A/N: Well, welcome to the sequel to my fic Grey Descent. This story will heavily reference things from the first installment, and so I suggest reading that first or else you'd be horribly confused. I'd like to thank all of the readers that stuck with my story from the beginning, and I hope you all remain with me throughout this journey, which is far from over.
One thing I like about this sequel is that we see more and more of everyone's flaws, mostly Gia's. I think it's a nice change from her seeming perfection in the first installment, but I'd like to think that I'm introducing them at the right moments instead of just throwing them all in there and having her say, "BAM, I have issues!"
I suppose there's nothing else to say besides…Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I, of course, own nothing of Harry Potter or anything of the Harry Potter world. Anything you recognize is the work of JK Rowling. This applies to the entire fic.
Previous Chapter (Last Paragraphs-Last Chapter-First Installment):
Pulling ourselves off of the ground, we hurried back onto the magical platform and I held out my left hand, which held my family's signet ring.
"Isn't that where your wedding ring is supposed to go?" Harry asked idly.
"When I get married, it'll switch to my right hand. I would have it there now, but that's where your ring is." I said smiling. Harry gently tilted my chin up until I was staring into his emerald green eyes. He leaned down and captured my lips in a searing kiss that left me no doubt as to his intentions later on. I had no objections.
"Maybe one day they'll trade places," Harry murmured, emotion blazing in his eyes. I smiled largely as I prepared to activate the ring-portkey.
"Yeah, maybe."
Chapter One
I landed steadily and quickly steadied Harry as he pitched forward. After all these months of using portkeys, he still hadn't mastered staying on his feet. Laughing, I let go of his arm. "Perhaps you should try bending your knees or something." I giggled.
Harry didn't answer.
It seemed as though he was completely stunned by our surroundings. I looked idly around the bright, open grounds, wondering how Harry couldn't have gotten used to the grandeur of my lifestyle yet. We had landed in the courtyard that was surrounded by five separate buildings, linked by broad covered ways. We could just see rows of palm trees beyond the open buildings. There was a huge white marble fountain of a wolf in the center of the courtyard. Its head was thrown back and it seemed to be howling to the moon, though a stream of water arched out from its mouth. As I looked at Harry, he smiled softly as a gentle, salty breeze ruffled our hair.
"It's like a series of connected beach houses," I shrugged. I made him close his eyes and quickly led him to the room that we would be sharing during our time there. It was almost identical to our room back at the winter vacation home, but whereas that room had plenty of wood and brick, this room was mostly glass and marble. It was open and airy like the rest of the house. Smiling, I pulled Harry out of the room.
"I'll give you a tour of the room later, I want to show you the rest of the house first." I said. Harry playfully groaned.
"How many more of these full property tours will I have to take before we're done?" he asked. I pondered.
"Err…a lot." I stated, shrugging. "It's designed mostly like the winter home, but also different." I said, leading him into the brightly lit hallway. "The first building is for the master resident, me, or…well, I suppose us now, and it's complete with our bedroom suite and only one other suite that's nearly identical. It used to be my suite before my parents died. I…I only recently moved into my parents' suite." I said softly. Harry seemed to understand and squeezed my hand.
"There's a huge living room," I said, showing him said room, "and as you can see, it has a huge plasma screen TV." I led him back into the hallway and down the hall again, entering a room that made him grin. "This is another entertainment room." I had one at every property.
The main part of the room also had a huge, plasma-screen TV and a bookshelf beside it filled with gaming systems and games for each of them. It had huge, comfy couches, chairs, and beanbags, along with a movie-theater style snack-bar that was fully snacked with both muggle and magical world snacks.
A double door led to a large room, which was filled with squishy, reclining chairs. The front wall was taken up completely by a huge screen that was currently black at the moment. "This is another home theater," I said.
I led him back through the rooms and out into the hallway, down a cozy staircase off the hall. There was a long window that stretched down to the floor from the ceiling, giving Harry a slight view of the trees outside. "The next building," I said, leading him through a long walkway, it was designed as an underwater tunnel, "is for guests. It's filled with top of the line guestrooms that, while not as big as the ones upstairs, are more than enough to keep anyone happy for their visit. I don't normally have visitors at all, though. This building has its own living room and patio, but only the top floor has the entertainment room."
