Chapter Text
Harry was in a really bloody good mood. His birthday was in two days, Nev's was tomorrow and he and the misfits were allowed to go to the town unaccompanied for ice cream (well Pomo was with them but he was invisible so that didn't count). It wasn't just ice cream, it was the best thing Harry had ever tasted. Gelato. It was ace. Last year was stressful but ended on a high and that high just kept climbing. They'd come to Italy last year but this year they were staying for a whole month.
When school let out Cass and Saul took him and Mia to Gringotts. Cass had a few business dealings she wanted to go over and Mia had convinced him to go along for an inheritance test. She wanted to know more about her muggleborn theory and Harry? Well he just wanted more information on his family. Even though he'd been in the wizarding world for two years now he still knew only a handful of things about his family and that information always came from others. Hagrid told him how great his parents were, Cass told him what a joker his dad was, Severus spoke of Lily rarely but when he did it was always with reverence. He wanted facts, cold, hard facts. Mia was right, the inheritance goblin looked like a tufted walnut. He seemed excited to see her though. She left him with Radnur whilst she went off to meet with the account managers for the Rosier and Dagworth-Granger vaults. The inheritance test gave him exactly what he wanted. He never knew his parent's middle names before: James Charlus Potter and Lily Primrose Evans. He knew his grandmother on his father's side was a Black, Dorea married Charlus Potter and they had one son, James. It was his mother's line he was interested in. He curled his lip at Petunia's name but had to do a double take when in brackets next to her name was the word "squib". He followed her line back. His grandmother Ivy Evans nee Bones was the eldest daughter of Castor Bones and Rose Burke. Both Castor and Rose were listed as "wixen". Some ten years after Ivy's birth, Castor and Rose had had another daughter, named Hope. She was also listed as magical. Maybe that's what they hoped for. Harry rolled his eyes. Hope Bones married another wizard called Lyal Lupin, they had a son the same age as his mother. Harry wondered whether Remus Lupin (who was also listed as wixen) had gone to school with his mother and if they ever knew they were first cousins? His mother's father, Howard Evans was traced back to two eventual wixen, a Harold Everleigh and Peony Parkinson. Parkinson? Bloody fucking Merlin! The Everleigh, Parkinson, Bones and Black lines all had heirs already in place, Harry knew that but Rose Burke was the last of the Burke line. The Burke name was one of the so called "Sacred 28" so his name, displayed on the parchment was listed as Harry Burke-Potter. The old goblin rubbed his hands together gleefully and introduced Harry to Dogboor, the Burke family account manager. So it turned out Mia wasn't the only one with a couple of titles to her name. He understood now why she'd been so shaken up. According to his paperwork he was a rich as Croesus. He took Mia's advice and allowed the goblin to make investments as he saw fit. Theo had told him a lot of older wizards preferred to make their own investments but the ones that the goblins made never seemed to disappoint, Theo had made three times his vault's value by allowing the account manager for the Nott family vaults to take over the investments. Harry didn't have the first clue how to manage money but he did know how to spend it. He was about to go on holiday, so he'd definitely be exercising his new found spending power. To be honest he could probably buy the Vatican itself and still have enough for the plane ride home. He was presented with a folder that had three crests on it, just like Mia's.
"Sorry, Radnur? What's this?" He pointed to the third crest. It was a very simple design, a circle with a triangle in it and a line straight down the middle.
"That, Heir Burke-Potter is the crest of the Peverell Family, the name is now defunct as it was absorbed into the Potter line but you are a direct descendent of Ignotus Peverell, it is a very old wizarding name."
"Ah okay, right, do they have a vault or something?"
"They do not, the Peverell name is older even than the conception of Gringotts, quite a feat, and the name died out before any accounts could be opened, you may find information on the Peverell family in the Potter vaults," Radnur inclined his head.
"Oh right okay, cheers,"
The goblin looked a bit startled at being addressed so informally, well he'd just have to lump it wouldn't he.
Harry was jolted back to the present by Suz voice as she pretended to vomit watching Theo kiss ice cream from the end of Mia's nose.
"NO! No Teddy! No PDAs! You promised!" She moaned. Theo shrugged.
