A/N: This chapter describes child abuse and PTSD. Just a warning for anyone who may be triggered.

Lavender, Harry and Ron gathered in their usual location in Herbology as Professor Sprout smiled at the class shutting the greenhouse door.

Y/N and Hermione suddenly got to the door, Y/N placing his large hand firmly on it, stopping it closing any further.

Professor Sprout gave the pair a look, the class taking in their appearance and whispering and giggling to each other.

The pair were extremely dishevelled. Hermione's bushy hair was out and bushier than ever as she quickly tucked something under her shirt- Y/N's shirt was out, his tie scrunched and to the side and he had lipstick stains on his cheek and throat.

"We're here" he smiled at the Professor while Hermione simply wore a dreamy, far off expression.

"Really you two... before class?" The Professor glared at them before waving her wand and their appearances quickly returning to their usual immaculate selves.

"Hurry up and get to your usual positions" the Professor said grumpily, trying to hide a smile at her two favourite students. She remembered what it was like to be young.

As the couple walked into class Y/N grinned and replied:

"Thanks PomPom- Ahh!"

He cut himself off as he received a magical slap in the backside. Hard.

"Probably deserved that!" Y/N chuckled as he stood next to Harry, who wouldn't look at him, while Hermione stood next to Lavender and the pair giggled to each other. Sprout cleared her throat:

"Right lads, as this is the last week of classes before the Christmas break we are going to going over everything we've studied so far, and what you should focus your exam revision on. Parchments out!"

—~—

Following their class and morning tea the group of Gryffindors headed up to DADA. Y/N kissed Hermione gently and told her to sit next to Lav, as he headed to the front of the class and stood in front of Lupin.

"We doing revision this week Lupin?" Y/N asked the professor coldly.

Remus looked at his young friend/student and sighed: "Yes Y/N, we are."

"Good. I don't need to be here for it. I have duties which I need to attend to. Mark me as present would you?" Y/N replied firmly, turning to give Hermione a kiss.

"I'll meet you at lunch love!" He said as he leant down and kissed her again.

"Now look Y/N-" Lupin began before he stopped, Y/N's wand unsheathed and pointed directly at the Professor. The rest of the class gasped almost in unison, watching the unreal display in front of them of a student threatening a teacher:

"Perhaps another display of my power Lupin?" Y/N said calmly but with undeniable fire behind his words. Remus sighed, offering his hands in mock surrender, desperate to diffuse the situation.

"That won't be necessary. You may go, but only if you agree to meet at 6:00pm tomorrow evening here. We need to talk, privately."

"Fine" Y/N said, sheathing his wand and leaving the class, apparating once he had exited.

—~—

Y/N stood in front of a giantic mansion, a millennia old estate magically hidden within the Yorkshire Dales.

It was the L/N ancestral home. More a castle than a home in truth. It was place his family had lived for a thousand years. Where L/N Archdukes over the last thousand years staged their fight for justice, and for equality.

It was the place his world was forever ripped apart. The place he suffered, silently, at the hands of the one person who was supposed to love him most.

It was the place he was now afraid to enter. Fear was something alien to Y/N the past few years. He had buried the emotions from his mother's acts, from Jacob's acts, all of it deep down. The memories remained, but he suppressed the emotions deep. As he stood in front of this building, this magnificent piece of Norman architecture that should speak to the new Lord of safety, of his refuge from the world. A thousand memories and emotions long buried came flooding back into his mind.

At 4, time she used the belt until his skin tore open.

At 5, the time she used the razor.

At 6, the time she pulled his teeth with pliers before making him regrow them with Skele-Gro.

Y/N began to tremble. His breathing became erratic. He didn't understand what was happening to him as he stood unable to move. He suddenly heard a voice next to him. One that was sweet and comforting and familiar.

"Hello Master, Y/N. Congratulations, My Lord. It is good to see you!"

Dobby stood next to the freakishly large young man, barely coming up to Y/N's hips, but smiling warmly, staring up into the eyes of the young man he cared for so deeply. Dobby picked up on his Master's distress:

"Is Lord L/N ok?"

Y/N offered Dobby a smile. It was a fake one, attempting to hide his turmoil. Dobby worriedly saw straight through it as Y/N explained:

"This is where it all happened, Dobby. This is where my father was murdered. This is where they turned me into a monster. This is where my Mother hurt me. Over and over. For years."

A single tear rolled down Y/N's cheek.

"I've got plans for this place Dobby. Important plans. But now that I'm here I don't know if I can-"

He fell into silence before the house elf spoke sweetly again:

"Mr Jacob is your brother, My Lord."

Y/N looked down at the elf and friend confused.

"Uh, yes. He is Dobby?"

Dobby smiled.

"Mr Jacob saved you. Just like Lord L/N and Harry Potter saved Dobby. Lord L/N is Dobby's brother now."

The house elf smiled and took his master's hand.

A sudden realisation hit Y/N like a tonne of bricks. The horrific abuse Dobby had suffered for years at the hands of the sadistic Malfoy scum mirrored his own. The pair were kindred spirits, both living with their abusive demons.

Y/N's fear was now replaced with anger, rage, hatred. He remembered now why his mission was so important. How many hundreds, thousands of House Elves were in the same living hell Dobby had been in? How many Muggleborns like his beloved were facing discrimination? What of the plight of the Half Breeds?

They needed a hero, a warrior. Someone to lead the fight for their rights. Y/N felt it in his bones, this is what he had been born for.

He willed himself forward, making a mental note to punish the Malfoy scum again the first chance he got. He was pulled from the thoughts by the adorable house elf's voice:

"We go together, Lord L/N."

The pair entered the mansion and Y/N was taken back by the sight that greeted him as he entered the large Foyer.

