A new life down under

14

'What's this betrothal contract you mentioned?' Allan asked.'Oh, it's an old tradition in England, with magical families, but some parents will basically sign a contract to marry their child to someone and they do it when their babies. It's mainly done by ancient and noble houses, like mine, I'll be Lord Potter when I turn seventeen. I found out that Dumbledore was going to sign one for me and the bint Weasley. I spoke with my godfather, he mentioned my parents did one before they died. So I'm legally bound to Susan, we'll marry when we're ready, usually anytime from sixteen. But if we don't get on we can cancel it we just have to both say we don't want it. But my parents picked a great girl for me, so I'm happy.''They really do that?' Dan asked.'Yeah, it's been going on in England as long as anyone remembers. As I said, it's mainly old families that do it but also a lot of pureblood families will do them as well, to make sure their kids only marry another pureblood. My parents only did it for me because of the war and the chance they could die. They wanted to make sure I was protected by binding me with someone from a good family, not someone that wants the money that comes with marrying into the Potter line. I know it sounds cold but from the time it's signed the kids spend a lot of time together to see if they will make a good match and to see if feeling grow. If they don't then both lots of parents can cancel it. A lot of it is mainly for protection. But some families want to align with other families, well known, old and ancient families. I'm the last Potter of the most noble and ancient house of Potter. My godfather is the last in the Blacks on his side again from an old noble and ancient house.''The English really have some strange customs,' Victoria said, 'I'm glad we don't do that here.'All the other Australians said the same, Harry could understand how they felt, especially since this country was so young, where England is a very old country with lots of old laws and customs. So even though these old customs might be slowly dying out, Harry knew if he didn't have Susan he would hate it as he knew he'd be stuck with Ginny Weasley. That thought made Harry shudder. If Sirius hadn't helped him and he didn't have Susan Harry would have left Hogwarts, basically he would have ran away, to disappear into the muggle world where they would never find him.After lunch on Saturday, Harry headed for the defence classroom. Apart from Professor Gibbons, the headmaster, Octavia Torseman and the deputy head, Olivia Wright were there as well.'We hope you don't mind Harry, but as you know, your case in unique, we would like to find out all we can.''That's fine sir, I mean if researching or examining me means it might help somehow then I don't mind.''I found the spell, this is not a spell I've ever had to use so it's educational for me as well. So how about I do it on you before I do my diagnostic spells?''Okay,' Harry moved to stand in front of his defence teacher. He watched her as she moved her wand over him. He knew something was going on by the looks on the other's faces, 'What?''Okay, green did show up, but there is another colour, underneath, which shouldn't be there. I did some research on the killing curse. Now even though the people die, this spell was used to determine if it was the only curse used. It will show up all the colours of the spells used, you just need to know what colour represents which curse. Every person they examined that had been killed by the killing curse had the green glow.''Is it the same colour as my eyes?''Exactly the same.''So he used some other spell before the killing curse, do you know what he used?''We're not actually sure if he used another spell but some type of dark magic touched you apart from the killing curse. It shows up black Harry, there is a small black glow right over your scar. I believe it's time we have a specialist examine your scar. I can do some basic diagnostics but I don't think I will be able to find out what this means.'Harry sat down he put his head in his hands, 'I have dreams, dreams of Voldemort, but he doesn't look like a real person. I hear him talking, telling someone that he can only use me, my blood, for the blood protection. I hear him talking to a snake called Nagini, he lives on her milk. I've been too scared to mention this to Sirius or Remus, I thought I was going crazy or being possessed, something. I didn't want them to go off and do something dangerous.'Teresa sat beside Harry, she took his hand, 'I would not blame you for being scared. But tell me, when you've had these dreams, did you feel pain?'Harry nodded, 'Always, it's the pain that wakes me up. I've had two dreams since I've been here but it wasn't painful, just those fluttering type feelings, uncomfortable but not painful. It's so hard to describe.''I do not think they are dreams, I believe they are visions, of sorts. You are seeing and hearing what is really happening. You have some connection with him which is linked to the scar and the curse that didn't kill you. This is not something that I would know, it needs an expert in dark magic, someone that knows what they are doing.''It could be the reason why Dumbledore has kept you on a tight leash. Can't be certain of that but I wouldn't put anything past that man.' Octavia said.Harry looked up, 'He got this look right after I explained what happened in the chamber of secrets, like something finally connected. I don't know, it was a look and a feeling I got. It was right after that when I noticed my so called friends changed, they never left me alone, they insisted they go everywhere with me, and they always asked me how I was feeling. They knew about the pain I got in my scar, but before the chamber they only mentioned it if they knew I felt something. After the chamber they constantly asked if I felt anything. I was left with the muggles for a short time, though I did leave after a few weeks before my third year, I blew up my uncle's sister, like a balloon. She kept insulting my parents and she just seemed to expand. But for some reason I was allowed to remain at the Leaky Cauldron for the remainder of the holidays.''Can you tell us what happened in the chamber?' Teresa asked.'Um, do you have a pensieve? It would be easier if you could watch it.''There is one in my office. Why don't you freshen up while we set it up and Teresa can contact someone who specialises in dark curses,' Octavia could see how affected this was making Harry.'Yeah, thanks,' Harry wandered out of the room, he missed the concerned looks on the three adults he left in the room.'If you had to guess Teresa, what would you say?''I just don't know, apart from there being some type of connection, I just don't know what or why. The only thing I do know for sure is its dark magic of some type.'After Harry finished in the bathroom he headed to the headmaster's office, 'Come in Harry.''Are you okay?' Teresa asked, she sounded worried.'Yeah, sort of,' Harry shrugged.'Do you know how to remove a memory?' Octavia asked.'Yeah, I do,' Harry blew out a big breath then thought about what had taken place in the chamber of secrets. He put the tip of his wand to his temple, drew away a long silver memory which he placed in the pensieve.'You probably wouldn't want to watch it again, would you?' Olivia asked.Harry shook his head, 'No, I still have the occasional nightmare about it.''Then take a seat,' Octavia said then turned to his two colleagues, he nodded then all three lowered their faces.Harry sat staring around the office, it was so different from Dumbledore's office. Professor Torseman sat in a normal office chair behind a large but normal desk, nothing remarkable. Dumbledore's chair was flashy and reminded Harry of a throne in a lot of ways. He knew Australia was a very young country compared to England, and Hogwarts was an old castle, over a thousand years old, so it was expected to have old and classic looking furniture, even things like thrones. Harry did like the look of Hogwarts, but to him it felt like he was stepping back in time. Here in Australia everything was more modern so even though it might not be as elegant looking as Hogwarts, Harry liked the feel of being a modern day wizard instead of being stuck in the past, stuck in time.