Chapter Text
Watching Harry Potter
Philosopher Stone
Chapter 1
DOORSTEP DELIVERY
[It is nighttime in Surrey, we see an owl on the street sign “PRIVET DRIVE” and the camera pans to the street with very identical looking brown bricked houses.]
“This is where you grew up, mama?” Teddy asks. Harry hums softly as he reaches over Percy’s shoulders to run his fingers through Teddy’s blue hair.
“For most of my life yes. Before that, I guess I lived in a place called Godric Hollow.” Harry tells the eighteen year old boy.
“But before that we lived in a place called Potter Manor which is in Scotland.” James said. “We lived there up until we had to go into hiding like the Longbottom’s with their boy named Neville.” Lily huffs a soft laugh.
“You were quite unhappy that you couldn’t see Nev. You were thick as thieves when you were younger, best of friends. Alice was your godmother; Hadrian and I was Neville’s godmother. You were godbrothers.” Lily explains, smiling widely. Neville inhale sharply, leaning forward.
“Really?” He breathes. Lily grins at him. She stands and takes several steps towards him, palm resting gently on his face.
“You’re my godson no matter what time or day, place or what.” Lily smiled, leaning down, and kissing his forehead. Neville’s eyes filled with tears. Lily smiled at him and went back to her seat, placing herself down.
[The owl flies away and an elderly man with crimson robes and a long silvery white beard named Albus Dumbledore walks out of a forest near the street, past a tabby cat standing next to what looks like a shed.]
“What a strange looking man.” Sally murmurs, smirking when Harry began laughing. Ron snorts.
“He liked dressing in the brightest outfits. Even in our world, he dressed strangely.” Ron tells her. Sally giggles, covering her mouth, her husband Paul looking at her fondly. Harry smiles at his honorary sister. They weren’t related at all, but Sally was a squib, and she knew of the wizarding world as her father had been a wizard, her mother a muggle. They’d met when Percy was only young, about a year old. Sally had recognised him, and they’d struck up a conversation.
Eventually, Sally began taking Percy on playdates and Harry had come clean about Percy’s parentage when a monster had come after them. Since Sally could see through the mist, she couldn’t be fooled by anything but the truth. Even now, Sally was protecting Percy like he was her own and loved him like a son.
“I think he liked the mystery of it. And the strangeness. People thought he was a bit … odd in the head.” Severus speaks up suddenly. Harry eyes him in interest. “What they didn’t know was he was a master strategist, always ten steps ahead.”
“He should’ve never made you do what you did.” Harry’s eyes go to Dumbledore, who up till then had been smiling widely, eyes twinkling a little. Now it goes out like someone blown on the flames.
“My boy—”
“Shut up.” Harry hisses. Dumbledore shuts his mouth. “I am not your fucking boy. Cease to call me that.” Dumbledore purses his lips.
“Harry—”
“Lord Potter to you, Dumbledore. We are not friends; we are not family. You are just a General. Nothing more to me.” Minerva inhales sharply.
“Mr Potter—” She starts.
“Respectfully, Professor McGonagall, you have no idea what Dumbledore’s done. Once we watch these then you can put in your input. Until then, just … be silent when it comes to things between me and him.” Harry spat. Percy’s eyes are wide, and he hugs Harry. Harry inhales slowly, burying his face in his son’s hair, letting it out.
“You’ve got a catch, Uncle Poseidon.” Ares leered at Poseidon. Poseidon glares at him.
“Don’t talk about him like that. Don’t even think about him or I’ll show you just why sailors fear the sea.” He snarled. Ares held up his hands, a soft smirk on his face. Harry lifts his gaze and meets Poseidon’s eyes, still stormy and raging from the small spat he had with Ares.
[He takes out his deluminator and activates it. Dumbledore zaps all the light out of the lampposts. He puts away the device and a cat meows. Dumbledore looks down at the cat.]
“Woah, what is that?” Leo breathes, staring at it in awe. Ron digs into his pocket and throws it to Leo, the male fumbling for it. Jason catches it before it can smash into the floor, handing it to the male. Leo examines it.
