First Place - Angst

The Weasleys took Percy back without a question, without recriminations. Despite the angry comments made by each one of them in the past, there were no insults or accusations aimed at Percy. Severus did not need empathy to understand how Harry felt at that moment. Their relationship was still too new for the kind of security Harry needed, so he just reassured his son and held him close.

Percy's appearance was troubling, looking worse than Harry had when he wasn't sleeping, which was quite an accomplishment, and Severus knew Molly would be feeding him within moments. Severus knew the look on Percy's face well. He had caused that look on many faces, and it boded ill.

Severus was aware when Dumbledore took Percy aside to question him once Molly relinquished hold of her third born son. Harry had clearly noticed as well and slipped away himself about the same time into the room where the portraits of Aaron and Viviane were hanging.

"He's been approached," Severus said with meaning when he managed to get a moment with Dumbledore before the man returned to Hogwarts.

"All he would say is he will not betray his family again," Albus said sadly, his years weighting his voice.

"Gryffindors," Severus snorted. Many of them would die sooner than admitting a weakness.

Albus nodded to Severus's surprise, "All he needs to do is ask and we will protect him, but there is nothing I can do without his compliance. I tried."

"He never will ask," Severus knew exactly what Percy was doing, but he would never understand.

That morning Severus had been deeply touched, as well as shocked, by the pile of gifts he received. He was even included in the annual 'Weasley jumper' gifts from Molly. She was wise enough that she did not knit him a jumper he would never wear, but made a thick blanket instead, black with a pattern of silver and green around the edge.

To keep him completely part of the tradition Harry wrapped the blanket around Severus as the Weasleys, Remus, Harry, and Hermione put on their new Weasley jumpers. It even seemed a part of the tradition that the twins wrestled Percy into his jumper, trapping his arms at his sides, which Percy took in stride.

"Just like first year," Harry had said with a slight quirk of his lips.

"You had Christmas with the Weasleys your first year?" Severus asked his son.

Harry nodded, "Half of them anyway, at Hogwarts. The others were in Romania."

Harry actually seemed happy that day, genuinely happy. Severus had learned when Harry was affecting happy and when he was actually feeling good. When Harry left the room he gave him some time alone with Aaron and Viviane before joining them. Harry, of course, knew he was approaching and turned the moment he entered.

"Can we go to Godric's Hollow?" Harry questioned.

Severus saw the hopeful look and Aaron's face behind Harry was clearly saying 'I had something to do with this but I won't admit it.'

"We'll need to consult the headmaster...," Severus stalled, trying to figure out the impetus behind Harry's request. He did not really want to see the ruins where James and Lily died.

Harry quickly grew frustrated and rolled his eyes, "Do we need to consult the headmaster about every little thing we do?" Severus shook his head and saw Aaron and Viviane both raise their eyebrows. They had heard about this side of Harry but had not seen it yet. "Then I don't see why we can't just apparate there for a few hours. It's not like we'd be defenseless or something, and if we don't tell the whole world then no one can leak that we're going."

"We have to bring at least one other person," Severus said sternly and Harry grinned.

"Bring Remus," Aaron suggested quickly, "and make sure Alastor stops by to talk to me. I haven't had a good long talk with old Mad-Eye since before I died."

"I'll pass the message along," Harry laughed and Severus wondered exactly what they had been talking about before he came in.

The ruins of Potter Manor were a difficult sight for both Severus and Remus, and the bitter wind blowing on Boxing Day did not help matters, but Harry seemed oddly pleased by the sight. Severus supposed that even ruins of the only place you experienced love as a child would be comforting.

While Severus and Remus held back, Harry walked forward confidently. Remus had turned around, unable to look at the spot where everything was taken from him in one moment. Severus couldn't rip his eyes away.

He could still see the Manor, a stone castle on a much smaller scale than Hogwarts, massive in scale but in some ways smaller than many modern large buildings. The stones it was built with were enormous, set in place with magic.

It had been constructed by the Potter family before Hogwarts was built and was a U-shaped structure. The tails were the towers, one with the Master Suite at the top and the various rooms that were assigned as Aaron's office, Viviane's study, a dueling room, and the Portrait room. The nursery had been part of the Master Suite. There were a few others that Severus had never seen.

The other tower had James's room and all the guest bedrooms, enough for a dozen visitors or even more. In the connecting portion was the great room, the 'lady's room', the 'playroom', and an enormous library, all with very high arched ceilings. In the basement the kitchen and various storage rooms were located, one of which served as a potions lab.

Severus was amazed still that Harry had survived that night. When the killing curse had rebounded on Voldemort it had somehow broken the magic that held the Manor together and the building collapsed around the Potter family. Hagrid had pulled Harry from the ruins.

