Thin Red Line
Paige Black
HP Fandom
Chapter One
The end of fifth year wasn't something that Harry really wanted to remember. It also wasn't something that he could run from. The nightmares alone were enough to drive him insane, not to mention the guilt. The guilt of leading his closest friends into a trap and getting them seriously hurt. The guilt of raising an alarm and having his godfather be apart of the rescue team. And the guilt of getting the man killed because he had been stupid.
He hadn't slept in the 2 weeks he had been back at the Dursley's. His aunt and uncle left him well enough alone, they let him drowned in the guilt. It was almost like it would kill them to show a bit of compassion, and who knew, maybe it would. But by this point in his life Harry expected nothing less.
But Dudley had looked in on him several times a day, why Harry had no earthly idea. In some ways he was thankful that someone seemed to care, even if it was Dudley, yet in others ways it confused the hell out of him. He had actually been woken up by the boy when he had managed to sleep and found himself trapped in a nightmare. That within itself was something that Harry was thankful for even if it did confuse him. The boy had even forced him to eat.
Now it was just before midnight, June 15th 2005. Harry was trapped in a hellish vision. Dudley, the elder Dursley's and The Gang watched as the lighting blot scar on Harry's forehead bled freely as he screamed in pain.
There was nothing they could do but wait for Harry to be let go.
Draco Malfoy was being delt the punishment for his father's mistakes. He had never been in so much pain. He simply wanted to die just so that it would end. Curse after curse hit him and he refused to scream. He wasn't going to give this monster the satisfaction of hearing him cry out, he had to hold on to his pride. His pride was all that he had left. His dignity had long since been stolen from him.
He lie naked on the stone floor that may have been freezing if he hadn't been in so much pain. The Crutiauts was used sparingly, but in this case it wasn't something that Draco was thankful for. Slashing Hexes and Cutting Jinxes were used in its place. He was bleeding from several gashes all over his body, gashes that would scar even if healed at this point. He knew that they wouldn't be healed, he knew that he was going to die in the place of his father.
He had been there for several hours and as soon as he was shoved into the room he knew the reason he was there and that it would be the last place he ever saw. He hadn't said a word as he was ordered to strip, hadn't said a word as the Bastard began his monolog. Merlin, the man was insane and loved to hear himself speak. He was now painfully aware of all the man's twisted plans and who he was working with to achieve them. What he was told would shock the Wizarding World at large. Who knew that The Dark Lord Voldemort had a master that he answered to ? A master that no one would think to question.
The bastard was talking again and Draco was desperately trying to pay attention. He wanted as much information as he could get in the off chance that he made it out of this one alive, Merlin willing.
" Just as weak as your father. What do you say we pay Potter a little visit. I know where he is you know. The blood I took from him to return enables me to get past the wards. The boy will die tonight, you will follow. Or maybe I'll keep you around as a toy. Yes. I'll have you healed and then you will become my toy. "
Draco's stomach turned as he was hauled roughly to his feet. Merlin he hoped that Potter was ready for this. Potter had to win. It was his only chance at life. It was his only chance to unravel the conspiracy he had been told of.
Harry sat bolt upright in his bed panting heavily as the vision let him go. The time was now, this ended tonight no matter if he was ready for it or not. Then he started to panic. This was the only family he had left. He couldn't let them die, he couldn't watch them die. This was all that he had left.
" Dud, he's coming. Get into the cellar and stay there. Call Ms.Figg and tell her that Voldemort is on his way here, now. D, this ends tonight and I'm not ready. I can't watch anymore. I said move ! "
The elder Dursley's and The Gang moved quickly out of the room, but Dudley stayed behind. He watched as Harry climbed numbly out of his bed and knelt in front of his trunk. A long silver dagger was set onto the floor as Harry sat back on his heels to collect himself.
