Harry Potter Promise NR.3

It’s OK Not To Be OK (But I Promise, I’m Trying)
by rayrae118

Chapter 11: Ch 11: A Friendly Interlude


Disclaimer: not mine

Susan had a lot to think about. Top of her list was the new relationship her aunt appeared to be in, or headed towards, but a close second was Harry Potter.

She had been surprised to receive an invitation to his home, but had been so happy to be included, especially when it meant she got to meet this new man in her aunt’s life. She liked Sirius, a lot. He was kind, and funny, and clearly cared a great deal for both Harry and her aunt. She looked forward to getting to know him better.

He had told her a few things about her parents; the stories he had shared were new to her, things her aunt hadn’t shared. While he had explained that he hadn’t known them that well – they had been much older than him – he had worked with them a lot towards the end of the war.

Susan may have been practical and down to earth, especially for a Hufflepuff, but she was also a teenage girl. She was certainly aware that the boys she had spent the afternoon with were growing up as well. Harry appeared much healthier than he had been the previous term, though he had mentioned seeing Poppy, so she figured that was why. What she had heard about his home life was so horrible, it made her want to hex someone. Preferably his relatives. She was glad her aunt was helping, and she definitely wanted to cultivate this new friendship.

That’s all she knew it would be, though, and she was fine with that. While Harry would definitely be a heartthrob that she knew many girls would fight over in the coming school year, she had seen the way he looked at the youngest Weasley. If they weren’t an item yet, they would be by Christmas, she would bet anything.

Besides, she was more interested in the shy dorm mate. Neville was also growing up, and growing up well. She would definitely make an effort to write to him this summer, and hopefully they could spend some more time getting to know each other.

Hermione waited until she was alone in her room before she gave in to the tears. Hearing about Harry’s summer just made her so angry! How could anybody do such horrible things to an innocent child?

Her tears spent, Hermione sat back up and made a promise to herself. Harry Potter was her best friend, and she would stand beside him, always. She was glad that he had gotten out of that situation, though it was a blow to her belief in authority, to hear that Dumbledore had left him there, and then not even bothered to check up on him.

She pulled out the book Harry had leant her, and smiled. Harry had sworn that Potions Making for Dummies had taught him more than Snape ever had.

With an hour or two before dinner, Hermione settled down to read. In the back of her mind, she wondered how much convincing it would take for her parents to get their house hooked up to the Floo network. It would be so much easier to work her way through that library if she didn’t have to go to The Leaky Cauldron to use their Floo all the time.

Molly Weasley looked up, relieved, when her two youngest children stepped out of the fireplace. She knew they were growing up, but they had been gone much longer than expected. She had been a little apprehensive of letting them wander around Muggle London on their own, but she had known it was a lost cause the moment Arthur had heard. He had implored them to bring back stories, and asked for some definitions on various items.

She smiled, setting down her knitting. “Hello you two. How was the excursion?”

Ron and Ginny looked at each other guiltily. They hoped they would be able to leave the house again this summer, once their mother realized they had lied to her.

“Erm, about that mum,” Ron started, but Ginny cut him off.

“We didn’t actually go to London. Harry invited us back to his home.”

That confused Molly. “You two went to Surrey?” Her voice raised an octave.

Ginny shook her head. “Harry’s not living with his aunt and uncle anymore,” she explained, hurrying on before Molly could say anything. “It’s a bit of a long story, but Harry doesn’t want a lot of people to know. He doesn’t want to advertise it, and he doesn’t want people to find out what happened.”

Molly took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. “And what happened?” she asked in that dangerous tone that both children knew meant business.

Ginny sat down, pulling Ron down with her, as she spoke, her voice wavering with distress and anger. She quickly summed up Harry’s childhood, before briefly touching on Vernon’s explosion, and Harry’s departure. She didn’t mention Sirius just yet, but she told her mother that McGonagall had gotten the DMLE and DCW involved, and officially taken over Harry’s guardianship. She stressed how much happier Harry was, and how good he looked. She told Molly how Madam Pomfrey had looked him over, and healed several old injuries and a few new ones, before putting him on a potions regimen that would deal with his weight issues.

To say Molly was angry would be an understatement. She was furious, and even more so when her daughter told her that Dumbledore had placed Harry with his aunt and uncle illegally, since he really had no authority to do so, and had completely ignored any Will that may have been in place. And then, to make matters worse, he hadn’t even checked up on the boy for ten years!

