Chapter 5: First divergence
The sudden pain on his backside was an excruciating and confusing way to awoke for him. His mind still muddled by the still vivid but somewhat dulled experience he had been but under, made his body response mechanically to the external stimuli, thus showing to the world the mightiness of his lungs capacity.
On the side of the bedded woman, a pitiful whine could be heard as a large black dog immediately couch on the sol, clumsily bringing his paws on it hears, trying to lessening the blaring cry attempting to burst his inner ears.
"Ahahahah, that would teach you to try and surprise him, Padfoot. I so proud, barely born, and he was already living up to his heritage." Boasted James smugly, throwing a look of contempt at Sirius.
The man turned dog had been thinking that it would be an excellent prank to surprise the child into turning back to human, once the medicwitch would be gone. The fact that newborn eyesight wouldn't have allowed it was passing above his head.
On the other side, Remus does also wince a little from the sound, while Peter was giving the impression to want to be anywhere than here.
Reclining against the pillows of her bed, Lily was sighing in relief with her baby boy finally out. She had loved to bear him and know she would love evermore to see his growth, but the in-between had been all but rose and sunshine.
Ignoring the silliness of the man-child arranging with a dog, and pursing her lips at the presence of the unsanitary animal in the ward from the start. The medicwitch carefully bath the newborn in warm water, washing away the waste accumulated on him. Wrapping him in royal blue comfy sheets, she gives the baby to the only seemingly caring person on the room, the mother.
~~~
Regaining his spirit rapidly after the initial shock, he barely catches the man words.
'Great, from his voice only, I feel that he's a jerk. If his words are any indication, he didn't seem to have matured since Hogwarts.'
Feeling the heat of another being carefully clutching against him, the blurry patch of what seems redhead confirm the large clue given.
'Great, Harry Potter world.' Think him dejectedly. 'There worst but still better.' His thoughts were distracted by a soft and tired voice while smoothing motion was rapidly lulling him into sleep.
~~~
"Hey, there my little angel."
While tired from childbirth, she couldn't help but feel happiness and relief bubbling inside her. She would finally be able to relax a little; her baby boy was born, securing a good part of her emergency plan.
The other thing that was pleasing her was his appearance. From the little she could see of him, he was nearly a carbon copy of her but also different. His striking emerald eyes were more profound than her, his skin fairer as well, and his hairs were crimson red, a few shades deeper than her, in sum, he was the cutest thing in the world.
James, after ribbing Sirius all it was worth, for now, also realise this. Contrary to his wife, he was far from happy at its sight. Like any self-respecting wizard pureblood, he wanted an heir to be a younger version of him, proudly sporting his lineage feature. It wasn't the case here; the little shit was the spitting image of his mother! How dare the mongrel be anything that a proud Potter!
Even the most striking feature of the Potter was missing, their legendary bird nest-like hairs! This was unforgivable, he had bred the most mundane bitch with the highest potential, rather than marry a respected pureblood heiress to have the most chance of passing the Potter blood into the next generation, and the little fucker dare to be anything than him! Unforgivable!
What was unknown to James was there was nearly no Potter blood inside his child. Any dreg of DNA coming from him, other than it magical one had been completely obliterated and used as building block too unleash the full potential of the Evans Line.
Thankfully, Lily didn't lose any of the emotion passing on his face, showing his inner thoughts, confirming that it was time she made sure that the bastard didn't survive the war, hopefully, the others three wouldn't survive too.
~~~
As they were still in a war, Lily stay in St.Mungo was the shortest possible, thus, the following day, the little family of three could be seen in the reception hall, in front of the Floo System.
"Here we go, Lily flower, 'Lion den!'" Repressing his constant irritation under a fake smile that was fooling only him, James vanish in the Floo, after indicating their new living place' address for her.
She had been against moving from the protection of the Manor, but the old fart had to make sure that James was alone when speaking of the matter. When the subject had been aborded a few minutes earlier, the moron was defending the fact that the house was under Fidelius placed by Albus too many name Dumbledore himself and the fact that they were moving would be enough to protect them.
He was either delusional and blindly following the man or entirely dumb for brushing off the fact that the Manor defence, while not as powerful as Hogwarts, were solids. Even if the wards were breached, they would be able to last long enough for them to take one of the three secret passage under the house leading to a room outside the boundaries of the wards, and portkey, or even apparate away if need.
