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Chapter 116: “Potter Manor”
🕑 Added 2024-04-03 18:23:38 +0000 UTCJames would be spending this Christmas at the home of his grandfather, Henry Potter. Rather, at his grandfather's Manor: Potter Manor.
Potter Manor is the ancestral home of the Potter family and the current residence of his grandfather. The mansion, was located in Gloucestershire, England. It was gigantic. Not even the Shafiq manor or other pureblood family manor came close in size.
The Manor was built in 1212 with the permission of King Richard I of England. Its first owner was Linfred Potter also known as 'The Potterer'.
Gloucestershire is a ceremonial county. In ceremonial counties, lords are appointed who are the monarch's representatives in an area.
King Richard appointed Linfred Potter as Lord. The history of the Potter Family is always told with great pride by Henry to James from the time he was a little boy.
The history of the Potters is one of the oldest within the pureblood families. Only the Blacks and a couple of other families can compete with it in history and antiquity.
Knowing this story from a young age James found it curious how in two lifetimes he ended up being born into a royal family and a very old one at that. The only difference was that in this new life, some families dared to call the Potters blood traitors.
This was usually because the Potters in later years did not have much power within politics: the Ministry, the Wizengamot, etc. His grandfather Henry was the last member of the Wizengamot many years ago.
His father was dedicated to the sale of Potions getting a lot of money, but never sought political power. His mother was in the health field and never sought the highest office either. She liked to help people by healing them. Not to be behind a desk giving orders to others.
His uncle Charlus, Fleamont's younger brother, was a Magizoologist. A wizard who studied magical creatures. He would rather die than work at the Ministry at a desk or in complicated political meetings.
Few family members were inside the Ministry climbing the ranks to have more power. So when the Potters came out in favor of Muggles, half-bloods, and Muggle-born some of the old families dared to call them blood traitors.
On Sunday, December 24 around noon James traveled with his family to Potter Manor.
They used the apparition to reach the vicinity of the mansion. Fleamont used the sideways apparition. A variant is used to transport two or more individuals. This method is generally used to transport underage wizards.
James as he wanted to create a shorter-range apparition method had studied apparition a bit. He knew it meant disappearing from one place and reappearing almost instantly in another. When traveling with this method you feel as if you are being forced through a very tight rubber tube.
Generally, the first time you travel with this method is not very pleasant, but it is the fastest way to get to the desired destination.
Upon arrival, James saw a majestic monument standing imposingly in the snowy Gloucestershire countryside. The mansion is built of grayish stone and surrounded by extensive gardens, it resembles a magical castle. Though a far cry from the size of Hogwarts.
As it was winter there was a lot of snow covering the whole mansion, giving it a very beautiful appearance.
The pointed towers and buttresses soared skyward, creating an imposing silhouette against the skyline. Magical stained glass windows adorn the windows.
Access to the mansion is through a large wooden door carved with intricate ancient designs. Two majestic statues of hippogriffs flank the entrance, welcoming visitors.
The mansion has anti-appearance and anti-disappearance charms to prevent wizards from appearing or disappearing from the premises. So they could not enter directly into the mansion's gardens or chambers.
Within seconds of their arrival, the large wooden door slowly opened on its own. Henry appeared with a smile already waiting for them and beside him two small creatures. They were two house elves.
"Grandpa!" said James excitedly, running to his grandfather and hugging him.
Henry was the only grandfather James had, and he loved him dearly. Their grandfather-grandson relationship was very good. As for the grandparents on Euphemia's side, they died before he was born.
"Boy, you get stronger every day!" said Henry with a big smile and brutally stroking James' hair.
"Training pays off," said James with a smile.
"Master James!" squealed the two house elves with gleeful expressions.
"Mimsy, Puddle how long," said James with a smile, greeting the two house elves.
"I told them to just call me James..." he added. It was odd to be called master in this day and age. They weren't in the middle ages.
Mimsy is a house elf of a smaller-than-average stature. She has big bright eyes and pointed ears peeking out from between her tousled locks of hair.
Because of the cold weather, she wears warmer clothes that James gave her some time ago. Getting a house elf to accept a gift is nearly impossible. So James, to dress them decently, on his visits to his grandfather's house, left clothes lying around the manor for them to find for themselves and not wear old rags that barely protect them from the cold.
Puddle is a male house elf with slightly darker skin than other house elves, and his eyes sparkle with curiosity. He is wearing a Puddlemere United coat left to him by James using the same method as before. It was his clothing when he was a child. The name Puddle is after the quidditch team. James couldn't believe that his grandfather would go to such levels of fanaticism that he would name the house elf that.
"M-master James, we can't do that! You'll be the next Lord Potter!" exclaimed Mimsy.
'Again with that...' thought James, noticing Henry's look of pride and high expectations on his face.
"Oh no, Mimsy! You can't refuse Master James' command! Oh no, I called him Master again!" shrieked Puddle with a panicked expression.