Molly hugged her children, thankful that they were such good friends for the poor boy, and sent them up to wash, while she went to check on dinner. She made a mental note to get in touch with Minerva in the morning, to see if there was any more information the Professor could give. She was surprised that the Transfiguration Mistress had taken on such a role, but she figured it wasn’t something Minerva would have done if she hadn’t been one hundred percent certain.

As Molly set the table, she thought of the kind boy she had met for the first time at Kings Cross several years earlier. Harry Potter asking her for instructions on how to get onto the platform may well have been the best thing to ever happen to her family.

XXX

Upstairs, Ron stopped at Ginny’s room, suddenly wanting to talk to her. “Hey, Ginny?” Ginny grunted to show him she was listening. Ron bit his lip. “What’s going on with you and Harry?”

Ginny paused. She guessed she shouldn’t be surprised. After all, Ron was used to being Harry’s friend, and he probably didn’t want to share. “We’re friends, Ron. We had a good talk on the way back to the Tower, before leaving school, and we’ve been writing each other all summer.”

“But he’s told you more than me. Some of what you told mum I didn’t even know.”

Ginny shrugged. “He wanted to talk to me, so I wanted to listen. It goes both ways, you know. There are things I’ve told him that I haven’t shared with anyone else.”

Ron blinked. He knew he would need to think about this conversation later. “Do you… like him?” he voiced questioningly, almost afraid of the answer.

Ginny thought about it for a moment. It wasn’t that she needed to think about her answer, she just needed to think about whether or not to tell her brother. Finally she decided he deserved to know the truth. “Yes,” she replied bluntly. “I do. Is that a problem?”

Ron was surprised at her straightforwardness. It required a minute to think, but in all honesty, he figured she could do a lot worse. And he knew Harry would treat her right. “I guess not,” he admitted, “As long as it’s because he’s Harry, not because he’s the Boy Who Lived.”

Ginny was a little surprised at the way he was looking after his friend. She smiled brilliantly. “Don’t worry,” she assured him. “What I like about him has everything to do with him being Harry.”

Neville looked up as the Floo flared to life, and Amelia Bones stepped out. He set down the Herbology book he was reading, and went to greet her as a proper heir would.

Amelia returned his greeting, and asked if his grandmother was available. Neville called one of the Longbottom house elves, and asked him to fetch Augusta.

The two were only kept waiting for a few minutes, before the Lady Longbottom entered the room, greeting Amelia in her typical brisk fashion. A pointed look almost had Neville departing, but he stopped when Amelia asked him to stay.

“I’m actually here because your grandson suggested I involve you, Augusta. I would like him to remain for this conversation.”

Augusta was concerned, but appeared outwardly calm, as she gestured for them all to sit and called for an elf to bring tea and biscuits.

When they had the refreshments, Augusta nodded for Amelia to begin.

The DMLE head took a deep breath, before she carefully outlined the travesty that had occurred almost thirteen years previously. When she came to the present, Amelia paused for only a moment, before continuing, “I have been in contact with Sirius, and I would like to get him a trial by the end of the summer. Neville suggested I ask for you help in controlling the Wizengamot. There is a meeting scheduled for August the twenty ninth; I was hoping we might be able to broach the subject then. I have copies of his memories, and have verified them as being true and unaltered.”

Augusta sat back and considered what she had just learned. The idea that an innocent man had been sentenced to Azkaban, without a trial, was not a pleasant one. She looked over at her grandson, who was looking decidedly nervous. “Am I to assume that this ‘excursion’ you had with your friends yesterday did not in fact take place in Muggle London?”

Neville shook his head, embarrassed. “I was at Harry’s. His muggle relatives weren’t the greatest, so Professor McGonagall took him in.”

Amelia cut in. “I’m currently amassing an investigation into the practices of one Vernon Dursley. Harry is less than willing to risk the news of his abuse at the hands of his uncle getting out, so I am trying to find something else to pin on him. I also facilitated the change of guardianship. Minerva was quite willing to take him in.” She smiled. “I think she was feeling guilty for not doing more for James and Lily’s son.”

