Beta: Kmoaton
Ner words in this chapter: 3,249
"Talking"
Dream/Memory/Flashback/Others
Letter/Journal/Book/Newspaper
Time change/Date of time
Change of POV
Chapter III
–'Witches' and Potter–
Thursday, 14 July 2005
HJP's POV
Harry woke with the feel of Teddy jumping on his bed. Bloody boy… he turned to the other side only for his eyes to open wide and memories of last night came back thanks to his soreness all over the place… specially a part of him that had never been sore before!
"Edward, stop jumping!" Tom snarled.
Harry looked at him wide-eyed. Tom had never slept at the house before. Yet… last night… Harry's face went deep red, looking at his body under the blankets. Markings of Tom's kissing and even hand marks on Harry's hips were quite visible… not to mention… both their nakedness…
Shit, they had gone all the way last night, hadn't they?
"There's someone at the door. And it isn't James, I would've recognized the smell." Teddy claimed.
Harry and Tom nodded, Harry put on his glasses before standing and grabbed a nightgown as Tom did the same with a spare one of Harry's. The three went to the entrance and Tom opened the door.
"Good morning, my Lord. Auror Potter. Young Lupin." The great Jeremiah Lestrange stated with a bow of head. At Tom's nod, he entered into the lobby, before Tom closed the door and accepted the robe being offered. "A group of newbies messed up."
Tom hummed and turned around to go change in the bedroom.
"Bells?" He asked from the bedroom.
Mr Lestrange went to enter, only to stop at seeing the shoes' collection. He took off his boots and entered, nodding his head at Harry.
"Doing her best, Sire. But the…" the Lawyer glanced at Harry, uncertain, "others are on the scene."
Tom hummed from wherever he was on Harry's room.
"Tea?" Harry proposed.
Mr Lestrange looked back at Harry, before he shook his head.
"I am sorry, Auror Potter, but we are kind of as in a hurry."
Harry hummed as Tom returned in the same type of robe Harry had met him in, black rich silk notice-me-not robe. Very alike the ones Death Eaters used, now that Harry thought about it… so that's why the City Aurors had been hunting him… the irony of it all!
"I will do my best to pick Edward from the Station later." Tom promised and Harry nodded as the two Dark Wizards moved towards the exit.
"Wait." Harry called and Tom stopped by the exit as he put on his boots.
"Harry, I have to go."
"No hurting my family."
Tom rolled his eyes in amusement.
"No promises." He retorted.
"And you've forgotten the most important part of the day."
Tom frowned.
"I do not have time for food, Harry."
Mr Lestrange caught on to what Harry meant and coughed unto his hand.
"I will wait outside." He commented.
Tom watched him go, puzzled.
"Goodbye kiss." Harry responded amused and even Teddy did the sound of kissing as he pretended to kiss the air.
"Come here." Tom grabbed Harry's wrist and pulled him for a kiss, before he leant down and kissed Teddy's forehead. "Take care of your godfather for me, understood?"
"Will do." The child agreed and Tom nodded at Harry, before leaving.
–BADW–
LV's POV
Voldemort followed Jeremiah out into the free-apparating zone.
"I take it that it was a good night." His old colleague put in amused. Voldemort raised an eyebrow and Jeremiah pointed towards his own shoulder. "Scratch marks."
Voldemort glanced down at his shoulder where Harry had stuck his fingernails while Voldemort took him last night. He pulled the robe up to hide the half-moon marks.
"Let's just say, Jeremy, that it was worth the wait."
Jeremiah smiled back.
"It is good to see you like this, my Lord."
Voldemort nodded and they apparated directly into the Dark Manor where his Death Eaters awaited in the main room.
"What really happened?" He demanded.
"Freshmen got spooked and they're now surrounded by the Golden Squad." Rodolphus claimed, looking up from a magical map.
"Spooked how?"
"It was the squad who were rescuing Magical Creatures." Bartemius put in.
"And Freshmen were sent?" Voldemort retorted.
"Bellatrix's idea." Rodolphus agreed. "Which is why she has already gone ahead."
Voldemort sneered.
"I sleep outside for one night." He hissed and the five Wizards in the room went deep red. "Narcissa?"
"She and Lucius are in a meeting at the Ministry of Magic." Jeremiah replied. "For Young Lupin?"
"Yes." Voldemort agreed as he started looking through the maps with a sneer. "And I need a Pepper Up potion!"