Harry was standing exactly where the main door once opened, a massive slab of oak with iron fittings and decorative work that actually reinforced the door. His hands were held out as if pressed against the ancient wood and his head was down. It was an odd sight, and Severus almost swore. Harry was performing some magical ritual that he hadn't told anyone about. Severus didn't dare interrupt as such an action could harm them both. The air around his son shimmered and for an instant Severus thought his imagination was a bit too sharp.

"Remus...," Severus breathed, reaching a hand out to turn the Marauder around.

"It can't be," the werewolf whispered.

Somehow, Potter Manor was standing before them as though that tragic Halloween had never happened. Harry was grinning at them and Severus wondered when Harry had walked over to them.

"It was an illusion... the ruins," Harry explained quietly, almost reverently.

"Harry...," Remus was almost choking on his words, "I've walked around those ruins."

"Good illusion, huh Moony?" Harry's eyes twinkled, and Severus wondered if his son had spent too much time around Dumbledore or if it was just something that happened to powerful wizards. Harry's twinkle was different, though, deeper and less sparkly, and so a little less annoying.

Harry was still talking though and his voice held a bit of amusement, "You know what astonishes me about the wizarding world? Wizards always believe what they see when every one of them knows at least ten spells and five potions to create illusions."

There was no answer. Severus was at a loss for words. The investigation conducted by the Ministry found no traces of an illusion, no active wards, only traces of the killing curse cast three times, a handful of Cruciatus, and some defensive spells that must have been from James.

"How?" Remus finally asked.

"It was a spell put in place when the Manor was built," Harry answered and raked a hand through his hair. "Aaron told me about it. It's blood magic, linked to the Potters. If every Potter is killed, or no heir can claim the Manor, then the Manor would appear to be ruins, even to wizards, until someone of Potter blood claimed the Manor."

"And you were just a baby, so you couldn't claim it," Severus continued.

"Or I died," Harry said with a faraway look.

Remus gave him an odd look but Severus thought he knew where this was going, "Harry... you're alive."

"Wizards can show traits of their animagus form from birth," Harry explained slowly and softly. "No one really knows what happened that night. All I remember of the curse is green light and pain. So unless someone wants to ask Voldemort what he remembers there's not much information to go on."

"You think...," Severus looked at his son shrewdly.

Harry shrugged and looked worn, "I don't know. From what I've read there shouldn't be a way to survive the curse, so maybe there isn't, and maybe my phoenix traits kicked in and I was reborn." Harry shook his head and wrapped his cloak around himself, "It's cold. Either of you want to go inside?"

The three of them approached the door with a bit of hesitation. Once there Remus ran his hands over it and inhaled, tears in his eyes.

"It smells the same," he said softly. "It hasn't changed."

"Aaron said it should be exactly as it was," Harry's voice wavered a bit. Severus was not sure he wanted to open the door to open, but Harry took a deep breath and plunged ahead in pure Gryffindor fashion.

The great room lit as they stepped inside, and it was decorated the same as Severus remembered. The furniture, the wall hangings, the jar that held the Floo powder, they were all the same. There was even a picture of James, Lily, and Harry on the mantle.

Harry crossed to the fireplace and lit it. He threw in a pinch of powder before either Severus or Remus could stop him. Harry turned his head back, "Don't worry. The wards are still up. I saw them before we came inside." He turned back to the fireplace, "Albus Dumbledore!"

"Harry, to what... where are you?" Albus examined what he could see of the room carefully.

"Potter Manor," Harry had to be grinning from the sound of his voice, "care to join us?"

Dumbledore was there in a flash. Severus had never seen anyone come through the Floo network so fast. Albus gave Harry a stern and confused look as he almost knocked him out of the way of the fireplace. Only Harry's sharp reflexes prevented a collision, "Harry..."

"Potter Manor was never destroyed," Harry said, interrupting the man few would dare to even question. "Aaron can explain it all much better than I can. It has something to do with an ancient spell and Potter blood."

"In that case," Albus's eyes were moist as he looked around, "I think you will all want to follow me."

Albus led the way up a winding stone staircase to what Severus knew was the Portrait Room, where portraits of all the Potter ancestors were hanging. The door opened and the four of them walked in to find a room filled with portraits, all of them yawning and stretching.

"How long have we been sleeping?" one of the Potter males, with the classic hair but a sharper facial structure than Harry, said while he yawned.

"I would estimate roughly sixteen years," Albus informed them.

"Albus!" several portraits greeted him and Albus answered each of them by name. Severus had known Albus was close to the Potters, but not exactly how close.

Severus was ignoring the clamor though, and looking for the one portrait that he wanted to be there more than any other. There were two empty spots, where James had taken down Aaron and Viviane to move them to the cottage, and next to them were James and Lily Potter.

