Gifts, Gifts and....Father?
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The Spell is Broken: Memories Return
Chapter 3
Gifts, Gifts and...Father?
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"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature." - Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
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Spinners End
July 31
5:00 AM
Cursing was heard through the small house as Severus reached out and shut off the alarm. Sitting up he wondered why he had set it for so early in the morning, then he remembered the letters from the night before. He was still trying to wrap his head around the things he had read. He knew that even if James' letter had not been signed with blood he would still have believed it. The words called to a part of him that he didn't realize he had. It yearned to be released, it called for him to find Harald, to learn the truth, and to finally have its revenge.
Getting out of bed and quickly dressing in a pair of black slacks and a blue button down shirt he made his way to his kitchen. Breakfast was waiting for him on the table courtesy of his house elf Libby. He should have known the she knew about his letters and his early morning.
'She really does act like a mother sometimes,' Severus thought fondly, smiling a bit at the small creature. Severus really did have a caring and kind nature when he wasn't forced to do something he didn't want to. He was only the way he was with the students of Hogwarts because he had originally signed on to only teach Fifth year forward. He knows he doesn't have the patience to teach the basics of brewing to young, energetic pre-teens. Though after the attack on Godrics Hollow, Dumbledore changed his contract forcibly stating it would keep him from remembering Lily's death.
Severus snorted at the thought of Dumbledore's excuse. He had stopped loving her after she snubbed him for a mere slip of the tongue. He had been upset that he caused her death and that her death meant her son was now an orphan. but after what her read last night he is willing to bet that he never had cared for her, and his love was actually for James. Shaking his head he ate his breakfast in peace.
After he was finished he stood and made his way towards the door so he could go retrieve Harald and go to Gringotts to have this mess sorted out. He glanced at the clock in the hall and found he had been awake for almost three hours and it was nearing 8AM. Just as he was about to step out the door the chime on his floo alerted him to a visitor. Cursing under his breath, Severus turned and entered his living room to see Dumbledore standing there smiling and eyes twinkling.
"Ah! Severus, my boy," Dumbledore said and moved more into the room. Severus growled lowly in his throat at the overused endearment.
"Albus, Why are you here?" Severus grit out, not happy to see the man that might have caused him to forget his true life.
"I need you to run an errand for me," Dumbledore said cheerfully.
"I'm a bit busy today Albus," Severus sneered. "I am on my way out the door and probably won't be back till late tonight."
"I'm sorry but this really can't wait," the Headmaster said, losing some his joviality. "I need you to fetch Harry from his relatives. As you know, today is his seventeenth birthday and he is now an adult, but we need to make sure that he doesn't leave and get himself killed by the Dark Lord. You must take him to his Godfathers."
Severus normally would have thrown a fit, but seeing as he was going there anyway he decided to just humor the old man. Severus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose and made a show of hating the boy that he was now having doubts about.
"Fine," he sneered. "I'll fetch the boy, but know this. I am going to be very busy over the next few days with a potion for the Dark Lord, so I must NOT be interrupted. It is a very sensitive potion that must not be messed up. I would prefer not to be Cruciod."
"Ah, yes, that's fine my boy," Dumbledore beamed. "What is Tom up to?"
"I cannot tell you," Severus said in frustration, Dumbledore knows that he was under a vow that made it so he couldn't speak about what he was brewing other than saying he had an assigned potion. Dumbledore sighed and nodded.
"Please hurry and fetch the boy," with that he returned through the floo from where he came.
Severus scowled at the retreating back of the Headmaster. He hated being ordered to do things. That was one of the reasons he always questioned why he joined the Dark Lord who gave nothing but orders. If his memories aren't his then it will explain so much. He finally turned and left his home, once outside his wards he apparated to Privet Drive.
Landing just outside the wards on the property Severus checked his watch to make sure that he wasn't there at an unreasonable hour. Seeing that it was about 8:10 he walked up to the door and knocked. A moment later the door was opened by one Petunia Dursley nee Evans.
"You!" She shouted stunned.
"Hello Tuny," Severus sneered in response. "I have come for Harry, it's his Seventeenth birthday and he no longer needs to stay here."
Petunia eyed him for a moment, looking as though there was something foul under her nose. Severus just raised an eyebrow and kept his face blank.
"You are lucky that my husband has already left for work," She muttered before opening the door to let him in. Severus stepped in and was a bit shocked to find that there were no pictures of Harry anywhere, just the whale of a boy whose current self was peeping out from behind the door frame of the kitchen. Severus eyed him and then sneered at how pathetic he was. Dudley squeaked and ducked back into the kitchen. Petunia sighed before walking over to the stairs and shouting up them;
"BOY! GET DOWN HERE!"