Four of the Death Eaters turned on the Dark Lord with wide eyes at the request. Voldemort raised an eyebrow in return, daring them to reply back, as Jeremiah went to fetch it.
–BADW–
HJP's POV
Harry heard the entrance bell and went to answer the person, only to see his former schoolmate Luna Lovegood with Mr Lestrange.
"Hello, Harry."
"Hello, Luna. Mr Lestrange?"
"I am afraid our mutual 'friend' will take some time."
Harry hummed.
"Teddy, come meet your new Nanny." Teddy approached and nodded at Luna. "He's fine, though?" He added as Luna walked with the boy a couple steps away.
"Yes, of course." Harry sighed relieved. "You thought? Oh no, Auror Potter, he is fine – threatening to have our necks, but fine."
Harry smiled, calmer. The bell rang and the two looked at the door, while Teddy pulled Luna towards Harry's desk and his drawings, James was entering with a young woman by his side. Wasn't there an attack? Why was he here?
"Prongslet."
"James." Harry agreed.
"Merlin, is this Station filled with Purebloods lately." James added with a raised eyebrow in Lestrange direction.
"Why are you here, Father?"
James showed the woman at his side. Harry glanced at her uncertain, having a bad feeling about this.
"Prongslet, let me introduce you to the great Cho Chang." When Harry didn't respond, his exasperated father added. "Your fiancée."
Never was Harry so happy that Tom wasn't here today. The man wouldn't be able to stop himself from cursing her… and Harry had no idea if he'd be able to arrest him if he did lose control, which told lots about their friendship.
"So, that is the face of the arranged illegal marriage." Mr Lestrange put in. "Good to know. Now I know which face to add towards the paperwork."
"What?" James turned towards the Lawyer, furious.
"Arranged weddings are only legal when both parties are willing partners. Auror Potter, my client, has not given his consent to this. Actually, my client already has a lover of his own."
"Nonsense!" James argued and turned towards Harry. "Prongslet never gave anyone attention long enough to becoming lovers."
It was sad, but true. Even if he did meet someone, it has always because of his father… Tom was different, though. And definitively never to the point of sex… until last night that is…
"Yes, it is true." Mr Lestrange put in, as Harry's cheeks went pink at the reminder of last night activities.
"If that thing would be true… I'd want to hear it from Prongslet's own lips!"
Harry blushed harder as James glared at him. Daring him to admit to such a thing.
"It is true." He agreed, embarrassed.
"You're lying."
Harry pulled his robe to the side on his neck and Tom's huge hickey become quite visible to Mr Lestrange's amusement and James' surprise.
"Who is she that got your heart before I did?" Chang asked. Chang… wasn't she a couple years older than he was?
"She's a he." Harry argued and, if possible, James' mouth would have fallen to the floor. "Moody, how was the rounds?"
"Good." Moody agreed, approaching. "Hide that neck, will you? Before anyone sees the hickey that Riddle gave you!" The man added with a grunt. "Do you want the whole village to start gossiping?"
Blushing again, Harry pushed the robe up.
"Riddle… you know the One who dared to do this to my son?" James stormed at Moody.
"So do you." Moody agreed and, at James raised eyebrow, groaned. "The Wizard always with a dress-robe on? Each one richer than the last one?"
"The uptight sunglasses one?"
Moody nodded.
"They've been together for over a month now."
"And only not I'm told?" James demanded.
Harry massaged his eyebrows. He was so tired of this…
"Auror Potter!"
"Yes?" Harry and James replied towards the running person.
The 10-year-old boy took one look at James, before he ran towards Harry.
"You have to come. Mrs Figg is going crazy, Sir."
Harry smiled down at the boy.
"Of course." He glanced at Mr Lestrange, who nodded in a 'go' manner.
"Wouldn't it be best for me to deal with whatever is going on? I'm the Head Auror, after all." James snarled, not enjoying the lack of attention.
Harry snorted against his best control.
"Uhn unh." The boy argued, making a sound that literally meant no in child-version. "You can't be the Head Auror. The Head Auror's at London in the huge raid that is going on. Not to mention, Head Aurors don't go take care of Squibs. They send the subordinates."
"Point the way." Harry put in and the boy nodded, running away. Harry ran after him, while wondering if Moody would store the memory of his father's reaction for Harry to watch later.
"There she is."
