Chapter 3

Tobias spent the next evening in the company of his father and godparents. He was stunned when Severus gave him the results of his test. He had passed with a higher score then had been faked for him.

"So, Har … Tobias," Lucius spoke, eventually.

"Yes Anadochos?"

Lucius blinked. "What is with you and the Greek language?"

Tobias shrugged. "I guess I wanted to be able to rant and insult everyone in a language they wouldn't understand. I couldn't find anything to teach me Elvin or dwarven and I liked this language, so I choose it. Instead of insulting others, I now use it to name those closest to me."

Lucius nodded thoughtfully.

Tobias stretched until his spine crackled. Unconsciously, he rubbed his lower arm, drawing Remus' attention to it.

"Neogennito?" He started. "What … Why … How did that start?" He nodded his head in the direction of the visible marks.

Tobias sighed. "It started when I first learnt what the Dursleys were doing to me was classified as abuse. By this time I believed that I was to blame for what was occurring, as I'd been under their control for five years previously." He smiled sadly. "They started the day I turned three. It was the first time I'd performed magic. I had managed to avoid being hit by a car – It hit the tree beside me instead. The man behind the wheel apologised, even though it wasn't his fault. Some stupid kid had put something on the road that destroyed the car's tires. I had managed to apparate myself to one side – just enough for him to believe that he had been able to prevent him from hitting me himself by swerving. The Dursleys were watching and my aunt and uncle knew what that meant. After that every opportunity to beat me that came up, they took. I always feared the day Vernon would take it to beyond the beatings and starving, but it never happened – Not until this summer."

He took a mouthful of the sparkling water and lime – his now favourite evening drink – that Severus handed to him and ignored the looks on everyone's face. "This time, I was wearing those damned bands and Mr Albus Fuckemall arrived and told them that they were to punish me in whatever way they saw fit and that the bands would prevent my magic from escaping. He … He said." Tobias stopped talking, finding it hard to breathe due to his chest constricting. Severus stood behind him, grounding his emotions by placing his hands on his shoulders. Tobias nodded his thanks and rested his head back, preventing the tears in his eyes from falling.

"He said that as long as it doesn't kill me it is permissible, and then went on to say not to bother wasting food on me, just water me once a day. He also mentioned that if at any time any of them realised what a fine looking specimen I was and wanted it, they could have it with nothing to fear from either wizarding or muggle authorities, as I was going to die before I said anything." He slowly brought his eyes down to lock his green eyes with Voldemort's red ones.

"His plan was to have me destroy you and then for him to destroy me, or have us destroy each other and have him deliver the killing blow to the survivor, as a mercy stroke, of course."

Narcissa stood and hugged Tobias to her. "He can't hurt you anymore, Bi," she whispered.

"We will need to work on Occulmancy again this year, cub, so he can't get into your head. This is going to be more important than last year."

Tobias was shaking his head. Severus raised an eyebrow.

"I never have, and never will need Occulmancy training, nonos. I have a natural shield around my mind. It took three years of mind manipulation potions hidden in his gods-forsaken lemon drops, tea and in every liquid I drank, including the healing potions, for him to be able to put a crack into my shield. Then he got the idea for someone I trusted to do it for him." He looked pointedly at Remus, whose face was full of shock and anger. He looked back at Severus.

"The last thing he needed to break my mind was the death of the person I was closest to – Sirius. Everything that happened last year was a part of Dumbledore's plan to break me. My whole LIFE has been him trying to break me, but he has failed! He doesn't know the extent that I possess Gryffindor stubbornness or Slytherin cunning." He smirked. "He also made the mistake of introducing me to his phoenix, who knew what was occurring. Fawkes has been on my side since second year – even before the basilisk incident."

A deep silence filled the room at this statement. Tobias, who was deep within his own thoughts, didn't notice it.

"You killed my basilisk?" Voldemort asked, not sure if he should be angry or impressed.

Tobias looked at his father with a small smile. "Yeah, sorry about that – but the poor excuse of a potions ingredient was trying to kill me." A smirk lit his features, as did something no one had seen for a long time – a mischievous twinkle in his green eyes. "And there was also this smug Slytherin that came out of a diary that was attempting to killing my adopted sister as well, urging the damn thing on."

He glared at Lucius. "I know you gave it to her, because Dobby told me," he smirked, "but he also tried killing me several time over the course of that year, so he kind of evened it out." He shrugged again before glancing around the room before whispering, "Do I have to go tomorrow?"

To everyone's surprise it was Draco who knelt before him and took his face in his hands to make him look him in the eye. "Bi, I know you don't want to go. Remember all the things we spoke about earlier today?" Tobias nodded causing Draco to smile, shocking everyone even more. "Then you will remember the promise I made you." Once more he was answered with a nod.

"That promise stands, no matter what – even if I need to get on my hands and knees in the Great Hall in the middle of the welcoming feast and beg. And Bi?" He waits until the boy is looking at him again. "If you don't go, you'll never get to see me with red and gold hair."

Tobias grinned, eyes sparking once more, before finishing his drink and standing. "I'm going to bed now. I'll see you all in the morning for the spells to make me look like that Potter fellow again." He hugged and kissed his father and hugged his godparents. He walked to the door before stopping and turning. "Drakontas?" Draco looked up with an internal smile at the warmth evident in Tobias' voice. Tobias smiled an honest smile. "Thank you." He disappeared into the hall.

"Draco?" The whisper caught his attention and he looked at his father and laughed at the look of awe on his face. "What the hell did you promise him?"

The only response he was given was the patented Malfoy smirk and a glance towards the door where Tobias had just left."

