Pairings: HP/DM SS/RL NL/BZ RW/HG PP?
Rating: R, drama, angst and sap. Post Hogwarts
Warnings: R, bad languageAll flames will be made fun of! THIS IS SLASH! How many times will I have to say that for you homophobic guys understand that you shouldn't be reading these kind of fics I don't know… But you have been warned so I again tell you… All flames will be made fun of!
AN: This is not the first Harry Potter fic I've written, but the first I've ever published.
Disclaimer: I asked Dumbledore to magically give me the rights over Harry potter and crew, so now he has been arrested for plagiarism and fraud! Now I own nothing but the story T.T
Getting you back.
By Black Komagoro
The days had passed and once again a letter had arrived for Draco with Hedwig.
Hello once again Draco,
Here I am again, with another letter and with more tales about school. This time is about third year, I know you remember third year very well. You made it your personal mission to humiliate me because of the Dementors incident, I always wondered what would be your worst memory Draco.
Then there was the problem about this supposed murderer that was after me, I guess you know he was never a murderer. Sirius Black wasn't after me, he was after Wormtail, whom I'm sure you have heard about; the traitor had been once my father's friend, he sold them to Voldemort.
The other thing I remember very well was your amazing display of acting skills, after Buckbeak attacked you. Please at least accept it was your fault, you heard Hagrid then, and you just went and did totally the opposite. Now that I think of it, your acting skills helped us all, and for that I thank you.
You know, every time I start writing this letters I start analyzing you, your motives and your attitude towards the others. Every time I think of that I realize I made a huge mistake with you, maybe the same way others did with me.
That's all for now Draco,
Yours truly,
Harry J. Potter.
This letter had been shorter, Harry had to stop before he said something that could endanger Draco's recovery. The blonde put down the letter, his eyes clear and alive again, he turned to look at the four he knew were at the door, not knowing really why.
"Pansy… I'm sorry"
There was an expression of pain in his face, which clued them that he was fighting the curse, and starting to win. She didn't approach but smiled sadly, knowing what he was talking about.
"It's not your fault Draco… You didn't do anything wrong"
Blaise put a hand over her shoulder and gave a small squeeze comforting her, she smiled but didn't turn to look at him. Draco then turned to look at Neville and frowned a little, his presence dictated the current time and thus creating the crash of two different realities.
"Longbottom…"
His voice was merely a whisper now, but the smile in his lips was sincere.
"I'm… Happy… For you… Blaise"
And once again Draco passed out; the other four hurried and helped him onto the couch, now transfigured into a bed.
"He held longer, he's making progress!"
Pansy couldn't help her smile and once Draco had been put over the bed she launched herself at Blaise hugging him tightly, and then turned to Neville to do the same. When she saw Charlie she hesitated, they didn't know each other really well and it felt awkward. However after a few seconds she shrugged and also hugged the other man. Charlie didn't react at first but soon embraced her back, smiling at her reactions.
"Yeah Pans, he's going to make it… See? I told you we would have him back"
She let go of the mildly confused red head and turned to Neville.
"Yes, you said it… Thanks Neville, thank you for never stopping searching…"
He blushed and looked down embarrassed, still not used to be acknowledged like that, Blaise just embraced him and kissed his hair. One of the things he loved the most about his boyfriend was how humble he was, even when he shouldn't be.
"Erm… You're welcome… Pansy"
Charlie wouldn't say a thing, he would just observe for the time being, learning and getting used to this new environment he was living in.
-.-.-
In the Ministry of Magic, two men were reunited in the big office that belonged to the current Minister, they were Kingsley Shacklebolt and Oliver Wood, both of them had a letter in their hands and were sitting in front of the other.
"He's got balls, you can't deny that"
"Indeed… I can't deny this either"
The Minister said raising the letter for the other man to see.
"Neither can I… How can you deny something to the man responsible for our freedom?"
"You just can't, though, I will not accept if he doesn't even pretend showing his selfish face here at least once"
They looked at each other and then started laughing hard.
"Come on, who do you think you're trying to fool Kingsley? Under that big and scary body of yours you have the heart of an old granny… I won't even pretend to say no"
"Touché, the problem here will be the manager of the Cannons, I don't really know if he'll accept a coach he doesn't even know…"
Oliver started laughing hard again.
"Don't even worry about that, you see, Dorkins owes me a few favours and if you put the fact that his arse is still around thanks to Harry, well I don't think he'll be able to say no"
"Do you really think Weasley will do something for them?"