All the staff, as well as Jackson, were lined up to greet him. Not only the staff, but their families that lived on the estate as well. House elf staff attempted to keep their tiny House Elf children focused and patient waiting for their new Lord's arrival home. Their eyes all lit up at his presence. All bowed.

"We welcome Lord L/N to his ancestral home, we are proud to serve the 58th Lord of the Ancient and Sacred House of L/N, Archduke of Magical Britain" a familiar and friendly voice spoke from the centre of the two lines. It was the elderly and loyal chief of staff Terrence.

Terrence had served the family since Y/N's great-great grandfathers time, the 55th Archduke, William II, as a free elf, born into the L/N home by parents long deceased. It was the same for almost all of their elves. Some of them had ancestors who went back centuries with the family. Most had never known servitude.

Free elves had been a hallmark of service to the L/N family since the 32nd Lord had fought tooth and nail just for the right to allow House Elves to be freed. Prior to this they were lifelong serfs.

Terrence had served as chief of staff since Y/N's grandfather's day. Y/N knew he had to be tactical, using the cunning of a Slytherin, for what came next. He hoped it would work. Y/N needed to replace Terrence.

Not that Y/N didn't appreciate everything Terrence had done for his family, nor how sweet the Elf had been to Y/N in his youth.

The fact remained though that Terrence was a traditionalist. He had kept the house exactly as it had been in Y/N's dad's day. The Estate was a castle. This was no good to Y/N though. He didn't need a manor house. He needed an operational headquarters.

Y/N greeted all his staff, as well as Jackson who was shocked how much his young friend had changed. He then sat the elderly elf down, explained to him after his years of loyalty he had a job for him. One so important that only Terrence could be relied on for it. He needed him to go work with Marruk, to manage the families vast wealth, interests and assets. Y/N was going to be taking a direct control of his families investments and he needed a loyal elf he could trust on the job.

Terrence was so happy he cried. Y/N silently sighed in relief. The elf apparated almost instantly to the Bank to begin and Y/N looked around to the remaining staff.

"Lots of changes are going to be coming, fast. This manor will be filled with a vibrancy and life not seen since the earlier centuries, when courts were held here. I hereby name Dobby as my new chief of staff. Follow me Dobby, we have much to discuss."

As they walked the many corridors- Y/N, Dobby and Jackson- the new Lord outlaid his plans to the house elf.

"I need all of this furniture out and into storage Dobby. Open a new vault if you have to. But for the time being I need bunks, lots of them. All these rooms, four in each."

He reached a particularly spacious room.

"I need this to be a medical bay. Decked out with the best gear for everything from strains to surgery."

They kept walking and Y/N rattled off instructions to the house elf, who had a quick quotes spell in place recording all the Lord decreed.

"This room needs to be set up as a nursery."

"This as a hospice."

"This as a command centre".

"This is a storeroom, for potions. I want next door to be a potion lab. Go to the apothecaries and get every possible ingredient known to wizardkind. As well as the best cauldrons and equipment money can buy."

They reached the conservatory.

"I need all possible magical herbs grown in here."

He looked outdoors.

"The right hand side of the gardens, Dobby, needs to be torn up and turned to farmland and livestock. Pigs, goats, sheep, cattle, chickens. Plant crops. We're gonna have a lot of mouths to feed in the coming years. Check what farming properties we own and what produce can be redirected here for the kitchen staff to begin preserving."

Dobby signalled to the left- "and this side of the garden, sir?"

Y/N smiled.

"Leave it, Dobby. I have a very special, very personal project in mind for that part of the garden."

—~—

It had taken hours. The trio had finally reached the ballroom.

"I need the walls of this hall to be reinforced with spell resisitence, as strong as you can make it ok."

Dobby nodded as Y/N finished.

"Use any funds required from the estate vault. Spare no expense, simply send me an itemised itinerary when it's done. I put the entire staff minus Terrence and Jack's aide at your assistance, Dobby."

Dobby smiled and bowed. "Thank you for your trust and faith my Lord. Dobby will not let you down."

Y/N smiled at the house elf as he apparated, leaving Y/N next to his elder friend.

"Is this about what you're planning on December 21st, Y/N?" Jackson asked intrigued. Y/N chuckled.

"It is my friend. You are welcome to come and join. Listen. Feel no obligation to participate. Know Jackson that I'm building an army. Voldemort is returning, soon. We have to be ready to fight him when he does."

Jackson stared at his young friend intensely:

"I owe you my life, Y/N. And my life, for what it's worth, is yours. I pledge myself to your service, My Lord."

Y/N looked slightly unsure as he asked:

"Are you sure, Jack? There will be no going back."

"I am" Jackson smiled at the young man in front of him. Jackson was so proud of, and impressed by, his young friend, now his young Lord.

"Very well" Y/N said with a smile as he placed a hand on Jackson's shoulder. Jackson felt a slight tingle on his chest and pulled his shirt down, amazed. There was on his left pectoral a translucent light blue image of a Phoenix, with a skull in one claw and a snake in the other. It appeared almost as if it had been tattooed on his chest as it's wings flapped slowly into an imaginary breeze.

"You have taken the vow and my mark. You are now a Phoenix Bearer. My first, Phoenix Bearer. As such you will be my Second in Command. I thank you for your loyalty and your pledge, my friend" Y/N smiled.

Jackson returned the smile as he looked down at his new branding.

"So this is like the Dark Mark, only... better?"

"Something like that" Y/N chuckled. "I can use that to summon you to me whenever needed."

"I thank you my Lord" Jackson smiled as he embraced his young friend.

"I thank you Jackson. I will return in a few days but I must go back to school now, they'll have noticed my absence."

Y/N smiled and nodded before apparating.

"Dobby" Jackson called out smiling when the elf appeared in front of him.

"Where do you want me to start first?"