Disclaimer – Isn't mine.
Chapter 3 - Trust
Adele walked back out into the hospital wing where she knew both her father and the headmaster would be waiting for her.
'How did it go?' Snape asked quietly.
Adele looked up at her father wearily. It had been a long few days since he had arrived on the doorstep of the house she had grown up in with her aunt and uncle and many other members of the Clan of Klamath. They had spent considerable time talking before looking at many memories of Harry, who he was and what had happened to him, in a pensieve before Adele had agreed to come. The memories were what had finally convinced her. Even though they were Snape's they showed a quiet boy who had grown into unassuming young man, in spite of the pressures of being the Boy-Who-Lived, who was deeply loyal to those he cared for and who would do almost anything for anyone else whatever the risk to himself.
This was not a boy who deserved to die. He was a boy who deserved a chance to live, if only to fulfill whatever dreams he had. Adele knew this was a young man she could learn to care for, perhaps even love, although that may be some time in coming. She knew Harry didn't trust easily and neither did she.
To counter both the curse and the potion Adele would have to not only Turn the Boy-Who-Lived, but bond with him as well. Turning would negate the potion while the bonding would tie the runes to herself as well allowing her to smother the compulsion rune and dissipate the power it had over him. By doing this they would leave Harry back to full health and with the added boost in power from the other runes. All Lucius Malfoy's efforts were about to come back and bite him in the arse. Assuming they could convince Harry, of course.
'Dela?' Snape murmured hesitantly.
'Sorry Father, I'm just tired.' Adele said quietly. 'It went well, I think. He's scared and unsure and nervous. He really doesn't know what is worse. Dying and letting everyone down, or allowing me to Turn him and letting everyone down.'
'He wouldn't be letting everyone down.' Albus insisted.
Adele shrugged. 'It's how he thinks. He knows what the Wizarding World thinks of magical creatures. He knows he'd be an outcast even if he destroyed the Dark Lord.'
'But he would be alive.' Snape murmured.
Dumbledore glanced at the closed door before glancing back at Snape. 'I think it's time I took him to Godric's Hollow.' He said softly.
'Do you really think that's a good idea, Albus?'
'He needs to see what he is fighting for. He needs to see the truth before making such a decision.'
'When will you take him?'
'As soon as he is well enough.' Dumbledore vowed.
Adele couldn't hold back a yawn and Albus smiled and took her hand. 'Thank you again, dear girl. I cannot express how much I appreciate you agreeing to such a bold plan as this.'
'It's alright, Professor. I really am happy to help in any way I could. Besides this means I get to stay with Father now.' She said smiling at Snape.
'Well, goodnight you two. I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, I would keep out of sight, Miss Snape, at least for the moment. Voldemort thinks you dead but the resemblance is unmistakable. It would not take much for him to put two and two together and get four.' Dumbledore couldn't hide the worried expression on his face. Whether that was for her or her father, Adele couldn't tell.
She just gave him a small smile and faded into the shadows. 'Do not concern yourself, Headmaster. I have no wish to put my father in any danger.'
'How did she do that?'
Snape laughed at the dumbfounded look on the older wizard's face. 'Albus, she's a shadow walker, how do you think she did it. Haven't you seen it done before?'
Dumbledore shook his head. 'No, I haven't. When the delegations came from Canada and Wales and London they didn't show any abilities. They were just like you and me.'
A chuckle sounded from over near the door. 'Not quite like you and me.' Snape said with a smirk before bidding the headmaster goodnight and disappearing out the door.
It was several days before Harry could finally get up and walk around. Ron, Hermione and the other Gryffindors spent many hours in the hospital wing each day chatting with their friend and telling him about the various duels that had gone on throughout the castle over the past week or so.
'Malfoy's hair was pink, Harry, for three days. You should have seen it.' Ron laughed and Harry laughed with him.
He had explained part of what was going on to his two best friends and Ginny. He hadn't told them yet about Adele, only that Dumbledore had a plan and that he was considering it. Hermione was a bit annoyed they he wasn't more forthcoming but Harry told her it was a decision he had to make on his own, something that this time they couldn't help him with. Eventually she accepted it and moved on.
