HP: Harry From The Ancient House Of Black

Albus Dumbledore sat with patience and yet a grudging sense of duty as he waited for the Potters' arrival. It had been a month since the fall of Lord Voldemort. 

Many of his Death Eaters had been captured, including the Lestranges after the brutal attack of the Longbottoms, yet some had managed to worm their way out. 

Peter Pettigrew, the man who had betrayed the Potters, was still at large and due to the man's ability to transform into a rat it was highly unlikely he'd ever be caught despite the efforts of his former friend, Sirius Black. 

He was saved at last from his musing as James and Lily Potter knocked at his door.

"Enter." James Potter was a tall man, with black hair that never seemed to lay flat and hazel eyes that had often charmed the ladies of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in his youth. 

He had become an Auror, doing everything he could to fight the good fight against the Dark Lord and his followers. 

Lily Evans stood about a head shorter than James, with long red hair and green eyes that seemed to understand you no matter what had happened. 

A charms prodigy, she had helped protect many families during the hectic past years. 

Thankfully they had listened to him and not brought along their children, for the conversation he wished to have involved them and would not be easy.

"James, Lily, thank you for coming," Albus began, "I wish it was better circumstances that brought us together."

"What do you mean Professor?" James asked with obvious confusion. "Voldemort's dead and we've nearly got everyone involved."

"That is indeed the crux of the matter my boy," he hesitated a moment before continuing, "I have done much research into what happened to your sons, and while I still cannot fathom what has happened there are two things as of now I can be sure of. Thomas Potter is indeed the Chosen One, the mark on his forehead fulfills that part of the prophecy."

"Well that's great!" Lily interrupted, but Albus could only shake his head.

"Note dear Lily, that I said the Chosen One, for the prophecy has not been completed. Voldemort still lives. And he will return." Silence greeted him and he expected nothing less. 

He had to take advantage of it now, before they came to their senses. "Thomas will need to be trained, he may have great power or he may be the average wizard, nevertheless he will be the one to defeat Voldemort when he returns and he needs to be ready."

"What of Harry?" Lily asked still dazed.

"Ah, young Harry," Albus took another moment again, letting the lie sit on his tongue before continuing again, "Whatever happened to him has drained him of his magic and his is little more than a squib. And this is where I fear you must sacrifice much for the greater good of our world."

"What would you ask of us?" James asked carefully.

"Harry will grow up around magic. I will assure that rules are bent to ensure that we can begin training Thomas at a young age."

"Unfortunately, I fear that eventually Harry will come to be envious of his brother and the magic for which he was robbed the night Voldemort attacked them. We cannot afford to have Thomas distracted by such things, when for all we know Voldemort could return tomorrow."

"I would ask that you leave Harry in the care of your sister, Petunia. Let him grow up believing he is a muggle and he will be much happier and Thomas will have less distractions as he grows older."

Again silence met him before the explosion of rebuttal.

"What?!"

"You want us to abandon our son?! Never!" Their angry denial continued for a minute or two before the raising of Albus' hand quieted them. As he lowered it he cast a small but strong compulsion charm to lace into his words.

"I understand this is difficult," Albus said, already noticing the faint signs of the compulsion setting in. 

"Perhaps when Harry is older you can reunite with him, when the threat of Voldemort has passed." 

The two were silent for a moment as if pondering before they both slowly nodded. 

Albus smiled a hidden smile as they laid out the last of his plan. Now that the older child, though not truly a squib, was out of the way he could train Thomas for the role he would one day play in the war to come.

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Phineas Nigellus Black had never said that he was a good person, well the imprint of that person agreed with that statement, and the fact that Albus had used a compulsion charm did little to bother him. 

He was well aware that the person who had lived years ago would care less about the muggle-loving Potter family, but he was not one to skive off learning the ancient families! 

Dorea Black had been his granddaughter after all with James Potter being his great grandson and so on and so forth. 

While he did not agree with their blasphemous views it did not make them any less part of the Black family, though admittedly a very disappointing part. 

The portrait felt what was akin to sadness, or whatever an imprint could feel, and he brooded in his chair. 

The other paints had avoided him steadily the past few days, so it was surprising when he felt a rather deep pull, as if he was being summoned. 

Phineas turned his head slightly and suddenly was staring at the Sorting Hat. 

It stared at him for some time, silently, until the old Headmaster's patience was worn thin.

"What do you want, Hat?"

"Godric speaks to me," the Sorting Hat said softly, his words seeming to reverberate in the empty office. "The child, Phineas, he must be saved."

"What would I care about?" The old portrait replied. "He might be the last Potter with enough blood to be a Black, but he's a squib!"