Broken Strings

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its associated characters; all copyright belongs to JK Rowling; I do own any OC spells explained at the end of a chapter;

Dedication: I would like to dedicate this story to StormyFireDragon as it is his works that prove to me that such writings don't always have to be graphic; I don't have a specific story to recommend, so I'll just say this: go and read them all.

Harry/Draco

Eventual Luna/Neville

Other Pairings TBC…

Normal Speech

'Thought'

'Mind Link'

/Parseltongue/

Review Answers:

StormyFireDragon: Well Storm, I only hope you manage to keep up with what comes next, especially for our ex-heroes: I have plans for them;

TMNinjaGinga: I'm glad you're enjoying the story and I only hope that I continue to impress you;

T4: If you were expecting a redeemed Hermione, then I'm afraid that I must let you down: as for who else sides with Harry, all will be revealed in due time;

Lovebites123: Heir of Slytherin by birthright and conquest – he's defeated Tom three times and, by right, he becomes the new heir and, as for birthright: well, a Potter was descended from the Blacks and they're descendants of Slytherin so…

Draco, who had returned from calming everyone down, was surprised to find tears of happiness in Harry's eyes; sitting down next to his boyfriend, Draco put his arm around Harry and held him close, smiling proudly as he asked, "What is it?"

"You were right, Drake," Harry replied, wiping his eyes as he looked to Draco and, handing him the note, he added, "I'm not alone."

Chapter 5: The Price of Trust

Fred and George Weasley were probably the only two remaining members of Gryffindor that felt any real remorse or loyalty towards the former Golden Boy of Gryffindor, Harry Potter, especially after what Ron had done to exact a sense of revenge on the fifth-year wizard. However, what Ron should have realised was that nothing stayed secret in Gryffindor Tower, not when the proverbial Demons of Gryffindor knew every secret passage and every hidden alcove.

When they'd heard about his sick-minded beliefs and how he was going to destroy the legacy and memory of Harry Potter, it had been a simple matter of a Duplication Charm and a Switching Spell and their forged Cloak and Map had been destroyed along with Harry's other belongings. After that, Fred had written the message to Harry and George, recalling the name of the one Hogwarts House Elf that was ever-loyal to their honorary brother, had it sent to the Slytherins.

However, neither of them would ever forgive their sick-minded relative for his actions, nor would they soon forget the haunting look in the eyes of Neville Longbottom when he moved down from the boys' dormitory to retrieve said sick-minded relative. After that, nearly everyone in the entire tower had heard and felt the magical backlashes and screams from the so-called Boy-Who-Lived and, in one fell stroke, the twins had known.

Then, now and forever, their loyalty, their services and every single piece of their resources would belong solely to their benefactor, brother in all but blood and, if he wished it, future lord and leader, Harry James Potter.

So, on the evening after Halloween, when the twins felt a vibration against the charmed parchments in their pockets, they knew two things: he was back from wherever he'd run…and he wanted to talk to them.

Sharing a glance, the Twins nodded once and, rising from their seats, left the Common Room, unaware that, as they did so, a third member followed closely behind…

BrokenStrings

"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs."

"Who?" asked Draco as he watched Harry tap his wand once for each name spoken; there was an air of cold hostility in his voice as he said Wormtail's name, but Draco could understand that. The rat wasn't someone that crossed the Dark Lord and got away with it, so it made sense for this renewed Harry to also feel like he wasn't going to just forgive and forget.

"The Marauders," Harry answered him, leaning casually against the edge of the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy, "My Father, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew; infamous pranking legends of Hogwarts and people that made a certain Head of House's life a real misery for seven years and beyond."

"Wow," Draco gasped, noticing an air of calmness enter Harry's posture as he seemed proud to speak of his heritage, "I always thought that Uncle Severus just hated your Dad because of…well, because of…"

"His friendship with my Mum," Harry finished, smiling at his boyfriend as he shook his head, "That was one reason, Draco and you don't have to sugar coat it; Severus told me everything before he came to get you. He told me about the debt that my Father put on him for saving his life against Remus and how my Mother was a life-long friend…well, until the day that Dad embarrassed him and he accidentally called Mum a Mudblood."