Augusta had to think about that as well. She couldn’t help but find something fishy in the Potter heir’s placement with muggles. As his godmother, Alice would have been next in line after Sirius. She could understand not wanting to saddle her with a second baby, as she certainly was getting up there in years, but the attack on Frank and Alice hadn’t taken place for almost a week after the Dark Lord’s downfall. What had happened in those intervening days?

Those were questions she wasn’t likely to get answered here, so she forced her mind back to the topic at hand.

Augusta nodded. “So young Mr. Black was also in residence?” she asked.

Amelia nodded. “I was there as well, with my niece Susan. I can assure you that Sirius is quite sane, and recovering well from his ordeal.”

Augusta considered. If memory served her correctly, Amelia and Sirius had had a bit of a fling developing, before his incarceration. Guessing from the way Amelia was acting now, she would bet that that relationship was heating up again. She turned to look at her grandson. “What are your thoughts?” she asked the young wizard.

Neville looked surprised to have been addressed, and even more shocked that his opinion was asked for. He steeled himself, and forced his voice to remain calm as he spoke his thoughts. “Sirius seems like a good guy. Like Madam Bones said, he’s recovering, but he doesn’t look anything like those wanted posters. Harry said Madam Pomfrey had taken care of both of them.” He looked down at his lap. “I like him. He’s funny, and nice, and he definitely cares about Harry. He’s also got a lot of good stories. He told me a little about mum and dad.” Augusta looked slightly angry with this, but Neville looked up suddenly, a fire burning in his eyes that shocked the older woman. “He told me about how he and dad were friends, and how mum and Harry’s mum were like sisters from day one. He told me how the only reason he got as good a score as he did on the Herbology OWL was because of dad.” Hearing a little about his parents seemed to have brought such a startling change in the teenager. “Gran, you’ve got to help him,” his expression was pleading. “He doesn’t deserve what’s been done to him, and if you’ve got the ability to act, the way I see it, you’ve got the responsibility to act.”

Augusta nodded, taken aback by the subtle chastising her grandson had given her, before she turned back to their guest. “I agree that Mr. Black needs a trial, and I would be happy to help, however I may.”

Amelia was relieved, and she smiled gratefully. Together, the pair of them began to plan. With the way things stood at the Ministry, she didn’t trust much of her department to keep their mouths shut. She had a few Aurors she would get involved later, but for now, she felt safer getting help outside the Ministry, and Augusta would be a good presence to have on her side.

Neville was shocked when, not only did his grandmother ask him to stay, she also asked for his input on their plans.

So the way I’m imagining the older generation here, Frank Longbottom was a year above the Marauders, and Lily and Alice were in the same year. Amelia, as I said, was five years ahead of the Marauders, and Susan’s parents were in their seventh year when the Marauders started at Hogwarts. Molly and Arthur are maybe a year above Amelia, so in their sixth year when the Marauders were in their first.
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Chapter 12
I apologize for updating so late in the day (well, late where I am). I had to go straight from school to work today, and only just got home.

And this is now my second story to pass the 200 review mark, so thank you guys so much!

I should also say, as a follow-up to my authors note at the end of the last chapter, the ages of the adults aren’t that important, just a frame of reference so that people don’t wonder what their relationships were in school. Molly and Arthur’s ages don’t really matter that much – I did get a few reviews concerning their ages when they had Bill. I’m thinking that Molly probably got pregnant right out of school. I did double check, and Bill was born in 1970, so that would mean Molly and Arthur are at least seven to eight years older than the Marauders.

Disclaimer: not mine

Things changed a bit after that.

The rest of July went by in a haze of visits from friends, Quidditch games, and of course, more studying.

Neville got to have a nice talk with his grandmother, who, for once, didn’t spend the whole conversation comparing him to his father, and complaining about how he didn’t match up.

It seemed that his initiative to involve her in this secret with Sirius Black had changed something in the formidable dowager. Indeed, though she didn’t know how to express it, she truly was proud of the way he had stood up for his father’s friend, and she was willing to allow him to gain a closer relationship with the fugitive – though hopefully he wouldn’t be one for much longer.

Neville had also spoken with her about Harry, where he went into a little more detail about his new friend’s childhood – though not sharing too much, as he didn’t want to betray Harry’s trust – ending with the request he had made to get more information on his godmother. Augusta was shocked, even more so when she learned that Harry hadn’t even known whom his godmother was before this summer. She couldn’t help but think that, had things been just a bit different, Harry and Neville might have grown up as brothers.