"Couldn't help myself, sorry, not sorry," he said with a wink in Mia's direction. Harry was happy for the two of them really but somehow, Mia being with Theo had brought out his cheeky side even more. If he didn't love her so much he'd hex the bloke. Perhaps Blaise managed to read his mind because he announced they were moving on, going to see the Trevi fountain or something.
Harry had his arm linked with Suz as they ambled in the blazing sun. He worried briefly about Lu, she was the palest of all of them and he didn't want her to get sunburn because they were surrounded by muggles and couldn't use a sunblock charm. When he checked over his shoulder he saw she was skipping along with a white parasol decorated with daisies, it was perfectly Luna. Okay so the fountain was kind of impressive, Mia asked a young couple to take their picture and Harry smiled from between Mia and Suz as the shutter went off. It was with aching feet and tired eyes that the seven of them finally returned to the villa after spending a full day exploring Rome.
It was no Teach Rèalta but Harry had to admit, Blaise's place was pretty nice. It was three stories and the second story had a balcony that wrapped around the entire place, the stones were almost yellow in colour. It was draped in vines and was so stereotypically Italian that it was almost funny. Pomo could speak English, he just chose not to, Blaise found it funny, Harry found it annoying. He'd picked up a few swear words though, apparently Pomo had a filthy mouth.
Nev's birthday started with an excellent demonstration of said swear words.
"FIGLIO DI PUTTANA!" Came Pomo's squeaky shriek. It was followed by multiple crashes and more shrieking. He hopped out of bed and ambled into the hallway. He bumped into Mia who was coming out of Theo's room. Harry raised an eyebrow at her.
"Really Mi?" She rolled her eyes at him,
"We were just talking and I fell asleep. Don't be such an arse!" She sent a wandless stinging hex his way. It wasn't strong, she'd only just started mastering the basics of wandless magic but he still jumped when it made contact with the tender inside of his thigh.
"Ow! Witch! Watch where you're aiming!" She just smirked at him.
"Why are we assaulting Harry this morning love?" Theo asked. He stepped out of his room, his curly hair was a mess and he had a love bite on his neck. Just talking my arse.
"WE aren't doing anything of the sort," Mia told him, "I was just reminding my brother here to keep his nose out,"
"Mmhmm, better glamour your neck Theo, looks like all that talking you were doing has bruised it," Harry smirked and took off. Mia wasn't embarrassed but Theo was. He went bright red and ducked back into his room as Mia shot another stinging jinx his way. Harry laughed as he ran away. He skidded to a halt in the hallway that led to the kitchen. Blaise was talking to Pomo in rapid Italian, they were both gesticulating wildly. Blaise' mannerisms got more hilariously Italian the longer they spent out here. Harry barely understood what was happening. Something about a pig whore maybe. He caught just one English word, "niffler". Unless that meant something else in Italian. Blaise sighed heavily.
"Apparently a niffler got into the kitchen and was pilfering the pantry, it's made a bit of a mess,"
"Oh whoops," Suz said, it didn't sound as though she was that upset about it. The girl loved chaos.
"I'll see if I can go find him?" Nev offered, "we get them in the greenhouses sometimes, they like the dirigible plums,"
"Ooh I love those too!" Luna sighed
Blaise smiled at Luna, that was only a matter of time as well in Harry's opinion.
"Grazie Nev. that would be great," Blaise told him. Pomo was still muttering in Italian. Nev disappeared into the kitchen. "Pomo, we'll be out on the veranda, don't worry if breakfast is a bit late," Blaise told him. He offered Luna his arm and turned her in the direction of the doors that opened out into the sunny veranda overlooking the villa gardens.
"La colazione non arriverà mai in ritatdo mentre sono il cuoco," Pomo grumbled.
"Uhuh," Harry nodded, hoping that was sufficient. He made his way with Suz the back patio. Calling it a patio was a bit of a joke, it was an enormous sweeping paved area with stone steps leading down to a gravelled area with two massive fountains and beyond them a long narrow lawn dotted with trees. He sat down next to Cass. She had her sunglasses on already and was wearing a light blue sundress. He'd never seen her look so muggle. She looked younger, not that she was old or anything but robes sometimes made a person look like they were eight hundred and fifty.
