Summer had come again and Remus found himself relaxing outside in the courtyard of Black castle. Harry's birthday was coming up fast and he would be fifteen years old. He had grown in the last year as had all the teens, he now was the same height as Remus and, if he grew any more would be as tall as his father if not taller. Remus of course was not a tall man himself, he was barely five feet seven inches tall but he was extraordinarily strong, then again he was a werewolf. He could give any muggle strongman a run for his money though he preferred to be as peaceful and not have to kill. He had not had to kill for a long time and he wondered what Fate had in store. She had told him she would give him as much information as she could but there were things she could not tell him.
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Discover moreChildren's BooksAnime & MangaDessertsMobile app marketingFan fiction booksRemus looked up as two hawks flew over head, one was a Peregrine Falcon the other a red tail hawk, the falcon was called Gray feather and the hawk Red Tail. They happened to be Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley, both Animagmus and both of the hawk variety. Gray Feather swooped down and landed on the lawn and in transformed to Harry, Ginny did the same and ran up and hugged and kissed him. Remus had stopped reading his book and watched as the teens were having a Snog-fest on in the courtyard. Bill Weasley came out of the castle at this time and glared at Harry who was really being to free with his sister!
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"Alright you two that is enough, I don't need to see that." Bill said sternly.
"Oh sod off Bill." Ginny shot back, "I can Snog Harry wherever I want!"
"I will talk to mum!" Bill retorted.
" Bill do not make me use my powers of eldest daughter against you." Ginny said sweetly to her brother.
"That hurt Ginny and that was not nice!" Bill retorted.
Ginny was referring to an ancient law that made her, in status an older sibling among her brothers. In age she was the youngest but as she was the only daughter she was a firstborn just as much as Bill was. This gave her the right, if her parents or Bill was not around, at the age of twelve to be in charge. She had to formally speak for her rights and she had not done so until Bill had shown displeasure in his sister dating anyone. She had claimed her status and the ensuing duel had proven she was quite possibly the most powerful witch of her age. Hermione may have been the smartest but Ginny had raw power, power she had used to fight the effects of Riddle as best she could. Though even she had been nearly killed by him in the end. Harry sat by his other godfather and looked over his shoulder at what the older wizard was reading.
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Discover moreFan fiction writingFan merchandiseAuthor resourcesCrossover fictionAnime"Why are you reading a book on Wizarding slavery?" Harry asked, "isn't that illegal now?"
"Yes thankfully, you know that wizards, well witches really had slavery mostly abolished for magical humans a thousand years ago?" Remus said.
"Yea, then four hundred years ago it became a capital offence for a witch wizard or goblin to have a muggle slave. That was one of the reasons for the goblin rebellions, they did not take kindly to us telling them who they could have as servants or not. Still house elves and others were and are enslaved all the time."
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"Not anymore, but they were, Scrimgeour was a wise man, I owe him my life and freedom you know." Remus said.
"You were never a slave." Harry said.
"No but I am not considered human, if certain laws had been passed then the only way I could get a job was if I had bonded, a less crude way of saying it to a witch or wizard."
Discover moreCookiesFiction genre guidesStory writing softwareFiction writing toolsMobile app fanfiction"So you would have been made a slave?" Harry said appalled, "but why you are not dangerous!"
"I am Harry, if not for the magical and muggle medication I would be a monster, for years I have struggled with the evil inside and only now am I even remotely safe." Remus said.
"Yes and you can thank me for that." Came the voice of Severus.
He walked up clad as always in black robes and came to stand in the shade of the elder tree. He was here to deliver potions to lady Black as she was unwell and needed potions. As she was still nursing only a skilled potions master like Severus could give her the potions she needed to get well that would not harm her son. Remus looked up at his tall dangerous friend who glared at him. Severus was prickly, sarcastic and very rude but he was a good friend, he had a good heart deep inside and he hid it well. Most of that was due to his being raised in a cold poor mill town and part of that was the fact Severus was a very private cold man naturally. That is until you got to know him, Severus narrowed his eyes as Sirius strode from the keep.
"Oh there you are." Sirius said, "thank you Snape."
"Did hell just freeze over?" Fred said popping up as if from nowhere.
"Did our dear Padfoot say thank you to professor Snape?" George added appearing next to his twin.
"I do believe he did dear brother." Fred replied.
"Oh yes, we must make this a red letter day!" George replied.
"Real funny you guys, my wife is sick and if he were not a good potions maker well..."
"Lord Black." Severus said silkily and with perfect manners "I am the best potions master there is and for your information you can call me prince Snape."
"No way he did not just pull rank!" Fred said.