Harry had returned to his rooms just down the corridor from Gryffindor Tower but another room had been added for Adele; the young vampire staying in them so that they could get to know each other. They spent many hours sipping tea on the sofa before the fireplace as Harry learnt what it was like to live as a vampire, all the reasons why she had agreed and most importantly, why on earth Snape had agreed to allow his daughter to bond with Harry Potter of all people.
'Maybe he just wants to be able to have me close by finally.' Adele said with a shrug.
Harry laughed. 'I don't think that's quite enough. If it was Draco Malfoy? Maybe. But me? There has to be a better reason.'
Adele cocked her head curiously and reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind Harry's ear, watching the firelight dance in the bright green eyes. 'Maybe it's because it's the right thing to do.' She said softly.
'Adele, I...' Harry began but Adele leant forward, her lips sweeping over Harry's once again. She grasped the back of his neck, licking his bottom lip and deepening the kiss before pulling away abruptly.
'I...I'm sorry, Harry. I just...Sorry.' she said again before fleeing to her bedroom and closing the door firmly behind her.
Harry was startled. He didn't know what he did wrong. He sat, sipping his tea in confused silence for almost an hour before standing up and ducking into his room and pulling out his invisibility cloak. He swept it over his shoulders before heading out of the rooms and through the darkened corridors. It was a slow trip, his body still wasn't all that strong but eventually, breathing quite heavily he came to the strong oak door and knocked softly.
Despite the late hour the door was flung open moments later to reveal a still fully clothed Snape. 'Who's there?' the potions master snapped.
'Professor?' Harry said, lifting the cloak off his head. Snape's expression softened slightly and he opened the door gesturing for the young man to enter. 'I'm sorry, Professor, to bother you so late, but I have so many questions and they won't go away. I can't sleep, I'm so confused.' Harry continued to babble until the potions master clasped his shoulder and steered him towards the sofa.
'Mr Potter, please calm down, your body is still in a very delicate state, you really need to try and remain calm at all times.' He said gently.
'I'm sorry.' Harry mumbled keeping his eyes cast downwards. Snape conjured more tea and gave Harry a cup.
'The Headmaster's special brew.' Snape gave Harry a pointed look until he picked up the cup and took a large sip, snorting softly as the calming potion did its work.
'Special brew my arse.'
Snape smirked at the comment but didn't respond and the two sat in silence for several moments. 'You have questions, Mr Potter?' Snape prompted.
Harry looked up. 'Yes Professor...' he trailed off his eyes roving about the room in a delaying tactic the potions master was quite familiar with.
'You want to know why.' Snape said bluntly. 'You want to know why someone who has never even met you before wishes to help you so much. You want to know why this is the only way to live through this and most of all, you want to know why I would let my daughter agree to have any sort of bond with you of all people.'
Harry's mouth dropped open. 'How...'
'Your face, Mr Potter, is an incredibly open book which anyone with any sort of skill can read without difficulty.' Snape said airly.
'Oh.'
'I'll begin with your first question as to why anyone would want to help you. You do realize, Potter, that people you don't know have been helping you since you first stepped foot into the Wizarding world, many you have never met and will never meet.'
'Yes Professor, I do understand that and I know I don't show it very much but I do appreciate it.' Harry said earnestly causing Snape to raise an eyebrow. The potions master could tell the comment wasn't just talk and that, in part, it was directed at him. 'But we're not talking about guarding me or teaching me or anything like that. We're talking about someone giving up everything they have, they know, to come halfway around the world to bond with someone they never met. It's not like a marriage. You can't divorce or break a magical bond. I know this; I'm not an idiot, in spite of what you think.'