But no, they had to leave in a cottage, in the middle of a partially magical settlement with none other defence than a flimsy Fidelius as protection and no means to escape should Wards were risen to deny portkey and apparition, knows used practice during raids.
"Here we go sweety, let see what type of death traps those morons will attempt to bury us in." Say Lily to her little angel, before vanishing into the green fire.
~~~
The situation was worst that she feared. The cottage, while cosy, was made only of ordinary stones, without a shred of magical reinforcement in or any protection that could be applied without influencing the brittle Fidelius charm.
The cottage on itself was relatively simple, a large living room/kitchen, also used as a lobby, was taking two-third of the first floor, alongside a guest room, with a small bathroom attached. On the floor above, a study, bathroom, above-average bedroom and finally a free pace turned library.
The last room should have been Harry nursery but had been turned into a library, while Lily had taken her son directly to her chamber, leaving none other choices to James to either share the bedroom or sleep downstairs.
After the first night and Harry' surprise waking in the middle of the night, he rapidly packs and goes downstairs to escape his paternal duty. Strangely, after this, Lily wouldn't hear her little angel, other than for fundamental need.
~~~
The new accommodation for the Potter family was rapidly putting a strain on James. Gone was his spacious chambers, gone the nights of feast and drinking competition with his buddies. What was the most unbearable was that he had been forced to quit his job by Lily 'In order of secrecy'. The fact that she had been rather smug that day hadn't be lost to him, when she rubbed it on his face that since he was forcing her to live in the hovel (not really), he couldn't put them in jeopardy by Floo-ing home drunk and leak their position.
What was putting him off was the fact that he was missing the hoes of knockturn. Before it had been easy to dissimulate his nights of infidelity by claiming over-night undercover missions, but now, after four months, he was starting to grow restless.
He had first wanted to have a go with the bitch, but the brat had always burst in wailing he would have sworn more deafening that a point-blank cannon-blast charm each time he a tried to take advantage of her.
Speaking of the little shit, the hatred seems mutual. James had first tried to reach to the boy since his condition wouldn't allow him another child, and he had always been sure to not knock-up any whore, fearing them coming scratching at his door.
Every time he had tried to play with him to alleviate his boredom, the ungrateful brat had dissolved into a crying mess. The only time he had tried to correct the ungrateful bastard, he had nearly lost an eye!
Adds to the fact he was still dry after all those time, the very little appreciation he had for him had died a painful death.
As Dumbledore still feared spies, none of his buddies had been able to come yet, leaving him all alone in the small house with the other two.
Needlessly to say, James Potter was starting to regret listening to the old man. Hearing the giggles and laughs upstairs, he sighed heavily, before turning to his last long time friend, Firewhiskey.
~~~
Contrary to the miserable James Potter, Lily was having the blast of her life. Harry, she was still cringing at the name, was nothing more like any babies. She had feared to pass countless sleepless night caretaking for the little boy, but nothing happens.
She wasn't blind to the situation; it was clear that Harry was far more intelligent than he should. She could see how he react to James, how he would always warn her when he tries to rape her again. Had she been another woman, she would have found the situation disturbing, as for Lily? Trustfully she couldn't care less, Harry had rapidly turned in her lifeline, and every day, she couldn't help but be thankful that her little man was how he was, caring and protecting her as much as possible for him.
She had rapidly swift him from his crib to her bed; any possible accidents were nothing that a couple of charms couldn't take care off.
She was grateful that he would stay silent when she would go through tens of books to found any help possible to keep them alive and protected against what she knows would occur on them.
Each day, her little angel would rest on her laps for hours, before stirring and make her play with him. She was grateful for those breaks too; without them, she would have run herself to the core. Yes, Harry was rapidly turning into the sole solace of her life, and she would be damned if she allows the goat fucker, the snake or the overstuffed lion harm her baby, even if the three were to mate into a chimaera!
~~~
It wasn't before two other months that Dumbledore finally allows any visit on Godric's Hollow. The very day, Sirius, Remus and Peter came over to visit James, but the group didn't stay more than ten minutes before migrate toward the local muggle pub for a most due day of drinking!