"So…what does he think about you now?" asked Draco, looking both ways in case the source of their waiting dared to creep up on them.

"He said that he's going to treat me like a snake as long as I remain one," Harry told him, putting a hand over the Slytherin Serpent that decorated his robe – thanks to a quick Transfiguration courtesy of Draco and the other snakes – as he continued, "And he's going to stop with the remarks and leave them for, in his words, my mongrel godfather. Apparently, Sirius is the only one who still refuses to let sleeping dogs lie; no pun intended."

"Huh?" asked Draco, watching as Harry peered down the corridor himself; this relaxed state courtesy of his boyfriend actually pleased Draco: it showed the innocence that still existed within Harry's slightly-still-fractured soul.

"Their names came from the fact that each one of them, save for Remus, became an Animagus while at Hogwarts," Harry explained, still smiling with an air of pride as he explained, "Sirius is a large black dog similar to the Grim; Dad was a stag, which is also, ironically, the shape of my Patronus and Wormtail was, and still is, a snivelling cowardly little rat. Remus got his name because of his little furry problem: it's the reason my Dad became an Animagus in the first place."

"That's some achievement," Draco remarked, looking to Harry's eyes as he asked, "Have you ever considered it, Harry? Trying to become an Animagus?"

"Maybe one day," Harry answered, before he held up a hand for silence as he added, "And are you two going to stand around that corner all day? It's all right: you can trust Draco; I do."

Following Harry's tone of voice, Draco looked towards the end of the corridor and was stunned to notice that the elder Weasleys, Fred and George, had been standing there for some time: how had his boyfriend seen them?

Approaching the two Slytherins, the two Gryffindors shared a sigh of exasperation before Fred remarked, "Sorry for the hesitation, Harry: we heard Malfoy's voice and…well…"

"We didn't know if you were in trouble or…" George continued, before they were both cut off by a raised hand from Harry.

"I appreciate the concern, guys," he told them, his voice filled with a mix of amusement and warmth that Draco knew all too well, "But there's no need to worry; Draco is the one who's kept me so strong in the past fortnight. He's the one that invited me into the Slytherin House and I don't care how many Gryffindors don't like it, I choose to stay there. Now, why did you want to meet here specifically and…" he trailed off as he glanced past the Twins before adding, "Are you two aware that you're being followed?"

"No." The Twins chorused, both of them wheeling round and drawing their wands, Harry already opening his robe and, as he did so, the Twins and Draco heard him hissing in Parseltongue, only Draco knowing that Rose was whom he was speaking to.

/Can you smell them?/ Harry asked, watching as Rose unwound herself from around his waist and settled around his shoulders so that she seemed to resemble a scarf.

Flicking her tongue out, she answered him, /I smell the scent of the woodlands, Harry and there's another there; a strange, eerie scent that is mystifying and attractive. I can also smell fear and guilt from them: I don't think they intended to spy on you./

'Woodlands,' Harry thought, a smile creeping across his face as he held his hand over the Twins' wands, his voice carrying as he knew then who was spying on him. "Come on out, Neville: if you wanted to meet as well, you only had to ask; and bring your friend with you."

Sure enough, Neville Longbottom stepped around the corner, his eyes lowered as he showed that he was indeed sorry for spying; however, seconds later, Harry was surprised when Luna Lovegood, the mysterious fourth year that he'd met at the start of the year, joined Neville. Unlike the Gryffindor, she didn't show any real remorse for what she'd done; instead, she skipped down the corridor in her merry style and, stopping before Harry, she told him, "Welcome back, Harry Potter: sorry for eavesdropping; I thought you might have Wrackspurts on the brain because of this meeting; they tend to confuse people."

Harry couldn't help it: he suddenly started laughing and, moving past Fred and George, he hugged Luna before he told her, "If any Wrackspurts got into my head, Luna, I'd be sure to send them packing."

"Yes," Luna agreed, "Snakes are always at their most dangerous when their young ones are threatened, aren't they Harry?"

