An Eclectic Catalogue of Ideas

Euphemia Potter woke up.

Eyes heavy, the woman was amazed that she wasn't in pain. As her vision cleared and she saw her bedroom, she looked around in confusion. The last she remembered, she and Monty had both been quite ill with dragon pox. Monty had given her a potion to get her to rest. Where was he, and what had happened?

Slowly, she sat up, calling, "Mimsy?"

After a moment, a house-elf appeared, and hugged her, "Mistress is finally awake!"

"Finally? How long have I been asleep?" Euphemia asked, a frown on her lips.

"Mistress has been sleeping for almost ten years! Mimsy be worried. Master told us that you'd wake up eventually, but we were worried," Mimsy answered.

"Did he? Where is Monty?" asked Euphemia. As Mimsy slumped, Euphemia shook her head and sighed, "He didn't make it, did he?"

"No, Mistress. Master said he could only create one special potion and that he wanted you to live. He told us to bury him in the mausoleum, so we did as he asked," Mimsy said sadly. She popped away, returning with an old, faded envelope. "Master said to give you this when you woke up."

Slowly, the elderly witch accepted the letter, opening it and beginning to read.

"My dearest Effie,

I'm sorry that I won't be there when you awaken. We are both very sick and you know the chances of someone our age surviving dragon pox are very low. I couldn't let you die. I've been working for some time on a variant of the Draught of Living Death that would allow diseases such as dragon pox to burn out safely over a period of time. It's not perfected yet; I'm pretty sure it will take years for you to recover. Nevertheless. If I could, I would have saved myself as well, but the new potion I brewed to save you takes far too long to make. I barely managed to create one dose before I was too weak to continue. You'll find my notes on the process in my laboratory; feel free to read them. I know you'll be interested as a Healer. Register the recipe when you're able. It should help our family immensely.

You were always the best of us. Look after our family, my dearest, and I will wait for you.

Monty"

After she read the letter, tears fell from Euphemia's eyes, and she sighed. "Monty... even when about to die, you look out for the family." She looked over at Mimsy, "Where is James? Did he marry Lily?" She'd really liked the girl.

The house-elf wrung her hands, "Former Master and Mistress were killed. We don't know where New Master is, we cannot find him."

More tears fell, but Euphemia focused on Mimsy's last words, "New Master? James and Lily had a son?"

"Yes, Mistress," Mimsy said, ears drooping. "We sensed Master die. When no one took us to little Master Harry, we tried to find him, but couldn't."

"If your bond transferred to him but you cannot find him, someone placed wards that would block your connection to him." Euphemia frowned, "Why would someone do that?" She nodded her head, "Mimsy, get me food and the proper potions. I need to fully recover. Then, I will find my grandson."

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Cassiopeia Black sat in her parlour, nursing a cup of tea. She felt old and tired; it was a feeling she detested. She was a Black, she was better than that!

Her niece had died over a year ago, and she had very little in the way of family left. The only family she really spoke to was her cousin Arcturus, and he was ill. She wished she could speak to little Andromeda, but the girl refused to speak to her family ever since her father disowned her.

She heard a knock at the door, and then her house-elf Nixie answering it. After a moment, Nixie entered, and Cassiopeia was surprised to see Nixie actually looking shocked. "Mistress, Missus Effie is here to see you."

With a slow blink, Cassiopeia asked, "Could you repeat that, Nixie?" She must not have heard her correctly.

"She said that I'm here to see you. It's been a long time, Cassi," came an amused voice from the doorway. Standing there was Euphemia Potter.

"Who are you?" Cassiopeia had her wand up in an instant. "Effie died years ago!"

"Oh, Cassi," the woman said with a laugh, "Always suspicious." She shook her head slowly, "Are you still reading your little muggle romance novels?"

Cassiopeia's jaw dropped. "Effie, it's really you? How? Where have you been? James and Lily said you'd passed."

