Growing Up Royal: After TTTC

Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever contributed to the Harry Potter stories by J. K. Rowling. I do not make money at writing this fanfiction nor any others. But, I sure do like to borrow the characters and play for awhile. I promise to put them back so others can share too.

Summary: After The Third Time Charm, Harry, Severus and company start to raise Harry Potter while trying to help the Potter parents recover. AD was right about something, Becca said, all this fame could go to his head. AD GnW RW HG MW bashing, Abuse, Anal, AU/AR, M/M, OC, Oral, Spank, Yaoi

Growing up Royal: After TTTC

Posted: 06 June 2010

Chapter 9: Returning Home

The next morning three crews of ten goblins each arrived at the administration section of the tent. Harry had heard about his younger counterpart comforting Ethan, and found out that even with the regenerating potions; his parents would still be in the healer’s tent for another week. Their house had been hit hard and in order to survive they had erected a shield charm to keep the house from falling on them. They had to hold the charm until someone came to dig them out, over an hour later.

Harry was surprised they were awake already. He knew it was because of Doc and the potions that Severus had organized. A shield charm was only meant to be a second or two; a flash against a hex or curse. He knew the Scott family had to be powerful to hold it for an hour to keep the rubble from falling on top of them. After obtaining permission to clear the land their house was on, it was the first house Harry wanted to have completed.

He had taken James and Sirius and they repaired what they could in the wreckage. They could see the remnants of some very fine china (most probably in the family for generations) and other items just as valuable. Most of the furniture was repairable but some things were splintered beyond repair.

The goblins were leery about working around these people, so Harry obtained permission for barriers to be erected in the areas they were going to work. Now the work was to begin. The Scott family had not had a big home, only three bedrooms with a study, living, and dining areas and a kitchen. Harry expanded the plans a little and let the goblins do their work. He made sure they built it stronger and a little bigger than before.

Ethan and Little Harry came to see the work for a few minutes so Ethan could tell his Mum what was going on. “I have never seen a Goblin before” the little boy said in awe. “Do you see them often?” Little Harry nodded his head.

“We have a goblin friend named Gorbink and he and his family come to visit ours sometimes. They handle our accounts at Gringotts. They also helped during the war, I think, but I don’t know much about that” he explained.

“You had a goblin in your home?” Ethan said in amazement.

“Sure, loads of times. They're our friends.”

“I thought goblins hated wizards.” Ethan said, “at least that’s what I always heard.”

“Goblins don’t hate or love wizards; they dislike the unfair laws and the treatment from the wizards. The laws that say they can’t shop and do business among us. You don’t see goblins, because they are not allowed to shop at most wizard stores even if they own the bank,” Harry explained

“That doesn’t sound very fair,” Ethan replied as he thought about what his new friend had told him.

“That’s why we have to learn all we can, so when we grow up we can change the things that are not fair. My Granddad said ‘the future depends on us to make it better’, and he also says ‘if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem; in that you allow the situation to go unchallenged’,” the younger version said with his voice imitating his Granddad.

“Wow, I didn’t know that it was so important to know things,” Ethan replied in awe. Harry nodded at him as though it were the most important thing in the world. It would be a lesson Ethan would now carry throughout the rest of his life.

Later that day…

Ethan and young Harry did finally go meet Ethan’s parents that day. Ethan regaling them with the details of what the goblins were doing and how they worked so hard and would have their new house finished in no time at all.

Young Harry telling them that he was friends with the goblins and other creatures and how they came to visit at his house. How Ethan was learning to fly and they were able to help clean up a bit.

The Scott couple could not believe how much their son was talking and the new self confidence he seemed to have. They hoped they could keep in touch with the Potters and that Harry and Ethan would remain friends. It seemed to do both boys some good.

By the end of the first week, Little Harry and his ‘cousins’ had a routine down. The eight children from Brittan would spend two hours in the morning helping the adults with simple reparo spells and other small spells going through the cleanup process. The adults were always very careful to make sure the children were safe and someone was always there to supervise. Then they would have the mid morning snack with the other children and play while under supervision till dinner. Everyone would have dinner together and then would go to sleep.