She was used to feeling disappointment towards her young heir, but the change this summer had wrought was a complete one eighty. Neville was going over to Harry’s new home nearly every day now, and the result was a more confident young man. He told his grandmother that the two of them were studying, and just talking, and that Sirius had been sharing a lot of stories about their parents. He even told her he was getting more comfortable on a broomstick! Augusta wanted to meet the boy who had changed her grandson so much. If Harry was able to do this, she had no doubt he had to be a rather special young man.

Molly had spoken with Minerva, and after hearing the whole story, was shocked that Dumbledore would be so inattentive. She offered her former professor her full support. Things were a little tense when she learned that ‘infamous murderer Sirius Black’ was also in residence, but when she learned that truth as well, she mellowed. Seeing him again was nerve-racking, but Sirius was well enough by this point that he really didn’t look like he had spent twelve years in prison and one on the run at all. He was funny, charismatic, and charming, and any computations the Weasley matriarch had about her children spending time at McGonagall castle vanished. They seemed to bond a little over their desire to be a parental figure to Harry. She remembered him from the Order of the Phoenix during the war with Voldemort. She and Arthur were several years older, and though they hadn’t been very close, she had enjoyed spending time with him, as well as Lily, James, and Remus. She had never really warmed to Peter, and now she knew why.

Susan was also becoming a regular presence in the McGonagall household. She enjoyed spending time with Harry and Neville – especially Neville – and she, too, was enjoying getting to know Sirius. Especially since it seemed as if the man might become a permanent fixture in her life, if her aunt had anything to say about it. As her parents had been much older than him, he didn’t have too many stories – they had been in their seventh year when he had started at Hogwarts. Most of what he knew of them came from the few years after graduation, when they had been members of the Order of the Phoenix together. He did, however, tell her a lot about her aunt. Amelia had apparently been a few years ahead of him in school, but when he had joined the Aurors, she had been one of the training volunteers, as she had only finished her training a couple years earlier. They had enjoyed a rather light, flirtatious relationship that had had hints of being something more, had they had the time, and had events not unfolded as they had.

Harry was enjoying getting to know her, as well. He remembered the events from his second year quite well, and how most of Hufflepuff had shunned him, thinking he had been the one to petrify Justin, but Susan had never said a bad word against him. One afternoon in July, he finally asked her why.

Susan shrugged a little sheepishly. “You seemed just as scared as the rest of us,” she explained. “I didn’t think you’d do anything to hurt anyone, though I am sorry I never really fought for you against my housemates. Besides, your mother was muggleborn, as is one of your best friends, why would you have any sort of vendetta against them?”

Harry smiled, and nothing more was said on the subject, though he definitely felt closer to the girl after that; he was enjoying making new friends, and felt that Susan could be a lifelong one.

Hermione had left with her parents on holiday to Spain. They would be gone for about two weeks, but Hermione promised she would be back by Harry’s birthday.

Harry was very glad for that, because it would be the first time he was actually able to celebrate it with his friends. He didn’t want a huge affair, but somehow he knew Aunt Minerva and Sirius would be going all out. They still maintained that they wanted to spoil him rotten.

Ron and Ginny were also over at the Castle a lot, though Ron was much more reluctant to study than the rest. Surprisingly, a comment from Harry on how impressed Hermione would be if she came back and all his summer assignments were complete was enough for Ron to buckle down and hit the books.

Ginny had given the black haired boy a knowing smirk, but Harry had just smiled in return. He may be a boy, but he wasn’t clueless.

Ron had told him that he was invited to attend the Quidditch World Cup with his family – his father had managed to get tickets, and even his oldest brothers would be there. Harry was excited, but he also saw the look in Neville’s eyes at the mention of the match. Harry knew Neville would not be going, as his grandmother was not a fan.

The opportunity to do something about that arose a few days later. Neville hadn’t been able to come over, as his grandmother had asked him to do something at home, and Ron had used some ‘improper language’ in front of his mother, so it was just Susan and Ginny that day. Later in the afternoon, Amelia showed up, spending some time just cuddling with Sirius on the sofa.