Mimsy's face also turned panicked as she heard this. Her partner was right, she had disobeyed an order.
Just as the two house elves were about to start beating themselves up, James stopped them.
"All right. I'll let them call me Master..." he said, holding their little hands so they wouldn't hit themselves.
"Hahaha, what funny creatures," Henry said laughing loudly, "Come on. It's cold," he added as he started walking.
Euphemia looked at them with pity. Their behavior was because they were treated so horribly for so long.
In the extensive snow-drenched gardens there was a path winding through the lush vegetation, guiding people to the main entrance of the mansion.
It took them a few minutes to complete the walk. When they arrived Henry opened the large door, and they entered the foyer. The first thing people see when they enter. It contains statues of the occupant's travels from ancient times. A grandfather clock, several enchanted suits of armor, and a large painting he has painting a city.
The ornamental design of the lobby ceiling was designed by a famous craftsman of the time. In the center of the foyer are large quartz staircases leading to the rooms on the second floor.
Christmas as usual was very merry and happy for James, who spent it with his loved ones. The next day his aunt and uncle (Charlus and Dorea Potter) and Oliver came to spend the day.
James received more presents than usual. From all the marauders (except Toby, who didn't have an owl to send him), from the entire Gryffindor quidditch team, from Gwen (who sent him two presents), and even from Lily Evans.
Lily's gift was a book entitled: Transfiguration Through the Ages. A book that dealt with the evolution of Transfiguration. It was over six hundred pages long.
'A fitting gift for Lily... I must buy her something. I didn't think she would send me a present,' thought James, feeling bad.
Lily sent James a gift for Christmas, as she felt he was helping her a lot by lending her his animals and following her to an empty classroom so she could practice transfiguration spells.
James made a mental note to buy a present before returning to Hogwarts. He had a little over a week to read and train like mad now that he had all the free time.
Besides, he had his grandfather to practice on. A veteran of magical warfare who fought against Grindelwald and his followers long ago.
His father Fleamont learned everything from Henry. So, he would be practicing with his master's master. It wouldn't be the first time he trained with Henry. His grandfather, though he spoils him a lot like his parents, in training shows no mercy.
"What do you want to practice today?" asked Henry with a wand in hand. They were currently in a subway room of the manor, perfect for training anything you can imagine.
According to Henry, Potter Manor has powerful defensive charms all over the place. No matter how much James does magic while underage no one will notice anything.
"Before that. I want to show you something," James said, taking some distance.
"Oh... let's see," said Henry curiously.
"Expecto Patronum!" exclaimed James, making a nimble movement with his wand.
A thin silver thread escaped from his wand and floated like mist before him for several seconds.
Henry's eyes widened in surprise, "Hahaha, incorporeal Patronus!" laughed Henry with pride in his eyes. James smiled in satisfaction at his grandfather's reaction. It was the first family member he had ever shown it to.
"How long ago did you learn it?" asked Henry, patting James' shoulder.
"It took me a month before I managed to cast the incorporeal... but two months ago, we started with Lupin to research and study about the Patronus," replied James, and Henry smiled broadly.
"You are a genius! You will bring great honor to the Potter family when you become Lord!" said Henry, looking with great expectations to his most precious grandson.
Henry, unlike his sons or other members of the Potter family of his generation, always sought to elevate the honor of the Potter Family to the highest level. So, he always sought to gain prestige, political power, and magical prowess to achieve his lifelong objective.
However, his ideals in favor of Muggles, half-breeds, and Muggle-born always put him in a difficult position in the political sphere. But he would not change his ideals. He stood up to those supremacists who see Muggles and others as cattle, and he has no regrets.
Henry saw in James an unparalleled genius from an early age. Studying and practicing complicated charms at a tender age. Showing discipline and intelligence is rarely seen.
Moreover, unlike his sons Fleamont and Charlus, his grandson did seem to have enormous ambition. He would be the man to take the Potter name to new heights.
"Yes, Grandfather," James said in a determined tone and without showing displeasure or unwillingness. He was no stranger to having the fate of his family on his shoulders. However, this time, he was doing it because it was his grandfather's dream, and he loved him dearly.
Besides, it would serve him well in his fight against Voldemort and his Mortifages to have power, not just power in terms of magical prowess.
"That's the attitude! Let's go train!" said Henry with a smile.
James spent the entire vacation at Potter Manor. Practicing with Henry and reading in the mansion's large library. He asked Henry to teach him about Apparition, and Henry agreed. If his grandson could already cast an Incorporeal Patronus, Why not teach him about Apparition?
If Euphemia was aware of this she would take James to Godric's Hollow. She considered it too dangerous for him to learn Apparition at only twelve. What if something went wrong? But Henry's thinking was different.
It was a very fruitful short vacation, as he spent all his time practicing and reading. He only left a little time to fly around the mansion's parks on his broomstick and clear his mind a bit.