The goblins had already erected a dozen houses. It didn’t take that long with magic. One goblin would go over the designs with the owners and the others would then build it. They were able to put in their own goblin protections so that nothing like this should happen again.

They rebuilt the apothecary, a new small hospital, a library and some of the other shops that had been destroyed or severely damaged. It was amazing what they could accomplish with thirty goblins, thirty-eight human volunteers and a little magic.

The second week the children were left in the magical community while some of the other adults ventured out into the muggle world. They spent a week helping crews clean up and rebuild without magic. Sirius was the one who complained the most about doing things the hard way, but they couldn’t use magic in front of muggles; although sometimes Harry or his older counterpart would try a little wandless spell just to get things done faster. When Sirius complained, it was Harry that said he was more than welcome to learn wandless magic and try it on his own.

Two hours later he was brought back to the village with magical exhaustion.

It had been a very busy two weeks. The goblins were sent home as they had work for Prince Construction to do. The Potter, Lupin, Black, Prince, Malfoy and Slytherin families were getting ready to leave as well. Only Snape and Moony were staying to help with potions. Moony hadn’t taken his mastery, but he knew enough to be able to follow his bonded’s instructions without any trouble. They would not be able to make as many as the four potions masters had together, but not as much was needed anyway. They would stay for another week before leaving.

Young Harry Potter was saying goodbye to his newfound friend and Lily and James were looking on with fondness as their son hugged Ethan and said very politely, “Mr. and Mrs. Scott, I hope that Ethan and I can visit together sometime. He could come stay with me for a little bit in the summer, with your permission.”

“I am sure that something can be arranged, Harry,” Mrs. Scott said. “I know that Ethan would love that.”

They had been very impressed with their new home and extremely grateful. They had been shown all the protection runes placed in strategic areas to ward off another earthquake. The house had also been built bigger than previously, with four bedrooms with their own bathrooms and the downstairs had a much bigger kitchen, and dining room. There was also, much to their surprise a basement now, where Ethan and his friends could play. Harry had even asked his Granddad if they could give Ethan one of the extra brooms, which he was happy to do.

Imagine that, Evelyn Scott thought as the Potters left, Harry Potter making friends with their son. They would never have believed it if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes. She only had known what every one else did and assumed they would be too important to come to their little town. But the Potters were friendly and considered themselves only as good as everyone else, no matter what they had lived through, almost as if they were just happy to be alive.

It was a sad time, the volunteers from England leaving all the people they had made friends with, but everyone was anxious to get home and get back to a normal routine; even if that meant going back to their lessons. They would never forget their experience there and how they helped with the others to rebuild a town.

Douglas Morgan was saying his goodbyes to the Malfoy family and thanking them for their help. It was Lucius Malfoy that answered him in his now subdued aristocratic tone.

"We have certainly learned something from this visit. I do hope that we can stay in communication as the children have made a few friends here." Lucius found to his amazement he truly meant what he said. He would never have believed he would be someone to go on a mission trip such as this to help other people. Of course, he did come up with a few business opportunities that he felt could be quite lucrative.

As the adults and children were whisked away in the ministry cars, the instructor for the workshop was now standing with Douglas, watching the kids wave good bye. As he raised his hand and waved back, he turned to his long time friend and asked, "Do you know who those people were?"

"Of course I do. I was informed by the Australian Ministry the day before they arrived here."

"Why do you suppose they would do something like this? It's not exactly normal for the affluent to come and muck around with a lowly farmer. But then it's not exactly normal to have so many different magical creatures helping on the same project either. I swear they were talking about there being fairies here, working with the goblins and a few spiders too. I didn't see any of those but I have no doubt they could deliver on what they said."

"The Australian Minister called them the royals. Another from the ministry called them the future of the entire magical world. You, my friend, have just experienced history in the making. I don’t think this is the last time they will be doing this."

Back home under Privet Drive...

Everyone was dead tired. The adults left the unpacking for later and got the children off to bed. Even the elves were given the remainder of the day off. It wasn't until three hours later that Harry and Severus woke up and straggled their way into the dinning room to get some tea and scones. Harry started going through the mail and found two acceptance letters for an interview with none other than Minerva McGonagall. Some of their group had sent notes to her asking for an interview for the open positions.