"Brother dear he did." George said grinning.
"I am so happy you find me highly entertaining gentlemen." Severus said dryly.
"So you really are a prince?" Harry asked.
"Yes, on my mother's side, the tile has no monies or lands to it, I made my own moneys." Severus said stiffly to Harry.
"Well that is fine, you must be really rich now sir, after all you are brilliant." Harry said meaning it.
"Flattering me Lord Potter?" Severus said glaring at the teen, but you could tell he was pleased, sort of. "Come Black I will see to your wife."
He walked into the keep his black robes billowing around him and Harry lay down with his head in Ginny's lap. He had a dreamy look on his face as he gazed up at her and Bill had a gleam in his eyes as he took out his wand. The water that shot from his wand did not get it's intended target and instead it ended up back in his face and he sputtered, wiped the water from his face and looked at Ginny who was pretending to look over the bookRemus was reading. She had a smirk on her face, the twins stepped back as Harry and Ginny were up and facing off with Bill. They playfully shot spells back and forth, all funny spells, color charms, tickling charms, cheering charms, and the like. They joined sides when the twins decided to join in and Remus calmly put up a strong shield charm so he could continue with his reading.
It did not work as Sirius came out and saw the fun and decided Remus needed to join the fun.
In a few minutes Bill, Harry, Ginny and the twins stopped their mock battle to watch as Sirius and Remus were in a full out battle. Oh not with wands, no they were wrestling, hitting kicking and fighting for all they were worth. Remus was not holding back (well not much) and Sirius soon found himself pinned to the ground. Remus managed with a wand less charm to turn his hair green and then and only then did he let his friend up. Harry started to laugh at the sight of his godfather with green hair and Sirius turned to Padfoot to sulk, this was even funnier as he was now a shaggy green dog instead of black. This was the time Severus had come out of the house and he smirked at the sight.
"Ah Black you never looked better." Severus said and Sirius turned human wand out getting Severus to arch an eyebrow. "You think you can duel me?"
"I know I can, you dare make fun of me?" Sirius snarled, "I a pureblood lord?"
"Oh dear, here we go." Ginny muttered, "wonder just how much will be left of Sirius after this?"
"Not sure, I mean he is really powerful but professor Snape is that much more so, I heard he took out Lucius Malfoy and he was drunk at the time when he did it."
"Snape never gets drunk." Harry said.
"Yes he does, I have had had many fine duels with him drunk, ah firewhisky and a good old fashioned brawl!" Remus said happily then he frowned realizing who he was talking to, "er of course the detentions later by McGonagall and the hangover was not fun."
Harry grinned, he loved these kind of stories from Sirius and Remus. Many of the pranks his father and friends did were not nice, but then again the Slytherins were just as bad at that time too. Harry and Draco were blood brothers compared to his parents' generation. Some pranks were classic and rivaled Fred and George, then again Fred and George were masters and had learned from of all people Bill. Bill was just smart enough not to get caught, then again Fred and George seemed to want to get caught, it got their business name out there after all. Harry watched Severus and Sirius face off with Sirius loosing the glaring contest. Severus left the castle in a billow of black robes and Apparated just over the bridge at the Apparation point.
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A few weeks later was the combined birthday party not only for Harry and Neville but all of their friends born in the summer. It was quite a large party and the teens decided to make it a full day affair. It took place on the great green in front of the castle, security was as always top notch with dwarves and wizard and witch security here all clad in black dragonskin armor. There were tents set up with various entertainments, games and lots of food and drink. There were plenty of adults along at least four hundred teens all invited here for the party. It was an impressive affair and one that Harry was promised would be remembered for a long time. Sirius would not take no for an answer in paying for it all say he had a right as senior godfather and it would make the house of Black look good.
Ron could not be happier himself as he was now a respected member of society. He never thought he would rub shoulders with the rich and famous of the magical world like this, who knew his meager skills would launch him to such a status? He was, like all the teens clad in his best robes, his in navy blue and he was talking with Percy who was training as a healer and by the glow in his brown eyes was very happy in his career. Clearly if he had joined the ministry he would have been very unhappy. He was with his girlfriend Penelope Clearwater, a tall shapely witch with long brown hair tied up on her head and clad in navy robes. Lucius Malfoy was here and he strode by clad in expensive black robes, he looked coldly at the teens and Ron stood tall glaring back.
"Ah Mr. Malfoy glad you could come!" Harry said walking up then seeing Draco, "lord Malfoy, good to see you."
"And you lord Potter." Draco said formally taking Harry's hand and shaking it. "You are well?"
