Title: Skin Deep: Part One Series: Set after The Half Blood Prince.
Rating: 12 Type: Fanfiction
Summary: Harry has just turned 17 and inherited the Black estate… but with the arrival of a mysterious note, the-boy-who-lived begins to see life spiral in a direction he wasn't expecting.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters or anything from the universe of Harry Potter. I am just taking the characters and playing with them a while – promising to restore them whole and unblemished! Thanks to J K Rowling for creating these toys for me to enjoy. Please don't take any of my playing as having any bearing on the actual franchise. Enjoy.
()()()
So what are you meant to do on your 17th birthday when you'd just received the happiest news of your life?
Harry Potter prepared dinner for the Dursleys. It had taken him over an hour and a half and the first course was ready. Of course, Dudley was already at the table, serviette tucked into his tank top, jaw slacked as he mindlessly absorbed the television programme that was filling the cramped dining room with noise. As Uncle Vernon waddled over to the table, Aunt Marge seated herself and Harry carried over the serving dish.
"This had better be good." Uncle Vernon sneered, beady black eyes resting on Harry as he took his seat, "I had a very important meeting that I've cancelled for this boy."
"Now, now." His wife calmed him, doing her best to smooth a crinkled serviette across her skirt, "This was Harry's birthday wish after all."
And it would be good. Harry smiled, after so long, it would be so good.
The soup was cold pea green, the cutlery was silver and the colour of uncle Vernon's face was red as Harry upended the dish right into his lap and announced. "I'm moving out."
Without another word, he turned on his heel and marched out of the kitchen, leaving 4 Privet Drive for the last time, and the Dudley's to their shouts of shock and anger about the wizards who had ever left the uncontrollable orphan on their door 17 years ago.
He was soon on the road to his new life. And it was, indeed, very good. With his case and Hedwig in tow, he kept a firm grip on the birthday greeting that had changed his life and entered the Leaky Cauldron.
By dinner time the next day, he was sharing a meal with his two greatest friends.
"Bloody hell." the red-head said in typical Ron-fashion. "That was brilliant."
"Yeah." Harry smiled. "I've always wanted to do that."
"Well, about time." Hermione approved, leaning a little into Ron's arms. "They have been asking for it."
Harry had to admit, it had been a little bit of a shock when he found out how his two best friends felt for each other. At first they had seemed to be at each others throats. But, slowly, they had softened to recognise the best and the worst of each other. And accept their feelings.
Harry wondered how many other couples were forced to accept their feelings due to Lord Voldermort's return. The thought cheered him a little, to know the so-called 'Dark Lord' had brought so many loving couples together.
Then he remembered Ginny…
Hermione slapped a hand across Ron's shoulder, which broke Harry's thoughts. Ron was grinning as if he had just said something he knew would cause Hermione's reaction.
Harry smiled, lost to what their conversation had turned into and decided to concentrate a little harder.
He had to admit that despite their differences, they were a perfect couple. Harry watched them now, sitting hand in hand and bickering over where to take him for his birthday celebration. A part of him wished he had that for himself. He envied how they belonged to each other. No, not envy, envy was too strong an emotion. He was so happy to see his best friends happy, he longed for that completion in himself. He had come close, of course, but never close enough. He knew he was not meant to find happiness until his trials were over. But he wished for something passionate, dramatic, consuming and hopelessly romantic all the same.
"So, Harry? Shall we wait until school starts and go out in Hogsmede?"
To tell the truth, he was more than happy to stay here. His friends being with him was the best birthday present he could hope for. He shrugged. "Why don't we just see where we end up?"
Hermione, being a stickler for planning, seemed unnerved by that suggestion. She glanced to Ron, who smiled reassuringly. It seemed to settle her. "Ok. Just don't throw any food at me."
()()()
So, he was officially an adult in the wizarding world. Which meant he could now take full charge of the Black estate.
Holding his birthday letter tightly, he clung to the deeds stating everything that was Sirius' had been willed to him. He approached the Blacks family home. The subject of his wonderful news had never been approached by his two friends. It seemed Ron and Hermione had had more shopping to do before they returned to Hogwarts at the start of term.