“Dumbledore gave it to me. Mione got a book on the Beadle and the Bard, a fairy tale in our world. Harry got a snitch, the first snitch he ever caught in a game of Quidditch.” Ron tells the rest of the room. Annabeth frowned.
“Quidditch? What’s that?” She questioned.
“It’s a sport in the wizarding world, played with brooms. It’s quite ruthless. Harry was the best seeker Hogwarts had seen in centuries.” Ginny says. Harry shifts and digs into his pocket, looking for the snitch he always carried with him. “It’s played with flying brooms. There’s three types of balls: Quaffle; which you use to score in the three goalposts, Bludgers; they’re balls the have magic in them, so they zoom around the pitch and the Beaters use bats to hit them at the opposing team. And then there’s a snitch which is what the Seeker’s catch. It a tiny golden ball. Harry was a Seeker and later, the Captain of the Gryffindor team.”
Harry finally finds it, tugging it out. He holds it up and it sparkles in the light. The wings bat out and then takes flight, batting around the room. Leo reaches for it, hesitating. “You can take it. Just be careful with it’s wings.” Harry says to the boy. Leo brightens and reaches for it, but it jumps out of his reach. Harry laughs, standing and walking over. It zooms off but Harry reaches out, quick as lightning and grasps it in his fingers, walking over to Leo and holding it out.
“Thanks, Mr. Potter.”
“Harry. Just Harry.” Harry smiles. Leo grins up at him and Harry ruffles his hair, walking and sitting back in his seat. Leo fiddles with it, examining it’s wings with an awed expression.
“You were Captain? Following in your old man’s footsteps!” Harry laughs at his fathers wide, beaming grin. “Though I was always partial to Chaser myself. The people that score the goals.” He clarifies to the confused expression of the demigods.
“Well, Harry was Seeker in first year.” Hermione brags. Over the years, she’d softened up and looked back fondly on the times where they weren’t in danger. She was especially proud of the two boys achievements over the years.
“Seeker? First year?” James gasps. His eyes widen then he jumps to his feet and cheers. “That’s my boy!” Harry blushes as Lily croons her pride, running her fingers through his hair. Harry smiles and leans against his mothers shoulder. Sirius is up as well, cheering and James leads him in a strange waltz around the room, cheering and singing. The twins are cackling, cuddled next to each other. Others are laughing at the sight.
“Mr Potter, Mr Black, if you could sit please. We need to get through these.” McGonagall says though there’s a small smirk on her face as she watches the two. Sirius whines.
“But Minnie—”
“Mr Black. Sit.” James and Sirius grumble as they head back to their seats. Teddy laughs as his papa reaches for him and smothers him in his arms, kissing his forehead. Percy beams as his grandfather ruffles his hair, kissing Harry on the temple as he sits, slinging an arm around Lily’s shoulder, hand cupping the back of Harry’s neck.
Dumbledore: I should have known that you would be here ... Professor McGonagall.
“You were there?” Harry inhales sharply, staring with betrayed eyes at McGonagall. McGonagall sighs.
“Yes, Mr Potter, I was there. Unlike everyone else, it didn’t feel like the time to be celebrating when some of my favourite students were dead and their son orphaned. I … felt like I had to do something and if that was sitting outside your aunts house, then I’d do it.” Harry gnaws at his lip and looks away, jaw tense.
“You were spying on us?” Petunia shrieks. Dudley glared at her.
“She had every right. She was just worried for Harry.”
Petunia blusters. “She was being a freak—watching us—our privacy invaded—”
“Shut up, Petunia.” Dudley snarls. “Don’t ever call them freaks again. Don’t ever. Stop being a prejudiced bitch.” Dudley snaps. Petunia goes pink and her mouth falls open.
“Oh, Duddy, what’ve they done to you?” She breathes. Dudley tugs back from where he had leaned forward in his anger and glared ever harder than before.
“They’ve done nothing. I’ve grown up. I’ve matured and I’ve realised that you and Vernon were nothing but abusers and neglecters. To Harry, to me. I have a cousin; a good cousin and I have two wonderful nephews. I’ve got a magical wife and a squib daughter. I’ve got a son on the way and whether he’s a muggle, a squib, or a wizard, I don’t care. He’s my son.” Dudley rants. Petunia’s face get’s darker and darker with every word.
