Everything is Relative
by Teddylonglong

All recognizable Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC.

On Tuesday morning, Petunia headed to Gringotts to meet with her birth father. Harry had informed her about the spell that the Unspeakables had cast at him and had assured her that Buckbean was already aware of the matter.

She inwardly sighed in relief, when they were led into Buckbean's office, somehow feeling quite safe in the goblin's company.

"I am a descendant of a side line of the Slytherin family and the rightful heir to the Gaunt family," Tom introduced himself to Buckbean.

"Good morning, Buckbean," Petunia spoke up, smiling at the friendly goblin. "Will you please check out the matter for Tom?"

"Of course," Buckbean replied, and an instant later, a thick folder along with an empty parchment and a small box appeared on the desk in front of him.

'The box probably contains the ring, which is supposed to be Dudley's,' Petunia thought, grimly.

"Please allow me to take one drop of blood," Buckbean addressed Tom and, seeing his visitor nod, extracted a drop of blood from the man's elbow, which he directed onto the parchment.

'How strange,' Petunia mused. 'When I came here with Dudley and Harry, we had to cast a spell by ourselves. Oh well, perhaps Buckbean knows that Tom is supposed to be a muggle now and can't do that,' she thought in confusion, surprised that – just like in her, Dudley's and Harry's case – the blood turned into thin lines that spread all over the parchment. 'Either it's the magic of the parchment or he is still a wizard,' she thought, worriedly.

"I'm afraid that you won't be able to take the lordship over the Gaunt family," Buckbean spoke up and patiently explained, "Magic recognises you as dead, sir."

When Petunia leaned forward to study the parchment more closely, she realised that Tom's name was displayed in cursive letters, just like the names of their ancestors, who were already deceased. The only people marked as alive on this parchment were Dudley, Vernon, her and…. "My parents are alive?" she blurted out in shock.

"At least they're not dead," Buckbean confirmed.

"They are. I killed them," Tom replied, darkly, before he turned to Buckbean. "That thing is faulty, and I am very much alive. Let me just try out the ring."

"As you wish," Buckbean replied, only to add, "However, it won't work for you, because you're a muggle or Squib."

Petunia was shaken in shock, when Tom suddenly jumped from his seat and pulled his wand, which he directed straight at Buckbean.

"How dare you?" he hissed. "Avada…"

Petunia inwardly sighed in relief, when Tom's wand came into her outstretched left hand, before he could finish the curse, while she let her right hand sink that still firmly gripped the Elder wand.

"That was stupid," Buckbean scolded her father, "and wouldn't have worked anyway, as you don't have magic." Pointing at the parchment in front of them, he explained, "As Petunia might remember, the lines usually are red. They spread from the magic imbedded into the parchment, but the colour comes from the magic in the blood. There is no colour here, so you do not have magic."

As Tom did not believe Buckbean, the goblin agreed to have him try out the ring; however, when he put it onto his ring finger, nothing happened.

"Apparently, the ring does not accept you," Buckbean stated, and Petunia inwardly commended him for his patience.

"How do I know that?" Tom replied in apparent disbelief. "It must accept me."

"Petunia, will you please try out the ring?" Buckbean asked. "Usually, this should not work for you but only for Dudley; however, after Tom's failed attempt, the ring might accept you, exceptionally. Don't worry, considering that you're female, Dudley will be able to take over from you and become the Lord Gaunt at any time."

Petunia felt uncertain what to do, however, as Harry had assured her that she could fully trust Buckbean, she complied and hesitantly accepted the ring from Tom. As soon as she slid the ring over the ring finger of her left hand, a golden glow engulfed her.

"Congratulations Petunia," Buckbean said, smiling, before he informed her, "You're now the rightful Lady Gaunt until a time, when your son accepts the lordship."

"Thank you, Buckbean. Sorry Tom," Petunia replied, before she asked, "Buckbean, will I be able as the Lady Gaunt to add Tom into the Gaunt family?"

"Yes, you can do that if that's what you both wish," the goblin confirmed and told her the spell, when she and Tom both nodded their consent.

She looked up in shock, when Tom suddenly said, "Thank you Petunia. I appreciate being a member of the Gaunt family."

"You're welcome Tom," Petunia replied, gently. "Please do not walk around casting killing curses though."

"I won't," Tom replied, muttering something that sounded like "Old habits die hard."

"Thank you, Buckbean, for seeing us today. May your gold always flow and your enemies cower before you," she turned back to the goblin, who cast her a toothy smile and replied accordingly.

Tom said nothing, except for a small thank you, when she returned his wand to him after leaving Gringotts.

They quietly walked back to the Leaky Cauldron to use the fireplace to return home.

"I'll see you on Sunday," Petunia replied, before she stepped into the fireplace.

"Thank you for your help today," Tom replied, sighing. "I appreciate it."

'Thank Merlin,' she thought in relief, as she arrived at Whizkidz, where she informed Sirius and Remus about her meeting.