It had been a great relief that Hogwarts would be re-opening this coming year. Wizards from round the world had been called in to strengthen the charms and spells to protect the great school and many parents were Invited to supervise. Without a doubt, parents were expecting top play a larger role in the school's life from now on.
Harry had resolutely decided to stick to his plan of not returning to school, he had work to do. And it all started from this point.
As he wandered down the darkened street, Harry found his thoughts returning to the attached note that came with the deeds and what he would find on the other side of the great door leading into the Black family house.
Hesitating, Harry remembered the words on the note.
All is not as it appeared last year. Meet us at your new home.
This could very well be a trap. Harry's hand reflexively tightened around his wand. If it was a trap, he was prepared. He had been training all summer. Exercising vigorously each day and practicing magic by night. The only time the Dursleys would notice was if Harry was late doing his chores.
Night after night had trained in meditation. Perfecting control on his mind and thoughts. When he wasn't honing his mind into the weapon he needed for silent spells and occlumency, he was doing push-ups and sit-ups and lifting weights.
He was ready. Physically and mentally, for anything Voldemort and his cronies were thinking of throwing at him.
The sun beat down on his back as he passed a hand across his sweat-filled brow. Out of the fire… and he pushed the door.
The ancient wood groaned under the pressure. Harry muttered a dis-arming charm and took the final step inside the shadowy entrance hall.
He knew Dobby had been around over summer. The freed house-elf felt he owed Harry a great deal and had set about restoring the Black estate in time for Harry's return. So, Harry wasn't surprised to hear the crackle of fire from the study's enchanted fire place.
Suddenly, acting on complete instinct, Harry leapt into the shadows behind the great stairwell. Footsteps sounded, descending and drawing nearer as their owner came into view and headed rapidly for the study door. It was quite disturbing how Harry's vision tunnelled and fixed on his target. Pure hatred coloured the dark hallway red and Harry couldn't repress a growl.
Snape paused and turned at the low sound in the darkness. He looked paler, somehow drained, but, at that precise moment, Harry really didn't care.
Moving without thought, Harry screamed, "Expelliamus!"
Snapes wand flew away as he turned.
"Petificus totalis." Harry ordered as he sprinted toward the now immobile figure.
He tackled Snape hard, knocking the taller man to the ground. "Murderer!" He yelled, beating the older wizard about the head with his bare hands. "You bloody bastard!"
"Levicorpus." A voice shouted from behind and Harry felt his ankles pulled behind him, until he was hanging a meter off the ground.
"Restorum Animae."
Harry registered the voice as Snape began to move freely again. And he realised that it had, indeed, been a trap.
"Accio wand!" Harry commanded. "Accio wand." Both Slytherins wands flew to Harry's hand. "Libercorpus." Harry dropped to the ground in time to receive a sharp kick to the ribs. Rolling to his side, Harry caught his assailant off-guard, swiping the mans feet from under him and twisting to end up leaning over the shocked form of -
"Malfoy."
The blonde looked startled, then narrowed his eyes. "Scar-head."
Upon reflection, there were too many conflicting emotions to cause cohesive thought. Harry hated Malfoy, but at the same time wondered why was here? The spineless Slytherin had been plotting to kill Dumbledor, but the old wizard wished him to join their side in the coming battles. It was Dumbledors wish for Malfoy to join the Order of the Phoenix.
Dumbledors last wish.
Harry backed away and stood. He watched as Snape hobbled over to Draco and helped the younger man to his feet.
"Mister Potter." Snape began quite calmly.
Anger snapped through Harry and, as it was the first recognisable emotion, he followed it. Splitting a knuckle against Malfoys jaw, he howled in raw emotion.
Snape manoeuvred himself between Harry and his ward as Malfoy cradled his face.
"Don't talk to me." Harry managed to snarl. He was trying to stop himself shaking with fury and so moved to the banister to take a tight hold on the railing.
Eventually the only outward signs of the Gryfindors anger were his hunched shoulders, heavy breaths and the white of his knuckles from his grip on the stairs. To their credit, the other wizards remained silent, neither of them daring to speak until Harry had calmed himself.
