Unofficial Portkey Archive

Harry had not taken even one more step into his new home when Hedwig dropped in through the front door and carefully landed on a heavy wooden coat-rack. She had a letter and a soft, leather pouch for him. He opened the letter and began reading it.

Dear Harry,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am all settled in at my summer school. America is a lot different than I expected it to be. To be honest, I never really gave the people here much thought, but I have been pleasantly surprised for the most part. Many of the witches (both real and those who wish they were) are quite friendly. Did you know that there is a School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? It has a very different name though. They call it the Wizarding Institute of Technocracy, Chants and Hexes (W.I.T.C.H.); isn't that so very odd? Leave it to the Americans to be completely different from the rest of the world. Almost all of the real witches here attended there.

While talking with some of the brighter young women I have learned that they have some very strange ideas about mixing science and wizardry. I told them it simply was not possible, that the two do not mix. They insist that there was a great wizard from Europe who was pioneering the idea back in the eighteen hundreds. They teach a whole class about it. The interesting thing is that new science will not work with magic, but according to the class textbook, science from back then would in certain circumstances. For instance, there was a study done on how a basic steam engine could be designed to never stop running. The magic gave it an endless supply of fuel, while the engine continued to operate on the fundamentals of early steam technology. I am not sure what to think about it, but I find it quite fascinating. Here is the really strange part, the name of the wizard does not show up in ANY textbook or history book that I can find. I sent a letter to Dumbledore asking about him and he said that he had never heard of him either and guessed that perhaps they got the name wrong in the book. His name was Hagelburt. If you get a chance could you swing by the Hogwart's library and see if you can find anything on him?

Anyway, not to bore you. I am sure you did not want to hear about what new things I am learning. I just wanted to write you this letter to let you know, that I miss you. I know that must sound strange, as it has not been very long, but I do. I wish you could be here experiencing this with me. It seems so strange to be going on an adventure without you. Let me tell you, that it doesn't feel the same at all. You probably have not even noticed that I am gone yet. Forgive me for being so silly about it. How is everyone doing out there? How are you? Are you still staying at The Burrow with the Weasleys? Well, I have to go, but I promise to write again soon. In case I forgot to mention it, I really miss you.

Sincerely,

Hermione

It was so good to hear from her. Harry promised himself that as soon as he was all settled in he would write back to her. He wondered if the pouch was a gift from Hermione. He reached out and lifted it. It was strangely heavy in his hand. He noticed a very small note attached to the drawstring. He lifted open the paper and read it.

You might need this.

~A friend~

How odd he thought. He opened the strings and peered inside. There was something inside, but it appeared to be wrapped up in a silken cloth. He turned the pouch upside down into his hand. After setting the pouch down, he slowly pulled the covering away and just about dropped it on the floor. It was a sparkling, blue sapphire that was roughly the size of Harry's closed fist. He had never seen anything quite like it before. It was the deepest blue he had ever seen, but somehow he could still see through it. Even to his untrained eye, it was obvious that it had been finely cut by a master artisan. It appeared to be the closest thing to perfection that Harry was likely to see in an entire lifetime. He guessed that by holding it in his hand, it most likely doubled his entire fortune.

"Ooooooooh," came a pleasant, but squeaky voice. "Teebel has seen great blue sparkly before, but it is pretty every time he is seeing it. Master is very lucky to have this thing. Teebel has been told that it is very important sparkly."

Harry looked down at the lively house-elf and could not help but smile.

"So, Teebel is the name then?"

"Yes, I am being Teebel for most of my life. It is possible that when I was being less than four years in age, that I was not Teebel, but I am not remembering anything from that time, so I am not completely sure."

Harry laughed and gently patted Teebel on the shoulder. Which was more difficult than it sounds, being that his shoulder was about as high up as Harry's knee.

"You say that you have seen this before?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Teebel was seeing it when he was very young; have not seen it since then though. It is being called 'The Eye of Narlroot'. It was made by very good muggle jeweler many, many years ago. A powerful wizard whose name was being Griltskin had it made after a nasty dragon was being killed near here. Dragon was named Narlroot and it was being told that it had eyes like blue sparkly. Griltskin was liking the dragon eyes so much that he had this sparkly cut to look like one of them. Rumor is saying that rough blue rock was found in belly of dragon, but when muggle cut it, this was what it was looking like. Much history is being in your hands Master Harry."

Harry was completely flabbergasted. How on earth did he come in possession of this thing? Who would possibly want to send a priceless jewel like this to him? It was definitely not Hermione. She would have mentioned something like this in her letter. Plus, the handwriting was different.