“You—you—” She stutters. Dudley glares.
“You will never know you’re granddaughter and your grandson. Nor your future grandchildren.” Dudley vows. Petunia falls back against the sofa, trembling. Whether rage or sadness or grief, Harry doesn’t know.
“You can’t do that. I have a right to see my grandchildren!” She snaps back, finally getting her words.
“Why? So you call my family freaks and subtly imply that I should divorce my wife and move onto someone more normal, someone less freakish?” Dudley scoffs. “No, Petunia, I’m happy now. With my magical wife and my magical kids. With my magical cousin and my magical nephews. They are my family now. Not you.” Petunia’s lips tremble. Dudley ignores her and turns back to the screen before pausing and looking towards Hecate.
“Can you bring my wife and children here?” He asks. Hecate frowns, pausing.
“Please.” Harry speaks up. “Dudley’ll need them. And I want them here too.” Harry says. Hecate sighs and snaps her fingers. A bright light fills then room and when it fades, a beautiful woman stands there, a twelve year old girl stands there. There’s a bump on her stomach, where her baby is settled. She glances around, eyes wide. She sights Dudley.
“Oh, Dudley.” She breathes in relief, face lighting up. Dudley jumps to his feet and sweeps his daughter into his arms. His daughter was small for a twelve year old with beautiful dark hair and wide blue eyes. “Me and Hailey missed you.”
“Missed you too, my loves.” Dudley kisses Hailey on the forehead and reaches for his wife, bringing her into his arms. He kisses her hair then her lips, humming softly. “I’m happy you’re here, Charlotte.”
“Always.” Charlotte said. Dudley lead her over to the sofa, the others shuffling over. Charlotte sits next to Dudley, leaning into him when he places his arm around her. Hailey sat on Dudley’s lap, kicking her legs excitedly. Charlotte sights Harry.
“Oh, Harry, it’s good to see you and the boys.” She smiles. Her face transforms beautifully. Harry grins back at her.
“It’s nice to see you too, Lottie. Still got morning sickness? I know it was a pain when I was sick with Perce.” Charlotte pats her stomach, smiling softly.
“Nope, all gone. Thank Merlin.” Lily giggles.
“Hello, I’m Lily Potter, mother of Harry, aunty of Dudley. This is my husband, James Potter.” Charlotte’s mouth falls open.
“Dudley …” She trails off. Dudley smiled.
“I know, love. There’s a lot of people here that’re supposed to be dead.” That introduces a round of introductions that makes Charlotte’s jaw hit the floor. Finally, when Dudley’s rumbling in amusement, Charlotte introduces herself and their daughter. Hailey waves and says hello with a shy look.
As one, they turn back to the screen, Dudley whispering in his wife’s ear what was happening. Charlotte frowns but nods, taking Dudley’s hand and squeezing with a meaningful look in his direction. Charlotte knew of Dudley’s trouble with accepting and forgiving himself for what he’d put Harry through in the past. Harry had forgiven him; Charlotte had forgiven him after she’d found out. It was just up to Dudley forgiving himself.
And so far, that hadn’t happened.
[The cat silently looks at him, and the camera turns towards a wall. The cat's shadow turns into a woman with a tall hat and emerald robes. There are footsteps and Minerva McGonagall is revealed.]
“Woah.” Michael Yew whispers.
“You can do what Frank can?” Piper asks, looking interested, leaning forward. Fred blinks.
“What Frank can?” Fred demanded. “What can he do?” Frank stood and then he was changing into different animals in seconds. From a bird to a fox, to a wolf, to a dog, to a fly, to a warthog. Fred’s mouth falls open. “No we can’t do that, but we have things called animagus’s. But we can only change into one. Well, unless you’re really powerful, you’ll have one normal animal and one magical animal.” Fred explains. James and Sirius stand and transform into their animagus’s forms; a stag and a Grimm dog. Padfoot barks and prances around Prongs, who leans his head down and bats at Padfoot gently with his antlers.
“Harry’s one of those that have two forms.” George says. Fred turns to him.
“Really? He does?”