Eventually, Snape grew bold. "Mister Potter…"
"Don't -" Harry tightened his hold on the wood. "Don't talk to me," he turned a hateful glare on the once-professor, "half-blood."
The strength of venom in Harry's warning caused Snape to blink. Malfoy looked to his elder aghast at the distasteful insult. The blonde then fingered his mouth, drawing out blood.
"Well, if this about whose blood is purest-"
"You wrote that note." Harry cut in, trying to ignore the Slytherin as best he could. "You wanted me here. Why? To kill me? Kill me as you did Dumbledor…"
The blonde snorted. "If we wanted you dead, you'd be dead already."
"Tell that to your bleeding face." Harry replied smugly.
Malfoy went to respond, but Snape broke him off with an upheld hand. The older man looked warn and hurt, emotionally if not bodily. "We were summoned here… by a port-key."
Then, as if it had been planned to the heart-beat, Fawkes burst into the room.
The fiery bird screeched, feather tips aflame with orange and red hues. He looked remarkable and swooped low above their heads before coming to rest at the top of the stairs.
"What the hell is that?" Malfoy shouted.
"That would be Fawkes." The ex-dark arts teacher said, though thoroughly unimpressed. "The head-mast… er. Dumbledors pet phoenix."
Harry could have sworn he heard the slightest sigh of reverence when the Death Eater spoke Dumbledors name. But the thought was swallowed as he quickly realised that the bird only responded when the call of loyalty to its owner was great. What was is that the phoenix needed?
Stepping toward the magnificent bird, Harry halted as the mystical creature was joined at the top of the stairs by a large, scraggy looking, black dog. The two animals looked to each other, then back to their audience.
Harry glanced at the others in the room, who both appeared as awed by the turn of events as he was. Then a knowing smirk materialised on Snapes face.
Fawkes cocked his head at the older wizard and, quite unexpectedly, burst into flame. Harry couldn't help jumping back in shock, Malfoy had done much the same.
"Merlin! What's going on?" Malfoy screeched.
But Snape didn't answer as Fawkes ashes swirled in a whirlwind and wound its way down the stairs, coming to rest a foot in front of them.
One more final flurry of fire and Fawkes screech sounded as he soared from the mass of dust, leaving the remaining fragments swirling before them. The ashes coalesced into a form. Harry noticed Snape removing his over-cloak and draping it about the shoulders of the re-formed figure.
At this, the black dog growled, bore its sharp, white teeth and bound down the stairs toward the dark haired man.
The newly formed figure held out a frail, protective hand to the canine before addressing the wizard whose cloak he wore. "Thank you Serverus." an old voice cracked. "Would you fetch me some water? It would seem that being re-born leaves ones throat quite dry."
Snape scurried off as Harry tried to make sense of his senses. He could scarcely believe his ears… that voice, it sounded heavy but new at the same time. And so very, very familiar.
"Harry." The voice sounded again.
It was all Harry could do to keep from running clean out of the house. He vaguely heard Malfoys shocked gasp of, "Merlin!" Then his world fell away, knees gave out and Harry came crashing to earth. He wanted to say something, anything, but was incapable of finding words. His mouth turned dry as tears hazed his vision.
"Hello my boy." Dumbledors wizened hand stretched out to touch his shoulder.
"D…" Harry managed before the tears streaked down his cheeks.
The great wizard bent over him and gently lifted him to his feet. "Yes, it is me." He smiled warmly and dried Harry's tears with the corner of his sleeve. "And it is a long story. Why don't we get him a cup of sweet tea?"
Looking up, he realised Dumbledor was again talking to Snape.
Malfoy snorted as Dumbledor steered the group into the study. "He could probably use a vodka."
()()()
Harry sat and listened, occasionally sipped his sweet tea and became pleasantly numb as Dumbledors words filled the air. Only a few sentences flowed through his minds haze. For the most part, Malfoy appeared to be in a similar predicament. The blonde sat, astounded, cup and saucer poised in hand, glancing at Harry to reassure himself he was not the only person in the room that was lost in the flood of words and emotion.