I led him into another hallway, though this one was a path of floating stones in a small stream. "This is the building that is used as much as the first building is." I said. "It has a huge, magical training room, another version of my family's library, and the weaponry room." I explained each room, as I showed them to him.
"You mentioned that you have a version of the library at each house, but which one has the main library?" Harry asked.
"The Grey ancestral manor," I said easily as we headed back into the hall.
"And finally," I concluded, taking him into the fourth building, "this is the fourth building. It has the kitchens, the foyer, the formal dining room, the ballroom, and various hallways and rooms which sole purpose is to showcase paintings and art pieces that my family had made or bought throughout time. A lot of my relatives are hanging in those halls and rooms, but my parents never had one made."
I took him into the kitchen, which was huge as was the rest of the house. It had the breakfast bar/island, granite and marble surfaces, tons of cabinets and cupboards, a large sink, fridge, stove, etc. I sat him in one of the spinning chairs at the island in the middle of the kitchen, which also had the sink and counters, as I went around the kitchen, gathering breakfast ingredients. "Are you hungry, love?" I asked, putting a huge pan on the stove.
"Starving," Harry smiled. "I suppose Dumbledore wanted us all out of the castle immediately. We didn't even have a last breakfast today."
"So," I said, pouring Harry and me some juice, "what do you think of this place?"
Harry smiled easily at me as he took a sip of his orange juice. "It's great, but why is it based around water?" he asked curiously. I grinned.
"Oh! That reminds me, I haven't taken you outside yet." I said happily. "What do you think about having everyone over tomorrow night?" I waited as I cracked a whole dozen-box egg carton into the pan, added chopped up peppers, onions, olives, tomatoes, chives, cilantro, and various seasonings, making a tantalizing omelet. Soon, the kitchen was filled with its mouth-watering scent, and I looked over my shoulder at Harry, who was trying hard not to drool.
Harry shrugged. "It'll be nice to have everyone together again and I absolutely adore the Weasleys, but I expect that if it happens too often, we'll all get sick of each other."
"I suppose. Oh, and don't forget that I'm going to Italy with the Grangers in a few weeks. We'll be staying at my property in Sorrento, and you can floo over if you need something. While I'm gone you can have Ron and the twins over." I said, looking over my shoulder to see if Harry was listening. He was smiling at me, nodding.
"Also love," I said, biting my lip, "try to include Neville. He could use a bit of friendship and fun, especially after the year we've had."
"Of course," Harry agreed, "he must feel awful after he found out how Crouch's been using him all year."
"Right. Umm, oh yeah! We're spending a week in France with Fleur next month, and then we're spending a week in Bulgaria with Viktor right after. After that, we can spend the rest of the summer doing everything you've never done as a kid." I insisted, my eyes gleaming at the possibilities.
Harry smiled softly. "Sounds like quite the summer."
I agreed.
{Page Break}
After breakfast, I changed into a deep green bikini that forced Harry and I to spend another hour in the house than I had planned. Afterwards, Harry slipped into black swimming trunks and we headed, barefoot, outside onto the cool, lush grass in the grounds. I took Harry down a multi-colored stone path that led through two rows of palm trees. Just ahead, the mass expanse of the clear blue ocean greeted us. Waves roared and lapped at the white sand, and cliffs rose up on either side, shielding us from the worst in case of a storm…well, that and the wards. Harry and I had spent the rest of the day relaxing on the beach, swimming, running around and simply playing like two normal teenagers on a summer vacation.
That night, Harry and I stayed up until around four in the morning, happily exploring the limitations of our huge, comfortable, swinging bed.
The next morning, Harry and I spent most of the morning unpacking and adding a few personal affects around the house. I made sure to hang up the portrait Ron had given me the previous Christmas in our room, and the poster Viktor had given me of the Holyhead Harpies. I pulled out a picture of Cedric and I as kids. I had been seven and he'd been nine, and we were standing together in front of the Diggory Manor, smiling and laughing. I enlarged it slightly, slid it into a nice frame, and set it on my bedside dresser. Mrs. Diggory had sent it to me two days ago, saying that she figured I would like something to remember him by.