"How curious," Harry spoke quietly.

He re-wrapped the sapphire in the silk and then placed it carefully back into the pouch. He drew the string tightly and tied it. He then slipped it into his pocket. He would need to find a safe place to keep it.

"Teebel? How do you feel about freedom?"

Teebel immediately walked over to the coat rack and began slamming his head into it.

With tears in his eyes he cried out, "Master has only been being here for few minutes and already Teebel has gone and made him angry. Why would good master talk of freeing Teebel? Teebel is being very worthless."

Harry shook his head and replied, "Teebel, please stop hurting yourself. We won't talk anymore about freedom right now. Please don't be upset."

Teebel immediately cheered up and exclaimed, "Oh, Master Harry is liking Teebel again. I am so pleased. I am working very hard to keep home and gardens very nice until someone is coming to live here. Teebel is delighted to have someone here again. Now, I am not working hard for nobody. I am working hard for somebody."

With that Teebel spun around and did a little dance. It was kind of sad for Harry to think about how long he had been living here alone and taking care of this empty manor. Something in Harry instinctively trusted Teebel. Harry would later find out just how well placed that trust truly was. Even among house-elves he was just about as goodhearted as they come.

"Teebel?"

The elf stopped dancing and happily looked up.

"Would you mind giving me a tour of Leakwood Manor and its grounds?"

Teebel was so happy that he started to cry.

--- ---

Harry had not realized how much time had passed. The house-elf was such a chatterbox when it came to the manor, that he had only seen the garden and two of the main floors of the manor. From what Teebel said, there were two more levels below as well. When Harry asked what was on the bottom floor, Teebel looked sad and quite nervous. He said very little, but told Harry that was not a place to go. It was the sad place and had been locked up for many years. He was not allowed to go down there, so if Harry wanted to see it, he would have to go on his own. When he realized how much it was upsetting the elf, Harry decided it could wait for another day. He also did not have a chance to see the family cemetery. For some reason, Harry felt a little uncomfortable going out there. He could not exactly put his finger on why, but he needed more time before he was prepared to witness that.

Harry had looked through the nine bedrooms in the house and decided that all three of the master bedrooms were simply too large for comfort. He ended up choosing a cozy room at the top of the northwest tower. The round room had a quaint fireplace in it, which Teebel had started up a small fire in. It warmed up the room nicely. Even though it was summer, the winds off the ocean made the nights a little cool. The window had an elegant shutter that Harry had closed when he first came in. The bed was a good sized feather down, poster bed. The sheets were soft and the royal blue, quilted blanket was icing on the proverbial bedroom cake.

There was even a small cubbyhole on the inside wall that had a clever magical enchantment on it. If it was empty then anyone could open it and put something inside. However, once something was inside of it, only the person who put it there could ever get it out. Harry took a quick moment to gently place the sapphire and its pouch inside of it.

Teebel practically squealed with delight when Harry had chosen this room. He explained that his great, great grandmother had slept here when she was young. That made the room even more perfect when he came to terms with the fact that he was sleeping in the same room as the person that he got his Leakwood bloodline from. He wondered what she was like and began to drift off with his thoughts. Just as he was falling asleep he distinctly heard a sweet voice whispering.

"Why are you sleeping in my sister's bed?"

Harry's eyes shot open, but the room was completely empty. He chuckled as he realized that he had one of those dreams you get just as you're drifting off to sleep; where you hear or see things that are not really there. He started to fall back asleep. When he did, Harry had dreams throughout the night of a little girl whispering and singing soft lullabies.

--- ---

Harry awoke to Hedwig perched on the end of his bed. She had a small mouse, which was quite dead, dangling from her beak.

"Oh Hedwig! That is completely not what I wanted to wake up to this morning. Would you mind eating breakfast somewhere else?"

With a muffled, indignant squawk Hedwig turned and flew out his bedroom door. Harry looked at where she had been and saw a letter addressed to him. He rolled to the foot of the bed and snatched it up. He then flopped on his back and unrolled the crisp parchment. It was a letter from the last person he expected right now.

Harry,

I feel awkward about writing to you. In all the years we knew each other I've never done so in the past. However, I have no one else to turn to. First off, let me just say that I will do absolutely anything and everything you tell me. There is no sacrifice I am not willing to give. I know that at one time Ginny Weasley had feelings for you, so I thought maybe you would have some insight. Is there anything that I can do, anything at all to win her heart? I know that I should not be bothering you with this, but I'm desperate. I think about her all the time now and I just keep running over lunch together in my mind and all the things she said to me in my room. Whenever I close my eyes I still hear her voice and I feel the fool. Please, please tell me what to do. I'm begging you Harry.

