Chapter 120: Sorrowful visit

They had all taken refuge into Black Oak and had spent the rest of the afternoon and evening settling down. It was ancient and while in disrepair the place needed a good clean up. Now at breakfast, it wasn’t the weather that was talked about.

“I warned Dorea that we were staying until we’re done. Except you.” Lily was looking at the children.

“I’m staying, mom!” Rose protested.

“I am too.”

“Draco!”

“I’m seventeen, mother. There isn’t anything you can tell me to not do.”

Susan had her word to say too. “So am I!”

“Lyra.”

The Black Heiress protested. “Oh come on, dad!”

“It’s fine, master. Let her stay.” Bella said.

“Hm, I’m sorry, what?!” Alt-Dora exclaimed, completely taken aback by her alt aunt’s words. “Master?”

Rick gave a quick matter of factly reply. “Don’t try to understand your aunt, you will lose your mind.”

“You know? That’s fair advice.” Sirius turned to Bella. “Did you know you killed me?”

“I know! What a bitch. One simple spell and you fell through the veil of death. Pathetic, Siri, really.”

Alt-Ron mind was taken for a spin. “Wait a minute! You were not talking about yourself but Sirius, yesterday?!”

Bella looked genuinely confused. “Why would I call myself a bitch?”

“Again, don’t try to understand, Bella.” Rick warned a second time then turned to Lyra. “Fine, you can stay but no funny-”

Two soft pops resonated in the room and everyone turned to see not only Tipsy but Karkass, accompanied by all the other children old enough to go to Hogwarts.

In a tone that clearly indicated he was done with life, Rick had one reaction. “Oh my God.” He facepalmed with both hands. “Why?!” he lamented and Bella gently patted him on the back for comfort.

““We were bored.”” The twins answered as if it was obvious.

Lea had a more acceptable reply but just barely. “Harry looked like he needed a hug,” said Harry choking on his cereal while Alt-Ron and Alt-Hermione snickered. “Also the colors of the walls were awful! I need to change that!”

“It’s another world, dad! Same but different! I had to explore it.” Veronica defended herself and Vega who nodded in agreement and support.

“I was curious about what type of magic this world had.” Atria’s hair turned to red in shame.

When she saw that, Alt-Dora gasped in shock and pointed her finger at the girl.

Andromeda paid it no mind however. “Atria, we’re going home.”

“But mom!”

“Nuh-huh. After breakfast.”

Alt-Dora finally found her voice. “I have a sister?! What the hell?!” She rushed to Atria to have a better look. She grabbed her cheeks and pulled. “And a metamorphmagus like me too! Merlin, you’re so cute!”

“Nymie, shtop.” Atria grabbed her offender’s hands and tried to pry them away from her cheeks.

Alt-Ron’s words left his mouth before he even noticed while looking at Bella. “So madness is hereditary?”

“Don’t look at me, my children didn’t get their craving for exploration from me.”

“Nor me.” Lily added.

“It’s all him.” They kissed their husband on the cheeks with an amused smile.

“Please, someone kill me.” he said in a tired voice making everyone laugh. Letting out a long sigh he questioned his children. “How did you get Tipsy and Karkass to get you here?” The new arrivals all looked at the twins. “Please, don’t tell me you threatened Tipsy to take away her uniforms and threatened Karkass that you will give them to him.”

““We won’t tell, then.””

Another round of laughter began while Rick was hitting the table with his forehead repeatedly.

“Okay. Who’s going home?”

““““Not me.””””” All the children answered in perfect sync. So perfect one could have believed they had rehearsed it.

“I meant the adults. In case you forgot, you have very young siblings at home who need attention and care. Your grandmother and Marlene are not enough to take care of all of them.”

Alt-Fleur leaned towards Prime Fleur and whispered. <How many children does he have?>

<Fourteen.> Fleur whispered back.

<Damn!>

<A bull, I told you so.>

“You know what? I give up!” Rick said in surrender. “But once you get home, no playroom and no quidditch for a month!”

““““What?!”””” The children looked scandalized.

Rose, Susan and Draco were snickering at their torment.

“Why are the three of you laughing? You’re included.”

“““What?!””” Their expressions turned to outrage.

“We’re adults!”

“You’re the only one who’s not, Rose.” Draco pointed out.

“I’m seventeen at the end of the month!”

“Still not an adult.”

A verbal fight broke out between Rose and Draco, while the youngest began fighting each other too, putting the blame of their punishment on each other.

“You really weren’t exaggerating, Pad. This is hilarious.” James said to his best friend.

“Told you! Best entertainment ever. Better than muggle tv.”