"Morning Harry, sleep okay?"
"Sure did Cass, did you hear a niffler got into the kitchen?"
"Ah is that why there was all that shrieking and cursing? I was worried it was Saul,"
"The day is still young," Severus drawled from his spot opposite them. Harry hadn't gotten used to seeing Severus is anything other than robes but here he was in a black short sleeved shirt and grey trousers. "He has time to induce some shrieking yet," he disappeared back behind the pages of the Daily Prophet. Cass was flicking through an Italian wizarding magazine, the page lay open at the table showing pictures of a very glamorous woman that could only be Blaise's mother. Coffee appeared in front of them and Harry took his cup. He'd never tell Pomo but he definitely preferred tea. Finally Mia and Theo joined them. Harry smirked at Theo who ducked his head under Harry's gaze. Prat.
"Un caffe lungo per me e un cappuccino per Theo, per favore. Buon lavoro Pomo, grazie," Mia said as she took her seat next to Cass. The elf gave her a much deeper bow than he ever gave Harry and vanished with a soft pop. Theo's pupils were wide and dark as he watched Mia shake out her napkin. Severus cleared his throat causing Theo to snap out of it. Thank Merlin. Harry noted that Cass was smirking but trying to hide it behind her own coffee cup.
"What are the plans for the day?" Cass asked them.
"Well Lu, Mia and I have plans in the kitchen," said Suz.
"Provided it's not been destroyed by a niffler," Mia added.
"It hasn't," said Luna smiling happily,
"Great well we'll be in the kitchen, Augusta's portkey gets here at one. We've got a birthday lunch planned and then something fun for after," Suz' eyes were alight with mischief and Harry didn't know whether to be excited or scared. Nev finally arrived with Caspian prowling at his heels. Hellebore was riding on Caspian's head looking like a glowing golden crown. Nev had Blaise' familiar Armand, riding on his shoulder and in his hands rested a fluffy black creature that looked like a chubby mole. Nev handed Armand off to Blaise. The green lizard enlarged itself to the size of an iguana and draped itself along the stone balustrade next to Blaise in a patch of sunlight. Hellebore fluttered across the table and tucked herself into Mia's hair, her favourite spot.
"Guys!" Nev announced, "I've met my familiar!" There was a collective exclamation of congratulations and happiness as Nev introduced the little creature. "I've decided to call him Waffle, it's what I caught him trying to steal," he grinned.
"He's so cute!" Suz exclaimed, "Gods, I'm so envious! Although, I hope you realise, your Gran is going to spare if you take a niffler back to Longbottom Keep,"
"He'll fit right in at ours though, right Cass?" Mia asked.
"Of course darling, we've already got some nifflers in Hellie's forest so it won't be an issue," Nev smiled gratefully at the older witch. Throughout breakfast Harry was amused as he watched Nev, gently but firmly control his new familiar every time the little thief got his paws on the jam or pastries. The girls left after breakfast and Cass went with them to track down Saul. Severus advised them he would be doing some research in the potions lab so the four of them decided to go flying. Caspian and Armand both seemed to not think much of this plan, the two (currently) equally large creatures lounged in the sunlight resting against one another. Nev tucked Waffle into his pocket at they made their way to Blaise' broom shed.
"How big can Mokes get?" Harry asked him as Blaise began handing out the brooms.
"I'm not sure, we haven't tested the limits of it or anything, he managed six foot once but not for long, he prefers being smaller, it's easier for him to conserve his energy that way, he doesn't normally stay as large as he is today but I think he likes matching Caspian,"
"Ace!" Harry told him, "I can't wait to find mine, what's it like?"
Nev smiled brightly.
"It's like the purest friendship connection, of course, nothing beats you guys but... it's like a bond, you know, precious? I don't know if I'm explaining it right," Nev said with a frown.
"No, you're right Nev," Theo told him, "it's effortless trust, pure connection, I want to look into it actually, Blaise can I check in your library later, I want to do some research on bonds in magic?" Blaise laughed.
"Yes you can do weird magic research in my library, you might need a translation spell though, not a lot of it is in English," Theo waved that off. Harry knew that nothing, not foreign languages nor wild horses would come between Theo and obscure magic.