A loud thump sounded and there was some cursing that had the Potions Master raising his eyebrow at, not knowing that the boy cursed at all. There was the sound of a door opening and a figure appeared at the top of the stairs and began to descend. When the figure stepped into the light Severus was a bit shocked, before him stood someone who was a perfect mix between the Potter and Prince Bloodlines. Harry's head was tilted downward in thought as he rubbed the back of his head. He was dressed in what appeared to be Dragonhide and his hair had grown to his waist, the tips of ears were just visible. He drew in a sharp breath at the visage the boy made. Harry must have heard it because his head snapped up and his eyes widened.
"Sir?"
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#4 Privet Drive, Surrey, England
July 31
40 mins. before. 7:30AM
Harry smiled and walked towards the owls that sat patiently on his bed. There were ten total which surprised the new elf. He leaned over and began to relieve the owls of their burdens and spoke as he did so.
"You guys can stay for a bit if you would like," Harry said softly. "Hedwig isn't here right now, I sent her to Luna when Uncle got upset with her. The food bowl should be full and the water is not fresh but I'm not allowed out of the room till 8:00."
Two owls gave Harry a kind nip to his fingers after he relieved them of their letters and packages before taking flight back to their owners. The other eight took Harry up on his offer and as soon as they were free flitted across the room to the desk. Harry turned to the letters and packages littering his desk. He picked up the smallest package first, attached to it was a letter with writing he vaguely recognized. Harry opened the letter and smiled;
Hi Little Brother!
You're seventeen! Congratulations! If everything that I have been told is true, then you came into an interesting inheritance last night. Just so that you know, you will always have been my brother in all but blood. I have known about you for a very long time, longer than you have known me. Just know that everything is about to be revealed. Know that I stand by you and yours forever. I'll be seeing you sooner than you think. Those who are repressed will be released.
All my love,
Bill
Harry finished reading the letter and was very confused and a little creped out. He loved Bill ever since he first met him. Bill had always acted like an older brother, come to think of it, all of the older Weasley boys did. Even Percy before his defection from the family. Ron always seemed to be more of a tag along than a friend or brother, and Ginny, all she was, was a fan girl who had nothing else to do. Shaking away those thoughts Harry turned back to the small package attached to Bill's letter. Opening it he found a small note card written by Bill laying over a layer of tissue paper that blocked the contents from view.
I found these a few weeks ago within a tomb of a Veela that had ruled Egypt nearly three thousand years ago. I was allowed to keep them after saving the lives of several muggle archaeologists from a curse that would have had them killed within months of leaving the dig site. These necklaces belonged to the Veela and his human mate. They are one of kind and priceless. They are charmed so that if one of the wearers is in danger it heats up to different temperatures depending on the threat, if the person is thinking of the other then it cools down. It can also be used as a blind apparition guide. If the other is in danger then all you need do is grasp if firmly thinking of them and apparate. You will be taken straight to them no matter the distance, but they MUST me wearing it or it is merely a pretty accessory. They are also charmed so that only an elf and his mate or a veela and his mate and use them.
Having finished with the card Harry removed the tissue paper to reveal a beautiful pair of Jade encrusted pieces. One was a choker, obviously for the Submissive, it was made of a pearl color braided chain that was looped around a shinned oval Jade stone. The other was a amulet shaped as an Egyptian scarab that hung on a braided brass chain, it was obviously for the Dominate. Harry was in awe at the gift he received from his brother. He couldn't wait to show them to Draco. He gently put it back down on the bed and grabbed a larger box. Unsticking the letter from the package Harry opened and began to read;
Happy Birthday Harry!
Finally an adult Harry, Congratulations. Your gift is something that every adult wizard needs, and you don't need to worry, the skin was taken after its natural death. It resists most spells up to the unforgivable curses. It also has resizing charms that will automatically make them skin tight but breathable. Your mate won't know what to do with you in these. The coming months are going to be hard, everything is about to change. You need to stay strong little brother. The truth can never stay hidden.