"I am and you?"
"Looking forward to Quidditch this year and taking you out." Draco replied getting a grin from Harry.
"Bring it on Malfoy." Harry said, "come I think Sirius, er lord Black would like to see you."
"Of course, may my father come?" Draco asked.
"Of course." Harry said, "Lady Malfoy is already speaking with him.
"She is, is she?" Lucius replied, "I see, I will come."
Harry was hoping neither man forgot their manners, the last time he had seen Lucius get upset with another wizard it had ended up in a fist fight. Then again he knew enough about Narcissa Malfoy nee Black that she would not brook that kind of behavior. She was a Black and was to be feared just as Sirius was too, well to those not his friends and family that is. Harry arrived at the pavilion Sirius was just in time to see his godfather seat with his son on his lap looking around in wide-eyed wonder. Tristan looked around with wide gray eyes, a shock of brown hair atop his head. He had a tiny nose and full lips and was a chubby happy baby. Rita Black nee Skeeter sat by her husband, Sirius was clad in robes of red while Rita was clad in robes of pale pink. Tarus was in baby robes of cream trimmed with blue and cute knitted booties that Harry knew Molly had knitted for him. He saw Molly Weasley with Arthur talking with Fleur, both clad in expensive robes dark blue trimmed with silver. Next to Rita stood Narcissa clad in robes of dark green trimmed in silver with a silver belt.
"Ah lord Malfoy, Mr. Malfoy welcome." Sirius said, Tarus cooed and giggled and Sirius grinned, "my heir, he is a cute little guy."
"He is that." Harry said, "I am going to circulate, Draco you want to come with me?"
"Of course." Draco said and both boys left and once out of earshot of the adults Draco said, "how long do you think it will take your godfather and my father to duel?"
"Not sure, but with three powerful witches there I say next week." Harry replied then at the look from Draco, "witches are more powerful than wizards."
"True that." Draco said.
The boys did not stay together and went their separate ways. Harry found Neville with Luna and Ron was with Susan, he found Hermione walking with Victor and they clearly were having a great time. Victor Krum may not have one the Triwizard tournament but he looked very happy with Hermione. As they came closer Harry was not surprised that they were speaking rapidly in French. Harry saw a change in Hermione, she stood taller, her hair was neater though not completely frizz free and tied back in a plait. She was clad in flowing pink robes and Victor was clad in robes of crimson, he saw Harry and smiled walking up to him.
"Ah Harry good to see you!" He said French.
"Good to see you to Victor, you look good." Harry said.
"I feel good, guess what I did?" Victor said beaming.
"I got Karkaroff fired, he was a very wicked man, insulted my lady Hermione." Victor said switching to nearly flawless English, "not just that but he teach wicked evil things, darkest of arts, I gave the story of his trial and imprisonment to lady Black."
"Great, he gave me the creeps last year." Harry said, "glad you did that."
"You gave the idea, you are a hope for all of us." Victor said, "you are a true leader even if you do not believe this now. I will pledge my support to you."
"Thank you, I would be honored to have your service." Harry said formally.
He still did not like people coming forward to pledge their service to him. Yet Remus said he was a leader wither he wanted it or not and he had to start leading as there were dark witches and wizards still out there and that Riddle would come back. Harry had taken on the role but still he was not fully comfortable with it, it did not help that Sirius teased him about it. In fact Harry had become extremely good with dueling with color changing charms, his godfather ended up with different colored hair several times a week. It was clear Harry was much more like his mother, he liked jokes and such but there was a limit to it, and like his mother he retaliated with magic on a daily bases as he was allowed, like all magical teens in sanctioned areas over the summer.
That evening everyone gathered to watch the fireworks that Fred and George had supplied, they would make quite a bit from this bit of smart advertizing. Their mother had resigned herself to two shopkeepers in the family and actually enjoyed seeing what her clever sons could do. For now things were looking up in the Wizarding world, there were new laws, and more Aurors patrolling the streets and working the newly formed crime lab. Remus liked this new world he was freer by far, he had a good job and was even dating Dora! His best friend Sirius was married and had a little heir and even Severus was happier as he was making far more money than he ever had before with the Wolfsbane he was selling. For once Remus could look to the future with very real hope.
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So a bit of fun in the summer before more trials will come. Sirius is now able to act the lord he is and parties like the one he had for Harry will be more common now. As for him calling Lucius Mr. Malfoy, he is not a lord, not in this story, his son is because of his mother who is a noble. His father however is what would be called a commoner (which as an American I am not, nor am I nobility, hence the classless title for us, we are citizens not subjects) and has no noble title of his own.