"Alright lads! Let's fly!" Harry called kicking off from the ground. The villa fell away and Harry had to admit the view was incredible. He loved flying at Hogwarts but this was something else. He could see a shimmer of heat already rising off of Rome in the distance but he rose high enough for the air to be cool. He flew lazily allowing the villa to fall away until it looked like a dolls house. He could hear the laughter below him as Blaise streaked along racing Theo. Blaise was faster but Theo was sharper so they were evenly matched when not flying in a straight line. He wondered if either of them would ever try out for the team, Blaise would make a good chaser, he could take Warrington's spot when he graduated at the end of next year. Theo would be a good beater, he was nearly fourteen now and his previously skinny frame was filling out, his arms were more muscled than Harry had realised. His quiet friend was slowly coming out of his shell now that his father was more of a distant memory. Harry had nearly choked when he saw Theo's scarred body for the first time that summer. It has never occurred to Harry that there might be a reason Theo always wore long sleeves. He understood it but Theo should be proud. He survived that fucking monster and his scars were like trophies, each one a story, telling everyone how strong he was. Nev was not so suited to the sport. But that was fine, he still loved flying with them, in fact, they'd even managed to convince Nev to try a barrel roll last week. And okay he screamed the entire time but he managed it. He was glad Mia got a picture of it. Theo and Blaise laughing until they were crying whilst Harry flew along beside Nev shouting encouragement. Nev hanging upside down, his eyes shut tight and mouth open in a terrified scream. Harry was going to frame it.
The girls made an amazing lunch spread. Mrs Longbottom arrived, unsurprisingly still wearing her stuffed vulture hat. She wore robes and it was obvious she hadn't considered the heat in Italy when she took her portkey. Cass took pity on her and offered her a light day robe to change into which the Longbottom matriarch gratefully accepted. She kept the hat on though. Strange old bird. The both of them.
After they ate lunch consisting of salads and pizza, the girls brought out a three layered birthday cake. It was rose and pistachio, it was a strange combination but it worked and Nev loved it. There were gifts from all of them. Harry had bought him a travelling propagation station which the woman in the apothecary had told him was so that herbologists could collect cuttings as they travelled to cultivate until they got back to their own gardens or greenhouses. Augusta was excited to meet Nev's new familiar, but only once she realised he would be able to stay at Cass' place with the others. After lunch the girls disappeared for half an hour and when they came back they were wearing bikini tops and shorts. Augusta looked scandalised and Severus looked like he didn't know what to do with himself. They each carried brightly coloured balls. Harry knew immediately what they had planned.
"What are they?" Nev asked as Suz threw her ball heavily up and down.
"These, my dear sweet Nev, are water balloons," Mia said in her dangerous voice. Harry stepped slowly back, noticing that Severus was right beside him.
"What are-" Theo began but he didn't get to finish because-
SPLASH.
Mia threw her water balloon right at him and it exploded as it made contact with his shoulder. She smirked at him. Suz wasted no time and flung hers at Saul which hit him in the side of the head, causing him to splutter.
"RUN!" Luna yelled. The girls ran screaming onto the lawn launching water balloons behind them as they dodged jets of water from the wands of Theo, Nev and Saul. Cass handed Harry a basket of pre-filled balloons and rolled her head towards the lawn. He and Blaise joined the fight. Luna declared it must continue magic free and no one argued. Harry didn't know how long they ran around soaked to the skin and screaming with laughter but his ribs really fucking caned. He looked up at the patio and saw a woman standing between Severus and Augusta. It was obviously Blaise' mother. She was smiling as though she'd never seen kids having fun before, which honestly, she might not have. She waved her wand and an enormous water slide was conjured with a blue tarp running down two thirds of the lawn. There were shouts of joy but Blaise stood staring open mouthed as his mother transfigured her robes into a swimming costume and wrap skirt.
"Mio figlio?"
"Mama," he replied
"It's good to see you having fun Tesoro,"
It was the best day Harry could ever remember, even Pomo came out to pelt water balloons at them with shocking sharp aim. Cass and Saul joined them on the water slide and they even managed to force Severus Snape to have a go. He swore he didn't smile but he did. Mia got it on camera.