"James?" Severus felt his mouth dry. "Lily?"

"Sev!" Severus walked over to the frames. He hadn't expected the portraits to exist, as they were never painted while the subjects still lived. He saw that Harry was frozen in the doorway and he paused. He turned back.

"Harry," Severus bent slightly and whispered, "come meet your parents."

Harry's head snapped up and his eyes were moist. Remus also stood frozen, but Severus could only deal with one shocked wizard and his son took precedence in this case. Albus could manage Remus. Harry nodded jerkily and allowed himself to be led over to the portraits. Every bit of self-consciousness Severus had ever observed in Harry was back, along with the insecurities.

"Mum? Dad?" Harry's voice was hoarse. Severus stood behind him with both hands on his shoulders. The rest of the portraits quieted and looked on in interest at the only living member of their family.

"Harry?" James's voice was not much better. "You're so big."

At that Harry gave a short laugh and raised one eyebrow, creating an expression very similar to one Severus often used, "You must need glasses more than I

Both James and Lily blinked at the comment and Severus started laughing. James made eye contact with him and Severus thought he might melt right there.

"He looks like you Sev," Lily said in her soft alto.

"And James, and you Lily," Severus replied with a sad smile. He squeezed Harry's shoulders.

"How old are you Harry?" James asked almost hungrily.

"Seventeen," Harry answered, smiling. He turned his head, "What are you waiting for Moony? Get over here!"

"Moony?" James turned in his frame, but Remus was hidden from view until he walked over. "Damn Moony, you look old!"

Lily joined James in his frame and smacked his arm, "James!"

"Hi Prongs. Hey there Lee," Remus said with a little trouble. "You don't need to hit him. I've been a werewolf for thirty-three years. I'm surprised I don't look like Alastor."

"Thirty-three...," James's eyes widened. "How did you do it Moony? I thought twenty years," his eyes darted to Harry and back to Remus before he stopped talking.

"I'll tell you everything later Prongs," Remus smiled, the first real, untroubled smile Severus had seen from him since before Black died.

"Sixteen years," Lily looked suddenly angry and both Severus and Remus backed away with Harry giving them an odd look. Even though she was only a portrait, Severus was not willing to risk the wrath of Lily. "Where is that dog-brained idiot so I can give him a piece of my mind? Sixteen years!"

"You may already have Mum," Harry answered for the living. "Sirius died over a year ago. Before that he was in Azkaban and Wormtail was pretending to be a pet rat. He never saw the letters you wrote Dad. I just found them on my birthday this year."

"Azkaban...," if a portrait could pale both James and Lily did. "No one opened the vault."

"We tried James," Albus responded.

"I'm sorry James," Remus spoke up with his eyes downcast. "I ran. Albus couldn't find me to get my help."

"But Sev...," James's eyes were hopeful.

Severus shook his head, "I only regained my memories a little more than a year ago."

Lily looked frustrated, "Damned Occlumency. Then Harry, who...?"

Harry didn't answer. He looked down and Severus brushed through his hair, so like James's, and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "Petunia and Vernon raised him."

"Albus!" Lily scolded. "I made you swear you wouldn't! How could you do that to him?"

"He had no choice Mum," Harry spoke with his head still down. "Your sacrifice helped me live. The curse rebounded and destroyed Voldemort's body but there were still Death Eaters out there and they wanted revenge and he wasn't dead."

"Blood magic," Lily said sadly. "I'm still mad at you Albus Dumbledore."

"I have apologized to Harry and Severus Lily," Albus said in a sad voice, "and I now apologize to you and James as well."

"Don't be mad Mum," Harry lifted his head again. "I'm fine, and I have Dad now."

James and Lily both smiled at Harry and Severus. Harry leaned back against Severus and he could rest his chin on the top of Harry's head if he tilted it up just a bit.

"So Riddle is dead?" James finally asked. "Did it work?"

Harry shook his head, "I think we're going to be here for a while."

Harry stretched his arms out and Severus felt all Harry's muscles loosen. He wondered exactly what Harry was doing, and then four very comfortable looking armchairs appeared in a semi-circle facing James and Lily. Harry stepped away from Severus and sat in one, and the others followed his lead.

"Wow, no wand," James looked awed and then smiled proudly. "Why don't you call for Tawney and she can get some food for you."

Harry's eyes widened, "I own a house elf?"

"Eight house elves," Lily corrected with a little frown and sigh.

"Forget Voldemort," Harry groaned, "Hermione is going to kill me."

As Harry buried his head in his hands Severus and Albus both laughed while Remus began the first of many stories for James and Lily, the founding and progress of the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. They were starting a little out of order, but it would all sort out in the end.

Finding the Key - Chapter 35

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