Using the opportunity, knowing they wouldn't reappear before the night at least, Lily immediately take Harry to Diagon Alley and more specifically Gringott. Apparating directly, rather than Floo-ing and take the risk to be seen, they made they way to the white building.
"Sorry sweetheart, I know it not the best sensation but it better than being leered by all those drunken waste." Say Lily at Harry somewhat sorry and proud that he didn't voice his discomfort, even if he didn't like it seeing his face.
~~~
After Harry birth, the first two instalments had been transferred to the Vault, bringing in a total amount over 10 000 000 G. While it had no real direct consequence for them, the fact that the balance had breached the 10 000 000 G had greatly augmented they status as the bank' customer. As a result, the Vault being transferred lower, with an increase of security and stabilizing their hold in the magical peerage as, while young, real pureblood family.
While they receive an increase in security, the balance was still lacking for the bank to contract an accountant for the Vault, more so since it hadn't been active for more than a year. As they hadn't any accountant, all their business need to deal with the tellers present in the hall.
"I came under House Evans name to process an ongoing business with Gringott."
Her direct approach of the teller and speech stopped the facing goblin for the mistake of treating her like the ordinary wizard.
Nodding, he asks neutrally, "what can I do for House Evans." Before forming any idea on how to process.
"I have brought my heir to be recognised as such within your hall and our join partnership." Responded her, blankly.
The message was clear for her interlocutor; she came to claim her child as her Heir while bypassing the ministry. As any goblin he like when they can get one up the opposing administration legally. As such, he wordlessly takes a pre-made document.
Knowing what he asks from her, she lightly broke her baby' finger skin with a small needle, drawing a drop of blood.
On the other side, the goblin grin knowingly, appreciating the simple cunningness. While goblins like to take advantage of the morons who freely give them access to their blood, they also respect those cunning enough not to provide them with the edge, they made more worthy client.
Letting the drop fall on the parchment, two differents crests bloom on the right and left upper corner of the document. On the left, made of two facings, standing gryphons separated by the blade rescinding the heater shield, the Potter crest. Under its simple lines :
Lord:
Heir: James Charlus Potter.
Heir apparent: Harry James Potter.
On the right, a similar heater shield, with a back-ground made of a mountainous pic landscape. At the front, in the heart of the mountain, a snarling snow Leopard-like creature prowling. Like the Potter' side, simple lines appear under the Evans crest:
Lord: James Charlus Potter (rightfully Lily Jane Evans)
Heir: unregistered.
Further, the document turns into a pre-made contract to register the Heir. Seeing the blank name space, Lily was surprised at first, before rejoicing. With this, she could legally give her angel a second identity, shall he decide to cast of the Potter' name, only this once would remain.
Taking the quill offered, she starts to register him, sealing the started registration the year before, and completely shielding him from interference due to James Actions.
~~~
On his side, Harry, patiently waiting in his mother arms suddenly see the apparition of a little window which, until then hadn't made an appearance since his arrival in this world.
{[Objective: Side "The right name for the right mind."]
Due to the machination of both James and Dumbledore, you had been, unknowingly deprived of a part of your heritage. See to the restoration of your name!
Condition: Take another identity with your second magical heritage as a name.
Reward: The full awakening of your Evans Bloodline (after your seventh years.)
[Completed, reward to be claimed in your seventh year.]}
{[Objective: Side "Fuck the timeline!"]
Dumbledore wants a pawn to create his self-fulfilling prophecy, make sure that it doesn't happen.
Condition: Create an event strong enough to deviate the original timeline.
Reward: ???]}
{[Objective: Main/Side "You resist?! I shall persist!]
Voldemort will come after you no matter what, it only up to you to shape things to develop afterwards.
Condition: get rid of the soul shard from the after effect.
Reward:???]}
Surprised, Harry looked at the three different prompts curiously, before dismissing them. Before reporting his attention to his mother, he saw two faded transparent blue icons on the lower-left corner of his eyesight.
Focusing, the two ongoing objectives' windows return, before dismissed again.
'Useful.'
~~~
While Harry was experiencing the first interaction he had with the remanent of the system, Lily had completed her business with the bank and secure her little man future shall something happens to her.
Making her way back to the cottage, she passed the rest of the day playing with Harry to distract her from the present issue, just for the day, tomorrow another search would begin to ensure that nothing had been done in vain.
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