We had a quiet lunch on the beach, and spent the rest of the day flying around the property, diving just above the waves. Two hours before everyone was due to arrive, we headed back inside, stored our brooms, and took a nice, joint shower. That night, I dressed in a short, dark blue chiffon dress with a beaded bodice and matching pumps. Harry dressed in black slacks and a white dress shirt, but he rolled up his sleeves to his elbow and left the top two buttons undone. As I gently cleaned up and trimmed around the edges of Harry's hair, I grinned.
"Should I be worried about any competition, Potter? You look too good for a family dinner." I purred. Replacing my wand in my right thigh holster, Harry held me by my hips.
"No one could compare to you, Gia." He gave a playful leer. "You could see how good I look without the nice clothes…" Giggling as he playfully nipped at my collarbone, I pushed him away.
"Come on Harry, you know I have to cook for everyone!" I protested.
"Gia," Harry whined, drawing out the vowels, "that's what Prim and Winky are for." A few more well-placed kissed were enough to have me convinced. After giving the two house-elves precise instructions for dinner, I sent them off and Harry and I spent the next hour and a half wrapped in each other's arms.
When there was only half an hour to go until dinner, Harry and I cleaned up again and fixed ourselves before making sure everything was clean and in place for our guests. At precisely seven o'clock, the three Grangers appeared easily in the main foyer. They were immediately stunned by their surroundings, but were pulled out of it as we hurried to them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Hermione, it's nice to see you!" I said happily as I hugged each of them. Harry followed suit.
"This place is simply stunning!" Jane Granger gushed, smiling at all of the crystal and glass everywhere.
"Thank you," I grinned. "There's another library here, but the Weasleys should be here in three…two…" before I even finished my countdown, the floo flared and six redheads tumbled from the fireplace into the foyer. "Now." I finished, giggling.
After a flurry of hugs and greetings, I gave them all a tour of the inside of the house before leading them into partially outside, partially inside dining room, where we had the sea breeze blowing around us and the beach as our view. As everyone was seated, I stood at the head of the table with Harry on my left. I raised my glass, and everyone happily followed. "To family," I said simply. They repeated the words and we drank before dishes and dishes of food appeared on the long table.
I watched, truly delighted as laughs and chatter flew easily across the table. The twins managed to set off fireworks that flew high above the table and only served to add to the bright atmosphere. After dessert, everyone revealed their various swimming clothes and we went for a nighttime dip in the ocean. Eventually, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley set off on a moonlit walk in one direction, while Dan and Jane set off in the opposite direction down the beach. All seven of us kids were left on the beach where I magically built a huge bonfire. I summoned all of the ingredients necessary for smores and we laughed and told increasingly ridiculous scary stories. Around two in the morning, the four adults joined us for a while before it was time to go.
"Don't forget Gia, we're headed for Italy the…non-magical way next month." Jane reminded me as they stood in the foyer. I nodded in understanding. After hugging and saying goodbye to Hermione and her parents, they disappeared in the usual flash of swirling light from the green stuffed bear portkey. We said our good-byes to the Weasleys one by one as they stepped through the floo, returning back to the burrow.
Being the last to go through, Mrs. Weasley made sure to hug us both tightly. "You both know that you're welcome over any time, no matter what." She said.
"Of course, Mrs. Weasley," we chimed in unison. Smiling at us, she disappeared into the green flames. After showering off the sea salt and sand, Harry and I made excellent use of our bed for the second night in a row. We had just collapsed into each other's arms, when I heard a mental alarm blare, signaling that an emergency portkey had been used, and someone had just entered the Medical Wing.
{Page Break}
Rolling out of bed rapidly, I stood up, had shorts and a tank top on, and my wand in my hand, all in the same second. At my sudden movement, Harry had automatically bolted up with his wand, ready for battle. I was briefly proud. "What's wrong? What happened?" Harry asked rapidly.
"Someone's used one of the emergency portkeys I gave them. They're in the Medical Wing." I said quickly, spelling on my trainers. As I hurried from the room, I heard Harry pause before following after me.
"Medical Wing?" he asked, keeping pace with me as I nearly ran. Losing patience with the many halls, I cut straight across the grounds.
