Chapter 1
The reason why Minerva McGonagall hadn’t been sorted into Ravenclaw wasn’t because she hated riddles, though she did. It was because she was raised to do the honorable thing, the noble thing. Perhaps the world wasn’t as black and white as she’d like, but her actions tended to be. Of course there had been times, especially when she was younger, when she had acted on emotion rather than what was right, but now, staring at the child on the doorsteps, she knew what she had to do.
As McGonagall shifted from a cat to a women and picked up a baby and a letter, several small compulsion charms crumbled. She then left number four Privet Drive holdin Hadrian Potter and intent on making sure that he would be raised with love as people across the country lifted their glasses “to Harry Potter, the boy who lived!”
Many years later this would become known as the beginning a secret organization so secret that didn’t even have a name. Later historians would call it Hadrian’s Wall after a joke. Like the name suggested it would be a wall to hold off barbarity. Hadrian’s Wall came into creation and existed for the sole purpose of protecting children and neutrals from the horrors of war and ensuring that no one was ever forced to pick a side they didn’t agree to and that no innocents would die for a cause they didn’t believe in.
Nearly five years had passed from when Hadrian Potter had been taken away and much had changed. For one, Harry was living with his Aunt Andy, who was Sirius’s cousin. Sirius was his godfather who he couldn’t remember because he was in Azkaban for a crime he didn’t commit. Harry knew this because his Mum and Dad told him.
That was another thing that changed. Harry was a necromancer. He had found out when he was four and one of their owls had died. Harry had picked him up and Hermes, the owl, had cooed and began to smooth his feathers. Harry had quickly begged to be taken to his parent’s grave, if only just to see if he could talk to them for once. It had taken a month for Harry to get permission and they had taken Madame Pomfrey, the school nurse at Hogwarts where Aunt Minnie taught, with them in case of Harry using too much magic. But he hadn’t and instead Harry learned about his Dogfather, and his mother’s protection, and that the Potters were descendants of the Peverells so that was probably where the necromancy came from, just like how Nymphie was a metamorphmagus from her Black blood.
Since he had to talk for his parents and for himself, the whole trip had worn out Harry’s voice. And then he had to go to Gringotts since heirships and lordships were tied into Gringotts vaults. It had been long and there were lots of scrolls he didn’t see and blood tests he never got the results of, but half way through the goblins suddenly became very nice and it all went quicker. He had gotten several heirship rings and keys out of the whole thing and heard the adults talk about some letters going missing. The goblins had grinned at that.
But today was special, so when Harry woke up to a loud pop he didn’t try to fall back asleep. Bissie, a house elf, stood in front of him hands fiddling with her tunic. While most of the Potter-Black house elves were not meek, Bessie had come from an abusive family about a year ago. The whole family was using positive reassurance and Bessie was getting better, but the poor elf was still very nervous about messing something up.
“Missus Black bes wanting yous, Mister Harry Potter sir,” the elf said quietly. Harry opened his mouth to say thank you, but the elf had popped away. Harry sighed and quickly dropped to the floor. He pulled on trousers and a tunic before grabbing a robe and leaving his room.
Potter Manor was very large and very well warded, but also very cold in the winter. While Harry had begun trying to learn wandless magic, especially since Nymphie had gotten into Hogwarts and had started practicing at home, but warming charms on the floor was harder than necromancy, especially since necromancy didn’t seem to even use magic.
Nymphie had said she felt the same way about changing her appearance. Changing her appearance was something she needed to decide, but that was it. If you wanted to run, you ran. If Nymphie wanted to change her hair color it changed, though something it seemed like it had a mind of its own and cycled to match her mood.
But for Harry, seeing and talking to the dead wasn’t even conscience. Once he tried to talk to his parents it seemed like a switch flicked on, and now he saw them everywhere. His dad’s colored was muted, because the dead that moved on went beyond the veil, but his mum was still bright and always next to him. Apparently, she was a bit like a ghost now. The spell she had cast made his blood her anchor, so now her magic swirled around him, protecting him. Her magic was nice, a pretty dark red, the color of her hair.
Harry sat down at the table across from Aunt Andy and Uncle Edward and grabbed some toast and eggs. Uncle Edward looked up and sighed.
“You can see magic just fine,” he grumbled as he pushed the Daily Prophet aside. “She can paint beautifully so why, dear god why can’t either of you see colors when you dress?”
Harry and Aunt Andy looked down at their clothes. Huh, Harry thought. He had thought that his top was silver. Turned out it was more of a blue. Oh well.
Harry looked up to see Aunt Andy shrug. She was wearing a dark purple that went well with her eyes, and the green made everything pop nicely. Harry really didn’t see the problem.
“Impossible, both of you are impossible,” Uncle Edward said, standing up. “We’re going to Sirius’s trail today, so I’ll go get you both new outfits. Come up when you’re done eating.”
“Okay,” Harry replied after choking down his food, but bouncing in his sit. Sirius’s trail! Though Harry had known since seeing his parents and had quickly convinced everyone, it wasn’t until her went over to the Weasleys for the first time that he had gotten evidence that Sirius was innocent. His dad and mum had spotted Pettigrew, and Harry had grabbed him, red magic swirling angrily around his arm. He had gotten Aunt Andy to do the reverse animagus spell and Mrs. and Mr. Weasley were furious that Pettigrew had been living with them for so long. Mrs. Weasley brewed a potion that forced Pettigrew to tell the truth and Mr. Weasley marched Pettigrew to the Ministry and demanded a trial. It had been an awe inspiring show of Gryffindor courage and nobility. Everyone there had been impressed and the Weasleys moved even further from Dumbledore - who Harry had heard was a manipulative old fool from everyone: Aunt Minnie, Aunt Andy, Uncle Edward, Remus his mum, his dad - when Harry’s dad had him revealed that Dumbledore knew who the correct secret keeper was.