Harry sighed at seeing the crazy Mrs Figg as she screamed at the children in the children's park. What would he do with his former Nanny now?
–BADW–
Harry arrived home with a hopping from one feet to another Teddy, to find Chang by his front door; obviously waiting for him. Damn, did he have his home address on the Daily Prophet?
"Miss Chang, right?"
"Cho, please."
"Cho." Harry agreed, as he picked the house keys to open the door. "I'm sorry that my father roped you into the engagement, but as you heard before I…"
Cho smiled.
"He didn't." She argued. "It was my idea."
Harry frowned at her as Teddy run inside. He sighed and offered her inside, before forcing his shoes off and rearranging both his and Teddy's. Cho frowned but took her shoes off.
"Tea?" He asked, descending the corridor and entering the kitchen.
"Oh, no. I'll brew it." Cho argued, hurrying into the kitchen herself.
Harry's eyes twitched as she took her wand out.
"No, you are not." Both turned to see Tom by the kitchen's entrance, had they forgotten the front door open? "Where is Edward?"
"He ran towards the loo. You knooow, the usual." Harry replied. "Hungry?"
"For your cooking? Always." Tom agreed, before turning around to go check on the child.
Cho frowned at Harry, confused. As an answer Harry pointed towards his own neck, then he quickly set the kettle with water on the oven, before he fetched the bread and set up several jam sandwiches.
"No, Cho, you aren't preparing anything." He added as she tried to step in, yet again. "The kitchen is my domain."
Before she had the opportunity to argue, Tom and Teddy were back.
"But you're in Auror robes and cooking with your own hands!"
Harry groaned and set his head in his hands at the outraged tone. Witches!
"I believe you are overstepping your boundaries." Tom snarled. "Harry, who is this Witch and why is she here?"
"This is Cho Chang." Harry replied.
"The arranged fiancée?" Tom hissed. "That is it. Out!"
"How dare you? I'm here to visit Harry and…"
"First, for you, it is Mr Potter. Second, if you have not already been told then you must know that Harry is dating me. Third, the kitchen is Harry's domain. So… out!" 'Before I lose my patience' was left unsaid yet Harry didn't dare to raise his head from his hands until he heard the front door close with strength. "Hush…"
Harry let Tom hug him from behind and force him to take his hands from his face.
"What's wrong with the Wizardry World? Why do Witches immediately assume a Wizard wants them to cook and bake for him when he arrives home from work?"
"Not all of them." Tom argued and kissed Harry's cheek. "The kettle is screeching." He added.
Harry nodded and quickly set up the tea for the three of them, before bringing the teapot and the plates of sandwiches jam to the kitchen table – it was so strange to have it free! Tom set the three mugs up – what did it say of the man that he prepared Harry's just the way Harry liked? – and they sat in their usual arrangements. Harry and Tom side-by-side and Teddy before Harry.
"The Wizardry World needs a reform." Tom put in, taking a bite from his sandwich. "What is it?" He added at Harry's look.
"It's just… I'm an Halfblood, my godson in a Halfbreed and you are a Dark Lord, who my own father is trying to arrest. I guess it just never really clicked in my mind."
"You do have to admit that the Wizardry World needs a change."
"I'm an Auror. Not my place to say so." Harry argued.
Tom snorted.
"Then join me."
Harry smiled and shook his head.
"I'm an Auror, Tom."
The two just looked at each other, mirth dancing in both eyes.
"Is this the part where you kiss." Teddy interrupted the stare.
Harry blushed, while Tom amended from 'is this' to 'this is'. He made a move to sip his tea, only for Tom to push Harry's face towards himself and kiss him on the lips.
"Tom…" Harry groaned.
"It is good child development to see the parent figures together." Tom retorted fact-like.
"You taste like jam sandwich."
"I better be." Tom agreed. "It is what I am eating, is it not?"
Harry rolled his eyes and let Tom pull him for another kiss. Truth be told, the man was a great kisser.
–BADW–
Friday, 15 July 2005
Harry frowned at seeing James by the door, quietly and leaning against the opposite wall.
"Father?"
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you knock?"
"Is he here?"
"Hmmm… no. He went out with Teddy already."
James hummed and stepped forward, leaving the wall and entering the house. He looked around, speechlessly. Harry let him, uncertain. He glanced at his wristwatch. He had work in half-hour…
"This Wizard… Riddle." Harry hummed. That had just been the nickname that Moody had started calling him… "Is he… Tom?"