Oliver frowned deep in thought, he stood like that for a few moments and finally lifted his head, smiling happily.
"He will, he may not be the best keeper I've seen but he can come up with really good ideas… He will know what to do, and since the Cannons players have never had any kind of good teaching, I think their minds are ready to absorb whatever Ron has prepared for them"
"I see… Then there's only two things left to do… You call Dorkins, I'll contact Harry"
Oliver nodded and stood up, he folded the letter and left the office, Kingsley was sitting in his chair, once again reading the letter he had received.
Dear Mr. Shacklebolt,
I'm sure you are not pleased to be getting news from me after so long, but I had my reasons and I hope you understand that. I'm pleased to know that finally we have a non-corrupt Minister, one who actually deserves the title.
As you probably already guessed I'm not writing to say hi or apologise, I actually have a favour to ask you, I trust no one else inside the Ministry at least not as much as you. You fought side by side with my father and my mother, you were there during the last battle, once again side by side with those who I considered my family and you protected them.
I must thank you for that, for keeping them safe.
Now, I want to ask you another favour, not as difficult as the last one tough, I only want your support. I plan to do a press conference, since I decided to come back and I know a lot of people already saw me and are surely telling stories. So I want to tell the wizarding world the truth about what happened that day and to give the credit to those who actually deserves it. Among those is my close friend Ron Weasley, and I want to give him the just reward he deserves. He was hurt so badly during the battle that he was incapacitated to play quidditch ever again I think, the slash he received had dark magic and it will never be cured completely.
So I want your help with two things, first help me organize the press conference and second, please help me get Ron the post of coach for the Chudley Cannons. He can't play, but he's the best strategist I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He loves the play and has always been faithful to the Cannons, even though they have been the last team in the list since years ago.
I can't think of someone more fitted to be a coach than Ron and I know once you see the first victory of the Cannons you'll think so too. I already contacted Oliver Wood and Ragmar Dorkins, but I know I may have some problems, so I ask for your help.
Thank you before hand, my best regards,
Harry J. Potter.
Kingsley smiled and put the letter over his desk, already thinking of the many ways he could convince Dorkins and also about the press conference Harry wanted to do, of the two things, the second was actually the most difficult.
-.-.-
Oliver was back at his office and sat down on his chair behind the desk, he took the letter and read it again.
Hello Oliver,
First I want to apologise for not contacting any of you, I can't tell you my reasons since they involve other people and I have no right to divulge their lives. I should have come out sooner though, and I should have let all of you know I wasn't dead as Skitter made all of you think.
I want to congratulate you for your new post, who else more fitted for it than you? You introduced me to the sport and I must confess I always admired you, I learnt everything I needed from you. Now, I know I don't have the right to ask you anything, but I'm doing this not for me, but for someone who also loves quidditch as much as you and I do.
As you know Ron was severely injured during the battle, as a result his back will probably never be the same. I talked to his mother and she confirmed my suspicions that the sword used to hurt him had a dark curse on it, as you know those kind of things can't be cured completely. He'll never be able to play as he always wished to do, but there's something he can do and that I know he'll love.
Now, I know you used to play for Puddlemere United, but you know that Ron loved the Chudley Cannons, they need urgently a new coach and I think he would be the best choice for that. You know Ron, and I hope you can see, as I do, just how good of a strategist he is and how much that would help the team.
So please help me get this for him, he deserves to be happy and get to do something he likes. The wizarding world must know who the real heroes were, they will once I get the chance to talk to them.
Once again, please help me get this for him, I'll always be indebted to you.
My best regards,
Harry J. Potter.
As Kingsley had done he smiled, he couldn't deny Harry anything and much less to Ron, he would talk to Dorkins, the man owed him a few favours.
"Ron will have what he wants Harry... Don't worry"
-.-.-
"Add the powdered bezoar, that will counter the venom of the basilisk blood"
Hermione did as told and stirred three times to the left as Snape had instructed, the potion was almost finished.
"Let it rest one hour and then add the last three drops of veritaserum"
She put the time spell and let herself fall on the chair, exhausted, Remus wasn't doing much better, he was on the other chair and looked like he could do with a good shower and then a lot of sleep.
"How are you doing Hermione?"
"I'm tired, but there's nothing I can do… I'm glad though, we'll finish this soon"
Remus nodded, Severus had left as soon as he said the last instructions and was at his desk, not really doing anything. In two days he would receive news about Draco from Blaise or Pansy and would know how things were going on there, if the letters had done their job then Draco would be almost ready to take the potion.