Harry entered the room nervously, and was pleased that, at least, they weren’t snogging. “Erm, Amelia, do you have a minute?” he asked hesitantly.

The two adults sat up straighter, and Amelia nodded. “Of course, Harry. Is something wrong?”

Harry shook his head as he sat down in the armchair across from the pair, twisting his hands together in his lap. “I just wanted to ask you something. Susan mentioned that you were going to get tickets for the World Cup, and I was hoping you might be able to coordinate with Mr. Weasley, so that we could all sit together.”

Amelia nodded thoughtfully. She would certainly be able to do that. “I don’t see why not,” she agreed, smiling at how he and her niece had become such good friends.

Harry shifted in his seat. “I was also wondering if you might be able to get an extra ticket. Neville’s not going, and I know he’s disappointed at that. I was hoping you might be able to get one for him as well. I can pay for it,” he hurried to add, but was cut off when Amelia shook her head.

“I will get him a ticket, but I’m not going to let you foot the bill,” she smiled. “Neville’s a nice young man, and I’d like to do this for him. We’ll call it a birthday present, how about that? Think you can keep it a secret until then?”

Harry nodded, grinning as he stood up. “Thanks, Amelia. This means a lot to me.” Both adults smiled at the charitable young man, though that expression changed to embarrassment the next moment, when his eyes took on a devious glint. “Now, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing. And remember Padfoot, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

He hurried out of the room before they could yell at him.

He was still laughing to himself when he found Ginny waiting for him at the foot of the stairs. He gulped nervously, wondering if she had heard.

Apparently, she had, but she wasn’t disappointed. She just gave him a gentle hug, smiling as she stepped back. “That was a nice thing you did, Potter.”

Harry returned the smile, and the two headed back to the library. “I know how much he wants to go, and I didn’t want to have to ask your dad if he could get one more ticket. I know Amelia’s got some more pull, and I don’t think she’s actually gotten hers and Susan’s yet.”

Ginny nodded her understanding, and promised to keep it quiet, as the two entered the library and sat back down next to Susan, returning to their respective books.

XXX

Harry’s birthday was a quiet affair – or, as quiet as it could be, with Molly Weasley involved. She and Minerva had had a bit of an argument when it came to the food, with the professor finally relenting and letting Molly bring the cake. The house elves were quite eager to take care of the rest of the meal. It seemed that they had grown quite fond of her new charge, and wanted to make his birthday the best ever – not that that was much of a challenge. Minerva had been hard-pressed to hide her laughter – and Sirius hadn’t even tried – watching the excitable creatures interrogate Harry on his favorite foods.

Hermione had returned the day before, and was there, looking very tan.

Ron and Ginny came, along with their parents, Fred, and George. Mr. Weasley and the twins had been informed of the situation, and promised to keep it all a secret. Fred and George were awestruck the moment they learned that Sirius Black was Padfoot, and that they had actually spent a year being taught by Mooney.

Remus was also there. It had taken some doing, a stern talking to from Minerva – where she informed him that all those empty bedrooms were just going to waste – and quite a bit of pleading from Harry, before he consented to move in. But only temporarily. And he drew the line at Minerva buying him his own new wardrobe. Still, he couldn’t deny how happy Harry was in his new home.

When Minerva and Sirius had informed him of what had happened at the beginning of the summer, he had had to take a few minutes, just to ensure that he wouldn’t go and do something rash – like hex one Vernon Dursley to within an inch of his sanity. As they continued, telling him their theories on why Dumbledore had left him there, and why the leader of the light had done nothing at the evidence of obvious abuse, he included the old man in his thoughts of hexing. He didn’t want to believe what they were telling him, not of the man who had made a Hogwarts education possible for him, but listening to their theories, and hearing Harry’s explanations of his first few years at school, he really couldn’t come to a different conclusion. Suddenly, Dumbledore’s request for him not to try and connect with Harry before he came to Hogwarts made much more sense.

Susan and Amelia were there as well, and so were Neville and Augusta.

Neville had invited him over for dinner the night before, as he had just wanted a quiet celebration at home. He had been surprised to even receive so many presents, but Susan, Ron, and Ginny had all sent him gifts. Harry had given him a muggle book on plants, which Neville seemed to revere, especially after seeing the glossy colored photos on the pages.

Augusta was pleased to finally meet Harry, and seemed impressed by the young man.