" H, "
" Don't, please. I am the only one who can kill him and I hope that my plan will work. At this point I want to just die. I have nothing to live for, no one to live for. He has taken it all away. I will be forced to watch if I lose as he tortures and kills you. Just stay in the cellar. Promise me, "
The boys now stood face to face and Dudley could see the emotions in Harry's eyes. The boy was terrified, but not for himself. He was terrified for them, all of them, the entire world. It hit Dudley then that this was a lot bigger then he first thought, bigger then he could even fathom. The world rested on Harry's shoulders and he could only hold onto so much.
The battle for life was at the door and it rested in the hands of a teen.
Harrison James Potter was about to meet his destiny and save the world.
With all that finally very clear, Dudley did the only thing that he could think of and pulled his cousin into their first hug. And Harry clung to him fiercely, desperately trying to soak in as much comfort as he could. He hadn't realized how much he had needed human contact until Dudley had pulled him close. He needed to win, to live, for no other reason then to live. To find who he was, to love, to have the chance.
This was it, he thought as he pulled away from Dudley. This was what he had been waiting for. Then the wards fell, Voldemort had arrived.
" That would be my cue. Don't come out until I send for you. I don't want you hurt. This is my fight. "
Dudley nodded and quickly followed Harry down the stairs. They parted in the foyer and Harry waited until he heard the cellar door shut before he opened the front door. There stood Voldemort just inside the garden wall, at his feet was Draco Malfoy. It was sick how the sins of the father were always taken out on the son. That was just another thing for him to think about, another thing for him to put an end too.
Well, if this plan worked and he lived.
Walking out just past the stoop, Harry stopped and let his arms hang to his sides. There wasn't a whole lot of fight left in him. He didn't want to fight anymore. He was just tired and wanted to rest. He wanted to just end this so that he could rest. He had plans to vanish, to simply drop out of existence. It was the only way that he was going to find any peace.
" So, any clever last words Riddle ? " Harry asked softly
" Have you ? "
" No, I won't need last words. This ends tonight and it ends with you. "
Voldemort had the gull to laugh. He through his head back and laughed at the stars, his last laugh ironically. Harry took his chance and let the dagger drop out of his sleeve. Taking aim quickly, he through it, praying that the mere seconds he had was long enough. The dagger struck Voldemort in the heart, struck home. The man's head snapped up in shock.
" What have you done ?! " Voldemort hissed in pain
" I have won. Just drop your wand, your magick isn't going to respond. Pointless to even try, I don't lie. It's a poison of my own making, one that I made just for you. It's called Devil's Advocate. What you're feeling Riddle as the poison begins to take effect is this, it will start by turning your blood to fire, making you fell like you're burning alive. Then it will start to consume your soul, then your magick. There is no way to stop it so stop reaching for the bezor, it's useless. Its fast acting too, in less then 5 minutes you will be dead. "
Voldemort fell to his knees and starred at the bane of his existence. He had nothing to say, he knew that he had been out smarted. He had vastly underestimated the boy and his life was forfeit. He should've thought before he acted. He never though before he acted, a lesson he never learned. Far too late now.
" In retrospect I should thank you. You taught me that I can only rely on myself. You taught me that there was a world outside me. I forgive you for your past transgressions against me. I forgive you because I am the bigger man. Hell is too good for you. The pain that you have caused is beyond punishment. Anything to say ? "
" Watch your back Potter, there are bigger evils at work that want you dead. This was very Slytherin of you. "
" I am his true heir, I would hope so. Thank you for the warning. Good bye Tom, thank you for the lessons. "
With a dry shaky hiss of a laugh, Voldemort fell sideways and looked up at the stars. It was then that Harry knelt down beside Draco to make sure that he was still alive. His pulse was weak and he needed a lot of medical attention, but he was alive. Just barely however.
" The stars are so bright, I never paid attention to the stars. I will admit this, I am not disappointed in how you won. I am in fact quite pleased that you thought outside the box. You are a very worthy advisary. But it is not over, "
Before Harry could reply to what was said Voldemort drew his last breath. Round One was over, now he had to fight to save Draco Malfoy's life. The neibours were gathering on the walk in front of the house watching. The must've felt the wards fall and come out to investigate. What they had seen was far beyond explanation and Harry was going to be in so much trouble when the Ministry found out. This was a great mess this was.