You better be doing things well Potter… Or I'll skin you alive
He sighed and closed his eyes, he still had to prepare Remus' next batch of wolfbane and try keeping Dumbledore out of his office. The man had appeared again trying to know why he had seen Hermione in the school and going to the dungeons. When he had seen her he went after her and stopped her, she wouldn't say anything, just that she had asked Snape help with a potion and nothing else, Snape had taken care of the rest, once again sending Dumbledore away with nothing.
"Severus?"
He opened his eyes but there was no difference, he didn't mind anymore since he had become used not to see anything and just rely on sounds and smell.
"Is there a problem with the potion?"
"No, everything's alright… I wanted to know if you were alright too"
Snape frowned but decided just to tell Remus the truth, the man always knew when he was lying.
"I am tired Remus… This whole ordeal is finally getting to me I guess"
Remus sat next to him and took one of his hands.
"You should go to rest, you never rest enough Severus…"
The potion master shook his head.
"After the potion is ready Remus… This is the final stage and the most difficult, measures and times must be perfect of the whole thing will not work"
"After the potion then… And don't worry about me, I still have some wolfbane potion there's no need for you to do more for a while. Please go to rest after this, you really need it"
Snape snorted if Remus thought he could fool him he was very wrong.
"What about you? Will you rest too? Or as you always do you will go to check on Potter and then keep working once you come back?"
Remus winced he had been caught.
"I'll stay and get some rest too…"
"Good…"
-.-.-
The sky was clear and the weather just perfect and of course that urged the quidditch fanatics in the burrow to go out and play a friendly game. The twins would have played rougher but they knew Ron wouldn't be able to stand it, they had transfigured a pile of stones and wood into goals and a quaffle out of a rock. Harry was playing with Fred and Ron with George, the twins had decided to use different colours of clothes and now Ron and Harry were watching carefully as a very bright yellow and an even brighter pink fought to get a hold of the quaffle.
"Mine!"
Finally Fred managed to get a firm hold of the ball and flew top speed towards Ron's goal, he prepared and when he though there was an opening he threw it, it almost went through but Ron had managed to stop it, sending it to George. His brother, in bright pink, took the ball and flew as fast as he could towards Harry's end, he dodged his twin, calculated and threw the quaffle, getting a point for him and Ron.
"Yeah!"
Ron yelled from the other end, Fred got to Harry and patted him on his back.
"Harry, as a keeper, you're one amazing seeker"
"Yeah well, some are better than others… At least Ron has always been a good keeper"
"True, I can't deny that… And Harry"
He turned to look at Fred and saw the twin smiling at him sincerely.
"Yes?"
"Thank you… For helping him I mean, Ron thought he would have to work for that man forever"
Harry looked at Ron who was celebrating with George, doing rounds in their brooms circling the goal post.
"Well, he's not and now you can harass him to get you tickets for the games and stuff… Just don't harass him too much"
"Us? We're Saints Harry mate"
Harry looked at him and started laughing hard, trust the twins to make you laugh.
-.-.-
As the minister had arranged Harry could floo to his office, he noticed Shaklebolt had been waiting for him since there were two cups of hot tea and a plate of muggle muffins, he was sure Arthur Weasley had something to do with those.
"Good morning Mr. Shaklebolt"
"Please Harry, after everything that has happened we can actually call each other by our given names, don't you think?"
That relaxed him a bit, if they could be that close then things would be easier.
"Thank you Kinsgley…"
He sat on the offered chair and thanked the man for the tea, he had not eaten anything before he left the burrow and was quite hungry.
"I will not ask you why you left or what made you come back, but you must understand that the moment you are in front of the media they will ask, and won't leave you alone till you answer"
"I know, and they will have to accept whatever I say… It's not only my life the one at stake here, a lot of others would be in the spot light if I were to say something... I won't give those vultures the pleasure"
Kingsley nodded and took one of the muffins, Harry followed his example and ate too, calming his upset stomach.
"And what are you thinking on telling them? Remember that Mrs. Skitter will be there too"
"I couldn't care less for someone who will be trusted never again… She wrote the article of my death, I read it, she told people that she had seen someone carrying my body, when I had never been out during the battle… All I want is to give those who fought the glory they deserve, those who died in the battle field and to, for once, use my fame for something good"
The minister smiled and raised his cup.
"For the unknown heroes"
Harry raised his cup too and actually touched Kingsley's.
"For them and many more"
"You could have waited for me!"
