All right and now for your reading pleasure I bring you chapter 13! As always disclaimers and such can be found in Chapter 1 and do try not to leave reviews about my grammar and such my dear sweet peas, I know it is not the best but I never claimed to be a professional writer. Enjoy!
Darkness – Chapter 13 – Merry Christmas From the Death Eaters
Had either of the men in the study been paying closer attention they would have heard the soft gasp from outside in the hallway. Harry was currently plastered against the wall with a look of shock on his face mixed with one of joy. Alexandria who was coiled next to him had taken notice of a change in his body chemistry and cocked her head to the side and stared at the young man wondering how the other two men hadn't been able to smell him from where they were.
"Come young sssnake before you are dissscovered." She hissed out quickly to a stunned Harry, who was still trying to wrap his mind around what he had just heard and merely nodded, halfheartedly listened to her directions to get to the kitchen.
Needless to say the rest of the day went by in a rather hectic blur for Harry as his godfathers rushed him off to do his Christmas shopping and thanks to the conversations that had happened that morning and the day before everything was far more relaxed and comfortable between the three and back at the manor Sirius and Remus seemed to be getting along better with Severus not that the dark wizard of the group would ever admit that to anyone.
Sirius, Remus, Harry, and Draco, appeared in Diagon Alley a little after noon, having stopped in the Leaky Cauldron for lunch before getting on with their shopping. The group went from store to store and despite not being able to see anything that he was buying he'd managed to do all right so far. For Ron he'd gotten a book on the complete history of the Chudley Cannons, signed by the entire current team. Considering that they were still one of the worst teams in the league Harry wasn't honestly all that surprised that Flourish and Blotts still had it when the book had been signed a month ago. He'd already had Hermione's present which he had gathered for her last year from the Chamber of Secrets and it was one of Salazar Slytherin's personal diaries telling all about when the founders were younger, when they first founded the school. He'd also gotten Severus' present from there as well, not that he ever thought he would be giving it to the man, Slytherin's personal potions journal. He knew he wanted to get something else for the man but he knew that with his personal condition it would be rather hard.
He'd gotten a few muggle items for Arthur, the latest books on curse breaking for Bill, a gift certificate to Twilfitt and Tattings for Fleur, an amulet that made one immune to most types of poisons from dragons for Charlie, a new broom for Ginny and the latest book on potions that can be used in pranks for Fred and George. He hadn't really been all that sure what to get Draco and Lucius so he had gotten Draco some sort of posh quill and ink set he knew the blond had been eyeing up, Remus distracting him while Harry paid for the set at Scribbulus, and got Lucius a meeting with the most sought after goblin in Gringotts to discuss his financials, Draco assured him that he would love it.
After getting much of the main shopping done Harry had begged Sirius and Remus to allow him and Draco to go off on their own for a bit that that he could do his shopping for the two of them without them knowing what he was getting them and after much arguing the two older wizards finally gave in allowing them time but telling them to meet up with them in an hour or else Remus said he would tear Diagon Alley apart looking for the two of them.
"So what did you have in mind for the two of them?" Draco asked Harry as they rounded a corner and finally making it out of ear shot of the two men.
"I know they have wedding bands but Hermione told me she had heard Sirius telling Remus that once those idiots at the Ministry finally got his accounts unfrozen he would be getting them new ones, ones that clearly told the wizarding world that despite being a werewolf Remus deserves all the respect that one should give the husband of a Lord." Harry said with a smile thinking about how much his godparents really loved each other.
"I know just the place, come on." Draco said quickly before dragging Harry down one of the side streets.
"Where in Merlin's name are we going?" Harry yelled out before they suddenly came to a stop.
"Merlin's Heart. It's a jewelry store that opened up here a year or two ago, they have a lot of great stuff here." Draco explained before pushing Harry in through the front door.
"Dear me Mister Malfoy who have you drug into my store today?" Harry heard the kindly voice of an older woman. "By Merlin, if it isn't Harry Potter." She said, though to Harry's surprise and joy she didn't sound all that shocked. "What can I do for you Mister Potter?" The woman asked turning her attention to him.
