Sorry for the wait but here's the next chapter.
"How are you this morning Mimi?" Harry asked the only mother figure he'd ever had in his life - he didn't count Molly after all the deception she had brought to him. He set the tray of breakfast onto her lap and helped her up. "You look loads better than yesterday."
"I feel better 'Ry." she smiled at him in reassurance.
"Here I brought you some soup. I didn't think you'd be able to stomach more solid food yet."
"Thank you." she nodded at him as he sat down next to her.
"Do you know what happened?" he asked quietly as she began to eat. Though her hands were shaking a bit she managed to feed herself.
"Happened?"
"Between you and Severus." she shook her head in response to his question.
"Do you?"
"I think he should be the one to tell you."
"Okay." she nodded at him and then continued to eat.
"How are the boys?" he asked after a while.
"Draco's forgotten everything about his past. Or at least, his memories are still there but his magic has built strong occlumency walls around them so he can't access them. The only thing he remembers are his memories until he turned three but with Severus and I as his parents." she sighed and pushed away the tray. She settled back onto the pillows while Harry removed it from her lap and set it down onto the floor. "Ron's in the same situation. From what I could gather, your talk with him the night before Severus left was the last time he accessed his adult memories."
"So, what do we do now?"
"Severus and I plan on blood adopting Draco to completely erase everything of the Malfoy line in him." Gemini quietened and let him connect the dots.
"But that means~"
"I would do anything to protect any child Harry."
"I know Mimi, but with Severus as your husband? The ritual would essentially bind you to him if only through Draco. Are you willing to do that?"
"I was the one who suggested it." Harry gaped at her for a few moments then composed himself.
"I suppose we would have to do the same to Ron then," she only nodded in reply. "I'll talk to Fred about it."
"We can find another way 'Ry."
"No, you're right. This is the best route we can take. If it will secure their future, then I'll do it for him."
"Ron's your best friend Harry. Are you willing to lose the boy you grew up with?"
"This way I can still be there for him. I know it won't be the same and it certainly would not be easy but then again, I'm Harry Potter. When has my life ever been easy?" he grinned cheekily at her and she returned the gesture. Suddenly the wards around their home rang loudly, something had gotten through and from the sound of it whatever it was had reached the boys' room.
"Shit!" Harry jumped to his feet at the sound just as Severus' phoenix patronus burst through the door.
"Ron and Draco's room. Cursed letter."
"Let's go!" Gemini had also gotten to her feet, adrenaline rushing through her at the thought that the boys might be in danger.
"Mimi wait!" but she was already through the open door and Harry had no other choice but to follow. Though weakened, she was still a mother and her sons were in danger. She had to do whatever it took to protect them. When they got to the room the boys were on the bed surrounded by a sinister light. Severus was standing just outside the red barrier watching helplessly as both Ronald and Draco writhed in pain.
"Severus, what's happening?"
"From what I can discern the letter that came through was cursed with a form of the Cruciatus."
"How did it get through the wards?"
"I do not know as of yet, but we have pressing matters to attend to." he said, his lips tightening at the sight of both his pupils in pain.
"What have you tried to do?"
"I tried removing the barrier but everything I did only seemed to strengthen it. No magic can penetrate it. Even Tilly and Mystique have tried to get the boys out."
"Severus, you are a vampire, are you not?" the man's arm jolted when she touched his bare skin. "Is it true that vampires are immune to the torture curse?" she asked. Draco's magic lashed out, his dark wings releasing from his back in a splatter of blood and flesh while Ron gritted his teeth through the pain to embrace his submissive partner even as his own white wings erupted from his back. "Can you get through the barrier and take them both from the bed?" she asked in desperation as both boys' screams suddenly echoed through the room as if a silencing barrier was brought down.
"I can try." he said, dark onyx eyes glinting with anxiety.
"It's too risky!" Harry protested.
"We have no time to argue." Gemini said. "Get through the barrier and grab the boys. Harry and I will cast a shield charm around you as soon as you get to them."
"It's dangerous!"
"I will do it." Severus agreed.
"Alright, just let me into your mind so I can direct your magic." she looked into his eyes, her own chocolate orbs pleading. "Please Severus." she nodded when he met her gaze completely and lowered his occlumency shields. "Go." she ordered as soon as she had gotten through to his magical core and he walked through the shimmering red light that was causing the children's pain. Once he had gotten a firm hold on both of the boys Severus felt the explosion of his magic as a shield formed around the three of them. The incantation was said in a language he had yet to hear but he cataloged that for later perusal as he stepped through the barrier again with his sons in his arms. He glanced worriedly at Gemini when she staggered but thankfully Harry caught her.