Draco went white at the exclamation, but Harry still laughed: the air of mystery that Rose had smelled; he now understood it: Luna was different, but not in the bad sense. If anything, her very presence made Harry feel good again; releasing her from the hug, Harry moved down and, stopping before Neville, he asked, "Why did you follow the Twins, Neville? We're friends; I'd have welcomed you if you'd only asked."

"Sorry Harry," Neville replied, his voice showing his sincerity as he explained, "I…I was worried for you after…after what he did to your things; when I heard you were back, I wanted to…to make sure you were okay. I mean, you're helping me show the real Gryffindor that I am and not the Squib they want me to be; I didn't mean to betray you like this."

"You didn't," Harry told him, clasping his shoulder as he led Neville back to the others, "You and Luna are welcome in this little circle: I may not know her much, but I can see that Luna's someone I can trust and call a friend. In fact, she makes me feel better just by smiling and acting like she does and, in case you're wondering, there's only one other person that makes me feel like that…and he's standing there doing a pretty good impression of a startled fish. Close your mouth, Draco."

Draco obliged, before he laughed as he answered Harry, "I told you that you weren't alone, Harry: I never suspected that it would become this big. If you don't mind me asking, though: why are you here for him, Miss Lovegood?"

"Harry has a strong heart," Luna told him, before she took Harry's hand and, before Draco could say anything, she linked his hand with that of the raven-haired snake in lion's clothing before she continued, "And he doesn't have to hide it from us: you make him feel whole, Draco Malfoy and that's good. He didn't insult me before he knew me and he has a liking for friends and closeness; in time, the Chimera can form its own Pride from those who share in his light."

"The…Chimera?" asked Fred, earning a laugh from Harry while Neville shook his head.

"A half-snake, half-lion creature," Neville explained, indicating Harry as he added, "Which is what Harry has become: half-Slytherin, half-Gryffindor, but still all Harry. And she's right too: Harry has never said anything bad about Luna or me…well, except for the one time, but we were young and I was stupid. Harry's a leader and he treats us as equals, no matter who we are or the backgrounds that we have, isn't that right, Harry?"

"I actually couldn't have said it better myself, Neville," Harry told him, swallowing hard as he clasped Draco's hand, keeping his gaze on his friends as he asked, "Back to the point, however: what are we doing here and why did you two want to meet here?"

"There's a room," Fred explained, indicating the wall behind them, "That only appears to those who have need of it."

"It literally becomes whatever its occupants need," George continued, "And we were lucky enough to find it a short time ago; when we…recovered your prized possessions, we stored them in here."

"All you need to do," Fred informed Harry, indicating the apparently-bare stone wall, "Is walk backwards and forwards in front of the wall three times, thinking about what you need and, hey presto, we have it."

"The Room of Requirement," they chorused, as though finishing some sort of big promotion; they even splayed their fingers in a jazz-hands expression.

"It's perfect," Harry whispered, already moving to pace back and forth, his mind echoing the thought of wanting to find where his friends had stored his belongings. Sure enough, after three times the pacing, a door actually appeared from within the wall, Draco moving to push the door open and, stepping inside, the six students found themselves standing in a relaxing-looking Common Room environment. However, as he looked around, Harry then laughed as he saw the same throne-like chair from his and Draco's hangout in the dungeons: this room really did echo the thoughts of its occupants. Glancing to the Twins, Harry smiled and nodded, "Thanks guys: where…"

"On the throne," Draco answered, Harry looking to his chair and, sure enough, on the seat of the black chair was his Father's Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map, the Firebolt from Sirius leaning against the side of the throne.

Harry couldn't help it; he let go of Draco's hand and ran to the chair, gathering his belongings up in his arms and holding them close, Rose hissing in contentment as she felt the same liquid-like fabric of the rare cloak, Draco smiling as he approached his boyfriend and, glancing to the Cloak, told him, "So that's how you did it, is it? I have to admit that I was curious about how your head was in Hogsmeade."

Both boys laughed at the memory before Draco placed a gentle kiss on Harry's cheek and, easing him into his rightful place on the throne, he began to gently tease Harry's black hair before he looked to Fred and George and added, "Thank you: you have no idea what this means to him."

