chapter 2:Summer Events

Harry closed the book and glanced at the cooling cauldron, wisps of sparkling steam occasionally rising from its shimmering gold surface.

"Sir, you requested a two hour warning." The voice of Jor-El, his Kryptonian AI assistant, spoke.

"Thanks, Jor." Harry said, returning the book to the shelf and closing the protective glass screen over it and the other potions books. "The potion will need decanting once it's reached room temperature."

"I shall take care of it for you, sir." Jor-El stated, his holographic form rippling into visibility.

"How's the extension conversion going on?" Harry asked as he headed for the door of the potions lab.

"The conversion has been completed, it is now fully Kryptonian like the rest of the mansion." Jor-El said calmly. "I am analyzing the table placed in it ready for conversion. Do you wish me to upgrade it to holographic display status?"

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment as he stepped through the automatically-opening door, then shook his head.

"No. Oh, put the ability in, by all means, but use the models that came with it whenever I have friends round to watch a match. Better safe than sorry and all that. Heck, Nev still gives you odd looks despite the cover story."

"As does Madam Longbottom." Jor-El agreed.

"How goes the analysis of the Floo?" Harry enquired.

"I have managed to isolate the underlying patterns, although the current setup seems to require near-constant monitoring to keep it working. Despite being a highly effective form of travel for individuals, it is… rather primitive in most respects."

"Any chance you could create a version that doesn't need the flames? Perhaps a door or something?"

"Henry Potter's journal contained several rune-sets intended for use on a vanishing cabinet that he created and sold." Jor-El finally supplied. "The current rune-set can be applied to create a teleportation-room linking the mansion and your trunk. Altering the runes to allow for the creation of a Portal would be a long-term project."

"Do it." Harry said without hesitation. "In fact, make… two sets and I'll place one in the Potter Vault with the other end in a secure room downstairs. Once it's in place, you can send through drones to start cataloging everything in the vault as well."

"Due to the shielding surrounding Gringotts, a standard Drone would not work." Jor-El responded. "The cabinets worked via internal transposition, a control signal could not be transmitted through them."

"Damn." Harry said almost conversationally.

"To perform that task, a Mechanical Servitor would be required." Jor-El continued. "Your father placed the memory-cores of the two House of El units into my storage bay shortly before launch. Should you wish, I can construct new frames for them to be installed into."

"You can?" Harry queried. "What are their names?"

"Kelex and Kelor, previously owned by your Father and Mother respectively."

Harry blinked. "How soon can you have them active?"

"If I divert resources from the construction of the training halls, it could be done within twenty hours of the command to build their new frames."

"Do it. But keep them in the basement until the party ends."

.

.

"Heir Longbottom, Regent Longbottom, welcome to the Pottery." Harry said with a slight bow as Neville and his grandmother emerged from the Floo, resplendent in their formal robes.

"Lord Potter, thank you for inviting us to your Ball." Neville responded, equally formally, then he looked round. "Are we the first?"

"You are," Harry confirmed. "And thanks for helping with all the invitations. I've got everything set up, the group I've hired is tuning up in the marquee which is attached to the Dining Room, so there'll be plenty of room for dancing and conversation. The wait-staff are currently seeing to setting out the Buffet while the Null-room is already loaded with a new film called Beauty and the Beast, most of the kids should enjoy it and I've asked Tonks to take charge of it once she arrives with her parents."

"Sounds like you have things in hand." Augusta Longbottom commented.

"Jor-El has proven himself." Harry smiled. "His ability to levitate things into position has proven very useful."

"Thank-you, sir." the AI demurred from by the door, earning a slight frown from Augusta. "If I may be of further service, just call."

"I still don't trust him." Augusta muttered as Jor-El faded from sight. "I've never seen a ghost who can do what he can."

"Peeves?" Neville offered.

"He's a Poltergeist. That's different." Augusta sniffed.

"What's different?" A new voice asked and all three turned to greet the new arrivals. "Wotcher Harry, Nev. Meet my parents, Ted and Andromeda Tonks."

"A little decorum if you please, Nymphadora." Andromeda sighed, earning a glower from the Metamorphmagus. "Lord Potter, thank you for inviting us to the Potter Ball."

"I admit, it's the first formal Ball that I've been to." Ted commented, pulling at the raised collar of his robe. Andromeda tssk'd in irritation as she swatted his hand away before tugging the collar back into alignment.

"Stop worrying at it, dear." She scolded.

"Yes, dear."

"So, what was different?" Tonks repeated her earlier question and Harry gave a slight shrug.

"Madam Longbottom was commenting on the fact that my majordomo is actually a spirit who agreed to be bonded to this location… almost a Genius Loci." Harry replied, earning several unreadable looks as he explained it. "As part of the ritual used to bind him here, he remains at least partially aware of everything that occurs within the grounds of The Pottery, making him a superior guardian. He is able to adjust the wards that protect this place, making them far harder for a Curse-breaking team to bring down. He can also appear and vanish at will, letting him go instantly to wherever his name is called."

"I still don't trust this Jorel." Augusta sniffed. "There's something… off about him. He doesn't act like a normal ghost."

"I never claimed he was normal." Harry countered. "But I trust him fully and that should be enough."

Andromeda nodded as Augusta subsided with another disapproving sniff.

"So, who's on the guest list?" Tonks asked. "I assume that the present company is part of the list."

"You'd be right." Harry nodded, motioning for the others to follow him. "Jor-El, put the Floo back to message-only."

"As ordered, sir. Floo has been re-set."