“Hell yeah, Freddie.” George grins widely. Fred looks to Harry, inquiring. Harry sighs as his father and godfather turn back into humans. He stands and takes a step forward, shifting into his normal form, a black wolf with dark green eyes. He growls and chases Sirius around the room, listening to his scream as he flees. James cackles, falling onto the floor, rolling about. Lily and Remus sigh. Harry trots over to James, abandoning the chase of Sirius, licking James’s cheeks. James squeals.
“Ew, slobber.” He shouts. Harry huffs, taking a step back before transforming into his magical form. He trills.
“Merlin, a phoenix.” Lily breathes. Harry takes flight, flying around the room and landing on Lily’s shoulder, preening her hair, trilling softly. Lily seems to melt at the soothing singing. “You’re amazing, baby.” Harry puffs up, taking flight again and shifting to human as he goes, landing in a crouch on the floor. He stands and slides back into his seat, Sirius, and James trotting back to their own seat.
“That was animagus’s.” McGonagall said after she’d recovered, closing her agape mouth.
“Cool.” Frank breathes. Harry winks at him.
McGonagall: Good evening, Professor Dumbledore. Are the rumours true, Albus?
“What rumours?” Jason asks.
“That Lily and James were dead and left Harry orphaned.” McGonagall says. Dumbledore frowns.
“Don’t you mean that Voldemort was dead?” People flinch at the dark wizards name. McGonagall looks to him, slight glare on her face.
“No, Albus, I was asking about Lily and James. You know, my previous students?” Dumbledore looks sheepish.
“Right, Minerva, I am sorry. I’d presumed.” Albus murmurs, dipping his head. McGonagall scowls and turns, eyeing Harry before she gives a singular nod, turning back to the screen. Harry smirks softly. Seems like McGonagall’s doubting the deceased Headmaster already. Good, Harry thinks, he’s been on a pedestal for too long.
Dumbledore: I'm afraid so, Professor. The good, and the bad.
“What good things happened, Dumbledore?” Sirius demands. Dumbledore looks to him. There’s no twinkle in his periwinkle blue eyes. “James and Lily were dead. Harry was orphaned.” Sirius snarls. “I went to fucking Azkaban—”
“You what?” James roars.
“A-Azkaban?” Lily’s voice shakes. She stands and rushes to Sirius, throwing herself into Sirius’s arms, perching herself on Sirius’s lap and clutching him tight. Somehow Sirius’s head is pressed into Lily’s shoulder and her fingers are running through Sirius’s hair. Remus is smiling softly. Severus pats Regulus’s hair from where his head was on Severus’s shoulders.
“James—” Dumbledore starts. James snarls at him.
“You were there when we made the vow of Secret Keeper to Pettigrew, Dumbledore! You. Were. There! As Chief Warlock you’d oversee the trial—”
“He had no trial, dad.” Harry interrupted. James glances over him, softening. “They arrested him and carted him off to Azkaban straight away.” He told him. James’ eyes widening.
“Even then, you’d be able to force a trial. You’d be able to get justice—Sirius was Harry’s guardian; he should’ve gone to Sirius!”
“James, you have to understand, the blood wards …” Dumbledore trails off at James’ dark look.
“Blood wards?” He hissed. Dumbledore, wisely, stopped talking.
“Jamie, sit down. Let’s just continue watching.” Lily murmured softly. James obeyed her and sat down in Lily’s seat, kissing Harry’s temple softly.
McGonagall: And the boy?
“Boy? His name is Harry.” Lily snapped. McGonagall’s lips thin.
“I’m sorry, Miss Evans.” Lily nods, not looking very sorry at all.
Dumbledore: Hagrid is bringing him.
“Hagrid?” Remus demands. “You didn’t even have the decency to get himself yourself? Fucking hell.” Remus seethes. Dumbledore’s lips thin.
“I had things to do. Errands to run. I have multiple jobs to—”
“Then stop fucking accepting offers for different jobs!” Remus snarls, teeth elongating and eyes burning gold. Someone squeaks and scrambles back out of their chair. Harry’s eyes shoot to Nico, who’s staring with wide eyes and a pale face at Remus, chest heaving. Harry eyes him. Remus flinches back.