"We do," the Twins chorused, both of them moving to Harry before, as one, they dropped to one knee, bowing before him like Knights before a King, Fred speaking first. "Harry, you've been abandoned by our House and those that you thought you could call your family; however, in the time we've known you, you've come to be like a brother to us."

"You helped start our little enterprise when everyone else wanted us to quit," George added, Harry then aware of both Weasleys drawing their wands, though they made no move to attack him.

"For that," Fred explained, presenting his wand as though it was a sword, the eleven-inch magical instrument flat on his palms, "And for all we wish to do to repay you, we give you our wands…"

"And our fealty as wizards," George added, both of them speaking in unison as they made it official.

"We shall follow you, through hell and back: we shall do whatever you ask and your enemies shall be ours; we are your eyes, ears, sword, shield and support as and when you wish it of us; this, above all others, we swear to you…our Brother, Lord, Prince and Master."

Taking both wands, Harry felt an air of shock, but stopped himself as he opened the bond and, addressing Tom, he asked, 'You hear that?'

'Every word,' the Dark Lord answered, his voice calm as he considered what was being offered, 'Clearly you are building your own circle here, Harry and I approve of it; like Draco, they will be yours, so the decision is yours. If you are asking my opinion, then you have it: if you are asking how I feel about sons of a Light Family on our side, then I say this: your warriors, your rules.'

'Thanks Tom,' Harry told him, before he closed the bond again and, pressing the tips of both wands to the heads of both Weasleys, he exclaimed, "Fred and George Weasley: I accept your oaths as you accept the rights, responsibilities and requirements that come with such positions among my circle: rise as my vassals and my warriors and take your wands…my brothers."

As Fred and George did so, Harry looked over towards Neville and Luna, the lesser of the two actually looking shocked at something that was clearly beyond Harry's understanding; to clear the air, he asked, "What's wrong, Neville?"

"Sorry, Harry," Neville told him, before he gulped and, approaching the quartet, took a seat on one of the other chairs, Harry still sat on his throne with Draco at his side. "It's just that the oath that the Twins just swore to you isn't used commonly: it's a powerful fealty vow that binds them to you in services and in the event of battle. If you command them, they cannot disobey you and if they fail you, then their fates become yours to decide as you wish: you could even strip them of their magic for their failure."

"What?" gasped Harry, looking to the Twins as he asked, "Did…did you know of this?"

Both nodded and Harry sagged into his throne, Draco kneeling by his side where he held his boyfriend's hand, his free hand stroking Harry's cheek as he told him, "Don't worry about it love; they clearly knew what they were doing and wouldn't have sent that letter if they didn't believe in you. Besides, what…Neville doesn't say is that the vow also allows them to share any secrets they may have learned that others wouldn't want you to know about and, similarly, they cannot betray or reveal your secrets without your express permission. I know you don't like being addressed as the title, my Harry, but you've now become their one true Master and they are yours to command."

"Draco's right," Luna piped up, looking to Harry as she explained, "And while I don't really owe you anything myself, Harry: if you wanted me to swear that oath, then all you'd have to do is ask. Wild phoenixes couldn't pull the truth from my mind no matter how big a sweet tooth I may have."

Something about that little quip from the Ravenclaw had alarm bells ringing in Harry's head and, on the other end of the bond, Tom also sensed a grain of warning among her words. Calming himself, Harry told her, "Luna, you're my friend, I understand that and, in some strange and unique way, you have this knack for protecting secrets and knowing where your loyalties lie: I couldn't ask for a better friend and I don't need an oath…from you or from Neville."

"But there is a price for my loyalty, isn't there, Harry?" asked Neville, his voice suggesting a mix of suspicion and strength that was lost to everyone else, but to Harry and his ilk, it was as clear as day.

"One day there will be a price, Neville," Harry told him, before he beckoned to the Gryffindor with one hand, Neville obliging as he stood by the throne, Harry taking the boy by his shoulder as he added, "But it's not today: I've seen that you'll help me and that you'll stand with me, so, for now, tell me: once and for all, where do you stand? Dumbledore and his lies and manipulations or the Ministry and their defective beliefs in the truth and harmony?"