"I daresay that was my husband's doing," Euphemia said with fond exasperation, "He probably didn't want to risk me with the War. I'd have been helpless. He had been working on a new potion; obviously, it wasn't perfected yet. The dear, daft man gave it to me rather than take it himself. His letter said he didn't have time to brew another. I slept for years after the dragon pox burnt out, and only recently woke up."

"I can't believe it." Slowly rising to her feet, Cassiopeia walked towards Euphemia and hugged her, "It's been so long, Effie! It's good to see you!"

"And you," Euphemia stated, returning the hug tightly. "How are you? And Esther? I haven't spoken to her yet."

"I'm fine, though I've been keeping to myself lately. The Black family is not doing well. Arcturus became ill after Melania died, and with Sirius in prison, well," Cassiopeia said sadly. "I see Esther from time to time, we have lunch every few weeks. Her husband died years ago, and she's had a rough time of it. She still misses him."

A few tears appeared in Euphemia's eyes. "Andras and Melania passed?" She blinked, "Wait. Sirius is in prison? Why??"

Cassiopeia looked uncomfortable, "I figured you'd have heard about that already. They say he was a Death Eater and that he betrayed James and Lily. He was their Secret Keeper and the Dark Lord found and killed them. He then went on to kill their friend Peter Pettigrew and a group of muggles." She added, "I don't believe it, myself. I tried to look into the situation, but all of the records are sealed."

"Sirius? Betray James? They were like brothers. I and Monty adopted him. There is no way that he betrayed James." Euphemia looked angry, her eyes flashing. "I had Mimsy gather newspapers, but haven't had a chance to read all of them yet. I've been reading them backwards, to get a grasp on current events first."

Lifting her hand, Cassiopeia said, "Don't get angry at me. I did look into it. But everyone was saying he was guilty and I was admittedly distracted helping Arcturus and then Esther."

Taking a breath, Euphemia nodded. "What's wrong with Arcturus?"

"Ever since Melania passed, he's been weak and having heart problems. His healer insists that there's nothing wrong with him except age," Cassiopeia said with a sigh. "I'm worried."

"Well, we'll have to look into that too," Euphemia said firmly, "Now, what happened with my grandson? Mimsy said that he's alive, they're bonded to him but can't go to him for some reason. That means someone is blocking the elf bond."

"That's strange. Why would they block the elf bond?" Cassiopeia frowned. "As for Harry, he's known as The-Boy-Who-Lived. When the Dark Lord turned his wand upon him, somehow the Killing Curse was reflected and there was a large explosion, killing the Dark Lord. Or so they say. Personally, I think it more likely to be something James and Lily did, but you know how foolish people are. He's a bloody icon." She shrugged, "Dumbledore claimed custody of him and said he fostered him. He refused to say where for 'security'. He also sealed James and Lily's will for the same reason."

"Why would Dumbledore seal their will?" Euphemia frowned. "I'll have to go to Gringotts. I and Monty always taught James to store notarized copies of important papers at Gringotts for safety purposes. The Ministry is entirely too corrupt." She leaned back, nodding at Nixie as she poured tea for her. "I am the closest magical relative the boy has, I'll have to gain custody of him."

"I'd be careful," Cassiopeia warned her. "Dumbledore's been most insistent that the boy is protected and won't let anyone near him. My contacts in the Child Welfare Office say that there's no address listed for him, just a note to contact Dumbledore. He even claimed guardianship over the boy himself."

"Dumbledore has no right to claim guardianship," Euphemia said hotly. "He's not a Potter or even a relation! Merlin, you have more right to claim guardianship, your Great Aunt Isla is my grandmother, even if she was burned off the Black family tree and disowned."

"I know that, but it's true. For some reason, he's allowed all sorts of strange books to be published as well. Harry Potter has done everything from fought a nundu to tamed a dragon." Cassiopeia snorted. "What with sealing the will and the boy disappearing, I'm a little suspicious. But you know I've never liked the man."