Remus had his two knuts to share too. “And the babies are not present, neither are Marlene and Amelia.”

“The only thing missing is my grandfather and my Aunt Cassie. The two of them are like cats & dogs. The things they say to each other…. Mate, I’m being taken to insult school every damn time.”

Rick issued a threat, “Alright! Quiet or the punishment will last the whole summer.” That got everyone’s attention on the spot and you could hear a pin drop. “You will clean the whole manor by hand and without magic. If by the end of the week you’re done, that will be the end of your punishment. If not…” He let the words hang in the air but they knew they better succeed. “It starts now! You know the layout of the place, so go, go, go!” he clapped his hands and they all rushed out of the room to start their chores. Once he thought they were far enough he looked at the Weasley twins. “I’m counting on you to make sure they don’t succeed.”

Those who were not used to Rick had their jaws fall to the ground. The twins recovered quickly and exchanged a complicit look.

““You can count on us.”” They said as they stood up, hitting their chest with a fist.

“No destruction of property!”

““Roger that.””

As they left, Sirius let out a comment. “Man, you’re quite vicious.”

“They need to learn they can’t do whatever- Oh don’t look at me like that!” he barked at Lily and Dumbledore who were thinking so hard anyone could imagine the word ‘hypocrite’ coming out of their heads and shining like a neon lamp above it.

Andromeda interrupted any reply from forming. “I’m going home. Marlene and Dorea do need help and I have a job.”

“If you can send Tipsy with some money so we can buy everything we need.” Lily called out to her.

“No need, Lily. We completely emptied this world Bellatrix’ vault.” Bella pulled out a shrunken trunk from the pocket of her robe with a cheshire grin on her face.

Lily grinned back and leaned to give Bella a hell of a smooch on the lips. “You beautiful insane woman. I love you.”

“That was hot.”

““““Sirius!”””

“What?”

“One of them is your cousin.” Alt-Remus reminded him.

“So? She’s hot and I’m a Black.”

“That’s why we put you on a leash when we’re going out.” Remus joked with a flat tone and James snorted.

“Harry?” Alt-Hermione called out.

“Harry, mate?”

Alt-Hermione turned to Lily. “Ma’am, I think you broke him.”

“Out of surprise or is he homo-”

“What?!” Harry was finally back to his senses. “I’m not homophobic! I was just surprised. I just didn’t know my mother batted for both teams.”

“Your mother didn’t, Harry.” Alt-Remus assured him.

“Oh! That’s… great? Or not? Or… This is awkward.”

Rick had a guess. “You don’t know much about her, do you?”

“No.” Harry shook his head. “I just know she was the brightest witch of her generation and that I have her eyes. She was loved by everyone and talented in charms and potions. People… usually talked more about dad. About how brave he was, how talented he was in DADA and transfiguration. That he was a prankster but also a bully.”

“Harry.”

“No, Remus. Snape may not have been someone good at school. Or maybe he was. It doesn’t matter. Bullying is bullying. You can’t justify that. You can’t justify humiliating someone like it’s a fun activity just because they exist. That’s… death eater shit.” Sirius and James exchanged a look.

“You’re right.” James spoke up. “I don’t know much about your father but from what I hear he wasn’t much different from me. Looking back at those days… I’m ashamed. I was an entitled spoiled brat born with a golden spoon in my mouth and I believed I could do no wrong, because I was from a light family, because I was in Gryffindor and Gryffindor was good and because Slytherin was bad and deserved it. The difference is… your father matured faster than I did. There is no excuse for what he’s done, nor what I’ve done but there is one thing I learned, is that the world is not all black and white. We all make mistakes, some greater than others, what’s important he’s to move forward and make sure to not repeat them. So, don’t be too mad at your dad. At the end of the day, he was a great man, maybe not a great kid or teenager but a great man. He’s proof that we can all change. I’m sure his actions at Hogwarts weighed heavily on him and shaped him into the man he became.”

“Thanks.” Harry said with a grateful smile.

“Albus, you have competition in the wisdom department now.” Rick joked.

“It seems like it. I’m ready to defend my title.”

Everyone had a good laugh. “I’m good, professor, the long beard doesn’t suit me anyway.” James said.

“Harry, if you want to know more about your mother, I'll tell you everything I can about her.” Alt-Remus offered.

“Thank you, Professor.”

“By the way. Where are we buried?” James wondered.

“Godric’s Hollow, with your family, why?” Alt-Remus answered.

“Well, Harry grew up with his awful aunt and her family. I doubt they ever brought him there for a visit?”