Snape regarded the young man for a moment. 'Tell me something, Potter. If you found out you could help someone, someone who was the only chance the wizarding world had for salvation, would you do it? If that someone who needed your help could give back at least half of what had been taken from you and if you found out you were the only one they could trust to help save the life of the that person who could finally give you back the father you thought may never be able to acknowledge you publicly as his, would you walk through hell itself to try?' Snape asked quietly, knowing the young man could identify with the situation.
'Yes.' Harry said softly, his eyes bright in understanding.
Snape's eyes narrowed slightly. 'Well then?'
Harry glanced away again, his green eyes hesitant. 'She kissed me.' He whispered. 'She kissed me but then she apologised and ran.' He added his eyes dropping once again to the cup in his hand.
Snape pinched the bridge of his nose. This was not really what he wanted to be discussing, but he knew how naive Harry Potter was and he knew no one else would be able to explain it to him. 'Is your question as to why she kissed you, or to why she ran?' Snape said calmly.
'Um...both really.'
'Have you been kissed before, Potter?'
'Once.' Harry's voice was almost inaudible.
Snape frowned, he knew the boy was naive but this was ridiculous. He was the exalted Boy-Who-Lived, he should have had girls throwing themselves at him. That raised another question of whether he actually knew what the bonding would involve. Leaving that for the moment he turned back to the question at hand.
'You're not a bad looking young man, Potter. You're quite intelligent and you have a lot to offer. I'm sure many girls would want to kiss you.' Snape groaned inwardly. This was practically painful.
'But why did she run away? Did I do something wrong? Harry pleaded softly.
'Potter, you do realize that talking to me about kissing my daughter in the middle of the night is not conducive to a good night's sleep for either of us.' Snape said dryly.
'Sorry.' Harry mumbled and Snape rolled his eyes.
'Oh for Merlin's sake, Potter. She's scared. For the same reason you try to do everything yourself and not include your friends. She doesn't want to get too close incase you decide not to go ahead with it. She doesn't want to see you die. None of us want to see you die. Not like this.' Snape stood up and moved to stand by the fireplace staring blankly at the bookcase beside it.
'Even you?'
'Especially me, Potter. I've been saving your life for over six years. I don't want those efforts to go to waste.' Snape sneered. 'Even if you are an annoying little snot sometimes.'
Harry didn't respond to the jibe. 'Why is this the only way?'
Snape sighed and moved to sit back down. He couldn't believe this conversation was even taking place. 'When Malfoy carved those runes into your skin he made sure they would never, could never, be removed. Generally runes are just drawn on a person's body, sometimes in blood, sometimes in other things. In those cases the runes can be negated by other ones being drawn over them but by carving them directly into your skin they cannot be removed, ever. By bonding with you, Dela can use the mental powers of the vampire in her to smother the compulsion rune. It would mean the others are still in play but you will need them to defeat the Dark Lord anyway.'
'And the Turning?'
'Two reasons. First is to strengthen the bond. It will make sure Dela can hold over the compulsion rune...' Snape trailed off and for the first time in as many minutes Harry raised his head.
'And the other reason?' Harry asked hesitantly.
'It's the only way to stop the poison.' Snape murmured softly.
'So my choice is death, one way or the other.'
'Depends on how you look at it, Potter. The headmaster says that death is but the next great adventure.'
'Hmmm.'
'It's not really death, Harry.' Snape said softly leaning towards the Boy-Who-Lived and plucking the empty teacup from his hand. 'Dela and her Clan have a wonderful life in Canada. She goes to school and plays the piano and goes to the muggle cinema. Yes, she is classed as a magical creature and does have some restrictions placed on her by the Ministry but it doesn't really affect her that much. You can still grow up and grow old, sort of, even have children if you want.'
'You called me Harry again.' Harry said bluntly, unable to respond to the rest of what the older man had said.
Snape smiled. Actually smiled. 'I loved Dela's mother very much, Harry. Kadali was a wonderful person. She loved her life, she loved her daughter and she loved me.' The potions master snorted at this. 'I'm not actually sure why either. All I know is that we were very happy. When I came home that day to find her lying at the bottom of the stairs, Dela in her arms...' Snape trailed off.