"Mimi?"
"I'll be fine 'Ry. But I need to check on the boys."
"No," this time Harry put his foot down. "Do what you did with Severus. Direct my magic. You are not to use any of yours for the foreseeable future. You haven't recovered, and I am not having your health failing further." Gemini opened her mouth to argue but realized she was not talking to Harry, in front of her stood Lord Potter-Black.
"Let us leave this room." Severus' worried voice broke through the would-be argument. "I ordered Mystique to seal it, so I may later investigate." he led the way to the medical wing and set the boys on an enlarged bed once there. Harry set Gemini on another bed and let her perform the same mind magic she had used on Severus then went to check on the boys with her help.
"They will need the anti-Cruciatus potions, but they are otherwise fine."
"I will find out who sent that damned letter and they will pay." Harry strode out of the medical wing leaving Gemini and Severus alone with the boys.
"Gemini are you alright?" he asked her after he put a blanket on the children.
"I will be fine Severus. I may have just overused my magic before I had completely recovered."
"Are you certain?" he looked at her, worry shining through the dark onyx orbs as he captured her gaze.
"I am. I just need to rest."
"Then do so. Harry and I will update you on what we find." he leaned over to plant a soft kiss on her forehead then smiled. "Rest well my nymph." he whispered in his velvety voice leaving her shivering with an unknown emotion. She wanted to ask what he meant but her exhaustion won, and she drifted off into sleep. Severus watched her for a few moments longer before he too left to help Harry investigate.
XoxoxoX
"Good morning, I would like to speak to Head Auror Shacklebolt." the woman looked up from polishing her nails only to be trapped in the frozen jade orbs of the Man-Who-Conquered.
"H-h-h-h-har-ry P-p-p-p-pot-ter s-s-s-sir,"
"Harry!" he and his companion looked up to find the man they were looking for. "What are you doing here?"
"Can we speak in your office Kingsley? I have news."
"Of course, of course, you and Severus come in." he led the way to his office and shut the door behind him. A silencing barrier was immediately put up making the room glow purple for just a quick moment. "Now what can I do for you?" he gestured for both men to sit down as he took his own seat.
"We have recently found out that Severus had been under several controlling spells for nigh on twenty-three years."
"What?"
"He has recently met his mate and the establishment of their bond led to the dismantling of the charms placed on him."
"Severus?"
"My memories of the day the spells were destroyed are in this vial." the Potions Master revealed a clear vial from one of the many pockets of his robes. "It has not been altered nor tampered in any way and I would like for you to investigate."
"Who put the charms on you and what are they?"
"As far as I could tell I was under the control of both the Dark Lord and Albus Dumbledore." Severus relayed. "There were several compulsion charms, confusion spells and a creature repressing spell. Dumbledore had apparently deemed my vampire dangerous and decided to block it. I have no recollection as to when they had been placed only that they had once been there but are now gone because of my bond with my mate. At some point I have also been subjected to the Imperius curse from both of them."
"These are serious allegations. Are you certain that it was Dumbledore?"
"His was the only magical signature that I could discern and at that point in time there was no other wizard capable of casting the spells besides the Dark Lord." Kingsley rubbed a hand across his face at the response he received.
"And he had just been reinstated as Headmaster. Apparently, the Board of Governors still believe in him despite having run during the War." Harry shook his head at the news.
"But there's something else." the green-eyed man produced a heavily-warded object from one of his pockets. "Someone sent this to the manor."
"What is it?"
"It was a letter cursed with a form of the Cruciatus."
"Who?"
"Ron and Draco." Harry choked at the names of his two closest friends. "They had been under the spell for a while before we could safely get them out. There was a barrier that formed around their bed and all the magic that we sent to it just strengthened it."
"How long?"
"Just yesterday." Severus took over the explanation as Harry's composure finally dissolved in tears. "We received the letter two days ago. It had apparently been sent with an elf and Ron and Draco was the target as it was delivered directly to their rooms."
"They were together?"
"Yes."
"Do you know who sent it?"
"There are very few people who have not accepted the fact that Draco and I were friends and they are the people I once thought was my family. I want them all investigated."
"Harry we can't just~"
"I brought this to you even though I have every right to wage a blood feud against them because I want it done cleanly. If you refuse me Kingsley, no one will be able to stop me from crushing that little family for their self-righteousness."
"But~"
"Ron and Draco are dead because of them!"
"You don't know that."
"Oh, I do. I used every revealing spell I can on that blasted letter and only three signatures came up, Molly Weasley, Hermione Granger and Albus fucking Dumbledore!"