Snape sat at the edge of his seat, fully absorbed in Dumbledors plans to beat off Voldemort once and for all. Dumbledor himself seemed most relaxed for someone who had recently returned from the dead. Fawkes perched himself on the right of the high-backed chair. The black dog sat at Dumbledors side, staring intently at Harry, who was desperately trying to steer his concentration back to the moment.
It would seem that Dumbledor fully expected an attempt on his life and used the same trick as Voldemort. With Fawkes consent, he had given part of his soul to the fire bird and when the phoenix heard the call of Dumbledors loyal followers he had reformed Dumbledor. As Fawkes was a mystical creature and held Dumbledors soul freely, the great wizards reformation had held stronger than Voldemorts.
Ok. But he was still murdered.
Dumbledor explained that the moment Malfoy had entered the room on the night of his 'death', he knew Harry would have tried to stop the Slytherin from carrying out his task. As Death Eaters were on their way both boys would have been killed.
Malfoy slumped in his chair as Dumbledor admitted that he had known his objective and the only way Malfoy could save his family was to fulfil Voldemorts orders.
"But you didn't, my boy. And that's when I knew you were all Serverus had testified you to be. Your mother is now out of the country and your father is under heavy guard in Azkaban. So? Will you join us to defeat Voldemort?"
Malfoy seemed to deeply consider the cup of liquid in his hands. The tea swirled in lazy circles as he tipped the mug back and forth. He looked up, then systematically made eye contact with each person in the room. "I never really gave war any thought." He began wistfully, turning back to Dumbledor. "You know I only sided with Voldemort because he threatened my family. With my parents safe… there is no incentive for me to be involved."
"Coward." Harry spat before controlling himself.
"Yes Potter. Perhaps I am. But I intend to keep my head low. Get through school… and leave any fighting to the grunts… like you."
"If that is your wish…" Dumbledor sighed and stroked the black dog at his side.
Harry looked into the dogs grave, brown eyes and felt a deep pain. He glanced to Dumbledor, who smiled in sorrow.
"My boy, the night is not quite over for you yet. I was not murdered, as you believed. It was all part of a plan… a necessary one." Dumbledor turned to the dog. "Show him now, Sirius."
It was too much. It was all too much…
The canine drew in on itself, shook free of the black fur and whiskers to reveal bare skin. The muzzle retreated to a nose, the eyes rose up on cheek bones and the face… the dear face…
Not quite realising it, Harry was gasping for breath, he vaguely heard Malfoys exclamation of shock and outrage they were subjecting Harry to so much pain in one night.
"What the hell are you doing?" Draco said, casting an arm around Harry's convulsing shoulders. "Bloody hell, can't you give him time to adjust?"
Sirius Black shot forward and enveloped Harry in a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry, my boy." He was whispering. "I'm so sorry." Rocking Harry back and forth to soothe and calm him.
It took a few minutes for the maelstrom of emotion and memory to subside. Harry's shaking hands took Sirius face. And it was him. It was real.
Draco stood. "I'm fetching vodka."
And by that point, Harry thought he needed it.
()()()
The night had passed in a blur of information. Dumbledor and Sirius explained their deaths, Lupins exodus to the werewolves and Snapes deception as necessary instruments to bring out all the Death Eaters.
And it had worked.
Once Dumbledor and the remaining Maurauders had been disposed of the Death Eaters believed that there was no opposition and stated their allegiances to Voldemort freely.
They had explained the flaw of Voldemorts last defeat was not locating all the Death Eaters, therefore Voldemort had had loyal followers to aid in his resurrection… this time they would systematically wipe them out.
No more Death Eaters… no more Voldemort.
The rest of the Order were searching for the remaining horcruxes, which made the next few months critical. Now that Harry was leaving the final safety of Privet Drive and his mothers magic, it was imperative to return to Hogwarts.
And the best part? All the Auras and The Order of the Phoenix were prepared to strike. All Harry had to do was help on occasion and be a normal school boy.
It almost made him hope.
So, when he met Hermione and Ron, they were shocked and pleased to hear the news that Sirius was alive.