HP

During the following weeks, they still met with Tom every Sunday evening. The seventy-year-old informed them that he had somehow been stripped of his magic and was a Squib now, before he profusely thanked Petunia again to accept him into the Gaunt family.

"It means a lot to me to have a proper family name, even if I don't have magic anymore," he told her. "The Riddle family involves too many bad memories."

"It's fine," Petunia replied, smiling.

'She's really nice,' Harry thought, 'considering that he as Lord Voldemort killed her parents and her sister and brother-in-law.'

After the third meeting, Felina and Whisker stopped listen in to their dinners with Tom, knowing that he would not be able to do anything to the family.

'That's true,' Harry realised, contentedly. 'Even if the charm should fail, he won't get his magic back in any case.'

HP

Dumbledore continued sending Harry memories of Voldemort's earlier years. After his colleagues turned Tom into a muggle, however, telling him that he was not a Squib but a muggle, as even the 2 percent of magic necessary for a person to be a Squib were not present in his body anymore, Harry stopped bothering to watch the memories. He simply put the phials into the drawer in the parlour and informed the family in case anyone wanted to study Tom's history.

'I think Petunia is the only one who might be interested,' he thought in amusement, as he unobtrusively observed his aunt take a phial out of the drawer.

On Christmas, however, Harry did not only receive a memory, but also a letter from the Minister of Magic.

'Dear Harry,
after watching this memory, you will realise that we have much to talk about. Please visit me at the Ministry of Magic at your earliest convenience. I will be available over Christmas and during your school holidays at any time. If you need help coming to the ministry, please let me know.
Best regards,
Albus Dumbledore
Minister of Magic'

"How stupid does he think I am?" Harry blurted out. "Need help coming to the ministry? Why would I?"

"Harry," Hermione spoke up in a soft voice, "remember the time before the end of our fourth year. If your relatives' magic had not been released, you would need help."

Harry let out a deep sigh, before he admitted, "That's true. Oh well, what am I going to do?"

"Ignore him as usual," Sirius advised him, smirking.

"I think you have more important things to do anyway," Hermione agreed. "Remember that we have to take our NEWTs in less than six months."

"Oh Hermione, today is Christmas Day. Don't talk about such things today," Susan moaned as she reached out for the letter, causing everyone to agree.

"Oh Merlin, he forgot to mention his all too many names this time," Hannah quipped, and everyone laughed.

"Perhaps he's getting tired of them, considering that he is around 160 years old and that Harry continues ignoring his letters," Minerva spoke up, smiling.

"Perhaps you should at least watch the memory?" Hermione suggested.

Harry shrugged, before he pointed his wand at the small phial, casting a spell that made the memory float over it for everyone to see.

It was the memory, in which Sybill Trelawney told Albus Dumbledore the prophecy in a strange, raspy voice, and Harry already wished that he had not even started the memory. 'Thank Merlin I destroyed the original in any case,' he thought. "Do you think that I should reply to it?" Harry enquired, raising an eyebrow.

"No Harry, that's your decision, and it's fine," Minerva reassured him. "He just can't leave the meddling be, and he seems to fully believe into the prophecy."

"Oh well, I don't," Harry replied, "especially not considering that Tom is a muggle now."

"Does Albus know that?" Minerva enquired, giving him a curious look.

"Probably not," Harry replied, thoughtfully. "At least, I didn't tell anyone, and the Unspeakables didn't either."

"Why don't you ask Tom if he still believes into the prophecy?" Vernon suggested, smirking.

"Ah, just leave him in peace. Even he won't be stupid enough to believe that he could win over Harry," Petunia replied, efficiently ending the conversation for the time being.

HP

"Minerva," Harry turned to the headmistress, who gave him a questioning look.

"I suggest abandoning the subject of Divination from the next school year onwards. I believe that either you are a Seer like Luna or you aren't, but you can't learn it," he explained in a firm voice.

"I fully agree," Minerva replied, smiling, "and as sorry as I feel for Professor Trelawney, I'll inform her about it." She remained pensive for a moment, before she added, "I'm not sure if she has anywhere to go though."

"Minerva, Harry," Pomona spoke up with apparent eagerness, "I've thought about this before. We have many parts of Hogwarts, which are completely unused. Why don't we set up apartments for retired teachers on the one hand and a nursery for little ones on the other, considering that Lily Sophia will surely not remain the only child here."

"A brilliant idea," Harry was the first to react, looking at the headmistress in expectation.

"Yes, a very wonderful idea," Minerva agreed. "It certainly would make retirement easier, and perhaps, the retired teachers would still be able and willing to look after the little ones."

"I'll speak with Hogwarts about the idea," Harry promised, "and I will also speak with Professor Trelawney and inform her about her impending retirement.

"Hogwarts will appreciate your thoughtfulness and readily help you make the rooms," Helga spoke up from the portrait.