" Potter, do you need help ? "
It was Mrs.Anderson who just so happened to be a doctor and at this point the only person that he had. With a jerky nod, Harry turned to look at the woman as she pulled out her phone.
" No cops, please. No hospital. This is far different. The things that you are about to see are going to shock you, but I have no choice. I need Dudley and a bed sheet. Malfoy if you die on me I will master necromancy just to bring your ass back and kill you myself. And I promise you it will be slowly. "
Harry didn't notice that Mrs.Anderson had complied with his requests and had run home. He was too busy telling Draco off and levitating him to waist height. He didn't see Dudley and Petunia rush out to join him and he didn't here the gasps as he tossed up a light orb. He was totally focused on the damage he could now see quite clearly.
" Aunt Petunia, on my desk is a black medical bag, can you get it for me please. I need Ms.Figg. "
" I'm here. I put a call into Hogwarts and it wouldn't connect. "
" I know. He knew the wards fell; in the morning I need you to call Severus Snape please. Malfoy, don't you dare die on me. If you die who am I going to best in everything ? Who am I going to fight with ? Who in the hell is going to taught me and call me names ? We get into pretty good fist fights too. You can't leave me alone. Please, please don't leave me. I can't lose anyone else, not even you. I need you, arrogant prick that you are. Don't leave me Draco. "
Harry took a deep breath and tried to keep his emotions in check. As Mrs.Anderson came back, he cast a monitoring charm to keep track of Draco's vitals.
" He needs a hospital. "
" Magick Mrs.Anderson, he's from one of the oldest families in the Wizarding World. Potter too is among those old families, but I was raised out here. He wouldn't understand if he woke up there. He'd panic and Draco Malfoy in a panic is not pretty. So, this is what we are going to do because we have no choice. Help has been denied, no one is coming. The bigger ones I can not heal, it would drain me. I need you to do everything that you possibly can and I will take on the smaller ones. I will even tell you what I'm doing. "
" How do I read that thing there ? "
Harry explained as he started healing as many of the smaller gashes as he could. They all worked well together, flawlessly. Harry cast charm after charm after charm and allowed himself to hope as Draco's blood pressure began to return to normal and his heartbeat stronger. He was going to live, they'd saved him. But his head began to swim, he was still using far too much magick for the condition that his body was in. What he didn't know was that Mrs.Anderson had noticed and was trying to find the right way to address it. That never happened because seconds after her thought registered Harry fell to the ground hard.
" Ow. That sucked, I'm ok. No, I take that back, Healer's Drain. " He said
" Mr.Potter – "
" Harrison. "
" Harrison, why didn't you stop ? " Mrs.Anderson asked
" I can't, I have a 'Saving People Thing'. I have a hard time knowing when to stop, knowing when to let others fight. It's all I know, it's who I was born to be. "
Harry then went on to explain who he was in the Wizarding World. It was almost like he needed his tormenters to know what it was that he had done and delt with when he was away. He needed someone to understand that he was aware that he was nothing more than a means to an end for most of the world that either worshiped or shunned him. He needed them to know what he had just done had not only saved his world, but theirs as well. He needed them to understand the sacrifices that he had made in order to do what he had done. And it was done, Voldemort's body lay there as proof for them to see.
" Why are you requesting Snape ? Why not Albus ? " Figg asked
" Where is the great Albus Dumbledore now ? Where was he when the wards fell ? Where is the great leader of the light Auntie B ? "
Harry slowly stood as the crowd shifted nervously. Harrison James Potter had a legendary temper, a temper that wasn't seen very often. He was a quiet, reserved person most times until he was pushed. Harry had been denied help and he was pissed off. Pissed off that he was the only one present that understood. To Albus Dumbledore, he was nothing. Worthless. Expendable.