They turned to see a scowling Oliver Wood, he entered and closed the door behind him, once he did that Kingsley put the protection charms he couldn't before Oliver's arrival.
"I'm sorry then Oliver…"
Harry let his cup on the table and rose to greet his old friend with a hug.
"You don't know how good is to see you with my own eyes Harry…"
"I'll hang a note on my neck, saying 'I'm sorry for being a jerk' it seems a good idea"
They laughed and once again took seat in front of the desk, Kingsley offered a cup of tea to Oliver and they started their plans. Basically Oliver told Harry that Dorkins was ready, he had talked with him and the man would give Ron a chance to prove he was as good as they said.
"Like he could know the difference between good and bad, just by looking at their records tells you that much"
Oliver nodded smiling and gave him the letter for Ron, they talked a bit about other things and finally about the press conference. Arrangements with the Aurors and how and were it would be held, they decided that Hogwarts would be the perfect place, just were the battle had taken place. After that they just talked about how things were going on, about those who were in Azkaban, Draco's father was still alive but was not well. The man had slowly started to become insane, when Voldemort died the dark mark disappeared with him but for some the pain involved was too much, for those with a weak will it would become a curse, the pain would eventually go away, but you needed to be strong willed or would succumb to it.
Lucius sometimes called his wife, others his son, on occasions he screamed murder against Draco and others he screamed the same against Voldemort, but he was not conscious of his reality. The biggest problem with that curse was that it couldn't be cured at all, not like in Draco's case, Lucius Malfoy would die not knowing who he was and known by all as another insane death eater. Draco's mother had died, he had never stopped to think about that and felt like a bastard for it, Narcissa was never a Death Eater, she never bore the mark. She went to the battlefield because of her son, because she had been the only one who had always known about Draco's true feelings, and she risked her life to protect him. She surely didn't know then, but as Lily had given Harry an amazing protection Narcissa had done it for Draco that night, because she had thrown her own body to receive the killing curse directed to Draco by Voldemort himself.
Harry was speechless, he had seen Tom fire an Avada somewhere to his right but never turned to see who had been, too focused on getting towards him and finish him right away. He managed to look all calm and collected but inside he wanted to go back and talk with Pansy and Blaise and Draco, to be there for him when he knew about his mother's sacrifice, and also knew what that meant.
"Well, it has been a pleasure gentlemen but I must go now, I still have some business to attend"
"It's good to have you back Harry I hope this time you stay for real"
He smiled but didn't answer, for he knew he probably wouldn't stay at all.
"I'll be contacting you about the conference, don't worry about it I'll take care of everything"
"Thank you… Please take care and I'll be seeing you two soon"
He got into the fireplace and was soon gone, Oliver and Kingsley looking at the flames silently.
-.-.-
He appeared in the fireplace in the burrow and soon went outside were he knew Ron would be practicing his coaching abilities with his brothers. He stood at the door and just looked for a while, and smiled, for Ron was doing an excellent job.
"Ok, now you'll play as seekers! I'll be coaching Fred, lets see if this idea works out"
They nodded and Fred approached Ron, he told something, explaining with his hands and then let him go. He released the snitch Harry had got for them and the both of them started chasing after it, Harry followed the movements of the twins and noticed Fred's moves were more accurate than George's.
Well done Ron, you will make all those Cannons followers very proud.
As Harry had expected Fred got the snitch leaving a very surprised George looking at him.
"Well done Ron!"
They all turned to look at Harry and the twins landed, joining Ron in his walk, they knew he had gone to the ministry and were anxious to know what had happened, he would tell them and knew they would tell the rest.
"So?"
"Everything went perfect, Kingsley will take care of the press conference and…"
He searched in his robes and gave Ron the letter.
"This is from Ragmar Dorkins, there he tells you the date and time you'll have to be in the practice pitch ok?"
Ron's hands were trembling, not really believing the reality of what was happening, the letter made it everything so definitive that it scared him. Still shaking he opened the letter and read it, having to re-read some sentences to really understand them.
"I think I'm going to be sick"
Fred laughed and took the letter from his unresponsive hands, his brother joined him and looked at the piece of parchment.
"This is in two weeks!"
"Yeah…"
Harry rose an eyebrow, not really sure but fearing his suspicions about Ron's attitude.
"Ron, you are not starting to doubt yourself are you?"
George and Fred looked at their brother and both sighed at the same time.
"He is mate…"
"I know that face"
Harry frowned and pinched Ron's arm, and as he saw Ron's face change from dull to pain he smiled satisfied.