"Yes, but you have reasons," Euphemia noted. "He's always felt just a little artificial. Like he was acting." She considered, "Can you contact Esther? I think all three of us will need to work together, and it'll be nice to see her again."

"I can do that," Cassiopeia agreed.

"Good. Have her come over this evening, then? I will go to Gringotts in the meantime and look in the Potter Family Vault," Euphemia stated. "Probably use transfiguration to change my appearance a bit. I don't want people to know I'm around yet."

The other woman nodded, and said, "I'll floo her." Cassiopeia smirked, "This should be a surprise for her. It certainly was for me."

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When Euphemia returned that evening, she was spitting fire. "I will cut that man's bollocks off, I swear," she snarled, stalking into the room where Cassiopeia was sitting with Esther Greengrass.

Esther was staring in shock, "Effie?" she asked.

"Yes, Esther, it's me. Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated," Euphemia said, before suddenly smiling, "I always loved that quote."

Esther couldn't help it; she laughed, "Yes, you're Effie all right. What happened?"

"Monty had been working on a potion. While not finished, it was enough to save me. Unfortunately, I only recently woke up," Euphemia explained again. Then, she added, "That's not important. What's important is what that man has been doing."

"I take it that things were not well at Gringotts?" Cassiopeia asked.

"Indeed. The will lists many families who could take in Harry, including your niece Andromeda. The will also states clearly that he should never go to Lily's sister Petunia, as she hated Lily and feared magic. Guess which family is receiving a monthly stipend from Harry's trust vault for his care?" Euphemia spat. "That's right. A Petunia Dursley. Worse, every year the vault is drained into another vault for the Order of the Phoenix. In the past six years, Dumbledore's taken over twenty-five thousand galleons from Harry. It's lucky that even as Harry's supposed guardian, he has no access to the Potter Family Vault. Only I have access to that, at least until Harry's seventeen."

"Wait. I'm a little behind here. Albus Dumbledore has been stealing from your grandson?" Esther sounded shocked.

"Yes. And claimed guardianship of him. And placed him with a family that James and Lily specifically listed as being unsuitable. I remember Lily crying over her sister's treatment of her." Euphemia said. "I'm worried about Harry. But I don't know how to find Petunia Dursley."

"I'll talk to my niece," Cassiopeia stated. "Her husband is muggle-born. He'll know how to find the woman."

Esther shook her head with a sigh, "There's a reason Andras never really trusted him," she said, her features turning sad momentarily before her eyes glinted, "It looks like we will need to show Dumbledore why he doesn't try to interfere with our families."

"Oh yes. That's an issue too," Euphemia snorted, "He also signed a betrothal contract with the youngest Weasley daughter. On November 7th, 1981. Luckily, the Potter family charter doesn't acknowledge such things signed by anyone but an actual Potter, so it was an illegal contract. Once James and Lily died, only I could sign such a betrothal contract. I had Gringotts void it, though I told them not to send notifications. I will handle that. Personally. It's a good thing such contracts are handled by family and not the Ministry."

"He did what?" Cassiopeia stated. "That's only a week after James and Lily died! He's not family, he had no right!"

"There's something more," Euphemia said heavily. "Sirius wasn't the Secret Keeper. The will states that it was Pettigrew, warning that if they die at the cottage, he gets nothing."

"I am going to kill him. I am going to make it painful," Cassiopeia stated. "That means Dumbledore knew he wasn't a Death Eater and didn't say anything. That would make me wonder if he'd truly killed the muggles. Pettigrew...I could see if he had betrayed James and Lily." She admitted, "I would have in his shoes. Though I'd have been far more subtle and gotten away with it."

"Of course you would," Esther agreed. "Both I and Effie would agree with you."

"This is going to take your black book," Euphemia said after a moment. "Floo Arcturus, first of all. I think we need to talk to him. Ill or not, he is on the Wizengamot, he could be useful and he believes in taking care of family."