Your Friend,

Neville

Wow, Neville really had it bad for Ginny. Harry still needed to write to Hermione anyways, so he thought he would spend breakfast time writing letters. It might be wise to send one to Mrs. Weasley so she does not worry and one to Ron as well. Harry groaned when he realized he would be spending the whole morning just writing letters. Well, what he had now was time. He had all the time in the world, so there was no excuse not to set aside some of it for the important people in his life.

He pulled himself out of bed and took the time to take a quick bath which Teebel had been kind enough to draw for him. When the elf was about to leave the room Harry brought up the idea of paying him for his work. Teebel's mouth dropped open and then coldly informed Harry that he had never been so insulted in all his life. He did not work for something as vulgar as money. He did it, because it was his duty in life to serve. Harry quickly apologized and assured Teebel that he would not bring it up again. It was going to be an uphill battle trying to find a way to compensate the spry house-elf. He would have to mull it over for a couple days.

Harry made his way down to the breakfast nook and had ink, a quill and some parchment laid out. It was quite odd to live in a place that actually had a breakfast nook. He had never even heard of such a thing until now. When Harry asked Teebel if there was a lunch and supper nook, the elf laughed merrily. He then explained that there was no such thing as those. Apparently, you have breakfast in the breakfast nook; you take lunch out on the patio when it is warm and in the kitchen proper when it was not. Tea would be in the tea room, unless it was exceptionally nice, then you had it in the garden. Finally supper was always held in the dining room. Unless you were having a romantic evening and then you would have it out on the veranda, off of the third floor. It was the most ridiculous thing Harry had ever heard in his life. Why on earth would a person need so many different places to eat? He explained to Teebel that he was not going to follow protocol and would be eating in the breakfast nook every meal.

Harry liked it so much, because there was a small bay window looking out into the green forest. There were also two beautiful muggle paintings on the wall; one of his great, great grandfather and the other his great, great grandmother. They both looked so nice, but at the same time rather important. It made Harry feel good inside for reasons he could not explain. From what he understood the manor belonged to his great, great grandmother's family and was part of her dowry when she married. Ever since then the blood relatives through her were the ones who inherited this delightful place. Teebel explained that his great grandmother lived here as well, but when her and her husband had Harry's grandmother they eventually moved out into a more suitable living arrangement. Harry was quite confused by why that happened, but Teebel was able to explain it all, sort of...

Harry's great, great grandmother was a witch, but all of her children were squibs. Their eldest daughter, Harry's great grandmother, inherited the place when her mother passed away. She and her husband had children, but they also had no magical ability whatsoever. When a squib has a non-magical child then they are deemed a muggle by the wizarding world. The Leakwood family will had a clause written in it. It stated that no muggle could inherit the manor. The Leakwoods had nothing against muggles, but there were too many magical things ingrained into the manor and it was not appropriate for non-witches and wizards to be exposed to it. The family had politely, but firmly asked his great grandmother and great grandfather to leave, when it was discovered that their daughter, Harry's grandmother, was officially a muggle. They had moved out when she was quite young, so Harry's grandmother never knew about the magical heritage that ran through her bloodline and her parents hid that fact about their family from her. Which was why his grandmother and her husband were completely in the blind when they came to discover that Harry's own mother was a witch. It also explained why Petunia would never have been allowed to inherit Leakwood Manor. It had to be through Lily Evans blood descendant, as long as they were born a witch or wizard, to inherit this place. Harry was just such a child and so here he is now. After Teebel had finished explaining it twice, Harry decided he had a headache and just accepted that he was the true heir and moved on.

After he had finished off the eggs, muffins and tea that was in front of him, Harry pushed the plates to the side and began the business of writing letters. The first one was going to be the hardest, so he started with that one.

Dear Hermione,

I miss you, too. It's so interesting to hear what you are learning about. I hope that you will continue to write to me about all of these things. Getting to hear from you was wonderful and I definitely want regular updates. I am currently unable to swing by the Hogwart's library for reasons you will read shortly.

The most interesting thing happened to me. I inherited an amazing home out in the countryside. Well, it's not so much a home as it is a large manor. I have to tell you all about it. On my first day here I saw so many things it's hard to know where to start. Well, the day kind of went like this…

Harry spent the whole morning writing furiously away. The only thing that caused him to stop for a moment was the distinct sound of a child crying. When he strained his ears to hear it, the sound was gone. Harry decided it must have been a cat mewing and was going to ask Teebel about it, but had already forgotten long before he got the chance to.