Chapter Text
Chapter 1
The solar at Gimmauld Place was the quietest room in the old house. It was unlike the drawing room of the house, where generations of the Black family often glared down in gilded silence.
The solar had been intended for private study. Dust drifted lazily through shafts of afternoon light that forced their way between heavy velvet curtains. Shelves of old leather-bound books lined the walls, and a cold fireplace sat beneath an ancient carved mantle that bore the Black family crest. A large writing desk that bore evidence of centuries of use stood before the hearth. Harry had only come looking for somewhere to think.
He was currently sat at the desk, hands clasped in front of him as he stared discontenly at the piece of cream coloured parchment infront of him. The parchment infromed him of the Ministry's latest orders for him.
To Lord Hadrian James Potter-Black
In recognition of your unique experience combating Dark Magic and your continued influence within Britain's magical community, the Ministry requests your attendence at an upcoming consultive meeting.
Purpose: To advise the Commitee for Magical Security on new policies concerning the identification, reporting and prevention of suspicious magical activity.
The ministry believes your perspective will be invaluable in ensuring the safety of Wizarding Britain.
Attendance is expected at Minday, 9am.
Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Harry read the letter twice.
Then a third time.
Finally he laughed.
It wasn't laughter out of amusement.
"They're unbeliveable"
His words echoed around the quite solar of Gimmauld Place. He inhaled deeply, then sighed. The room smelled of cedar wood and slight smoke of the extinguished fireplace. Outside he heard the hum of the London traffic beyond the enchanted windows.
Harry rolled his eyes. He had only been back in London for 5 days and already the Ministry was bothering him.
"Identification... reporting... prevention" he muttered. It had been 10 years since the battle of Hogwarts and this is what the Ministry was doing to help Magical Britain.
"How original" A dry voice sounded from the alcove in the corner of the solar. "The wording changes every generation"
Harry glanced to the slightly hidden portrait in the alcove. It was an elderly wizard within the gilded frame that had been watching him. It was the portrait of Arcturus Black II. He had grey hair that was tied back neatly behind his neck, and was dressed in deep blue robes that were embroided with tiny constellations. He was known as the scholar of Grimmauld Place as in his prime he had served briefly as adviser to the Ministry during his time, he had ended up resigning in protest over increasingly restrictive magical legislation. After his death, his portrait was placed in the solat rather than the grand drawing room with the intention that he would advise the future generations of leaders of the House of Black.
"You expected this?" asked harry
"I expected something" Arcturus' deep silver eyes pierced into Harry's emerals eyes. Those deep silver eyes always seemed to notice everything.
"When governments cease solving problems, the become remarkably efficient at regulating symptoms"
Harry sank into his leather chair and sighed once more.
"They want me to help create more restrictions"
"They want your name" countered Artcturus "You are Harry Potter"
"I know that"
"They are less interested in your opinion than your reputation" Harry frowned at this statement.
"If Harry Potter approves these measures, ordinary witches and wizards will assume the measures are wise" The words landed harder than expected.
He picked the letter back up
"Suspicious magical activity" He almost spat the phase "What does that even mean?" The old wizard smiled without humour.
"It means whatever the Ministry wishes it to mean tomorrow"
Harry slowly stood from his chair and walked over to the window. Grimmauld place still looked unchanged after 10 years. Dark walls. Iron raiings. A gloomy house trapped between equally gloomy neighbours. No wonder Sirius despised this house he thought with a sarcastic smile.
Britain felt exactly the same as Grimmauld Place.
"We defeated Voldemort" he spke quietly "And nothing really changed" The portrait didn't interrupt his musings. "After all this time they're still scared of new magic"
"Every innovation needs five departments to appove it and half the spells taught at Hogwarts haven't changed in centuries" He began to pace. "Muggle technology races ahead while we're still arguing over whether enchanted mirrors should require a permit" He threw a hand towards the Ministy letter. "And now they want more surveillance. More reports...more suspicion" He stopped "What happened to curiosity?"
The portrait regared him carefully.
"You are asking the wrong question" Harry looked over at him. "The question is not why governments feat change. The question is why so many citizens begin to fear it as well" The old portrait wandered slowly accross the painted study in his frame. "My generation beiieved stagnation meant stability. We stopped asking whether laws were useful. We only asked whether they were old." Harry listened to his words with rapt attention.
"Eventually innovation itself became suspicious, experimentation became dangerous and caution transformed from wisdom into ideology." Harry glanced back at the letter once again.
"They call it safety" he muttered to Arcturus
"They always do, but is it really safety?" There was silence.
"Hermione would say that they are trying to prevent another Voldemort" Harry eventually replied. Contact between him and his friends in London had been sparse over the years.
Harry's travels over the past 10 years had lead him all over the world. From country to country he had travelled absoring all the magical knowlege his possibly could. He learned enchantments, runes, battle magic as well as a plethora of other things. This cemented his belief that Magical Britain was stagnant and would never evolve. After the removal of horcrux within him, as a result of the second killing curse he had survived, Harry's memory had become much sharper than before. His magical power had increased tenfold. He knew it was because the horcrux was gone. His relationship with his friends had withered during his travels as he knew he couldn't tell them about the knowledge he was learning outside of Britain. His friends were rigid in the beliefs of magical Britain, often parroting the dogma that other countried were entrenched in dark magic.
"You must ask yourself why they ask for your counsel when they already know of your beliefs" stated Arcturus
Harry's breath slightly hitched. Arcturus was right. Kingsley Shacklebolt was still the current Minister for Magic. He knew Harry. Knew his beliefs contradicted the current laws of magical Britain. Why would he ask for his counsel?
"It could be a trap boy" stated the portrait soflty
"Possibly. But I cannot refuse the summons."
"True. That woud paint you in a suspicious light"
"I am tired Arcturus. So very tired of it all" Harry softly muttered
"I know boy, but you are too powerul, too influential and because of that there will always be work for you to do" Arcturus replied with a sad smile
Harry smiled sadly back at him. Harry often wondered what was left for him in the world. Arcturus was right. He was too powerul and too influential and as a result of that he would always be entrenched in politics. Harry hated the politics of Magical Britain. There was too much predjudice and discrimination, and because of that there was no progression. Ever since the war and the deaths of his friends and family Harry had been emotionally detatched. Ron and Hermione had moved on easily, basking in the fame and attention that came with being war heroes and associated with him, but Harry had been filled with deep melancholy. He had melancholia. He missed Sirius and Remus.
He missed his parents that he never got to know. He had tried to be emotionally present for Teddy, his godson. He really did try, but to no avail. He knew there was something deeply wrong with himself. Leaving Britain and trvelling had been an attept to escape, to feel something other than the deep sadness that was always present within himself. He tried to fill himself with any other feeling than that, through trying to focus on knowledge and learning different cultures but it didnt help. He just felt lonely.
Harry twisted the Potter signet ring on his hand, then slighlty shook his head as he came out of his deep melancholic thoughts.
"I am going to retire. I have a busy day tomorrow" muttered Harry and he left the solar heading to his master bedroom.
(Harry Potter)