See you soon,
Charlie
Harry smiled and put the letter down and lifted the lid from the box. Inside was a set of perfectly folded dragon hide pants, vest, trench coat, and calf height boots. Taking the pants out of the box he held them in the sunlight and noticed that they shift colors between green, purple, and red. Then he placed them in the shadow and they turned pitch black, perfect for staying hidden. Grinning like a loon, Harry scrambled over to his trunk and pulled out fresh underwear and the white dress shirt from the yule ball, it was similar to the shirts pirates would wear. Turning back to the bed he stripped out of his pajamas, noticing that they were a few inches too short and rather snug across the hips. Glancing down Harry saw his hips had widened to look more like a woman's hips. He smiled, knowing it is so he could carry and birth his children safely. Pulling on his underwear he turned back to the dragon hide clothes. He slipped into the pants and grinned as they resized to fit him snugly showing off his quidditch toned legs and wider hips. He squatted down a few times and was pleased to notice that they didn't restrict his movement. Pulling the shirt over his head he picked up the vest and shrugged it on over the shirt and buttoned it. The vest resized, fitting snugly against his slim body. Lacing the boots up Harry stood and bounced a few times and was glad to find they were the most comfortable shoes he has ever worn. Finally he slipped the coat on he found that it fitted over his shoulders making them seem broader, it fitted around his sides and clung to his hips but flared at the bottom. Walking over to the mirror for the first time since waking Harry was pleased to note the changes in features and body. His hair now reached his hips and was curled gently instead of messy. His eyes were wider and a deeper forest green, his cheekbones were higher and more defined, his lips had filled out and became blood red. He turned his attention to his ears, they had gained an inch in height and were pointed at the top, indicating he was a high elf. Glancing back at his clothes he was pleased to see he didn't look like a ragamuffin child anymore, he now looked like a warrior that was ready to face the world.
Turning back to the bed he shrugged the coat off for now and focused back on the gifts. Picking up a softer gift Harry plucked the letter off the top;
Hello Little Elf!
The world is beginning to right the wrongs that have occurred. I found this blanket while out at a market a few weeks ago. I instantly thought of you and what is to come. I hope you like it, it should offer you comfort in the coming weeks. Don't let the nargles ruin your birthday.
Your little sister,
Luna
Shaking his head at Luna's letter, Harry opened the softer package and found a blanket made of velvet. It was a rich dark green, across it were rolling and twisting patterns of gold. Lifting it to his face he found that it smelled of the sweetest rose. Smiling he folded it and placed it on the end of his bed. Reaching or the next package he laughed as he recognized the handwriting;
Hiya Harry!
Happy Birthday Mate! Did you get an inheritance last night? Mine surprised me something fierce. Gran says she doesn't understand where it came from but at the same time she said it doesn't surprise her. She says its a confusing feeling. Do you think she has been bespelled? It worries me Harry. Oh, anyway, I'm a nature spirit! Really makes sense now that I think about it. I really hope you like your gift, it was really hard (but fun) to get. Write back soon, I'm worried about you. I only got that one letter from you right at the start of the summer wishing me an early birthday with my gift. Did Luna send the blanket? She kept saying something about the unknown Prince and a snake in the grass. Any idea what she meant?
Talk to you soon!
Neville
Opening the box that came with letter he was shocked to find his set of Gryffindor quidditch robes from his first year. Upon closer inspection he found them signed by every member of Ireland's national team and Bulgaria's national team from the world cup three years ago. Lifting them from the box he found a snitch underneath with a note attached.
This is the same snitch from the world cup a few years ago. I have kept in contact with Victor Krum since the tournament, I know you did as well. We worked together to get you this gift, he said he would send you a letter later since he was traveling this week for a world tour for quidditch. Victor said that professional seekers get to keep the snitches they capture. He is giving it to you. I snuck through the old quidditch robes in the pitch's closet and found these and Victor got his team to sign them and then sent them to Ireland's team who were happy to oblige our wish. I hope you like them.
Harry's smile could have blinded someone it was so big. He laughed and hugged them to his chest. He wondered if he could get the snitch made into a necklace of some sort. Placing everything back into the box Harry reached for the next one;
Hello Little Brother!
Happy Birthday! Hows the new inheritance? Hows Privet Drive? Here's a little something for our silent investor. It's all new, none of it is for sale yet. We hope to see you soon. There are things coming to light that need to be talked about.
Your pranksters,
Fred and George
Harry smiled as he read the twins letter. Short and to the point like they always are. Already knowing that the gift held their latest inventions he set it to the side for a closer inspection later. Turning to the next package, he noticed that there was only one package left. The rest were just letters. Harry smiled again seeing that it was from his Godfathers;
Hey Cub!
Sorry that we haven't picked you up yet, Dumbledore has placed wards around the house that stop anyone with magic who doesn't have his permission to be there from crossing the property boundary. He said that he will send someone to escort you to us today so hang tight. We thought you might like your present before you got here though. Don't try anything till you see us though, it can end very badly. See you later today Harry.