“Yo-you.. I can visit them?” Harry was incredulous.

“Your mother’s protection is still on you for a few more days. A quick visit should be safe.” Albus pondered.

“If it’s not too much trouble, then... I’d like that very much, please.”

“I guess we know what we’re doing this morning.” Rick said aloud. “We’re going ahead to check if there aren't any death eaters watching the place.”

He stood up and took Bella with him. Soon enough they apparated away to Godric’s Hollow. She wasn’t familiar with the small borough but Rick was. He knew where the cemetery was and he led her there. They stopped a bit to look at the Potters’ monument. A statue of Lily and James with baby Harry in her arms. Using his wand, Rick conjured all kinds of flowers all around it. Then moved on to the graveyard. Soon enough he found their gravestones. From their states no one had visited them in years.

“I hate it.” Bella said as she pulled her wand and cleaned Lily’s tombstone.

“Me too. To know that Lily… Even if she’s not ours… I… I want to kill him even more.” She squeezed his hand for support. For him but also for herself.

“Life is really weird. For more than half my life I was raised to hate muggle-borns and now? Now, I don’t think I’d want to live without one.” she chuckled humorlessly.

“I’m not even mad she married James. I’m just mad she’s gone. So young too. She was 21 for fuck’s sake.”

After a moment of silence, Bella was back into being Bella. “Let’s fuck her when we get back then cuddle the day away.”

“Agreed.” Rick conjured a bouquet of white lilies, then cleaned James’ tomb too out of respect. He sent a patronus to Lily to tell her the place was secure and they could bring Harry.

They left the graveyard and walked further into Godric’s Hollow. They found the Potter’s cottage under plenty of enchantments. From muggle repelling charms to alert wards. Crossing a certain line would probably bring either the aurors or the death eaters or both. That was why Rick took his time tweaking them.

“We’re good to go.”

Bella nodded and they both walked into the ruined house. It was a whole mess; broken furniture everywhere. It wasn’t damaged by the weather however, despite the gigantic hole in the ceiling and the roof above that. Probably the result of anti-weather wards. It was as if time had stopped for the place.

Still holding hands, they went up the stairs and went to the last room as it was the only one opened. From the crib and another hole in the roof. It was here that Lily had died, sacrificing her life to save her son and fuck Voldemort over. Rick couldn’t imagine the power of the ancient magic she had invoked when she gave up her life.  Strong enough to repel the killing curse at the very least and protect her son for the next sixteen years. It was humbling.

They found an empty toy trunk against a wall and decided to fill it. All Harry’s toys were shrunken down and put in there. Next they went through the other room of the first floor. They didn’t dare to snoop and simply put everything in the trunk. All this world Lily’s and James’ clothes, their Hogwarts trunk, photos, books, they took everything. To make sure they missed nothing they used Homenum Revelio and got no results.

The next room was some kind of a lab. Lily’s for sure as James, from what they knew of him, wasn’t much of a researcher. For once the urge to look at the notes was absent. Still he was very careful with everything before putting it all inside the trunk too.

After checking there was nothing hidden, they checked the last room. James’ office. There wasn’t much there. Old letters to the other Maraudeurs, his dragon hide coat from the Aurors and a few pictures of the family. Lily, him, Harry, his parents. Once again they put everything into the trunk and exited the room to go back downstairs.

They did much of the same. Bella wanted to fix everything but Rick stopped her. It was up to Harry to do it if he wanted to. It wasn't their place to make that decision. When they were done picking up everything of sentimental value that could interest Harry, they left the Cottage and came across the other group.

“We didn’t snoop but took everything that belonged to them. Clothes, pictures.” Rick handed the shrunken toy trunk to the young man.

“Thank you.” Harry replied in a whisper, his eyes focused on the trunk in the palm of his hand like it was the most precious thing in the world.

Rick gave him a sad smile and moved away to let him go inside. Alt-Remus went with him while he and Bella waited with Lily, James, Sirius and Remus.

“How bad is it inside?” Sirius asked.

“Bad. Alt-James gave one hell of a fight. The entire first floor is completely wrecked. Upstairs, with the exception of the nursery, everything is in pristine condition. The asshole went straight for them.”

Bella let go of Rick’s hand so she could take Lily in a hug and he took her hand. She was affected too. Seeing her own grave made it real that she was dead. A version of her or not, it hit home that it could have been her or worse that it could have been Rick. Rose had Marlene and Dorea to take care of her. Andromeda and Remus too, she would have been loved but her? She would have died had she lost Rick and feeling Bella’s body and warmth, she realized that she would have died if she had lost her too.