"The fifth building." I said hurriedly. As I entered the Medical Wing, I immediately went to the main ward. It looked much like the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts, but one of the walls was made of one-sided glass, and the other walls weren't such an intense white. Also, the beds were larger and a bit more comfortable. As I pushed open the doors, I caught sight of silvery-blonde hair.
"Luna?" Harry asked as he came up behind me, but I shook my head.
This figure was quite a bit larger than the small, Ravenclaw girl. I instantly heard his labored breathing, the protests in his ribs, and I smelled blood…lots of it. I ran forward and kneeled down beside the boy. Even though he was covered in an expensive cloak, I could see that he was covered in bruises, cuts, welts, and unfamiliar wounds. Turning his head slightly, I sighed.
It was Malfoy.
"Wha—Ho—Why…." Harry stuttered momentarily. But upon seeing my expression, he fell silent and helped me transfer the injured Slytherin to one of the many beds that lined the wall opposite the glass wall. I cast several deep diagnosis spells over the boys and what I saw made my blood turn cold. I damn near collapsed.
"Dammit!" I cursed. Taking a quick second to gather my thoughts, I slipped into a soldier's mindset. "Harry," I said seriously, "go into that room and grab one vial of each potion from the top shelf in the very first cabinet on the left. Hurry!" I added when he hesitated. I watched as he ran over to an unmarked door that led to a room filled from floor to ceiling with potions, salves, and antidotes of all sorts.
Spelling off Malfoy's cloak and white dress shirt, which was almost complete red from blood, I forced myself to take deep, even breaths. Every inch of his skin was bruised and cut in some way. The welts and slashes were worse, and some injuries I recognized as the result of darker spells. Making a decision, I spelled off his shoes and trousers as well, leaving on his boxers for dignity's sake. First, I used several cleansing charms over his body before I set about healing the smallest and shallowest injuries. Once those were gone, I could focus on the bigger issues.
As Harry returned with an armful of vials, I had him place them on a metal rolling tray beside Malfoy's bed. I gave him a Numbing Potion, and then a potion that would help speed up his body's healing process. After that, I dispelled the dark curses placed on him and gave him a cleansing potion. Quickly, I conjured a bin as Malfoy woke only long enough to puke before passing out again; the potion made him do that to clear out anything left in his system. After giving him a series of potions and casting dozens of different healing potions on him, I applied the bruise balm, which almost instantaneously healed his bruises. After that, I conjured a chair and collapsed in it.
"Well, I've healed everything. Now, he just needs plenty of rest." I said tiredly. "Harry, could you give him a tablespoon of that Dreamless Sleep potion right there? Thanks love."
At this point, the sun was coming up, rising on the horizon, and after casting a tempus, I saw that it was almost seven in the morning. I'd been healing Malfoy for at least three hours. Luckily for me, my reserves were deep, and even as I rested now, I felt my magic replenishing itself. After doing what I'd asked him to do, Harry fought a yawn and tiredly rubbed his eyes.
"You've been a great help Harry," I said softly, fighting my own yawn, "go on to bed. I need to watch Malfoy to make sure he remains stable."
Harry snorted and turned off the lights in the ward. He climbed into the bed on the left of Malfoy's and held open the comforter for me. Quickly putting up a monitoring ward around Malfoy's bed, I climbed in beside Harry and burrowed in as he held me tightly. "Do you want to tell me how this all came to be?" Harry murmured into my hair.
"Later," I whispered, "I need sleep.
Within seconds, I was out of it.
{Page Break}
I groaned as I heard a slightly softer mental alarm go off in my head, and waved my wand, dispelling it. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sat up and looked around. Noting that I was in the Medical Wing, I caught movement to my left and looked over to see Malfoy attempting to sit up. He was sweating and groaning. Standing up swiftly, I gently pushed him back down onto his pillows.
"You need to rest Malfoy, geez, you damn near died." I muttered, running some spells over him. He rolled his eyes.
"It's not like it's anything new." He muttered darkly. Pretending I hadn't heard him, I handed him a bright orange potion.
"This should help with the soreness and the stiffness in your body, and this," I said, handing him a pale green potion, "should help regulate your body temperature."
