The pair of them spun around very quickly and Apparated to Grimmauld Place.