Harry Potter and the Altered Destinies

Chapter 70: The Idiot Minister

"I want to include Harry in these discussions," his father said with a serious tone. Harry had no doubt this topic had come up before and was only included because he was listening in.

"Goodness no, he is a child," the female voice of Molly Weasley spoke out, disregarding whatever else his father might have to say.

Harry had a feeling, though, of just where this conversation might go. "Growing up in a war changes people. While I have little doubt you lost your innocence of the world young, I must remind you that Harry lost his when he was one and a half. He came into my care when he was six years old, having known the life and memories of abuse since his parents' death. He was beaten into submission, treated worse than any house-elf ever known, and only had a brief childhood before thrusting into the limelight of the Magical World. Harry had only brief five years of innocence before coming into the world, having to fight off Quirrel in first year, deal with the stress of second year, the knowledge of third-year his godfather might be after his life, no matter how untruthful it was, and fourth year the tournament that ended in many deaths and then fighting Grindelwald. Harry might not show it, but he has long since lost his innocence of the world. I commend you for wishing to keep your children's innocence. But I was once a child of prophecy, keeping him in the dark about such will only make him hate you and distrust you when we need the opposite. As his father, I say Harry doesn't need to be kept in the dark as you all wish. He needs to be included, needs to know the prophecy that ties his life to a Dark Lord, babying him will only end up with him dead," Percy said seriously.

"Except you are not his father," the harsh voice of Molly Weasley said, "as you mentioned his family is dead-"

"Which makes me his closest relative. Not just as his godfather but also a blood relative seeing as his Grandmother's sibling married a daughter of the Black Family," Sirius spoke harshly to Molly. "And I would've thought you of all people would know blood doesn't just make family, after all, we know what your mother's maiden name used to be don't we. Or have you forgotten you have LeStrange Blood in you?"

There was a startling silence through the comm Harry was using and he briefly wondered if it had been deactivated before the silky voice of Severus spoke. "It appears we need to make a vote once more. All in favor of inducting Harry into the order?"

The resounding silence made Harry anxious.

"All opposed?"

"Then we have it," Dumbledore's grandfatherly voice said, "the topic has been opposed. We can evaluate it in another meeting. Anything else?"

Harry could feel his heart beating in his chest, but for some reason, the air had been knocked out of him as he tore the commlink off his ear and threw it onto the bedside table.

He didn't know how many people attended the meeting, but for it to be that unanimous against him hurt. He had no doubt his family sided with him, which meant the world to him, but Harry still felt hurt that the other's didn't trust him enough to induct him.

Hearing the footsteps coming up the stairs and the floo being activated, Harry just shook his head and tried to clear his mind. He could feel Regina's calm thought drift over his empty ones and watched dispassionately as Lunar emerged from his arm into his lap.

"It'll be okay, Mother," she spoke to him as she nuzzled his arm, her small size making it easier for him to have her curl into him.

He fell asleep like that, Regina reassuring him through their link and snuggled with Lunar.

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The next few days before the meeting with the Ministry wasn't as exciting as his first day at Grimmauld Place. Though he would say he had been cold toward Molly Weasley more often than not, his father seemed to understand but his uncle's confused by such behavior.