Grimacing, Malfoy downed the two potions and handed me the empty vials. Replacing them on the tray, I checked his forehead, which seemed a bit warm. Pushing his sweaty hair from his face, I conjured a cloth, gently wet it with a spell, and placed it gently over his forehead. I heard him sigh in relief quietly, and he said nothing else. As I sensed him slip into a semi-sleeping state, I quietly stepped away from his bed, replacing the monitoring ward around him.
Glancing at Harry's sleeping form, I slipped out of the Medical Wing and headed to the nearest building, which held the kitchens. Silently started to prepare breakfast, I used a spell to softly play some of my favorite wizarding songs. I made simple pancakes, eggs, and bacon for Harry and I, and whipped up a special chicken soup for Malfoy. My mother had always made it for me when I was sick, and I felt that Malfoy could use some familiar care.
When I was done, I carefully levitated several trays back into the Medical Wing. As I entered the main ward, I paused in the doorway as I sensed the awkward silence. Harry was determinedly staring at the ceiling, while Malfoy was seemingly calmly staring out of the glass at the beach in the short distance. "I made breakfast." I announced as I stepped into the room.
Harry quickly sat up and smiled warmly at me as I set down the tray with his plate and glass of orange juice in his lap. He gave me a quick kiss, and set about devouring his food. I walked between the beds, and let Malfoy pull himself into sitting position, relaxing on the mountain of pillows behind him, before setting his tray in his lap. I saw Malfoy discreetly sniff the steaming soup before melting slightly.
"Here," I said, handing him a small vial filled with purple liquid, "this will help you regain your strength. Drink it before you eat, and don't worry, it's the last potion you have to take."
Malfoy obeyed, drinking the potion before beginning to eat his soup. After his first bite, I saw him relax even more into the pillows, and soon, he was finished. "Would you like some more?" I asked. He hesitated before nodding. Finding it odd that he hadn't spoken too much yet, I had Prim bring him a fresh bowl of soup before she popped away.
After breakfast, Harry tactfully excused himself, saying he was going to shower. When he'd left, Malfoy sighed. "Thank you Grey…for saving my life." He said softly.
"Tell me what happened." I requested quietly.
Malfoy's eyes hardened. "Bulstrode happened. That bint sent a letter to my father, telling him that I was turning on him, our cause, and everything it stood for. She made sure to add to how chummy I was becoming with Potter and his friends." He growled.
"And so your father did this?" I prompted. Malfoy nodded.
"I expect that this is just the beginning, honestly." He added.
"You could stay—"
"I couldn't." Malfoy said firmly. "My father would kill me, literally, if he knew I'd come to Potter, or one his friends, for help. In fact, I need to get back before he gets up and sees that I'm gone. I dunno how I'll explain being healed…"
"I suppose you're a bit too old to blame it on accidental magic, but I can place a different sort of glamour charm on you so that it'll look as though you're still injured. Of course, you have to act like it…wince, breathe harshly, limp and such, at least until he thinks you've healed." I suggested.
Malfoy nodded as Prim took away our dishes. He stood up and as I placed the glamour on him, noticing his state of undress, tinged pink slightly. I pointed to the neat pile of freshly washed clothes on the foot on the bed, and he thanked me before dressing. Standing up, Malfoy and I shook hands. "Thank you," he said again, solemnly.
I simply nodded. "You've still got you're emergency portkey?" I asked. He pulled the simple chain from beneath his shirt before tucking it out of sight again. "Good, it'll take you back to wherever you portkeyed from. Good luck Malfoy…" I said sincerely. Nodding, Malfoy portkeyed away.
I called Winky to clean up the Medical Ward before returning to my bedroom, where I found Harry still in the shower. Tiredly, I undressed and climbed in with him. As we washed, I quietly told him what had happened on the train and in the Medical Wing.
"And he went back to that bastard?" Harry asked, quiet anger in his voice. At first, he had been shocked and reluctant to believe it, but then I reminded him that half-living proof had appeared in my Medical Wing just hours ago. Understanding Malfoy's predicament, Harry had been angry on his behalf.
Thirty minutes later, we emerged from the shower pink and wrinkled. Drying off, I was too tired to dress and tossed my towel off before climbing into my own bed. Harry seemed to share my feelings and climbed, completely naked, into bed with me. Lying together, we held each other and fell asleep. We spent the rest of the day in bed, resting.
What an interesting way to start our summer…