'Professor?' Harry said tentatively.
'Being Turned isn't the end of the world Potter.' Snape was back to his closed off self. 'But that poison will be the end of yours if you let it.'
'Why didn't you...'
'I couldn't, not until the Dark Lord was destroyed anyway. You know his feelings on magical creatures. He will put up with them as long as it helps him but as a member of the inner circle? I think not.'
'You hate me.' Harry said finally.
'No, I hated your father. I think you're a gifted but indulged young manwho has the propensity to get himself into extraordinary situations.'
'Where angels fear to tread, huh?' Harry snickered.
Snape smiled again. 'Indeed.'
'Why would you put Adele in danger such as this? Why would you agree to it at all? For me especially.'
'Adele is in danger every day, Harry, simply because of who her father is. Yes, she is undoubtedly in more danger now than she was in Canada but here I can watch over her and I know you will do the same. I agreed to ask her if she was willing because I knew it was the only chance we had. We couldn't trust such a position to just any vampire. It was incredible that there was even someone we could trust to ask. And as for you, I know you won't hurt her.'
Harry stared wide eyed at the man. 'I won't hurt her? That's it? You know I won't hurt her?'
Snape's eyes narrowed. 'Potter, you can't understand this until you have a daughter of your own but knowing there is someone who will look after and care for her if something happens to you is very important.'
'You trust me?'
'I know how loyal you are to those you consider friends or loved ones. I'm surprised you didn't end up in Hufflepuff actually.'
Harry laughed. 'No you're not. We both know exactly why I ended up where I did.'
Snape smiled again. 'Do you have any more questions?'
Harry shook his head and both men stood up and walked towards the door. 'No. Thank you, Professor. For being so honest with me.'
'Get some rest Harry. I believe you have quite the day ahead of you tomorrow.'
Harry nodded and slipped out the door after donning the invisibility cloak. Snape closed the door, leaning back against it and shaking his head.
'I cannot believe that just happened.' He murmured incredulously before walking quietly towards his bedroom.
Harry paced nervously in his little sitting room waiting for Adele to appear. He had indeed managed to get some sleep the evening before but was still unsure of exactly what to say this morning. It was quite late in the morning already and he had yet to see her. Breakfast, supplied by Dobby naturally, had come and gone. He was just about to knock on her door when one sounded from the portrait outside. Moments later it swung open and Dumbledore stepped inside.
'Good morning, dear boy.' The headmaster said cheerfully. 'How are you feeling?'
'Fine.' Harry said automatically. Dumbledore lowered his head slightly and glanced over his spectacles making Harry feel like he was under a microscope. Harry sighed. 'I don't think I'm going to have a choice for much longer.' He said quietly. 'The compulsion rune is getting stronger by the day. I can feel it pulling at me. It's probably a good thing you've kept my wand. I can probably hold against it for another week maybe a bit longer but that's all.'
Dumbledore crossed and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. 'You're not letting anyone down, Harry, no matter what you choose. Remember that.'
Harry nodded and Dumbledore gave his shoulder a squeeze before letting go. 'We should get going. I'm not sure how long we will be there for and I don't want to be there after dusk.'
'Where are we going?'
Dumbledore's eyes dimmed. 'Somewhere I should have taken you many years ago.' He said sadly. 'Godrics Hollow.'
Harry's eyes widened comically. 'What?'
'I think you need to see it, Harry. To see what happened. To see where they lay.'
Harry looked away into the fireplace, his heart racing. 'I...I don't know if I can.' He whispered.
'I'll be with you, my boy.' Dumbledore promised, placing a hand on Harry's arm.
'So will I.' Adele's voice was close and when Harry turned he discovered that it had been her hand that had been placed on his arm. 'It you want me to.' She added quietly.
Harry stared at her for several moments before nodding. 'I'd like that.' He murmured.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled blindingly and he clasped his hands together. 'Wonderful, wonderful.' He said cheerfully. 'Are you both ready to go then? I have a Portkey.'