" Where was he for the last year when I needed him ?! I am nothing more then a tool to that man ! He would've gladly sent me to my death as long as I won in the process ! This is all that I know ! Fight, fight to win, win or die trying ! I even taught myself defense ! I taught others too ! No one has ever helped me ! Not one bloody person, not where I needed it ! He used me ! I trusted him ! I needed his guidance ! Where is he now when it is all over and I so desperately need him ?! I need someone here for me because I am not ok ! I need someone, anyone who will just be there for me ! "
With his eyes screwed tightly shut, Harry tried to get his temper back under control. He couldn't manage it and was shaking with the effort. He couldn't breathe properly either. It was all crashing in on him and he was hopelessly caught in the undertow.
Then a pair of strong arms pulled him into a tight hug. It was so unexpected that Harry reacted as he realized who had him. He smelt Sandalwood and Vanilla and knew that Severus Snape had come to save the day. It was then that Harry melted into the man's arms and clung desperately.
" Let it go. Feel Harrison James before it consumes you. "
The voice that normally held so much venom calmed him enough for him to let his guard down completely and to just feel. He fell apart completely, not realizing how much he really needed it. There had been one thing after another since he was 11 and he had never allowed himself to fell. He was hurt, angry and guilty. He was tired and drained. He was hungry too, he hadn't eaten that day. But here, in Severus Snape's arms he felt safe. Totally and completely safe. He felt that this was the one person that anyone would have a very had time taking away from him. He had spied trough 2 wars, was the head of Slytherin House, taught potions to careless students and had survived a murder attempt at 16. No, this man wouldn't be taken easily.
Calming down some, Harry loosened his hold and it finally realized that he wasn't as short as he always felt. In fact, he came up to Severus' shoulder and the man was pretty tall.
" Did you finally have a growth spurt ? Your nearly as tall as I am ? "
Harry laughed and pulled back.
" I don't know. I don't pay attention. Mrs.Anderson, Severus Snape. You wanna check him over ? "
" Dear God, I thought he was dead ! "
Severus pulled back but took Harry's hand so that he had to go with him. Harry just stood there as the 'adults' talked over what had been done. The only time he had been included at all was when he had to explain something that he had done. It was then very apparent that the man was impressed with what Harry had taught himself in his down time. That he did in fact have a brain and that it did function. Harry just sneered at him.
When Harry pulled away, they all watched him. He had to get rid of the thing laying in the front lawn. Using an empty potions vial, Harry made a port key and removed the dagger from Voldemort's heart. Devil's Advocate was his and he didn't want it falling into the wrong hands. Placing the vial in Voldemort's cold hand, he sat back and watched it activate. He was grinning like the Cheshire Cat, he had a point to make.
When he stood and turned to face Severus, Harry laughed out right.
" You didn't ! " Severus exclaimed
" What send Voldemort's body to land in the center of Dumbledore's desk ? Now, Severus, why would I do that ? " He replied innocently
That was all that it took for the normally stoic man to go into hysterics. Harry laughed too, but it was because he was relieved that it was finally over, at least this part. It was getting late, nearly 2 am and he felt like he could sleep for years. It was time to head up to bed, time to find a place to put Draco. There was no way in hell that he was going to relinquish the blonde. No, he was getting the credit for this one, he wanted the credit.
Banishing the mess that they had made, Harry finally realized that Vernon was sitting on the front stoop just starring at Draco. Harry's life just smacked him in the face and it didn't look like he was handling it very well.
" Uncle Vernon, alright ? "
" I honestly don't know. That was amazing, the healing. What did you do to the dead guy ? "
" Silver dagger, poison, straight to the heart. "
" Which poison ? " Severus asked
Harry smirked and winked at his uncle. Vernon said nothing.
" See, this guy here uncle is the best potions master in the country. Over more he thinks that I'm pants at potions because he's taught me for 5 years. Well, what he doesn't know is that I am a lot better at potions then he will ever know. I dumb it all up to stay under the radar. "
" Which POISON Potter. "
" Devil's Advocate. "
Severus' brow forwarded in concentration as Harry sat down beside his uncle, dagger in hand. Vernon starred at it warily as Harry set it on the stoop beside him. He noticed that the boy continued to smirk, self satisfied. Something bigger was at play here and Vernon wanted to know what. Still he said nothing.