“Will do, dear,” Aunt Andy dryly responded, agreeing to her husband’s demand. She turned towards Harry. “Your hair’s a mess.”
Harry pulled a strand and shrugged. “Nymphie isn’t here.”
Aunt Andy snorted. “Yes, well, brush it. We are going to a trial. Need to make a good impression.”
“Why?” Harry asked. “I’m just going to be under a glamor. Or a wig.”
“No, not today,” Aunt Andy replied. “Well, maybe contacts.”
“Why?” Harry asked, looking up from his food.
“Did you know that Sirius blood adopted you?” Aunt Andy asked.
“He did?” Harry asked.
“Yes,” Aunt Andy nodded. “Regardless, thanks to some moron publishing that you’re a carbon copy of your father with your mother’s eyes, but still your father’s glasses for some reason, you and the ‘boy-who-lived’ look like completely different people.” Aunt Andy snorted at the title, she always said that it was ridiculous. “Anyway, you have enough black blood and take after your mother enough that I’m sure no one will notice. Besides,” Aunt Andy said grinning evilly, “just imagine your godfather’s face when we tell him your his son.”
Harry giggled. While he never took to pranks the way Nymphie did after hearing about the Marauders, he did enjoy a good joke. But even more than a good joke, Harry adored the chaos. When Nymphie first left for Hogwarts he managed to turn her room into a jungle, with the help of Tinsy, the house elf who helped raise Harry. He had had to run away from her for just about the whole day, but it was so worth it. Uncle Edward and Aunt Andy couldn’t even punish him because they laughed - and once a grown-up laughs they can’t punish a kid cause they find it funny too - but also because everything was reversible. The house elves all had to help in relocating some of the plants to a greenhouse, but the dirt was easily vanished and most of the vines were just transfigured.
“Gray contacts?” Harry asked as he stood up.
Aunt Andy nodded. “Just remember not in front of the press.”
“Got it,” Harry responded before running up to his room. This was going to be awesome.
The trail was less awesome than Harry had expected. They just administered some potion he couldn’t pronounce, but it was a truth potions and then debated things in hushed whispers. Yawn.
The only interesting thing was when Remus met up with them. “Uncle Moony,” Harry whispered. The whole mood was very solemn and he wasn’t supposed to interrupt it.
“Cub,” Remus replied affectionately, ruffling Harry’s hair. Normally it worked better, but it was in a ponytail now because apparently Harry “wasn’t aloud to go to a trail looking like he was raised in a barn.”
“Why gray?” Remus asked, looking at Harry’s eyes.
Harry gestured for Remus to bend down and whispered in his ear, “I’m Uncle Padfoot’s long lost son. Do you know who my mother is?”
Remus nearly choked. He covered his mouth with a hand and turned it into a very half hearted cough.
“Linda Reese,” Remus whispered back and Harry nodded. “She died about a year ago, if you want to say why you’re with Andy.”
Harry grinned. The trail, while boring, passed quickly. Soon their group was moving towards Sirius. They quickly beckoned him away from the press. Aunt Andy put her arm around Sirius and glared at them and Harry saw the purple of Black madness glitter in her eyes. Aunt Andy looked very similar to Bellatrix Lestrange, or so Harry had heard, and the reports seemed to see it as they cowered back.
“My cousin needs time to recuperate,” she said in her quiet way to the silenced room. “Leave us.” The reporters scrambled over each other in their hurry to leave. The room quickly cleared after that, though a few people came to offer their condolences and how they “never could believe that you betrayed James, why you two were like brothers!” Sirius let out his barking laughter and Aunt Andy glared the man away.
Soon there was no one in the room but their small group and Harry threw himself at Sirius. “Daddy!” he called and Harry could feel his mum’s magic tremble with laughter and, in the corner of his eyes, saw his dad grip his stomach and laugh hysterically. Sirius stumbled back but managed to steady the two of them.
“What?” Sirius asked, looking to Aunt Andy then Remus with wide eyes.
“This is Ares Sirius Black,” Remus said, putting a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Linda Reese’s son. She died a year ago, so he’s been living with Andy.” Take responsibility, went unspoken.
“Linda?” Sirius croaked. “But she - she - it was only one night!”
“So you didn’t love Mummy?” Harry asked, lip quivering and eyes tearing up.
“Yes - I mean no! Sure, yeah, I loved her. Really!” Sirius said, frantically trying to reassure Harry.
“That’s good!” Harry chirped. “So you love me too?”
“I don’t really know you - yes! I love you!” Sirius corrected as Harry’s eyes began to tear up again.
“So I’ll live with you?” Harry chirped. “I love Aunt Andy, but I wanna live with you now!”
As Sirius looked frantically back and forth from Aunt Andy to Remus, Aunt Andy gave up. She broke down laughing, quickly joined by Uncle Edward and Remus, though Uncle Edward tried to hide it.
They heard a low chuckle and spun around to see Aunt Minnie.
“Aunt Minnie!” Harry called out running towards her. Aunt Minnie hugged Harry before looking at the desperate looking Sirius.
“Sirius,” she said, a small smile on her face. “It’s good to see you. I see you’ve met Harry, your godson.”
“Harry,” Sirius breathed out, looking at Harry as he took out the contacts. “Oh pup,” Sirius said as he scooped Harry up into a hug that Harry melted into.
“It’s good to see you Uncle Padfoot,” Harry whispered.
“Yeah,” Sirius replied, blinking back tears. “It’s good to see you too, pup.”