The Tonks' all looked around curiously as Jor-El's voice sounded.

"You get used to that." Neville said as they entered the main hall of the Pottery and walked through to the Dining Hall. Augusta noted the signs that floated above wooden posts by the doors, the hovering letters perfectly formed and unwavering.

"I see that you have put more thought into this than I expected." She said approvingly and Harry nodded.

"I remembered my first few days at Hogwarts. A map, or at least some signs, would have made things a great deal easier."

Neville nodded in fervent agreement.

"And here is the Dining Room with the buffet tables over there." Harry said as he led them through the doorway into the room in question. "As you can see, I've not only had many wizarding dishes made, but many Muggle ones as well, such as hamburgers, pizza, various oriental foods and so on and so forth."

"Nice!" Tonks laughed, looking at the various platters being set out, each one underneath transparent rune-engraved lids to keep them in at their perfect temperatures.

"This should be quite… educational." Augusta allowed. "I do not think that I've ever tried a… pizza before."

"You'll have the chance tonight." Harry replied with a grin. "So, out here is the path to the marquee where the music will be playing."

"Where are the lanterns?" Augusta asked as she looked down the open-sided fabric-roofed corridor.

"I learned about lighting runes that cause the underneath of the fabric to glow." Harry explained, carefully omitting that he hadn't actually used them and that the fabric had been created by Jor-El in the manufactory located deep below the mansion, fabric laced with nanotech that let it glow in any color and any intensity desired assuming that sufficient power was supplied to it. "Please, follow me."

Augusta nodded approvingly at the sight of the rolled-up-blinds that would be dropped as the evening drew in to enclose the temporary walkway, then her eyes snapped to the group of musicians tuning their instruments on the raised stage in the high-roofed pavilion.

"Isn't that Celestina Warbeck?" She asked as the dark-skinned woman looked up and waved at them.

"Wow!" Tonks gasped. "You managed to hire the Singing Sorceress for your Ball? How in Merlin's name did you manage that? Even the Malfoy's haven't managed to get her to sing for one of their Balls!"

"Several reasons including a donation to St Mungo's in addition to meeting all of her costs." Harry shrugged, then he sighed. "And I played on that damned title of mine."

"Lord Potter?" Ted asked.

"The-Boy-Who-Lived." Harry growled. "I detest that title, but even I have to admit that it does sometimes come in useful."

"Cough-Broomsticks-cough." Tonks supplied, earning a wry smile from Harry.

"That would be one example." He admitted, then he smiled at Celestina, who was bustling towards them, waving off the belabored-looking witch who was trying to style her hair.

"Celestina, is everything to your liking?" Harry asked and Celestina beamed at him.

"Oh, even better than I expected, Lord Potter. That Wizarding Tent you set up for us is so luxurious… I've never been in one that had such a wonderful bathroom before! Having a bath with water-jets is just so relaxing… I'm going to have to have my own bathroom upgraded. Oh! Augusta, it's been quite a while!"

"Hello, Celestina." Augusta said with a small smile. "It has indeed, but I have been following your career with interest."

Celestina dimpled at the older lady, then looked at the others. "Young Neville? My, how you have grown! You were barely knee-high to a Crup the last time I saw you."

Neville blushed, earning a musical laugh from the singer.

"And who are your other friends, Lord Potter?"

"Celestina Warbeck, be known to the Tonks family, Theodore Ted Tonks, Andromeda Tonks nee Black and their daughter Dora Tonks who much prefers being known only by her surname."

Nymphodora gave Harry a look which mingled both annoyance and gratitude.

"Ted, Andromeda, Tonks, I am honored to be able to introduce you to Celestina Warbeck, the Singing Sorceress."

Celestina opened her mouth to speak, then paused as a silvery chime sounded.

"Lord Potter, the Grangers have just passed through the main gate."

"Thank you, Jor-El." Harry replied. "I do apologize, but I must go and greet another of my guests."

"Of course." Celestina said graciously. "Perhaps I can get to know your other friends here in the meantime."

"Thank you." Harry said with a slight bow, then he stepped back, turned and walked quickly back to the mansion, being careful not to actually run while still in view of the others.

"Where are they?"

"Just about to pull up to the front of the mansion." Jor-El replied. "You should reach the front door just before they ring the bell."

"Or sooner." Harry stated as he entered the dining room and broke into a run.

.

"Harry!" Hermione called as she bounced out of the car.

"Hermione, Mr and Mrs Granger." Harry smiled in response as he stepped out onto the driveway and nodded to the older two. "Glad you could make it. There's still an hour before the party starts, so there should be enough time for you to get settled in, showered, changed and introduced to the Tonks' before the other guests start arriving."

Hermione tilted her head as she looked at Harry's outfit.

"Are those what formal robes really look like?" She asked and Harry shook his head.

"There isn't any real pattern for Formal Robes in the Wizarding World, although for most of them, the more ornate, the better." Harry shrugged. "I've gone more for the spartan simplicity style."

"You look good." Hermione admitted as she circled Harry, then she tapped the crest located on his chest. "I recognise this as the Potter Crest, but that's really fine stitching."

"I know." Harry agreed as he stepped around Hermione. "I'll carry your bags up, you're in the same suites as before. Mr Granger…"

"It's Ronald to you." Hermione's father smiled.

"…Ronald, I've had a garage put in just round the side so you can park safely. Just follow the path round, it'll be open for you. The door inside leads to a small passage that connects to the house."

"Gotcha." Ronald nodded as he opened the boot so that Harry could grab the suitcase handles.