Chapter 03

"Instead, Albus Wulfric took you to live with the last people you should have ever gone to... the Dursley family. There, because you were poorly nourished and treated, it led to your magic being damaged. Not a lot; but enough to make a difference. He didn't know your magical self would be harmed, but he did know you'd come into the magical world and look up to him as a grandfather figure, instead of the teacher he should have been.

"Next, his whole 'learn to forgive' philosophy stems from his fear that it was he who killed his sister. It wasn't. But his 'learn to forgive' philosophy is more him asking others, including his sister, to forgive him for killing her. It's messed him up; and the Fates didn't think it would have that big of an effect on the man. And helping you reach your destiny was supposed to assuage his guilt and let him think he's atoned himself. So, that one's on us.

"It's that philosophy," John almost snarled, jabbing his index finger down on the papers before him, "that's led to the huge rift between Slytherin and the other houses, especially Gryffindor. It's also led to so many joining Tom Marvolo's little army, when they never would have done so if they'd been properly punished for their infractions while at Hogwarts. They'd have learned there were consequences to their actions."

With a sigh, John sat back and rubbed his temples for a moment. He said, "But, that's not your problem to fix. The thing you have to do... no matter how hard it is... is let him die when the time comes. You are not to interfere as that is his time."

"What?" asked Harry shocked. "But... aren't I already dead? And so's he!"

"We'll get to that in a minute," said John. "Further, if you do interfere and he doesn't die; he will be a thorn in your political side until he'd otherwise pass on about fifty years later. If that happens you'll be facing yet another so-called dark lord and, again, die before your time.

"Now we come to the other problem children that interfered in your destiny... Molly Jillian Weasley, Ronald Bilius Weasley and Ginevra Molly Weasley."

"But," stuttered Harry. "Ginny's..."

"Shush!" said John. "Let me finish; then you'll have time for questions." Once he saw Harry had calmed down and nodded, he continued. "Ginevra Molly grew up listening to her mother read her bedtime stories about Harry Potter. From a very young age, her mother basically indoctrinated the poor girl into believing she would, one day, marry Harry Potter. That was her plan.

"That termagant, Molly Jillian, was raised a Prewett. And, the Prewett's had money. It was nothing compared to the Potter fortune, but it was more than enough to leave them wanting nothing. As a student at Hogwarts she set her sights on one Arthur Septimus Weasley, thinking his connections with the Black family through his mother would see her well taken care of. So, she dosed the poor young man with a love potion to... ensnare him.

"Her problem was that Arthur Septimus wasn't as ambitious as she thought he would be. He's quite happy making a modest living as a minor Office Head within the Ministry in their Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. Part of that is because of the love potions she keeps dosing him with. So, the Weasley's, while an otherwise loving family, are quite poor in comparison to others even though they're actually considered middle class. And, for Molly, this just won't do.

"She had hoped to get the whole family to aid her in seeing young Ginevra Molly ensnare you. However, Arthur Septimus is too honest a man to be involved in something like that; William Arthur loves his little sister, and would do just about anything for her, but believes in working hard and honestly to get what you want; Charles Septimus is only interested in his dragons; Percival Ignatius is too law abiding for her; and the twins, Frederic George and George Frederic, follow in the footsteps of their big brother, William Arthur – except they're a lot less serious. The only two who would aid her in her quest are her daughter and her youngest son, Ronald Bilius.

"Ronald Bilius, like her, is jealous of what others have. His problem is, he doesn't hide it anywhere near as well. He's also lazy, a bigot, and expects everything to be handed to him on a silver platter due to him being a pureblood. And you, young man, should have dropped him as a friend when you truly saw it for the first time. That was, if I remember correctly, when your godfather sent you your Firebolt broom. On top of that, your true male friend was someone you basically ignored for your whole time at Hogwarts... Neville Francis Longbottom."

Harry nodded, dropping his head; sad to have to agree.

"However, everything started well before that," said John. "You just didn't see it. And you should have."

Harry looked up again and frowned.

"Think about it, Harry James," said John. "Your first trip on the Express, and the Weasleys are outside the barrier. Molly Jillian is practically shouting out, 'What's the platform, dear? Nine and three quarters? All these muggles!'"

Harry almost laughed at the impressive impersonation of Molly Weasley; until he saw the expression on John's face. He then thought about what he'd said and frowned.

"I see you're getting it, now," said John, noticing his client's expression. "The woman went to Hogwarts for seven years, herself. She's then been seeing children off on the Express, and picking them up again, thrice a year, for ten years; the summer holidays, the Christmas holidays, and the Easter holidays. That's one hundred and two previous times she's likely been to the platform. Taking Ronald Bilius for his first trip was her one hundred and third. Either she's going senile... and we know she's not... or she had an ulterior motive. She did, and that ulterior motive was you."

"She was waiting for me... baiting me," muttered Harry. "And I fell for it."

With a nod, John said, "She was waiting for you to hear her and seek her out. That then led to a quick introduction to the Weasley family. That led to you meeting Ronald Bilius and Ginevra Molly for the first time. Understand, now?"

Harry again frowned and dropped his chin.

"Next, you also knew Molly Jillian admitted to using love potion to first snare Arthur Septimus. Is it so great a stretch to think she'd do the same with you?" asked John, watching the expressions pass over his client's face.

"What she did was much more than that, though. Potions Queen Molly Jillian did not want to leave anything to chance. She brewed a loyalty potion for you keyed to Ronald Bilius and instructed Ronald Bilius to start dosing you from the very first day. When Ronald Bilius finally reported to her that you had formed a friendship with your Hermione Jean, based on the events of that first Halloween at the castle, she instructed the boy to make sure you wouldn't get close to one another... that way. She was absolutely furious with him that he didn't report it to her immediately, instead of waiting to mention it to her just before Christmas. And, to top it off, he was to make sure you wouldn't get close to any other girl, either. The problem for Ronald Bilius is that... when he tried to drive a wedge between you two... it pretty much backfired on him. He was too late.