The Legends of The Potters

chapter 9

Harry appeared in his bedroom at #4 Privet Drive. He quickly said hello to Hedwig and apologized for being gone so long but promised her he would fill her in on all the exciting news a little later. He remembered that Mattie had told him Dobby was coming over every evening to let his owl out to hunt for food. Dobby had apparently been bringing owl treats for Hedwig as well. He would definitely have to thank Dobby for that.
                   Now who had come to visit him? Harry looked out the window but found no one. He then decided to pick up a school book and he sat down at his nice desk Dobby provided and pretended to work on his homework while he waited for his visitor.
Harry heard his uncle's raised voice and then the unmistakable voice of the Headmaster.
"Vernon there is no need for theatrics" Dumbledore told him. "As you know I setup a ward on this house so your family and Harry would be safe. Something has happened to that ward. I received an alarm in my office when it started having trouble. It appears to be failing. Normally with Harry here it would recharge itself. Since it was cast 14 years ago it probably just needs me to recast it to fix it."

"Well, hurry up Headmaster and do not let anyone see your freakishness!" Vernon replied. Dumbledore stared at Vernon for just a second then said "I will just pop up and say hello to Harry while I am here. I am sure he would enjoy the education as well about blood wards. He can accompany me while I redo the wards." Vernon and Petunia looked at each other with worried looks on their faces. Dumbledore walked up the stairs and knocked on Harry's door. He heard "Come in" so opened the door and walked in.
                   Harry swiveled in his desk chair to face Professor Dumbledore. "Hello Professor. What brings you here?" he said with a smile. "Harry, it is good to see you again. You seemed to be wearing much nicer clothes than normal. Did your Aunt and Uncle buy you some new clothes?"
"Oh, heavens no. They never buy me any clothes or anything else for that matter. All I get from them is Dudley's too large hand me downs and Uncle Vernon's used socks."
"Hmmm" said Dumbledore.
                 "No these clothes came from my parents. I found a trunk in my vault that they had left for me. It contained a lot of books and a lot of clothes. My mum charmed them all so that they would automatically fit."
"Ah, I see" said Dumbledore. "Lily was probably one of the best students we have ever had with charm work and I believe you yourself are pretty good as well. Miss Granger appears to excel more with transfiguration although she is excellent in charms too." "Let's face it Professor. Hermione is good at pretty much all the subjects. The only thing I have seen her struggle with is flying on a broom." Dumbledore smiled and said "I would have to agree, Harry. Miss Granger is a very remarkable witch. I see that your bedroom appears a little larger than normal as well. Did you practice your charms on your room?"
                    "No, professor. That is an interesting story but let me cut to the chase. You are looking at the work of one house elf by the name of Dobby. I accidentally called Dobby and he appeared. Before he left he decided my tiny bedroom needed some adjustments. He expanded it, replaced my bed, my desk and chair, and removed all the junk in the corner left by Dudley. Dobby said that we can see it like this but my family and other muggles will see it like it was." "Very good, Harry. I believe that since you freed Dobby he has attached himself to you in a most curious way. Normally elves are bound to a house and some are bound to a person but Dobby has done something else entirely and I am not sure it has ever been done before. It appears to be a good thing though." Dumbledore said with a smile.
                   "Professor, while I enjoy visiting with you it seems odd to me for you to come by for just a visit when you have not done so before. Is there anything wrong you have not told me yet?" "Harry, I am so sorry. Forgive me and thank you for getting an old man back on track. There is nothing to worry about. I am here because of the blood ward I setup 14 years ago is failing. I have an instrument in my office that triggers an alarm if anything goes wrong with the ward. I have come to recast the ward spell to correct the problem. Would you like to accompany me to behind the house so I can explain blood wards and you can see how this is done?" "Certainly, Professor. Thank you for the opportunity." Harry said has he followed Dumbledore out.
                "I must say Harry you are looking quite well. You look much happier than the last time I saw you. I am pleased you are happy after how the year ended. I know you never look forward to coming back here but this lesson today will help you understand why I have you stay here for at least a month every summer. It has to do with the blood ward I am going to redo today."
"How is that professor?" "The blood ward is based on your mum's blood, your blood, your Aunt's, and even your cousin Dudley's somewhat, because it is a shared blood from your mum's side of the family. Based on that blood and the strength coming from your mum as a powerful witch and now you as a powerful wizard, the ward gets recharged every year over a month's time. Once it is recharged then it lasts for an entire year until you return to recharge it again with your presence. Once you turn 17 the ward will no longer function and there will be no need for you to come back. Until you are 17 the added benefit is it keeps your relatives safe all year as well."
                  They had arrived at an inconspicuous spot behind the house a few feet from the flower bed. Dumbledore had cast a notice-me-not spell so none of the neighbors would see what he was doing. He had finished explaining to Harry about blood wards and how they provided protection. Harry remembered the box of wands at Potter Place and the blood ward on it that only allowed a Potter to open it. "Okay, Harry, pay attention and I will show you how I do this." Dumbledore pointed his wand at a spot on the ground in front of him and a hole appeared. Next an almost square stone about the size of a bludger floated up out of the hole. The stone had all kinds of runes marked on its surface. Dumbledore mumbled an incantation and with a complicated wand movement cast a spell on the stone. It glowed a bright orange while Dumbledore floated it back down into the hole and covered it back up without leaving a trace that the ground had been disturbed.
"That should do for several years Harry. I put some extra power into it so it definitely will not fail before you turn 17."
                      "So you can vary the power of your spells, Professor?" Yes, Harry. I am a powerful wizard and I had to learn to vary the power I use when casting spells for fear I could accidentally hurt someone when I do not mean to." "I see," said Harry. "Thanks professor your lesson was quite informative."
"My pleasure, dear boy. Now I must be off. I have an appointment at the ministry to keep." "Okay, bye professor. Thanks again for the lesson on blood wards. I learned a lot."
"Stay here a month and the ward will be fully charged. We can see about you visiting your friends after that Harry. See you later," and he disapparated. Harry did not say a word to his relatives when he went back up to his room. He knew that the ward had not failed due to time but it was because Harry had been gone from the house for too long but how could he make it so he could stay at Potter Place and keep the ward up here? There just had to be a way.
                     Harry spent the next several minutes in his room talking to Hedwig and explaining everything that happened. Hedwig was a very good listener with a "hoot" she added now again. While explaining about the box of wands and the blood ward on the box it occurred to Harry that Simon apparently knew a lot about blood wards. He would definitely get his help on this new problem and get his grandpa to help as well. Harry made some quick decisions. He called Dobby and explained that he was taking Hedwig with him to Potter Place. He thanked Dobby for taking such good care of his girl then told him he would call him the next time he was needed but he did not need to come to Privet Drive anymore to take care of things. Dobby did his usual gush about Harry and promised he would come any time "The Great Harry Potter" needed him. He then popped back to Hogwarts.
                     Harry shrunk his ornate trunk and pocketed it. He put Hedwig in her cage and explained they were going by portkey but you did not feel anything with this portkey so it was a very comfortable way to travel. Hedwig hooted her approval. He grabbed his school trunk as well. Harry pulled out his watch and making sure he had a hold of his school trunk and Hedwig's cage in one hand he said the magic words. "Legends of Potter." Harry disappeared from Privet Drive.