Chapter 5: The Shadow of a Mentor
**July 31, 1980 – Godric's Hollow, The Potter Castle – Henry's Age: Newborn**
The Potter Castle's family chamber, with its golden firelight and ancient tapestries, had become a crucible of revelations on this fateful night of July 31, 1980. The air was thick with the weight of destiny, the castle's rune-carved walls humming with the magic of Avalon as if sensing the storm of truth about to break. Henry James Fleamont Charles George Arthur Eliseo Elisheva Ezekiel Solomon Apollonius Potter Peverell IX—now also known by his Roman name, Imperator Aurelius Maximus Draconis Leonidas Augustus Septimus Valerian Ptolemaeus Aurelius-Peverellius—lay in his mother's arms, his green eyes gleaming with a wisdom no newborn should possess. The family had just absorbed the staggering scope of Henry's dual royal heritage, his titles echoing in their minds like a prophecy, when Griphook, the goblin genealogist, dropped another bombshell that shattered their understanding of the world.
Lily, still clutching Henry close, her red hair framing her pale face, looked at Griphook with a mixture of awe and exhaustion. James stood beside her, his hazel eyes wide with the implications of their son's titles, while Charles and Dorea Potter flanked them, their expressions a blend of pride and concern. The scroll detailing Henry's lineage lay on the velvet settee, its golden lines glowing faintly, but Griphook's attention had shifted back to Lily's own results, his clawed fingers tracing a notation that had gone unaddressed in the earlier shock of her royal heritage.
"There is more," Griphook said, his voice a low rasp that cut through the room's warmth like a blade. "The circumstances of your kidnapping, Princess Lily, were not as we initially assumed. It was not the Death Eaters who took you from your family at birth. It was Albus Dumbledore."
The name hung in the air like a curse, and the room seemed to darken, the firelight flickering as if in response to the revelation. Lily's breath caught, her green eyes widening in disbelief. James's hand tightened on her shoulder, his jaw clenching as he stared at the goblin. Charles let out a sharp curse under his breath, while Dorea's grey eyes narrowed, her Black family instincts kicking in with a cold fury.
"Dumbledore?" Lily whispered, her voice trembling. "But… why? He's the leader of the Order, the greatest wizard of our time. He's been nothing but kind to us—supportive, even. Why would he do such a thing?"
James's voice was a growl, his usual warmth replaced by a protective rage. "If this is true, Griphook, you'd better have a damn good explanation. Dumbledore's been our mentor, our guide. He's the one who insisted we name Henry 'Harry'—Merlin's beard, does that mean he knew?"
Henry, nestled against Lily's chest, felt a surge of vindication. His past life as Elias Kane had given him a deep knowledge of Dumbledore's machinations—fanfictions had often painted the Headmaster as a manipulator, a chessmaster who moved pieces like pawns, even at the cost of lives. But to hear it confirmed in this reality, and to know that Dumbledore had orchestrated his mother's kidnapping, sent a thrill of both anger and opportunity through him. He kept his infant body still, his tiny fists curled, but his mind was alight with plans. Dumbledore would pay—but not yet. For now, Henry would listen and learn.
Griphook adjusted his crimson robe, his obsidian eyes glinting with a mix of disdain and professional detachment. "Albus Dumbledore is many things—powerful, cunning, and ambitious, despite his facade of benevolence. The goblins of Gringotts have long suspected his involvement in the disappearances of noble magical children, but it is only through this test, and the magical traces left on your blood, Princess Lily, that we have definitive proof."
Charles stepped forward, his silver-streaked hair catching the firelight. "What do you mean, 'noble magical children'? Are you saying Lily wasn't the only one?"
"Far from it," Griphook replied, his voice cold. "Dumbledore has been targeting noble bloodlines for decades, kidnapping children at birth and placing them in carefully chosen families—often Muggle or lower-status magical ones—to control their destinies. His goal is to shape the wizarding world according to his vision, ensuring that power remains in his hands, or in the hands of those he can manipulate."
Dorea's expression darkened, her Black family heritage giving her a keen understanding of power plays. "But why nobles? What does he gain from taking children like Lily?"
Griphook unrolled another scroll from his satchel, this one marked with the seal of Gringotts' investigative archives. "Noble bloodlines carry ancient magic—magic that can challenge even someone as powerful as Dumbledore. By removing these children from their families, he prevents them from being raised in environments where their true potential might be nurtured. Instead, he places them where he can monitor them, influence them, and, if necessary, use them as pawns in his greater schemes."
Lily's voice was a whisper, her arms tightening around Henry. "What kinds of noble children has he taken? Who else has he done this to?"
Griphook's clawed finger traced the list on the scroll, his tone methodical as he began to read. "The types of noble children Dumbledore has targeted include:
- **Heirs of the Sacred Twenty-Eight**: Children from the purest magical families, such as the Blacks, Malfoys, and Longbottoms, whose bloodlines carry ancient protective magics.
- **Descendants of Magical Sovereigns**: Those with ties to ancient magical kingdoms, like the Avalon dynasty through the Potters and Peverells, or the Celtic druidic lines.
- **Scions of Elemental Clans**: Families with innate control over elements like fire, water, or air, often tied to pre-wizarding magical traditions.
- **Bearers of Seer Blood**: Children with the potential for true prophecy, a gift that Dumbledore fears could undermine his plans.
- **Hybrids of Magical and Muggle Royalty**: Rare cases like Princess Lily, where magical blood intersects with Muggle royal lines, creating a bridge between worlds that Dumbledore seeks to control.
- **Guardians of Ancient Relics**: Families tasked with protecting artifacts like the Deathly Hallows, whose children might inherit the knowledge to wield or destroy such power."