Adele waited for Harry to nod in acceptance before adding her own. Dumbledore pulled a copy of the Daily Prophet out of his pocket and held it out. Harry could see the words "Boy-Who-Lived" in large letters on the front and raised an eyebrow.
'Do I even want to know?' He asked dryly.
'Probably not.' Dumbledore said with a snort.
Harry rolled his eyes and took a deep breath before placing a finger on the newspaper and waiting as Adele did the same before Dumbledore said the words to activate it.
'Gryffindor's sword.'
They landed with a thump and Harry felt the headmaster reach out and steady him as he stumbled. Thankfully he didn't fall but when he looked up it was to find Adele grinning mischievously at him.
'Okay, so I'm not that graceful, alright?' Harry scowled.
'Except on a broom from what I hear.' Adele snickered causing Harry to blush.
'Harry?' Dumbledore said tentatively and Harry turned to him before following the blue eyes which were fixed on something behind him.
The minute Harry laid eyes on the ruins that had been his first home everything stopped. The birds went silent, the breeze faded away, even time itself seemed to halt its very progress. Harry eyes took in the ruins, faded images in his mind superimposing them over what his eyes actually saw. He heard his mother screaming in the distance, his father yelling at her to run. Flashes of green brought on by the memories made him blink rapidly as his eyes filled with tears, desperate not to let them fall so quickly.
'Harry?' Dumbledore said quietly, taking his hand. Harry pulled away. He wanted to do this, had to do this, by himself. He walked slowly towards what was left of his childhood home. His entire body was shaking as he walked up the three steps and crossed the wooden floorboards of what had been the sunroom before stepping through the front door. The door itself hung awkwardly almost completely off its hinges, the paint peeling back where the scorch marks of misdirected curses had hit it. The entire roof was missing off this part of the house and Harry could smell the wet and rotting wood of the walls around him. He moved further down the hall, idly aware of his two companions following at a discrete distance.
The kitchen lay beyond the first door and Harry could see remnants of what had been the cheerful yellow curtains hanging shredded around the window. That one wall was the only thing standing in this part of the house. That and the muggle stove his mother had insisted on having. Everything else was destroyed. Harry's eyes fell to the spot beside the door where he knew his father had fallen. He'd seen it replayed many times over in his head every time a Dementor came near him.
Unable to look any longer he squeezed his eyes tight and took a shuddering breath before stumbling back towards the stairs.
'Harry, I'm not sure how safe...' Dumbledore trailed off as Harry began climbing anyway. The headmaster knew what he wanted to see, what he had to see, and quickly pulled out his wand strengthening what was left of the stairs as Harry continued climbing.
He stopped just past the top of the stairs in front of a battered door that was only slightly ajar. His breathing was loud and ragged as he placed a hand on it and nervously pushed it open and stepped through.
It was like stepping back in time. He didn't see the broken cradle, the smashed rocking chair or the crumbling walls. All he could see was his mother, red hair and green eyes looking down at him lovingly.
He saw the Dark Lord standing in the corner and he watched as the curse struck the image of his mother over and over. Albus and Adele each took one of his hands in theirs as he continued trembling but he barely felt it. His eyes burnt with the struggle not to cry. His heart was beating so loudly he was surprised they couldn't hear it a hundred miles away.
'Let it out, Harry.' Adele whispered and Harry hung his head. 'Don't hold it inside. It's not healthy.'
Harry's shoulders shook alarmingly but refused to give in. 'Where are they?' he said hoarsely.
'I'll show you, dear boy. Come on.' Dumbledore gave his hand a gentle tug and Harry followed the elderly wizard out of the room and back downstairs and out of the house. They walked in silence across the over grown garden until they came to a rusted iron gate. Dumbledore waved his wand in a complicated charm and the gate open noiselessly.
There were many headstones in the small cemetery and as Harry glanced at the dates he realised just how many Potters had died at the hands of the Dark Lord. Finally Dumbledore stopped and Harry looked up at him. The headmaster could see the desperation warring in the green eyes. He reached out and gently stroked Harry's cheek with a knarled hand before placing his hands on the boy's shoulders and turning him to face the marble headstones.