A flare of green flames drew the attention of all in the room. From them stepped a cold Remus, a smirking Severus and, moments later, a livid Harry. All motion in the room stopped.

"I want to know several things, and I want to know them NOW! Firstly – am I going to be told what the fires in hell is going on, or am I going to be left in the dark still?" he waited.

Mrs Weasley broke the silence. "You are still too young to know Harry. This is for older, more skilful witches and wizards …"

Harry laughed bitterly. "I'm too young to know? I'm the one who has to off the bastard, and I'm too young to know what little information of him you actually have?" No one noticed the smirks on Severus and Remus' faces at the fact that Harry had just sounded like a Malfoy.

Before anyone could speak, Harry threw the bands he'd been forced to wear into the middle of the meeting table. In a voice that was dark with fury, he continued. "Explain to me, Sir," he sneered the last word with all the contempt he could muster, "what the FUCK these were for?" He glanced at Ron and Hermione. "And don't you two even THINK for a second that I don't know that you helped with them." He turned back to the headmaster.

"You had me fucking well drugged and put the cursed things on me – not for my safety, but because you knew I would be coming into my inheritance this year. You knew that I was the heir to one of the founders, and you didn't want me to get it. I couldn't even protect myself from anything that might happen." Harry held out a hand, and to everyone's surprise, Severus handed him a newly enlarged pensieve. Harry nodded his thanks and placed it onto the table. Turning to Remus, he closed his eyes and let the werewolf remove a memory. "This is one thing that occurred when I was unable to protect myself because of the three of you." He said coldly. The memory shocked everyone, with one of the twins leaving the room, dry retching. It was the one that Severus walked in on, but without him interfering. Severus frowned at the implication.

"How often did that occur?"

Without changing his blank facial expression, Harry answered, "Two to three times a day, and every second day it wouldn't be with his fingers." Severus turned an alarming shade of green. No one else spoke, not even to answer the question Harry had asked.

"Thirdly," he continued when he realised that no one was speaking, "where the hell were you when the Death Eaters attacked?"

Gasps sounded in the room.

"What do you mean, Harry?" Hermione asked sounding as if she believed that what Harry had to say was just made up. "There has been no Death Eater activity this summer."

Harry glared at her before turning that same gaze on Dumbledore. "So much for the protection of the Order, Sir," he drawled, sounding more like Draco than he had before. "Death Eaters attacked the Dursleys two weeks ago. I was rescued," he spat the word as if it were poison; "by someone I didn't like, nor trust. It took both him and Severus here to get me out without dying." His eyes took on the look of hard emeralds as everyone voiced their accusations at Severus.

"I am telling everyone in this room right this second that I am no longer going to be a puppet. I am not going to join the Order – I have joined another. One that actually gives me information on what I need to know. They are just as eager to rid this world of Voldemort as I am. I am also very happy to announce that Severus and Remus are now members of this new order as well, and are therefore no longer in attendance here. I am NOT spending my time here. I have had several offers in my choice of accommodation and if the one offer I got over the summer still stands, then I will accept."

"Harry! How can you – "

"Possibly think that we – "

"Would take back the offer of having – "

"You live at our place to help with – "

"The shop while –"

"We are away?"

The room was silent at this. Fred continued. "Bill and Charlie are going to be there, but not in the house. Ginny said she'll help with the store and so she'll be staying with Bill and Charlie at The Burrow, so they can bring her, so we need someone to watch the house and the shop – particularly at night."

"You're welcome to stay with him, Mooney, just to keep him in trouble – in line of the Marauders, that is." George finished. Harry smiled for the first time that day.

"I'm happy to hear that, Gentlemen. I, myself, am finished here. Let's go get us settled. I have a letter to send and I want to talk to you about what is happening with the shop. It might be best if Bill, Charlie and Ginny join us, as I'm going to be working with them."

The twins nodded and the five Weasleys who had been named stood and flooed to the shop. Severus said his farewells, his amusement poorly contained to those who knew him, and left. Before he stepped into the fireplace Harry turned to look at the dumbstruck order.

"This house and everything in it is mine by right. I know what Sirius' Will said, and I now own this building. You can use it for your headquarters still, but understand that anyone who touches anything will be hexed, thrown out or cursed in accordance with rule 298 of the Wizard homeowner's Law in this country. Have a pleasant life." He smiled sweetly, then walked into the already green flames and disappeared.

It had been one week since Tobias had resumed his previous identity as Harry Potter and had appeared before the Weasleys and Dumbledore. During this time, Draco, his father, mother and godfather had been talking and preparing for the big day scheduled for the first of September.

It had been during one of these meetings that their Lord had walked in carrying a letter. There was to be a marking ceremony set for the week before school started.

Someone cleared their throat and Draco jumped, scared out of his thoughts. Looking up, he smiled slightly at his father.

"Are you ready son?" Lucius hid his amusement well, letting only a small amount of it show in his eyes. His son was dressed in his finest clothes – black robes edged with silver and green Dragons. Lucius smirked. "Dressing to impress, my son?"

To his surprise, Draco got a faint blush on his cheeks. He placed a hand of apology on his son's shoulder. "It is time for us to leave, Son." He leant over and whispered, "You look great, son. I'm sure you'll catch his eye – whoever they are." With a gentle squeeze of his hand, Lucius left.

Draco gathered himself, took a deep breath and followed his father, hoping with all his heart that he wasn't going to get burnt if he chose to play with fire.

Names

Anadochos – Godfather

Neogennito – Cub

Nonos – Godfather

Drakontas – Dragon