James's face was pale, his voice hoarse. "And you have proof of others? Other children he's taken?"
Griphook nodded, pointing to a specific name on the scroll. "One example is Alice Longbottom, née Fortescue. Like Princess Lily, she was kidnapped at birth. Alice is a direct descendant of the Fortescue line, a family that once ruled as magical dukes in the North of England, their blood tied to the ancient elemental clan of ice. Her parents were killed shortly after her birth, an act we now believe Dumbledore orchestrated to cover his tracks. She was placed with a lesser branch of the Fortescue family, her true heritage erased, and she grew up unaware of her status as a magical duchess."
Lily gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Alice? My Alice? We were best friends at Hogwarts—she's one of the kindest people I know. She's married to Frank now, and they're expecting… oh, Merlin, she has no idea."
James's expression hardened, his protective instincts flaring. "That explains why Dumbledore was so keen to pair Alice and Frank with us in the Order. He wanted to keep an eye on both of you—two noble bloods, two potential threats to his control."
Charles ran a hand through his hair, his voice a low growl. "It does make sense, if you look at Dumbledore's titles. He's not just the Headmaster of Hogwarts. He's the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and a holder of the Order of Merlin, First Class. Those positions give him power, yes, but they also give him access—access to records, to families, to secrets. He's built a network that lets him control the wizarding world from the shadows."
Dorea nodded, her grey eyes cold with realization. "And by taking noble children, he ensures that no one rises to challenge him. He's been playing a long game—decades, maybe centuries, if you consider his age. He's 99 years old now, and he's been in power since the fall of Grindelwald in 1945. That's 35 years of influence, of manipulation."
Lily's voice was a whisper, her eyes filling with tears as she looked down at Henry. "He wanted to name Henry 'Harry'… he wanted to control him, too, didn't he? If he knew about my heritage, he must have known what Henry would become—a prince, a crown prince, a threat to his power."
Griphook inclined his head, his expression grim. "Precisely. Dumbledore likely sensed the convergence of bloodlines in your union with James Potter. The Windsor royalty, the Avalon dynasty, the Peverell legacy—it's a combination that could unite the Muggle and magical worlds, something Dumbledore cannot allow if he wishes to maintain his grip on power. By naming your son 'Harry,' he sought to diminish him, to make him a pawn in his prophecy—a 'Chosen One' he could mold, rather than the true heir he is destined to be."
James's fists clenched, his voice a low growl. "That manipulative bastard. He's been playing us all along—playing the kindly old mentor while he tears families apart. We can't let him near Henry, not ever."
Charles nodded, his expression resolute. "We'll need to strengthen the wards around the castle—more than we already have. Dumbledore can't know what we've discovered, not yet. We need time to plan, to protect our family."
Dorea placed a hand on Lily's arm, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions in the room. "We'll keep this secret for now, Lily. You, Henry, all of us—we're a family, and we'll face this together. Dumbledore may think he's untouchable, but he's underestimated the Potters, the Peverells, and now the Windsors. He'll learn his mistake in time."
Lily nodded, her tears falling silently as she held Henry close. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I… I need time to process this, but knowing you're all with me—it means everything."
Henry, still in his mother's arms, felt a surge of determination. Dumbledore's actions were a betrayal of everything the wizarding world believed him to be, but they were also an opportunity. Henry's past life as Elias Kane had taught him to see the chessboard of power, and Dumbledore had just revealed himself as the true opponent. The Headmaster's titles—Supreme Mugwump, Chief Warlock, Order of Merlin—were impressive, but they paled in comparison to the titles Henry now bore: a prince and crown prince, heir to two thrones, a unifier of worlds.
The Potter Castle, with its golden domes and cascading waterfalls, its rune-carved halls and ethereal beauty, seemed to pulse with a renewed energy, as if the ancient magic of Avalon sensed the battle to come. The firelight danced across the room, casting shadows on the tapestries that depicted the Potter family's history, and Henry closed his green eyes, his tiny body finally succumbing to the exhaustion of his first day in this new life. But his mind remained active, plotting, planning, dreaming of the day he would face Dumbledore—not as a pawn, but as a king.
---
Notes on the Chapter:
- **Date and Setting**: The chapter takes place on July 31, 1980, in the Potter Castle in Godric's Hollow, immediately following Chapter 4. Henry remains a newborn, only hours old.
- **Dumbledore's Role**: Griphook reveals that Dumbledore, not the Death Eaters, kidnapped Lily at birth, tying his actions to a broader scheme of abducting noble magical children to maintain control over the wizarding world.
- **List of Noble Children**: The types of noble children targeted by Dumbledore include heirs of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, descendants of magical sovereigns, elemental clans, seer bloodlines, hybrids of magical and Muggle royalty, and guardians of ancient relics, providing a comprehensive scope of his scheme.
- **Alice Longbottom**: Alice's kidnapping is detailed, revealing her as a descendant of the Fortescue line, a magical duchess whose heritage was erased, mirroring Lily's experience and adding depth to the conspiracy.
- **Dumbledore's Titles**: His titles—Supreme Mugwump, Chief Warlock, and Order of Merlin, First Class—are listed to explain his access and influence, tying his actions to his ambition for control.
- **Family Reaction**: Lily, James, Charles, and Dorea are shocked but resolute, deciding to protect Henry and keep the revelation secret, setting the stage for future conflict with Dumbledore.
- **Henry's Perspective**: His past life as Elias Kane informs his understanding of Dumbledore's manipulation, but his reincarnation remains a secret, as requested, with his thoughts focused on future strategy.