It was just like old times. Euphemia had always been the driving force when they needed to act. Nodding, Cassiopeia got up and walked out of the room to floo Arcturus. Meanwhile, Esther looked at Euphemia, "It must be difficult, waking up like this. So much has changed."

Taking a deep breath, Euphemia admitted, "I cried for hours after I read Monty's note. But Harry is helping keep me grounded. I need to know where my grandson is and take care of him."

"I know the feeling. I was so lost when Andras died. Luckily my daughter-in-law lets me help out with her daughters. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have my Daphne and Astoria," Esther admitted.

"I'm worried, Esther," Euphemia said with a sigh. "Lily talked to me a lot about her family. Her parents were very supportive of her. But her sister... she wanted to attend Hogwarts. When told she couldn't, that she didn't magic, she grew envious and hateful. She told Lily at one point she shouldn't have children so she'd not bring any more of her kind into the world." She shuddered, "What sort of life is that going to be for Harry, living with that woman?"

"He'll be all right, Effie. We'll take care of it," Esther said to her, patting her hand.

They lapsed into silence for a time, Euphemia thinking dark thoughts. Not long later, Cassiopeia came in, followed by a reed-thin Arcturus Black. "So, you're alive," he said to Euphemia, "My cousin told me the most amazing story," he added.

Euphemia frowned. He was slurring his words slightly. "Arcturus, are you all right?"

"'m fine," Arcturus said. "My tongue has been feeling numb for the past few days."

Euphemia's mind whirled. Muscle weakness and heart trouble, Cassiopeia said. Now a numbness of the tongue. "Arcturus, are you a werewolf?"

The man stared at her, "Effie, how could you ask me such a thing? Of course not!"

"May I have permission to examine you?" Euphemia asked. "I have a sinking feeling that your Healer is not seeing to your best interests." Behind her, Cassiopeia startled and looked angry at herself.

"Feel free. I trust you." Arcturus was starting to look angry. "If you're right, I will have to deal with the man."

Euphemia began to cast a series of spells, examining Arcturus. She sighed, "I was right. Your symptoms are obvious signs of aconite poisoning. You were probably given it very slowly over the past few years so it'd build up in your system. You're lucky, another six months to a year and it'd be irreversible. I will procure certain potions to flush your system and repair the nerve damage."

Cassiopeia muttered, "I should have seen it. How could I have not?"

"It's not your fault. Until now, it was just weakness and heart trouble, both signs of age. The tongue numbness was the identifying symptom," Euphemia said with a sigh. "That's a sign of nerve damage." She looked at Arcturus, "It does mean you're taking in aconite somehow. I suggest examining your dishware and glassware. It's very likely that's where it's being applied. I doubt your house-elf would be willing to poison you."

Arcturus nodded, before glancing at Euphemia, "Why did you want to see me? I appreciate your help, but Cassiopeia told me it was important."

Euphemia smiled. It wasn't a very nice smile. "How would you like to help me ruin Albus Dumbledore?" She doubted they could completely defang him with his reputation, but hurt him? Yes.

Arcturus leaned forward. "Tell me more."

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A loud crack heralded Euphemia's arrival near Privet Drive. She cancelled the Notice-Me-Not on herself. She was dressed rather archaically, but it would suit. Disillusioning herself, she slowly walked her away down the dark street, approaching the address Andromeda's husband had discovered. Once she was finished, Cassiopeia would remove lingering traces and all magic from the dwelling.

As she neared, the old woman felt the wards around the building. They were very weak. She could feel a sense of Lily's magic woven into the wards themselves, but it was so feeble, like a guttering flame.

This did not bode well.

As she approached, the woman paused, standing outside the wards and gestured with her wand, speaking a few revealing spells. A few more motions and she frowned. Wizard Notice-Me-Not wards, anti-fire wards, a compulsion, and some sort of blood ward. The compulsion seemed to be directed at its occupants, and the feel of it suggested rancour or hatred.