Happy Birthday,
Sirius and Remus
Peeling off the wrapping Harry was surprised to find a book on how to become an Animagus. Shaking his head with a smile he put it to the side and turned to the last package and grabbed the letter;
Hello Harry,
I'm probably one of the last people you thought you would get a letter from today. I can understand that, but know that I never said anything against you personally. I only was against Dumbledore, he has too much power and too big of an ego. If my family ever said that I slandered you, know that is a lie. I have always cared for you. Remember? You would always come to me when you needed help when you wanted to actually understand it and not have someone else do it, like Hermione would do. Please try and see that I am on your side. I couldn't risk writing to you before because you were in Dumbledore's pocket. By the end of the day you will have a better understanding of what is going on in this world. I hope my gift helps.
Be Safe Little Brother,
Percy
Harry was relieved, he had always loved Percy. It had hurt him to find that he had been saying awful things about him from Ron. Now though, this sounded more like the Percy he knew. The one that had sat with him after curfew and during the summers and had helped him actually understand his school work, rather than just do it for him. But Harry was getting really confused with all the weird things that the Weasley brothers kept hinting at. Shaking his head and deciding to worry about it later he opened the package to find another book. This one was different though, older, more worn. The book read 'The Theory of Magic: Light, Dark and Grey.' Harry's eyes lit up at the thought of reading something that Percy obviously loved and cherished, if the worn pages were any indication. Seeing he had three letters left he decided to go in order from least thick to most. Grabbing the thinnest he was a bit shocked to find who it was from.
Happy Birthday Harry,
We really wanted to thank you for being such a good friend this past year. You were there for us when many of the Lions turned their backs on us for being gay. We already sent Neville a thank you and his birthday gift. We know we weren't the best of friends before, but we consider you one now. I hope you like your gift, I had to pull some strings with my Uncle who works for the international quidditch association. You better take us to some games Potter!
Thanks for everything,
Dean and Seamus
Harry scowled remembering the way the Lions had turned their backs on the two. Having known what that feels like Harry had immediately taken their side, also he was gay as well and didn't want to be a hypocrite. Feeling something else in the envelope Harry turned it over and was shocked to find Quidditch tickets, but not just any tickets, these were box seat tickets for any and all games for the next eight years! Including World Cups! Harry jumped up and down a few times before calming down. Putting those aside he reached for the second to last letter and found the generic Hogwarts letter, and that he was Quidditch captain again. He finally reached for the last letter and saw the Gringotts seal, opening it he found a folded letter and another envelope with his name. He decided to read the Goblins letter first;
Greetings Heir Harald Severus James Potter-Prince, of the Ancient and Honored Houses of Prince and Potter;
This letter is in regards to a request made by Lord James Charulus Prince-Potter. He came to the Diagon Alley branch of Gringotts, a month before he went into hiding with the muggleborn Lily Evans, and requested a time delayed letter. When questioned about using this old and forgotten tradition he merely stated that he had things that needed explaining and he knew that he would not be able to do so in person. He gave this letter to send to you upon your seventeenth birthday. We also extended to you the title of Goblin Friend. If you accept the offer then after Lord Potter's letter is read and all things included are taken care of we would like to invite you to a meeting at Gringotts with your accounts manager, bank manager and a Goblin Healer for our own sake of minds that everything is the way it should be, with not only your accounts but with your health as well. A similar letter is being sent to Lord Severus Tobias Snape-Prince with a time delayed letter as well as a similar invitation.