"Fine. I will have them arrested immediately."
"Have it done Kingsley."
"I'm sorry Harry."
"It wasn't your fault." he left without another word with Severus following quietly behind him. Head Auror Shacklebolt was left staring at the two priceless packages left in his care and sighed. Harry Potter had done so much for their world and it would seem as if it still wasn't enough. This time he would do something for the young man, he stood up from his chair and went to the fireplace. He needed to firecall Amelia Bones.
XoxoxoX
"Where is your editor-in-chief?" Lord Harrison Potter-Black strode into the office of the Daily Prophet with his husband and mentor. He wore dark green dress robes with the Potter and Black coat of arms signifying his status as the current head of both houses. Severus behind him was wearing dark gray robes with the Prince ring on his right ring finger.
"He is not to be disturbed," the woman at the front desk replied without looking up from her Witch Weekly magazine. "You may set an appointment and come back another time."
"Miss Archer!" Professor Snape's voice was one that would be recognizable anywhere and it would seem as if the woman had once been a student of the most terrifying Potions Master that Hogwarts has ever had. She sat straight up in her chair and immediately stowed away the magazine she had been reading acting much like a teenager caught in a forbidden act.
"P-p-p-p-profes-s-s-sor S-s-s-snape s-s-s-sir!"
"Where is your editor-in-chief?"
"M-m-m-m-mister P-p-p-p-potter!"
"Miss Archer, would you kindly direct us to your editor-in-chief's office. We have a matter to speak with him about." the woman was shaking as she pointed in the general direction of the room they were asking about. "Thank you." the three men strode off and went straight inside the man's office.
"Mssrs. Potter and Professor Snape!" he immediately straightened up in his seat as the three men stepped into his office and made themselves comfortable. "What can I do for you?"
"I want Rita Skeeter." Harry said.
"May I ask why you need Ms. Skeeter?"
"The last story printed about my husband has had detrimental effects to our family." Fred grabbed his bonded's hand from the seat they had taken across the man.
"What do you mean?"
"Head Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt is on his way now to explain things further." no sooner had Severus said that and the receptionist arrived with two aurors in tow.
"Mr. Collins where is Rita Skeeter?" Shacklebolt asked as soon as he had stepped into the room.
"Why do you need her?"
"She is an accessory to murder."
"What?" the startled editor-in-chief stood ramrod straight at the news. "What do you mean an accessory to murder?"
"The last article she wrote about Lord Potter-Black has led some people to send a cursed letter to their home."
"What happened?"
"Two young men died as a result." he sagged in his seat. "Now where is Ms. Skeeter?"
"She's at the Weasley residence."
"Thank you for the information." Shacklebolt nodded to him and left with his men.
"I would like to formally apologize for any grief that article cost you Lord Potter-Black."
"Unfortunately, your apologies cannot bring back the lives of two of my closest friends." Harry retorted. "I will be closing down the Prophet."
"You can't do that!" Collins protested. "You have no right!"
"On the contrary," Harry's smile was that of a Cheshire cat. "I own sixty-three percent of the shares to this company from the Potter and Black lines alone. Now that along with the Malfoy's twenty-two percent and the Prince line's ten percent we have the power to shut you down."
"There is no one of the Prince or Malfoy lines. You cannot claim those shares."
"You're right," Collins relaxed at the admission. "I can't claim shares that are not mine."
"As I am the last descendant of the Prince line, I withdraw our shares from this company." Severus spoke. "Draco Malfoy left everything to me should anything happen to him. The Malfoy shares are also inaccessible to the Prophet from today onward. You should expect a visit from the goblins soon."
"Thank you for your time Mr. Collins." Harry stood followed by his lover and Severus and the three men left the office only for the man to run after them.
"Wait! Lord Potter-Black, Lord Prince, I beg you to reconsider!"
"I warned Skeeter not to cross me. I announced that Draco Malfoy and Ronald Weasley were under my protection. She was there to witness it and it was on the front page that same evening. I also said that should any harm come to them, the person who caused it will be feeling the full might of the Potter and Black clans against them." Harry declared. "This is just the beginning Collins, and this is because you cannot control your reporters. I shall see you in court." and then they were gone.
XoxoxoX
"We have to do the blood adoption as soon as possible." Gemini told her would-be husband. "Ron and Draco will not be able to fight off the effect of the curse any longer. I fear they would succumb to it soon."
"Are you well enough to perform the ritual?"
"Yes."
"Then we will inform Fred and Harry." Severus nodded his acquiescence. "Do not worry Gemini," she found herself in his embrace. "The boys will be safe. I will make sure of it."
So, what did you think?
