HP: Harry From The Ancient House Of Black [ Chapter 54 ]

The conversation turned to politics and the mysterious disappearance of Bertha Jorkins, a member of the British Ministry's Department of Magical Games and Sports but then moved back to more light-hearted topics. 

Daphne and Susan were surprisingly getting along well, but Aries had to wonder just how much of Daphne's warmness was faked. 

Perhaps she had picked up on his insinuation of playing nice with Susan Bones to form a bridge to her aunt. The two girls left, making their way over to the bar to grab more drinks. 

Aries slipped a thought into Daphne's mind, their many lessons of Occlumency allowing her to recognize his presence with ease should he allow it, and she nodded her understanding.

"Have you figured out the egg Potter?" His Legilimency picked up again. ‘A large bathroom. Moaning Myrtle floating through staring down at Potter through the bubbles. Come seek us where our voices sound. Library books. Neville Longbottom showing him a bundle of slimy, grey-green rat tails.’

"Yes." Potter answered truthfully. "Cedric gave me a push in the right direction. You?"

"I have as well. Though it took me longer than I would like to admit."

"I don't think I would have ever figured it out without Cedric." Potter laughed at that before a concerned look took over. "Who do you think they'll take?"

"Draco or Daphne." Aries admitted. "I would guess yours to be Susan. I have to admit that I approve."

"Really?"

"She's attractive of course. Hufflepuff indicates that she'll be loyal to you. Not to mention her connections. Her aunt is the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Her work has been outstanding and if I sat in the Wizengamot I would support many of her recommendations for the Auror program." 

Aries paused, allowing the comment to sink in, hoping Potter would pass it along to Susan and then her to Amelia Bones. 

"You're famous and connected already Potter, but if you truly believe the Dark Lord is returning you will need allies of your own. You cannot rely on the friends of others."

"You mean, like, building up followers?"

"Perhaps." Aries noted the hesitant look on Potter's face. "Though I would reiterate my phrasing of friends and connections. It would benefit you to have others act in your best interest because of their loyalty and friendship to you, not to others."

"Oh, that makes sense." Thomas said with a relieved look.

"Sirius told me about some of your adventures before this year. I have to say you've accomplished a lot and survived immensely dangerous circumstances. I suppose your third year was nice until the fiasco at the World Cup."

"Yeah, that was crazy." Potter scratched his head nervously. "The Dark Mark still gives me creeps."

"You saw it?"

"Yeah I watched some guy cast it actually, though I had lost my wand so I couldn't do anything to stop it." 

As Potter recounted what happened Aries' Legilimency kicked in again and a memory came forward. It was clearer than Potter seemed to remember in his story but it was there nonetheless. 

‘A slim figure walked into the clearing. He was oblivious to Potter as he hid behind the bush.Aries pushed deeper, hoping Thomas would not notice. The man had straw-colored hair and freckles that adorned his face. The bright flash of green lit up his face for a moment.’ 

Aries fought to keep his complexion normal as he stared into the eyes of a man he had only seen twice before. 

The first time had been in the newspaper when he died in Azkaban three years ago and the second had been in his dream this past summer. 

There, clearly in the woods beneath the Dark Mark, was the very much not dead Barty Crouch Junior.

….

"Where exactly are we?" Thomas Potter asked in way that made Aries want to forget his promise, but instead opted for sarcasm.

"Hogwarts of course."

"Where exactly in Hogwarts are we?" Potter was clearly annoyed, though being pulled away from an attractive witch and dragged through the castle without any clue as to their destination would annoy him as well.

"The seventh floor, next to the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy." Aries smirked as a look of pure indignation came to Potter's face and he relented at last. 

He paced three times in front of the wall and enjoyed Potter's shock as Gryffindor's entrance formed before them. "Welcome to the Room of Requirement."

"This is the Gryffindor common room!" Potter's exclamation brought a newfound dislike for the red room. Aries had not been fond of the color scheme and now knowing that the Gryffindors of Hogwarts were consistently surrounded by this catastrophe made him want to be sick.

"You live in this?"

"I would be careful boy," the deep voice of Godric Gryffindor said. "That's my house you're insulting." Potter looked awestruck, fighting for a word to say but nothing came out.

"Godric." Aries greeted with a slight bow of his head in respect. "I have fulfilled my promise: here is your Heir."

"It would seem he is indeed." Godric gave Potter an analyzing glance.

"Heir? What are you talking about Aries?"

"You don't know?" 

‘Did the Potters even care about their lineage?’ 

"Merlin, Potter you're the Heir of Godric Gryffindor! Didn't you ever wonder why your family was so powerful? I mean granted that the potential of each Heir ebbs and flows but the Potters have had some of the most influential and powerful witches and wizards for the past few centuries! There's a reason the purebloods are so obsessed with blood and lineage Potter, it's because it does matter, to a point."

"It would not surprise me if it was hidden intentionally," Gryffindor offered. 

"Being one of our heirs can be very dangerous, as some of my children unfortunately learned. No doubt there are some that still believe that if you kill a wizard you gain his power through conquest."