“Moony …” Sirius reaches for him, running a hand down his face. Remus turns away, clenching his eyes shut. Harry stands and walks over to Nico, lowering himself down in front of Nico in a crouch. He eyes Nico, reaching out for his hands and using his thumb to run circles in his palm.
“Breathe, little one, breathe.” Harry whispers. Nico’s eyes dart to him and he nods jerkily, lips quivering. Harry’s hand comes up and he brushes Nico’s hair out of his eyes. “Slow, that’s it.” Nico nods again, relaxing some more. “You’ve dealt with a werewolf before, hmm?”
Nico gulps, throat bobbing. “Lycaon.” He breathes. Harry’s breath hitches.
“First werewolf, first lycanthrope and a servant of the Protogenos Gaea.” Harry murmurs, eyes going distant. “He’s not very pleasant to look at, is he?”
“You’ve s-seen him before?” Nico whispers. Harry smiles and brushes his thumb against the child’s cheek.
“He came after Percy. He was only three, Teddy four. When he saw Teddy, he could tell that he had lycanthropy in his veins. Tried to take him for his pack. I killed them without hesitation. Lycaon escaped by the skin of his teeth and stayed clear ever since.” Harry told the boy. Nico nods.
“We are not defined by what runs through our veins, Nico. You’ll meet bad demigods and good demigods. You’ll meet bad werewolves and good werewolves. Lycaon was one of the bad ones. Remus, he’s one of the good ones, okay?”
Nico wore his lip. “O-Okay.” He whispers. Harry stands, runs his fingers through Nico’s hair and places a kiss to his head softly. Then he walks back to his seat and nods to Remus, who smiles at him, a little vulnerable.
McGonagall: Do you think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?
“That’s not fair.” Hermione surprisingly speaks up. Her eyes go to McGonagall, who’s lips have gone thin.
“He’d just lost his parents, Miss Granger. If something else went wrong …” She trails off and magics a napkin, batting at her wet eyes, sniffling softly. Hagrid makes a noise.
“It’s alright, Profes’sor.” Hagrid nods. “I understand. He shouldn’t have to see something go wrong in front of him like … like Lily and James …” Hagrid snorts a sob and blows into his handkerchief. It’s a dark colour and a little furry. McGonagall sniffles.
“Thank you, Hagrid. You’re a dear.”
Dumbledore: Ah, Professor, I would trust Hagrid with my life.
“T-Thank you, Headmaster Dumbledore.” Hagrid blubbers, wiping his face. Dumbledore smiles kindly back at him. The twinkles there again. The sight of it fills Harry with unease and he clutches onto Percy as he eyes Dumbledore suspiciously, not liking the way Dumbledore glances their way. His eyes go to Percy and Harry clears his throat, glaring at the old man.
“Mama, too tight.” Percy croaks. Harry startles, loosening his tight arms.
“Sorry, baby.”
Percy leans against him, snuggling into his neck. He still has a clear shot of the screen. “It’s alright, mama, I don’t trust the old man either. He sets off my … instincts.” Percy struggles how to voice it without seeming stupid. Harry kisses his forehead.
“Good. Trust your instincts. There’s nothing more trusted than them. People can be lead astray but never your instincts.”
“Yes, mama.”
[There is a motor sound, and the two professors look up to see a flying motorcycle coming down from the air. It skids on the street and halts. A large man with shoulder length black hair and beard named Rubeus Hagrid takes off his goggles.]
“My bike!” Sirius cries in excitement. He turns to Hagrid. “Do you still have it, Hagrid?”
“Oh, er, it was in a warehouse but now …” He trails off and glances at Harry, who takes pity on the half-giant, smiling softly.
“It was destroyed seventh year, Padfoot. We got attacked going to the Burrow by Death Eaters. And … and my owl, she—”
“No.” Sirius breathes. “Hedwig?”
“She flew in front of the killing curse for me. She sacrificed herself so I could live.” Sirius’s eyes fill with tears.
“She was a good owl. Loyal. I think … she might’ve been your familiar.”