At a seedy bar in Hogsmead…

Aberforth Dumbledore opened up The Daily Prophet to see what was going on in the world, when he spied exactly what he had been waiting for. There in bold print, in the advertisement section was an ad for help at the school. Now, he didn’t have the documents to say he knew how to teach, but he certainly could go help Minerva with some of the administrative side of things for now. It would be a way to get back into the school without arousing suspicions.

He sent an owl, asking the headmistress if she would like to join him for tea and talk over old times. He was feeling the loss of his brother deeply, he said in his letter. This would garner sympathy and while they were visiting, he could bring up helping her with some of the paperwork. He didn’t want to come right out and say he wanted to be her assistant; he needed to be a little more devious about it so she would not suspect anything.

It was the next day that he received a reply asking if he would mind having tea at the castle, as she was much too busy to leave at the time but would love to see him. Aberforth sent his affirmative response to have tea the next day at two in the afternoon.

Now they were sitting, with Aberforth on the visitor’s side of his former desk, while Minerva was sitting in his old spot behind the desk. He was having a strange sense of déjà vu.

“So, Minerva,” the old man asked, “how have you been coping recently?” The way his eyes twinkled, was almost reminiscent of her old friend that had passed some five years ago.

“Well, you know how they say; it’s hard to find good help? I have been living that for the last five years. I have had two assistant Headmistresses, three potions teachers and two transfiguration teachers not to mention I always need a new defense teacher every year.”

“Yes, the defense position was always a particular problem for Albus as well. The times I would come here and listen to him complain about it, are too numerous to mention.” The old man had a slight smile on his lips as he continued, “I sometimes would assist him with his paperwork to help out, if you are interested. I am sure I may not be as good as Albus was, but I did understand it and could fill out some of the reports.”

“I never knew that you did that for Albus,” Minerva stated, “but I could use the help if you are offering?”

“Of course my dear, it will be like old times with my brother. How about we start next Monday? I will need time to adjust the schedule at the pub so that I won’t be needed. Don’t worry about a thing; we will have you caught up in no time.”

“Oh, that is such a relief. I have several appointments for next week to fill the missing teacher positions. I am hoping that one of them can handle the roll of Deputy Headmaster or Headmistress. There are several good possibilities. Two of them are on some kind of mission trip this week. I am hoping that is a good sign that they can get along with people and teach. The last potions master we had was terribly mean to the kids. A Professor Din, from the Far East, he didn’t get along with the children at all.”

“Who is coming next week? Have I heard of them? Are they former students?” the old man asked.

“They are not former students; at least I don’t remember them. The woman is Rebecca Prince and her husband that she didn’t name. She said they had potions experience and administrative experience,” Minerva replied, seeing no reason to not give him the information. “There are two former students that are coming the week after and that is Severus Snape and Remus Lupin. They are out of the country at the moment and won’t be back for another two weeks. Those two I do remember and were both excellent students. They have several Masters and can teach and help in a variety of subjects. It would be nice to have a substitute on staff.”

“I believe Albus was of the same opinion, but it was difficult to find someone with a mastery or at least knowledge in several subjects that wanted to teach; nor could he get the board of governors to release the funding.”

They continued their conversation through the afternoon, with Aberforth casually pumping information out of the headmistress about her potential candidates. He was very subtle about it and she didn’t even realize how much information she had divulged by the time he left. It was a nice afternoon for her to be able to unburden herself in a way she hadn’t been able to since Albus was arrested. She remained ignorant of any nefarious schemes that he might be plotting.

As Aberforth left and walked back to the village of Hogsmead, he thought over the information he had finagled out of the woman in ‘his’ office. He thought she should hire Snape and Lupin as he was sure they would be more pliable, and more receptive to any ‘suggestions’ that he might want to make. Harry Potter had only a few more years to go before coming to Hogwarts himself and he wanted to be ready so the young man would be within reach. He wanted that power and if he planned it just right, no one would be the wiser.