Perhaps an exaggeration. After a few Fire-whiskeys and assurances Harry wan't hallucinating, dreaming or psychotic, they were pleased to hear the news.
They were back in business and stronger than they had hoped to be.
After going to such lengths explaining Sirius' resurrection, he thought it best to leave the news regarding Dumbledor to a later time. The old wizard had asked him to tell no-one of his return as he had some work to do before his official return to the land of the living.
Bill and Fleur's wedding brought a celebration badly needed as whispers through the wizarding community hinted that Greyback was dead at the hands of another werewolf and underground communities had come-clean regarding their allegiance to Voldermort after being terrorised by the Grimm.
Remus Lupin and the newly acquitted Sirius Black smiled at these whispers and toasted to a new beginning as Fleur and Bill took to the dance floor for their first dance as a married couple.
Weeks later, Harry, Ron and Hermione boarded the train and prepared for this coming year.
Hogwarts was buzzing. Everything was alive with rumours of resistance. Students cornering them at every given opportunity. Harry even caught sight of Malfoy once or twice. But the Slytherin was hurried past the crowds by the looming figures of Crabbe and Goyle.
Ron and Harry had unpacked their things and headed down for the Sorting of the new first years. Hermione joined them at the table, talking animatedly with Lavender. Harry was happy to see the two girls getting on so well after last years problems. But is seemed Lavender had met a muggle over the summer break and was happily coupled and currently gushing over a ring that Ron had bought Hermione in Diagon Alley.
"Thought she'd like it." The red-head had shrugged after a thorough teasing from the lads.
The teachers had started off the year on good form. The first years were sufficiently impressed with their opening feast and McGonnagal toasted them with her usual glass of pumpkin juice. This was when McGonnagal announced the plans for a parent/student open day in a few days time.
"For those of you in the final years at Hogwarts it may be of some interest to you to see the many different avenues your life can follow once your time here is at an end. You may learn that life is not the narrow road we paint it and oft there are stumbles along the way." Harry wasn't sure, but it looked as if the headmistress steadied herself against the lectern. "Let us hope that this final year shall prove as interesting and as challenging to those with inquisitive minds as it always has."
The witches eyes darted to Harry immediately and caught him out of the hundreds gathered in the room. He smiled at the challenge. What would he do with his life once his time at Hogwarts was at an end? He had never really considered it before. He had never really considered getting out of Hogwarts alive. He had wanted to be an aura once, but now he knew… The Order of the Phoenix awaited him. But McGonnagal had finished her speech and was now speaking with Hagrid.
"After I've finished with the Order, I'm going to be looking into wizarding law. Though my parents are rather interested in improvements in dental procedures through magic." Hermione said, helping herself to a few of the roast chicken legs.
Ron smiled. "I was going to apprentice for the Ministry with my Dad over next summer. What about you Harry?"
"I hadn't really thought about it." He admitted.
"As I recall, you weren't returning to Hogwarts at all." Hermione commented, filling her plate. "Not that I'm complaining at all, but what changed your mind?"
Harry's hand reached into his pocket and closed around the birthday letter he had received. Now was as good a time as any to tell his friends the news. "Well, actually, I got -"
"And who will you be bringing to the open night, Potter?" A familiar and unwelcome sneer crossed over the Slytherins face as Harry met Malfoys eyes in a cold glare. "Your charming Muggle relatives, perhaps? I would dearly love to meet them."
"I'm sure you'd get along famously with my cousin, Malfoy… you're both on the same level… if that level were just beneath troll scum."
Silver eyes narrowed. "I'm sure." Malfoy spat.
Without another word, the Slytherin made his way back to his usual seat across the hall, occasionally darting filthy looks at Harry throughout the meal. It didn't occur to Harry that Malfoy had been so far away from his house table. That he had crossed the great hall just to throw a pointless jibe the Gryfindors way.
It was then Harry noticed a piece of paper lying on the floor where Draco had been.
As auspiciously as possible, he dropped a fork and bent to retrieve it and the note.
Fine. I'm in.
Harry crumpled the paper and gave Malfoy a tight gaze. What the hell was he up to?
()()()