Harry woke the next morning happy but aching, his arm was draped across Mia's waist as she snuggled into him.
"Happy Birthday Harry," she mumbled.
"Thanks Mi," he smiled rolling onto his back. "I dunno how we're gonna top yesterday," he said still grinning at the memories.
"Just you wait," she told him. She kissed his cheek and left claiming that she had things to get ready. Harry showered slowly and dressed comfortably in a pair of loose trackies and a T-shirt. He made his way down to breakfast thinking he would be one of the first, he wasn't.
"SURPRISE!"
His six best friends, Cass, Saul and Severus were all there waiting for him. Pomo had prepared what could only be described as a feast and one end of the table was piled high with wrapped gifts.
"Wha- guys! This is- thanks- this is great," he told them feeling embarrassed about being the centre of attention.
"Come on Harry!" Suz said grabbing his arm, "pancakes!"
Breakfast was a noisy and joyful affair. Armand had given up his larger size and was back to being a pocket sized lizard on Blaise' shoulder. Waffle was eating a small stack of niffler sized waffles at Nev's feet making small happy munching sounds. Hellie was dancing around a thimble full of honey dipping crumbs of bread in it a squeaking her fairy speak with Mi. Theo poured fresh cream into a dish for Caspian whose purr rumbled like thunder adding to the cacophony.
"Now Harry, I'm hoping I've done the spell right, Cass thinks I have, and if I have, then we have to give you our gift before you open the rest of them," Saul told him.
"This is from, Saul, Sev and me," Cass said handing him a basket. He lifted his eyes to see them looking at him excitedly so he opened the lid of the basket. Nestled in a blanket was a small three headed snake. It raised its heads and looked at him. His heart leapt as he felt what the others had all described before him. His familiar.
"She's a runespoor," Severus told him. Harry grinned.
"Hello," he recognised the hiss of parseltongue in his voice, "I'm Harry, what's your name?"
It was the middle head that hissed in reply.
"Hello master Harry, I am Hecate," the creature slithered up his outstretched hand and wound around his arm.
"Oh this is ace!" He told them excitedly. Of course his familiar was a snake! He was very pleased he hadn't found her last year, people had already thought he was the heir of Slytherin without him having a three headed snake as a familiar. The rest of his gifts were all items to help care for Hecate. An enchanted heat rock from Mia, a cloak with warming pockets from Blaise, a large cabinet charmed to resemble a balmy jungle from both Nev and Theo who had worked together on the charms and plants. Luna had got him a book on Runespoors and parselmagicks and Suz had got him a carry case for her, which he could strap against his body. It was perfect.
Harry would have been content with just playing with his new familiar all day but the girls had other ideas.
"Welcome," announced Mia, "to Harry's Magically Muggle Birthday Bonanza!" Cass waved her wand and as though a curtain had been lifted Harry looked at the gardens. They looked like a carnival. There was a bouncy castle, a fun house, a coconut shy. Festoon lighting hung between the trees and the smell of popcorn permeated the air. A large piñata hung from a tree, it looked suspiciously like Dumbledore. Harry raised his eyebrow at Mia when he clocked it.
"Suz," she said by way of explanation. Harry laughed.
"Happy birthday Signore Potter," Mrs Zabini had apparently joined them again. "I do apologise for not being here to greet you properly, I have been a very poor host,"
"Uh no, no that's fine, thank you ma'am,"
"Please call me Elisa," she smiled
"Only if you call me Harry," he offered back, she inclined her head.
"Would you mind if I had a word with my son before you begin your festivities?" Harry looked to Blaise, he didn't look unhappy about the idea so Harry gave a half nod- half shrug gesture. The two Zabini's walked away together into the house.
"You think he's okay?" Mia asked
"He'll be fine," Luna said confidently, "the nargles told me that the Marchesa needed to see him like this, having fun, with his friends,"
"Alright then!" Nev clapped, "anyone gonna show me what this stuff does?" His eyes lingered warily on the piñata. Oh yeah. Harry was definitely up for showing Nev how to beat the shit out of an effigy of Dumbledore with a bat.
Best birthday ever.