" There is no such poison however." Harry said to Vernon " It is one that I developed over the last year just for this, just for Voldemort. It didn't just kill him either. What the poison does is quite complex and very quick. It can not be stopped. It boils the blood, burns the soul and consumes the magick. Devil's Advocate is mine, the silver dagger only enhanced it. That is how I won the war." Harry then turned to Severus " Do not ask me for it Severus, I do not want this falling into the wrong hands. It, along with this dagger, will be locked in a high security vault at Gringott's and will be forgotten. It has done what it was intended to and is no longer needed. If it ever is, I'll consider it. Do not ask, the answer is no. "
" Can I just – "
" NO."
" You can't do that. Not to a master, it's just not fair. "
" Severus, life never really is. I said no and it's not a word that I use very often. Respect that. "
Severus scowled and crossed his arms.
" Alright. I am going to sit with you tonight and you will do as you are told. "
Harry sneered again but didn't say anything. He needed to be taken care of even if it was just for a little while. Pulling himself to his feet, he let Severus take over the charms and picked up the dagger. He was about dead on his feet and there was a very good chance that he wouldn't make it up to his room. But he was going to give it a try, or was until Marcus Anderson stopped him.
" Here, piggy back. The last thing we need is you falling down the stairs. "
Harry nodded slightly and handed the dagger to Dudley. He didn't have to warn the boy to be careful with it, everyone gave him a wide berth and he held it as if it was glass. That was funny, but Harry didn't comment. It was good to see that they understood what the poison did. That they knew what Harry was capable of.
When they walked into Harry's room, Severus sneered. Yeah, he was getting a very good look at what it was like to be The-Boy-Who-Lived. He had never been so pissed off in his entire life.
" No jokes Severus ? " Harry quipped
The man shook his head slightly and started waving his wand about. It was ironic that the charms and spells the man was tossing around where what he had once called foolish. And Harry had to admit that he knew what he was good at it to. The room tripled in size and the bed enlarged so it would fit both boy's. Now that wasn't something that Harry was really looking forward to, but he was too tired to complain.
Severus then turned to the wall closest to the door and began waving his wand again. A fireplace, nothing fancy but it would provide the light that Severus needed. The man then turned to the left hand wall and waved his wand around again, this time a door appeared.
" Put him down Mr.Anderson. Harrison, Put the dagger away and then go shower. I am going to settle Mr.Malfoy as you do so. You and I have a few things to discuses before I knock you out for the rest of the night and most of tomorrow morning. Dr.Anderson, will you come check on Mr.Malfoy tomorrow ? "
" I will, around 3 ok ? "
" It is, thank you. Harrison, move it. "
Harry rolled his eyes and did as he was told. It was really time to stop and think about what it all meant, what he had to face now. As he stood under the spray he thought. Voldemort had warned him of a bigger evil, he had said that they wanted him dead. Who was this evil and what had he done to make it to the top of their hit list ? All of his life he had wanted nothing more then to fade into the background and be no one, but even as a baby he had been special. It seemed like it was just never going to fucking end.
As he dressed he thought the men in the next room. One owed him one hell of a life debt and the other had saved his life more then once. Both were not what Harry expected to need but he did. They treated him normally, like he was just another kid. That was what he needed, it was what he needed to stay alive and he wasn't going to give that up.
That and he had long since realized that Draco Malfoy was the only one he would ever love. That wasn't a very comforting thought either, not when you were Harry Potter.
With a sigh he opened the bathroom door and stepped back into the room. Severus was sitting on at the foot of the bed opposite Draco, starring at the floor. The covers had been turned back and he appeared to be waiting to talk to Harry. He was going to be tucked into bed, quite literally. The only person who tucked him in was Poppy and he always felt loved when she did. This was freaking him out.