Harry smiles brokenly. “That might explain it. Even when she didn’t talk I could still understand what she needed and wanted.” Sirius sniffles and nods. Lily clutches him tighter from where she’s still sitting on him. Her grip isn’t suffocating anymore like when she heard about Azkaban but feather light in comfort.
Hagrid: Professor Dumbledore, Sir. Professor McGonagall.
“So polite.” Charlotte coos. Hagrid blushes.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Oh, call me Lottie, dear, I’m way to young to be ma’am yet. I’m only thirty.” Hagrid smiles at her, still pink.
“Well, thank you, Lottie. I’m Hagrid.”
“Nice to meet you, dear.”
Dumbledore: No problems, I trust, Hagrid?
“What problems were you expecting, Headmaster?” Sprout frowns. Dumbledore’s eyes twinkle in that damned way of his.
“There were still Death Eater’s on the loose, my dear.”
“Then you should’ve been there to oversee Harry. Merlin knows the poor dear needed some comfort after what he went through.” Sprout says, hackles rising like one of the most deadliest plants she deals with. Flitwick nods, voice high when he speaks.
“I agree, Albus, you endangered that boy by waiting to see what would happen. If you thought there were Death Eater’s out and going after Mr Potter, then you risked both Mr Potter’s and Hagrid’s life. If this is what happens then maybe you aren’t qualified to be Headmaster to over a hundred, two hundred students.”
“F-Filius—” Dumbledore blusters.
“No. You can justify yourself and use petty excuses after we watch this. But know this, Albus, our faith in you has already deceased.” Flitwick tuts and shakes his head. Dumbledore’s lips tick into a frown. James snickers.
“Karma, old coot.” He grumbles. Harry giggles and feels James’s breath tickle his hair.
Hagrid: No, sir. Little tyke fell asleep just as we were flying over Bristol. Heh. Try not to wake him. There you go.
“Thank you, Hagrid, dear, for worrying about Harry.” Lily says, smiling sweetly at him. Hagrid beams at her.
“He was such a nice baby. Made no fuss, Lily. Yer raised him good.”
Lily’s eyes fill with tears. “T-Thank you, Hagrid, that means a lot.” She whispers. Hagrid nods.
[Hagrid hands a baby wrapped in a bundle over to Dumbledore.]
“Aw!” Several voice croon together. Harry blushes but chuckles.
“Believe me when I say that I haven’t got anything on baby Percy and baby Teddy.” Harry says, laughing. James ruffles in offense.
“Nonsense! My son—”
“Dad, you’re talking about your grandson and grandson-nephew.” Harry reminds him. James face goes embarrassed, ears burning red as he clears his throat. Lily’s breathless with giggles.
“Ah, right. Well, you’re just as cute as each other even though I’ve never got to see baby Percy and baby Teddy.”
Harry smiles. “I’ll show you some pictures when we take a break.”
“No, mama!” Teddy and Percy whine. Harry snickers.
“No buts, loves. Your granddad requires some pictures. Now, shush.” The two teens pout. James snickers.
McGonagall: Albus, do you really think it's safe, leaving him with these people? I've watched them all day. They're the worst sort of Muggles imaginable. They really are ...
“You knew they were the worst of people, and you still gave my godson to them?” Sirius demands of Dumbledore.
“I didn’t think they’d …” He stops as if realising he’s incriminating himself. McGonagall’s eyes flash.
“I told you time and time again, Albus, he would be miserable there. You didn’t listen. You never do. Not about Harry, not about Severus, not even about Tom.” Dumbledore goes pale. McGonagall’s eyebrows shoot up. “Yes, Albus, I was good friends with Tom in school, he told me that you burst into Dippet’s office and said no to him staying at Hogwarts when Dippet was just about to agree. There was a muggle war going on and he was smack dab in the middle of it—he need to be safe.”
“You don’t know who you’re talking about, Minerva.” Dumbledore murmurs softly.
“I’m talking about a scared twelve year old, Albus, not what he turned into. Maybe if he’d been allowed in Hogwarts during the holidays, thing may have turned out differently. It’s your own damn fault, having to be six moves ahead of your opponents.” McGonagall shook her head. Dumbledore slumps back into his seat, pale, and eyes wide.