Neville's answer was quick, "Neither Harry: I stand with you; like Luna, if an oath is needed, then I'll swear it in a heartbeat. House Potter and House Longbottom have long been allies and, even if you turned to the Dark and became everything they don't want you to be, I would still honour that kinship. I won't forget what you said to me in the Great Hall and, when the time comes for me to pay the price that you need for my loyalty and your trust in me, then I will pay it. Call when you need of me: ask what you will of me; my wand, my will and my soul are yours."

"Good answer," Luna laughed, Harry leaning against the headboard of his throne as he looked out over his small circle of already-blossoming followers and warriors.

But, with the exception of Draco, they were also more: they were friends…while Draco was his boyfriend, his supporter and his lover.

A new era had begun at Hogwarts…

BrokenStrings

The next morning, a strange hush had settled over the Great Hall and, as Harry walked into the hall, flanked by his circle, he glanced once to the Gryffindors before he whispered, "Fred, George; go and keep an eye on the lions; Neville, stay with Luna and I'll join the Slytherins."

Silent responses of obedience were shared among the small company and, as Harry sat in his now-usual spot between Draco and Tracey Davis, his eyes wandered to the High Table where Dumbledore was watching with rapt attention. The warning that Luna had given him still rang in his ears: wild phoenixes couldn't pull the truth from my mind no matter how big a sweet tooth I may have.

'Dumbledore owns a phoenix,' Harry thought, picking at a bowl of porridge that he'd selected for his breakfast, 'And it's common knowledge that he offers Lemon Drops to anyone that walks into his office. I wonder…'

"So," asked Draco, watching Harry eat and making sure that he was keeping his promise, "What do you reckon has got everyone so on edge?"

"Don't know Drake," Harry replied, taking a drink of fresh orange as he then looked down and, as he did so, he saw a copy of the Daily Prophet that had clearly been put there by one of the other Slytherins. As soon as he saw the headline, Harry's face brightened up so much that he could have lit up all of New York City.

SIRIUS BLACK CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES

'Tom,' Harry thought, his hands trembling as he read through the information written in the paper, 'Thank you: you kept your promise.'

And he had done indeed: when Harry had been recovering and had sworn his loyalty to Tom in exchange for a continued guarantee that if he asked for something, then Tom would give it, the Dark Lord had said that he would give Harry something really special. Something that he'd wanted for a long time coming and that would mark Tom as keeping his own promise to keep his precious one happy.

Harry had no idea what that something was until just this moment: he should have suspected that it was something to do with the Ministry given that Lucius was involved, but he was just too happy to care. Now though, it seemed that Harry had two new targets to draw into his rapidly growing force of magical warriors: Moony and Padfoot.

'Tom has the allegiance of the werewolves through the one called Greyback,' Harry thought, taking a long draught from his glass, 'And, if I remember what he told me, Greyback is the one that turned Remus in the first place. That could be trouble: on the other hand, there's also the matter that Sirius, as a Black Family Exile, would never side with the Malfoys or even with Tom's closest feminine warrior, Bellatrix Lestrange. Should I tell him that Draco and I are now boyfriends? Would he turn me away because I'm in love with a Malfoy?'

Draco, looking out of the corner of his eye to his lover, saw Harry's hands clench tight, his eyes filled with a sense of hurt and fear as he read through the article. Slipping his hand into Harry's, Draco shushed him with a whisper before he told him, "Our place; after breakfast: just the two of us, okay?"

Harry nodded, but he couldn't stop the shivers that consumed his body:

Would Sirius abandon him because he was in love and on the same side as another member of the Blacks?

And would Remus abandon him because he now stood above the rule of the one that had cursed his life?

Chapter 5 and Harry has been given a light back, but with every light, there must be a darkness: will Sirius stay true to his pup or will it be Harry Vs Sirius before this story is done?

Also, how will Draco react when he learns the whole story about Harry's trust in his godfather and his family?

Keep Reading to Find Out…

Next Chapter: Harry and Draco discuss Sirius and Remus; plus, in a twist of fate, there's an offer to Harry from Umbridge as it seems that our ex-heroes are causing trouble and, with the Holidays approaching, Harry must choose: go back to his family or spend the holidays with the young man he loves?

Please Read and Review…