HP

Right before the leaving feast, Harry went to visit Professor Trelawney, inwardly groaning, as he stepped into her classroom, as he well remembered all the times, when she had predicted his imminent death.

"Professor Trelawney, may I have a minute of your time please?" he addressed the witch, who looked up from the orb in front of her in apparent surprise and nodded, invitingly pointed to a seat.

"Either you're a Seer like my Luna or not," he told the professor in determination, "and you have prophesized nothing but some rubbish which cost my parents and me much time together and would have cost them their lives if not for the Unspeakables who saved them. I am sorry, but we will not continue the Divination classes at Hogwarts from the next school year onwards. If you wish, I can offer you that you reside in the retired teachers' quarters, which will be ready before the end of the summer holidays. Until then, you may still use your rooms here."

Without waiting for a response from the obviously shocked witch, he left the room, knowing that the professor would ask Minerva if she had any questions.

HP

"Dobby, Winky," Harry called the elves into the parlour right after the leaving feast, during which he, Dudley, Hermione, Susan, Hannah, Neville and Tracey as well as Regina, Vernon, Brian and Eric had received their NEWT certificates.

"I'd like to ask you something. I know that your twins Teddy and Toby are still small, but do you think that they'll be willing to become the responsible elves for our nursery and primary school?"

While Dobby jumped up and down on both feet in apparent excitement, Winky bowed deeply.

"Yes Master Harry, they wills be thrilled about this. Thank you so much for givings them the opportunity."

Harry shrugged, smiling at the excited elves. 'They're both bonded to me after all, so why not?' he thought, 'even if they're still small. It's not as if we were going to open the place this summer, or maybe we will, for Lily Sophia.'

"We don't even have any teachers yet, and Lily Sophia would be the only pupil at the moment," Minerva said, giving him a questioning look.

"I have an idea concerning the teachers," Harry replied, smirking. "Let me speak with my colleagues tomorrow."

Seeing Regulus cast him a surprised look, Harry added, "Team 13."

"Oh, all right," his Team 5 colleague replied, grinning.

'Thank Merlin the whole family knows that we're both Unspeakables, so that we at least don't have to keep that a secret from them,' Harry thought, before he excused himself for the night and went to take Lucy out to the beach.

HP

"Felina," Harry addressed his colleague first thing he stepped into team room 13 on Saturday morning. "Some time ago, you told me something about a time loop. When…"

"Don't ask," Felina interrupted him quickly. "I am so sorry. I should have discussed this with you a long time ago. Originally, I intended to make them arrive on Christmas; however, seeing how busy you were during the school year, we decided to wait." Glancing at Whisker, she suggested, "Shall we do it right away? Harry, I suggest that you'll assist."

Harry stared at the witch in shock. "All right, but I don't have a clue what to do," he replied, causing everyone to chuckle.

"Harry," Aros, whom everyone just called Pit, addressed him, grinning. "Don't worry. This has been one of Felina's greatest projects of the last two decades. She won't let you mess up with it."

"All right," Harry replied, feeling slightly reassured. Pulling up his hood, he followed Felina and Whisker out into the hall and into what he knew to be the Department of Magical Mysteries, the Unspeakables' secret domain. He had been there a couple of times and also accompanied them to the time chamber a few times.

When they entered the time chamber, however, it looked differently from what he could remember. It was about twice the size, and in the half, which he had not seen before, five life-size devices occupied most of the room. They somehow looked like shower cabins.

'What are these?' he wondered, glad when Felina motioned him to take his hood off.

"No one but the members of team 13 come here," she reassured him. She slid the glass door from one of the cabins open, revealing a flat stone and an otherwise empty compartment. "This is the time stone," she explained, pointing to a couple of rings and buttons on the wall above the stone. "If you ever need to take someone through time or wish to go on a time travel yourself, this is the spot."

Harry looked at her in bewilderment. "How does that even work?"

"Magic," Felina replied, matter-of-factly, "the magic of the person who operates the system. If you travel yourself, it's of course your own magic. If I, for example, send a muggle through time, it's mine."

"Have you ever time travelled?" Harry enquired with curiosity.

"Yes," Felina admitted. "I've travelled once and tried something but failed. I wanted to prevent someone from being born by casting an infertility spell at my father, but it didn't work. Apparently, magic herself saw to it that people who had been born in my time before, would be born in any case. Regina was still born a Squib though," she added, letting out a deep sigh.

Apparently noticing Harry's expression of pure disbelief, she explained, "I am not a murderer, but I could not see Regina being so unhappy as she was. So many times, she told me it would have been better for her to not have been born that I was stupid enough to believe it. Thank Merlin magic prevented it. I would have missed her badly, and I know for a fact that she is extremely happy now that she has magic and has found the love of her life, even if she seems to not have realised it yet."

tbc...

Thank you so very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter. My muse really appreicates the feedback.

Next chapter: "Travellers".