May your magic get stronger and your heart never turn cold,
Gringotts Junior Manager Bloodclaw
Harry was shocked when he read the letter. Potter-Prince? Lord Severus Tobias Snape-Prince? A letter from his father? Not wasting any more time Harry opened the second letter from the envelope;
Hello Harry,
My sweet son, you must be so confused right now. This letter is the best I can do to explain for now. Read it all the way to the end and keep your mind open. First, you must know that I am not your father, I am biologically your mother. Second, I never loved Lily Evans, she was a gold digging, power seeking shrew of a witch. As you know by now you are not human, you are an elf. Weather you take after me and become a High Elf, or your father and become a Dark Elf, I do not know. Your Father is one Severus Tobias Snape-Prince and he is my mate. I do not know what kind of relationship you have with him as of this moment, but know that everything is not what it seems. It all started when I was two months pregnant with you, I wish I had just floo'd to the house that night. I was walking home from the Ministry like always, and because it was a habit, it was my downfall for capture. Severus, Moony, Padfoot, and Wormtail were at a meeting with Tom, yes Tom, not Voldemort, he was created by Dumbledore. I had missed the beginning because I was late getting off work, so I decided to head home and wait for your father. I was ambushed by Dumbledore and his little club. They stunned me and took me to Hogwarts where they tried, and failed, to put a memory charm on me. What they didn't know was that when a submissive elf is carrying their body can resist almost all types of harmful magics. That was another reason I didn't go to the meeting, I was going to tell your father about the pregnancy that night and I wished for it to be special. They found out after I had arrived at Hogwarts, they are going to try and use you to end Tom. They had a half assed "prophecy" from that blind, delirious, old bat Trelawney. I do not know the contents, all I know is that talks of a child born at the end of July. That idiot muggleborn Evans had gotten herself knocked up and they think it's either hers or you. In order to protect you I had to act as if the memory charm had worked. They made it seem like I had married Evans and the child she carried was mine, not some muggle's she met in a bar. They made it seem like you, Harry, were from a drunken night during a "marriage spat". I was forced to hide the pregnancy. On July 29 she gave birth to a daughter who died a few hours later. She died because, during the pregnancy, Evans had kept drinking and smoking. The girl was born very small and had so many problems that the healers said that they couldn't save her. Evans rejected the poor child, never really having loved or wanted her. I was the only one that held the girl and named her so she wouldn't die nameless. Her name was Astra Madaline Potter. Even being such a sickly child she was beautiful, she had her mother's brilliant red hair and even being a newborn her eyes were the color of amethyst. She would have grown to be stunning. When she died I was the only one that cried and I gave her a burial in Godrics Hollow with my ancestors, for even though she was not my blood or Severus', I was the only one that had claimed her as family. Two days later I went into labor and you were born. I had kicked everyone out of the room. Being an elf, only others of our kind would have been allowed to stay. I wrote two birth certificates, one was the official one that now resides in the main Potter Vault, the other had the proper information but was under a charm that will break when you are claimed by Severus in Gringotts. Your name is Harald Severus James Potter-Prince, but you are known as Harry James Potter. They placed you under a glamour to merge you features from Severus' and mine, to mine and Evans'. The magic of your inheritance will should have broken the glamour. You probably wonder why no one remembers any of this. Two days after I was captured Severus, Tom and his followers stormed the castle having finally tracked me through our bond. I was held at wand point, Severus and the others were forced to submit. His elf was locked away, and his memories of our school years and after were altered. The spell that altered the memories was very old and was declared forbidden by Merlin himself, how Dumbledore found it remains a mystery to me, but everyone who ever shared those memories with Severus and were unaware of the spell he was casting had theirs altered as well. Anyone with creature inheritance had them locked away. Several were taken from their mates like Severus and I. Sirius' Incubus was locked away and Remus werewolf is being poisoned to keep it feral, they were allowed to keep their relationship. Peter was forced to become a 'traitor'. Lucius was separated from Rabastan and forced to marry that gold digging shrew Narcissa Black. He was pregnant with Draco, whose inheritance will break all enchantments just like Harald's. Tom was driven insane and Rodolphus was forced to marry Bellatrix Black. Gideon and Fabian were captured, I don't know their fates. Arthur was forced to marry the twin's younger sister Molly/Mary, whatever her name is. The children from Arthur and the twins had their memories altered as well, but when they reach majority they will receive an inheritance and a letter from me stating they must hide and wait till your majority so that you and them can be a united front against the true dark lord. I wrote this letter and have given it to Gringotts because all Elfs possess the ability of foresight, but only when the fates allow it. In a dream last week I saw what is to happen on All Hallows Eve and in the years following, I did not see anything past your Majority so I cannot give you warning. Though I can say this, look where everyone has been but no-one thought to look. Allow the Goblins to help you. The spell that alters memories only needs one person to start, but afterward everyone involved must have it removed individually. Harald my son, go to Gringotts with your father, remove the enchantments placed upon him and get to know him. I love you! Keep safe!
Your Mother,
James
Harry finished reading the letter and let it fall from his hands. He was so shocked, yet it explains so much. His mind racing with everything that he had learned he didn't realize how long he had been staring off into space. He was only vaguely aware of a knock at the door and his aunt's muffled shout.
"BOY! GET DOWN HERE!"
This time he was shocked out of his thinking and knocked the two books off the bed and they landed with a thump. Cursing in several different languages that would have James washing his mouth out with soap he picked up the books and left his room. He kept his head down as he walked down the stairs, still processing the letter he had just read. When he reached the bottom the quick intake of breath had his head snapping up and his eyes widening at who was before him.
"Sir?" Severus Snape, his father was standing in the entryway.
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