"Yeah." Harry shrugged, while looking at the footprints his father's shoes were leaving all over the house. "Why?"
"Prongslet!" Harry tensed as James was over him in a second and holding unto his shoulders. "Riddle is no good. If what you like is males, then so be it… but not Him!"
"Why not?" Harry retorted.
Harry like guys? Harry frowned. He had never before felt himself interested by anyone that way like he does with Tom… not even with supposed girlfriends… what about boys? Even though he was trying, no boy was getting his attention…
"He's dangerous."
"I'm an Auror, Father."
"Prongslet!" Harry looked away in shame. James' hand on his arms quite warm. "Please, just listen to your father for once."
"You don't know Tom…"
"I can't lose you too!"
Harry froze. Mother's death…
"I… I have work."
"I can sustain you, Prongslet. You don't need to put yourself out in danger and…"
"Dad!"
Today was a good day. Harry could tell that. But for how long? A minute? An hour? A month?
"I know several good Wizards who swing that way. I could introduce you…"
Introduce him… to guys? Yet, it felt wrong.
"I'm sorry if it breaks your heart, Father, but I'm not homosexual. Actually, until Tom, I considered myself heterosexual."
"But… Riddle…"
"I'm Tomsexual!" Harry argued. "I'm in love with him!"
Harry gasped, just as James' eyes grew. He took a hand to his mouth as if to take it back, while - at the same time - James released him and walked back as if punched.
"Prongslet… you can't… he's…"
"The most caring person I ever met." Harry hissed, through the hand.
Why was he so defensive? Tom could watch over his own back. Besides… they aren't exactly in love… are they?
They went out to dinner… Tom reading bedtime stories to Teddy… giving him gifts… caring and protecting him…
'It's good child development to see the parents figure kissing…'
Parents…
Harry had called him his lover as well!
They were a couple… even Moody had known before Harry had!
"He's a Dark Wizard!" James snarled. "The reason your mother died!"
Harry looked at James with tears on his eyes.
"It wasn't the Dark Wizards that killed Mother, Father."
"If it wasn't for them, she…"
"I don't blame the Dark Wizards!"
James paled as his eyes grew, looking at Harry. Harry realized he was fast-breathing as if he'd run a cross-country, like he used to do when he was a Junior in Muggle Primary School.
"Prongslet…"
"I'll be late for work. Moody will scream my ears raw."
James nodded and turned, returning to the entrance. He stopped then, before he glanced back at Harry.
"Even if you blame me, just this once listen to me. Riddle is not who you think he is."
James closed the door after himself. Harry took a deep breath to withhold his tears, before entering the fireplace. He was so late!
–BADW–
Harry spent all morning sneering at his paperwork. When Moody just set another parchment he practically glared at it. Yet, when he opened the scroll, it surprised him.
Auror Station Isle of the Blessed
I, James Charlus Potter, hereby testify that Auror Harry James Potter was late this morning while helping in an ongoing operation alongside myself.
For being truth I date and sign
London, Ministry of Magic - Auror Office, 15 July 2005
James Charlus Potter
Head Auror and Lord of the Potter Family
Harry set his head in his hands, starting to cry.
Why now, Dad? It has been years since you did something nice…
What have you so scared of Tom?
That's not even his real name… just one Harry invented!
Yet…
Tom was a Dark Wizard!
Being a Dark Wizard didn't make him a bad person… right?
Mum, if you were here now…
You'd tell me to listen to my father.
Harry huffed with a groan. Why did he have to be the child of such uptight Light Wizards? Aurors should be Grey… like Healers… that way there would be no prejudice…
"Go home."
Harry glanced up at Moody ready to argue, only to see Tom behind the old Auror.
"You called him?"
"You're scaring the community with your mood." Moody argued - like the man could speak with his constant grunts… -, before turning towards Tom. "Just make sure he's better tomorrow, Riddle."
Tom nodded and approached Harry, forcing him up to his feet.
"Let's go."
Harry sighed and let Tom pull him away.
(TBC)
Prove that I have to do this kind of letters almost weekly for my Doctor Boss is that I couldn't help but do it for James as well, although the letters are usually bigger and have medical intel in them… Facedesk
And who noticed that when Harry realizes that James is actually acting like a father should've he changes the titles he calls the man? James/Father/Dad
Next chapter: Light and Dark Side
~Isys