At least there didn't seem to be one designed to detect other wizards' magic.

After a moment, Euphemia gestured with her wand, murmuring quietly, "Hominem Revelio." Her eyes looked over the house. Two adults and one child upstairs. One child downstairs. Slowly, she approached the home and gestured with her wand, "Alohomora." Entering the house, she approached where the child slept downstairs. Letting her disillusionment drop, she paused. Murmuring a quiet "Lumos" as she opened the door, Euphemia found herself both shocked and horrified.

Harry. Lily and James' son. Was being kept in a cupboard under the stairs.

He looked so like James, but with Lily's bright green eyes. As the child yawned and looked at her, Euphemia could see how small he was. He was almost seven years old and looked to be four.

Rage filled her, but the old woman clamped it down with a will of iron. Kneeling, she smiled at him, "Hello," she murmured, "I'm Effie. What's your name?"

"Harry," the child whispered, looking at her.

"Well, Harry. I knew your parents. Would you like to come with me so we could talk?" Euphemia asked. She didn't want to mention she was his grandmother. Not yet. It would likely confuse the boy.

"I don't know. They won't like it," Harry admitted. "But I do want to know about my parents."

Euphemia winked, "What they don't know, won't hurt them?" she asked, eyes twinkling.

Harry gave a grin, one that heart-rendingly reminded her of James. "Okay." It was terrifying how willing he was to go with a stranger. She'd have to talk to him about that later.

"Come on," she murmured, offering him her hand. He accepted it and she led him to the door, surreptitiously pointing her wand and casting a Notice-Me-Not on both of them.

Finished with her work, Euphemia led the boy out of the house. Part of her wanted to destroy it, to take her revenge on the people who resided there. But there was a child inside. She would have her revenge. Later. She would make Petunia Dursley and her husband suffer.

Never anger a Badger.

Waiting outside for her was Cassiopeia, the woman standing just outside the house's wards. Nodding towards her, Euphemia led Harry down the street even as the boy looked at the other woman curiously. Cassiopeia looked strange to Harry, in a full-length black dress and an old-fashioned hat.

They walked towards the railway station. Euphemia hadn't been on a train in some time, but Andromeda had given her clear instructions. Using the tickets Andromeda provided, they sat down on the train.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked quietly.

"My home. There, we can talk," Euphemia told him with a smile.

"My relatives will be upset with me," he said sadly. "I didn't expect us to go this far away."

"Don't worry, Harry," Euphemia said kindly. "I'll make sure everything's all right."

Harry nodded quietly. A half-hour later, Euphemia led him off the train, walking out of the railway station. "This way, Harry," she said with a smile, leading him towards an alley. "Just hold onto my hand, all right? This will be uncomfortable."

Harry blinked, "Is it going to hurt?"

"No, but you might feel queasy, all right?"

Clasping her grandson's hand tightly, Euphemia apparated away, and they appeared again in a park.

Harry staggered, landing on his knees, looking like he might throw up. "Where are we? How'd we get here?"

"We're in London," the woman said quietly. "Just relax. Think of this like a game, a chase. I have to do this a few more times, all right? I know it's not comfortable for you, and I'm sorry. I'll explain when we get to my home."

Harry blanched. He really didn't like how this made him feel. "All right," he said, however.

A few more apparitions and finally they arrived at Potter Manor. Harry was kneeling on the ground, heaving, having thrown the meagre contents of his stomach up onto the ground. "Are you all right, Harry? I'm sorry about that."

"Why?" he asked. "Why keep doing that?"

"It makes it harder to find us," the woman explained. "Come inside, and I will explain."

As they entered the room, Euphemia led him to the sitting room and sat him on the couch. "Welcome, Harry. The reason you're here is because... well because I'm your grandmother."

Harry's eyes opened wide in shock.