"OUCH! Harry!"
"You're awake, good…"
He looked at his friend with a challenging face.
"You doubt yourself? Then coach Fred so he can reach the snitch before me"
His look said it all, if he could make one of the twins win against Harry then he could coach anyone. Ron still doubted it but did it anyway, the time he spent talking with Fred had been much longer that the time he had spent before, for they both knew Harry was the best seeker in the history of Hogwarts since a long time. This time the chase was longer and a lot more tiring but at then Fred had won.
"I DID IT!"
Fred was dancing in his broom, holding the snitch firmly in his hand, Harry was sweating and didn't look happy for he though Fred would give him a fight but that it would be him the one to get the elusive golden ball. He knew then, that if he could coach Fred to beat him the way he did then the Chudley Cannons would start surprising the whole wizarding world.
-.-.-
Severus wasn't startled when he heard the eagle owl that belonged to Draco, Pansy used him often so he already knew the sounds of that specific owl. He heard it land on the perch he had on his desk and raised his and to take the letter from it, the owl took one of treats on the plate next to the perch and then left quickly. Severus opened the letter and used a translation charm to change it to Braille, what he read managed to put a smile on his face.
"I expect those are god news then?"
Now, how the wolf managed to enter without being heard was something he still couldn't decipher.
"Don't do that you startle me…"
But he nodded at the other's question.
"Parkinson just sent the letter I was expecting, Draco's reacting just as I wanted, the potion will be ready sooner that I thought… Tell Granger to add the dragon scales when the hour has passed and then to lower the fire"
Remus wanted to ask about Harry, that if would be able to visit Draco now, but his instructions were first, the potion had to be done perfectly or wouldn't work, and they had already been working three weeks. Remus went back and told Hermione what she had to do, she nodded happily as she knew what this meant, Draco would be back again and Harry would be able to rest for the first time in more than two years.
"I know what the two of you are thinking, but no, I won't let Potter go visit him yet since I have to check on Draco first. Lupin, you're coming with me as I know he'll be getting the next letter today, I want to witness how much he reacts"
Remus nodded and left the room, Snape smelled the potion and put a flask of powdered unicorn horn on the ingredients table.
"After you add the scales stir three times to the left and wait three hours, just as the time ends add three grams of the powdered unicorn horn I just put there… Once you add it, stir twenty times to the right, ten to the left and seal the cauldron with oak, let it rest with the fire at the minimum and put the charm for three days sharp"
She nodded and Snape left her alone, Hermione was anxious but concentrated perfectly on her task. Remus had brought his and Snape's travel cloaks, this time they would travel by thestral as it was less stressful for Snape and more comfortable.
-.-.-
Pansy had everything prepared he knew Snape would come alone, they still had not sent Harry a letter for they needed to know Snape's diagnosis. Blaise and Neville were with Draco and Charlie was helping her fixing something to eat and drink. They had house elves but preferred to let them focus on keep the place clean than preparing the food.
"I better hid myself, I don't think Snape will be happy to see me, and I don't really want to see him…"
"I know how you feel, but he did that to ensure Draco's recovery, if everything goes well I think he'll let Harry come and visit him"
Charlie hummed but said nothing else, he would stay away from the man's eyesight, it was better to prevent confrontations in front of Draco. They heard the door and Charlie quickly went upstairs, pansy ran to the door and opened, letting both men enter the manor. She was surprised for a second to see Remus but soon focused again on her former teacher.
"I'm so happy to see you professor"
She smiled at him and he did the same, something that made Remus smile widely and wink and Pansy.
"Don't try to seduce Miss Parkinson, Lupin. I know you are a pervert but never thought you could go so far"
"I would hit you, but that wouldn't be a good example for her…"
She rose and eyebrow and closed the door behind them.
"And I would hit you both, but one of you can't see and would be unfair and the other… Somehow I know there's no way I'll ever manage to hit you, isn't it?"
"Clever woman"
She smirked and Snape sighed, he didn't comment and took his cloak off his shoulders and held it for Remus to take. Once the wolf had hung the cloaks up they went towards the room they usually found Draco in, just in time to see the white owl that belonged to no other than Harry Potter, arrive through the window.
TBC
Well, there is another chapter, thank you all for your reviews and for adding my fic to your favourites and alert lists. We are finally getting closer to Draco's recovery, soon our lovely blonde will take his medicine, but there's still so much to tell, stay tuned!
Oh, and please review! I kind of like those you know? T.T