“You tell him, Minnie.” James whispers. Lily elbowed him in the side.
Dumbledore: The only family he has.
“He had Remus. He had Sirius. He had Severus.” Lily snarls. “He had McGonagall. He had Alice and Frank, he had anyone else.”
“The blood wards—” Dumbledore tried again.
“Fuck the shitty blood wards!” Lily howled, lurching to her feet. James smirked when everyone looked at him. Lily’s wand was somehow in her hands, and she’d aimed it right at Dumbledore’s forehead.
“My dear—”
“Don’t you dare.” Lily breathes, forcing calm. She took a breath and pocketed her wand. “Stay away from my family, Albus Dumbledore. If you don’t, I’ll kill you myself.” Lily walks over to James and sits on his lap. James smirks at Dumbledore.
“That’s my wife.” He said, loud enough for them to hear. “Good job, Lils. Short and to the point. Lovely threatening.”
“Why thank you, handsome.” Lily grinned, kissing his lips again. Harry snickers as Sirius howls with laughter, calming down moments later.
[They stop outside a house which is 4 Privet Drive.]
“Where’s that?” Teddy asks.
“Me and your Uncle Dudley’s old house.” Harry tells the boy. Teddy frowns but nods.
McGonagall: This boy will be famous. There won't be a child in our world who doesn't know his name.
“You’re famous, mama?” Percy asks in awe.
“Oh, yeah, baby. But it was for supposedly defeating the Dark Lord when I was a baby. It was stupid and foolish for people to think a baby defeated a full grown wizard.” Harry shakes his head softly.
“So they celebrated that the Dark Lord was gone, right?” Percy frowned. “Didn’t that mean they were inadvertently celebrating grandma’s and grandpa’s death?”
Harry smiles softly. “Yeah, I suppose they were.” Lily sniffles and wipes at her eyes. Teddy’s scowling now.
“That’s not right, mama, it’s not right.”
“No, it’s not baby, but I can’t change the past.” Teddy frowned and pushed himself back until he hit the sofa with a thud. He was still scowling.
“Merlin, Pads, he’s got your scowl.” James notes. Teddy brightens at that.
“Nope, that’s all his dad’s scowl. You should see Moony’s. Moony do the scowl.” Remus scowls when Sirius pokes at his face. Sirius exclaims triumphantly. “See? All Moony’s.”
“He’s got your cheekbones and your face structure.” Lily notes. “Though the rest is all Remus. I bet if his hair wasn’t blue and he wasn’t a Metamorphagus, he’d look like a posher Remus—”
“Oi!” The marauders, Lily, Harry and Percy and Teddy burst into laughter; previous tension forgotten.
Dumbledore: Exactly. He's better off growing up away from all that. Until he is ready.
“He would never be ready for fame. You’re better of preparing him and explaining why he’s famous instead of springing it on him.” Draco Malfoy spoke up for the first time. Everyone turned to him, but he wasn’t intimidated, merely stared into Dumbledore’s blue eyes, face hard.
“Oh, you’re Cissy’s boy, aren’t you? My little cousin!” Sirius beams. Draco nods.
“Hi, Cousin Sirius.”
“I visited you when you were little … before I got sent to Azkaban of course,” James and Lily flinch, “I’ve never been on good terms with old Lucy but me and Cissy were thick as thieves when we were kids. You look just like her except Lucy’s hair. Malfoy trait, I suppose.” Draco frowns.
“Everyone says I look like my father.” He told him. Sirius scoffs and summons a photograph, standing and waltzing over to Draco, handing it to him.
“No, little cousin, you look exactly like Cissy. Trust me, she’s my bloody cousin, I’d know. You’ve even got her lucky freckle on your cheek. That’s what she’d call it when she’d win against me in Quidditch. She was a ruthless Beater.”
“She was a Beater?”
“Oh, yeah. Absolutely killer. I told her she could’ve gone professional, and she was thinking about it but decided she wanted to be a healer more.” Draco nods, staring down at the photograph. Sirius smiles, seeing the longing. “You can keep that if you’d like.”
“Thank you, Cousin Sirius.”