Dropping his dirty clothes in the hamper, Harry crossed the room and climbed into bed. He sat cross legged, starring at the man waiting for him to speak. As it turned out the longer he sat there, the longer the silence stretched. Harry hated silence, it reminded him of death.
" He sealed the castle so no one could aid you. I was in my lab when the mark started to burn. It was dieing and I knew that you had done something I never thought that you could. You won. "
Severus paused, but didn't look up. Harry was more hurt by the words then he thought possible. No one had faith in him, everyone thought that he was stupid and that he had no clue how to win. It hurt that Severus hadn't had faith in him, not even a little.
" I panicked. When the mark began to Burn I went to the door I used to get to meetings and started begging the castle to let me out. I needed to assure myself that you were ALIVE and that the Dark Lord was DEAD. I thought that he would send someone. That he had someone here, he never did. When I showed up you fell from Healer's Drain. HEALER'S DRAIN. Then I decided that I needed to just listen when you started to explain. You told things that I didn't even know, wouldn't've thought of. Then you started to yell and I knew that you knew you where truly on your own. I decided to step in. "
Severus then looked up, meeting Harry's eyes. Severus was being totally honest with him, holding nothing back. That Harry didn't expect.
" You saved my godson, I thought that he was already dead. I don't know what it is that you need – "
" A constant. Someone I can talk to if I need to. Someone to keep me in line. Someone who will care for me no matter my name, who I look like, or what I have done. I want that from you because you're the only one who gets it right. I want to be treated like you'd treat a son, I've never been anyone's son however. I just need you to be there. And the way that I see it, you have got to be one of the hardest people to kill. Wait, let me explain. You don't rush into battles to play hero. You have spied for 20 some years and was never caught. You're the head of Slytherin House and that is not easy. You know what your doing and your good at it. "
" Your terrified to attach yourself to someone because those that you do attach yourself to end up dead ? "
" Yes. Not only that but no one really knows that the Dursley's hate me. I know my parents loved me, I know that the Weasley's love me, I know that Poppy and Figg love me, but that is all that I have ever had. And I love them beyond reason, but it's not what I need. "
" And your choosing me to be the parent that you need ? "
" Yes Severus, I am. Because you are always there. You always kept me grounded. It's what I always needed. "
Severus just starred at the boy as he thought it over. The Savior of the Wizarding World had just taken him as his father without a second thought. It terrified him.
" I don't know how to do this father thing, I didn't have a very good example. So we'll just learn as we go. Right now, you are going to bed. "
Harry sighed and pulled the blankets up. Laying back into the pillows, Harry hadn't expected Severus to move up to sit beside him and take his glasses from his hand. This was a little odd.
" Dreamless Sleep. "
Harry took the offered vial and downed it in one go before handing it back. He really just wanted to sleep, feeling the effects of the potion quicker then he wanted to.
" What are you thinking Harrison ? " Severus asked softly
" If Draco is gay or not. This silly crush is getting on my nerves. "
" You have a crush on Draco ? "
" Yeah, I can't seem to help it. Fucking prick that he is. "
Before Severus could reply, Harry drifted off to sleep. It was sometimes a good thing to be godfather to one and constant for the other, this was going to be fun to watch. A lot of fun.
Albus had nearly wet himself when Voldemort's body appeared on his desk. But he was dead, good and dead. It had taken him a full 5 minutes to get over the shock so that he could make the proper calls. He knew that if he left the boy alone that everything would be just fine, although there hadn't been any magick detected on Privet Drive. There weren't any hex marks on the body either.
The world would know in the morning that Harry had won. They would be put at ease as the Death Eaters were gathered up and locked away. He would guide Harry into the limelight and make all of his choices for him. The boy was to stupid to think for himself, he wouldn't argue.
It hadn't gone as he had planned it, the war. It had all ended far too quickly, far to quietly. But all good plans must be revised at some point. He had a lot of work to do.
Thin Red Line
HP Fandom
By : Paige Black
Chapter One