Harry's breath all but stopped. This was it. This was the confirmation he had dreaded his entire life. Yes, he'd known they were dead. Everyone had said so. They had never come for him so they must have been. But to actually see it; carved in stone for all eternity; it was too much. Everything that had happened over the last six weeks was too much and Harry's legs crumpled under him and he collapsed to his knees; his heart feeling as if it were breaking.
'No, no, no.' He breathed over and over as both Albus and Adele knelt next to him.
'It's alright, Harry, we're here for you.' Albus murmured. 'Let it out, cry for them, cry for what you've lost, Harry. There's nothing wrong with that.'
Harry's shoulders heaved and a wounded scream tore through the air around them. Harry was clinging to both the headmaster and the vampire as if his life depended on it; as if knowing that if he let them go he would lose them too.
'Oh god.' Harry sobbed. 'Don't leave me alone. Don't let me go.'
'We're not going anywhere, Harry.' Adele said soothingly even as tears poured down her cheeks. This was the real Harry Potter. This broken and desperate young man was such a big part of what made him the Boy-Who-Lived, in spite of what the general public actually believed they saw. This was Harry in his rawest form, every emotion showing for those he trusted to see. And it was in that moment that Adele realized that he did in fact trust her. In spite of the short time they had known each other. No one else they knew had lost what they had. No one else could really understand what it felt like to be so alone; even then Adele could only partly feel such a deficit, partly feel the loss. Even though she could certainly identify with such soul wrenching grief, the depth of it chilled her to the bone.
'It's alright, Harry. It will be okay, I promise.' Dumbledore said soothingly.
'HOW?' Harry screamed, wrenching himself out of the old man's arms and almost hiding in Adele's. 'HOW CAN IT BE ALRIGHT? I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I DON'T WANT TO LET EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR, EVERYTHING I'VE LOST TO BE IN VAIN! THEY DIED SO THAT I WOULD LIVE!' Harry flung his hand out gesturing to the graves of his parents. 'AND I LET THEM DOWN! I LET HIM GET TO ME AND NOW IT'S RUINED EVERYTHING! I don't know how I'll ever be able to face them.' Harry finished in a whisper burying his head in Adele's neck as she continued to hold him tightly.
Dumbledore was horrified, almost incapable of speech. The boy blamed himself. No matter what the headmaster or Snape had admitted to, the boy blamed himself for his current situation. It was incomprehensible. Dumbledore just couldn't fathom how Harry had even arrived at such a conclusion, but he certainly wasn't going to let it continue. He leant forward shifting several kneeling steps until he could reach over and grasp Harry's upper arms, yanking him out of the girl's arms and so that he could see his face.
'Harry, you will listen to me and listen well.' he said angrily, startling the boy. 'None of this was your fault. You are just a child. I sent you there. I was in charge of looking after the wards. That bastard caught you unawares when you were sleeping. What were you going to do? Stay awake all summer? There was nothing you could have done. Many wizards, older and more experienced then you have been caught unawares by lesser wizards than Lucius Malfoy. This is not your fault, and I will make you continue saying it until you believe it to be the truth. Do you understand?'
Harry nodded, his red rimmed eyes still wide. He had never heard the headmaster speak so passionately. 'Yes.' He whispered.
'I love you, Harry.' Dumbledore said sincerely. 'And I will do anything I have to, to get you through this.'
Harry studied the headmaster's face for several moments before launching himself into the old man's arms. 'Thank you.' He sobbed. `Thank you.' Dumbledore continued hugging him tightly as he exchanged a weary and tearful smile with Adele.
Eventually Harry pulled away glancing at the headmaster before turning to Adele. 'Are you sure?' he asked softly. The vampire's eyes widened as she glanced at the headmaster and back again before nodding.
'Absolutely.'
'Thank you.' Harry murmured reaching for the teenager's hand and clasping it in his own before turning back to Dumbledore.
'Let's go home.'