“No problem, little dragon.” Draco’s wide eyes dart up to him. Sirius shifts. “Er, sorry, me and Reggie used to call you that. You used to levitate yourself into our arms when you were little, shifted your arms into the air like you were flying. Plus Draco is Latin for dragon, so it was fitting—”
“No, no, it’s fine. It’s just … no one except Uncle Sev and mother call me that. Mother told me my godfather was the one to come up with the nickname and it’s sort of … stuck.” He smiled softly in longing.
“Oh, yeah, Reggie did. I’d forgotten about that.” Sirius murmurs, eyes going distant as if thinking about that memory. Draco smiles.
“I did.” Regulus stands, trotting over. He kisses Draco’s hair. “You’ve grown up good, little dragon.”
“T-Thank you, Uncle Reg.” Regulus smiles and sits next to Draco, Sirius heading back to his seat. Draco lowers his head onto Regulus’s shoulder and Regulus leans against Draco’s white-blonde hair, humming softly.
[Dumbledore places the baby on the ground slowly. Hagrid sniffles, he is sobbing a little. He clears his throat.]
“You left him on their doorstep? In the cold in fucking November?” Lily hissed. She shot a hex that made Dumbledore yelp when it touched his hand he brought up to cover his face. Boils erupted over his aged hand.
“My dear—”
“Shut up!” Lily snarls. “Just … just shut up.” The wind dropped out of Lily’s sails, and she collapsed back into her husbands arms, the male glaring darkly at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore: There, there, Hagrid. It's not really goodbye, after all.
“No because he was going to Hogwarts.” Luna says softly.
At everyone’s confused looks, Dorcas Meadowes huffed a laugh. “A school for witches and wizards to learn magic.”
“Cool.” Hazel whispers, eyes sparkling.
[Hagrid nods. Dumbledore takes a letter and places it on the baby, who is now at the foot of the door.]
“A letter? How were you going to explain dropping off a baby on their doorsteps in a letter?” Persephone speaks, one of the first times the gods and goddesses had spoken. They’d merely been watching the proceedings in silent.
“I … just did.” Dumbledore mumbles. Artemis scoffs.
“Men.”
“Oi!” Sirius and James piped up, pouting at her. Artemis raised an eyebrow, smirk on her lips.
Dumbledore : Good luck ... Harry Potter.
“Good luck—good luck?” Marlene snaps. “That’s all you have to say to him?” She scoffed harshly and shook her head in disappointment and fury. “I don’t know why I ever thought it was good to trust you, Dumbledore. You’re clearly off your rockers.”
Sirius snorted in amusement at that.
[The baby has a lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead.]
“Oh, the poor dear.” Someone whispers.
“That looks like it hurts.” Will spoke up, ever the doctor. His eyes go to Harry. “Does it still hurt now, sir?”
“Just Harry, Will.” Harry reminds him. Will blushes and nods.
“Sorry. Um, does it still hurt, Harry?”
Harry shakes his head. “It’s all better now. Thank you though, sweetheart.” Will blushes even brighter and elbows his two half-brothers, Michael, and Lee, in the stomachs when they snicker at his fumbling and flushing.
[The camera slowly zooms towards the scar which glows brightly and it immediately flashes, transitioning to a stormy cloud sky. The film's title in metallic gold zooms out around the camera, and lightning flashes to brighten it up.]
“Harry Potter and the … Philosopher Stone?” Luke asks in confusion, squinting. The words are there long enough that the demigods can properly read them.
“So it has something to do with the stone.” James mumbles.
“And it’s all about Harry’s life. I mean we knew it before but this time it’s confirmed.” Severus says, sharing a look with James, who nods, but he’s frowning.
[Then, the lightning flashes engulf the screen, transitioning it to the present time.]
Everyone’s silent for a moment. Then Hecate stands.
“Who’s hungry? Thirsty?” Several people raise their hands. Hecate magics some drinks and food for them on a big table that spans across the room, in front of the sofas. “Wonderful, now onto the next scene.”
Hecate sits back down. The chatter soon dies out, the only sounds of people picking up food, cutlery scraping on plates and the soft sounds of chewing as the screen splutters back to life. Harry lets his breath out slowly, dread in his stomach about knowing what was to come.