And so Harry spent the next few minutes explaining to the woman what he was wanting to do for his godparents and the woman tossed out a few ideas from what he was telling her until everything was done.
"So let's see you want to go with the yellow gold, with the protection charms, with the Black family crest inlayed with rubies and moonstone correct?" She asked as she wrote down the final order. Harry merely nodded as the woman went about getting receipt together for him.
It was while he was waiting that Harry felt a sudden pull from his left. Turning in the direction he moved until he noticed something, he could actually see what was pulling him. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking at but it looked to be a snake curled up on a velvet pillow.
"Hello." He hissed out feeling rather silly at talking to what was no doubt a piece of jewelry. To his surprise though the snake raised its head and looked at him.
"I've been waiting a long time for you ssspeaker." The snake responded and it was then that Harry heard the sound of something being dropped.
"By Merlin, you're a Rage!" The woman that had been waiting on his gasped out. Harry spun away from the snake at this and realized that his sight hadn't really come back even though he could see the snake.
"How can you tell Madame Roxin?" Draco asked suddenly very worried and wondering is he should be calling for Sirius and Remus right then.
"Long ago that necklace belonged to a man who was the mate of a Rage. The wizard had made it so that he would not be effected by his mates powers, it's full of various protection spells and can even protect those the Rage considers family if their mate is in the area." She explained.
"This Rage's mate was a Parselmouth?" Harry asked blinking in confusion. The woman merely stating that he wasn't sure as no one seemed to know who it was that had originally made the necklace. "Do you remember who it wasss that created you?" Harry hissed looking back at the necklace, the snake merely bobbing his head.
"I believe you humansss call him Sssalazar." He said with a hissing laugh at the look of shock on Harry's face. "Hisss mate wasss one called Godric." At this bit of information Harry couldn't help the strange smile that spread across his face.
"Madame I'd like the necklace as well please." He said quickly.
"There is no need Mister Potter, when we received it there was a note included in very old script that the first the necklace reacted to would be the owner, it is yours." She said with a hint of a smile in her voice. "And do not worry your secret if safe here, I consider all my clients information private." She added.
With that Harry picked up the necklace and allowed it to coil itself around his neck before the two of them quickly left the shop after paying for Harry's purchase, the woman informing him that he would receive the rings by the next day via owl. It was on their way back to meet with Sirius and Remus that Harry had told Draco was the snake necklace had told him shocking the blond speechless for a long while.
"Does that mean Riddle is one as well?" Draco finally asked after they had met back up with Sirius and Remus telling the other two men as well about their latest discovery. "I mean he is Slytherin's heir and all." He went on to add.
"I don't think so, I mean I think if he had any of this power he would have used it long before now, maybe since he sort of died and came back? Or it could just be that it runs in the Gryffindor side." Harry said sounding rather confused before an idea came to him. "Hasss anyone elssse tried to claim you?" He hissed at the necklace. The small snake head bobbed up and down and though Harry could see it he did not tell the others, not wanting to get them excited over nothing, as he could still not see anything else.
"Yesss, ugly sssnake faced human. He sssmelled like a youngling I had met many yearsss ago. But he isss not of your kind, I bit him." The snake said sounding oddly please with itself and causing Harry to laugh before he told the others what the snake had said which caused them to laugh as well.
"We had better get back before Severus sends a search party after the lot of us. I don't know who worries more him or Lucius." Remus said with a small laugh before the group headed back to the manor.
When they returned the other took Lucius to another room while Harry went with Severus to the study so that he could explain what they had learned. As they settled on the couch Harry suddenly started hissing and Severus watched with a shocked expression as what appeared to be a silver snake with emerald eyes slithered down from around the teen's neck and over to him before wrapping itself around his wrist and becoming a bit smaller so that it did not dangle there. He was about to open his mouth to ask what was going on when he was suddenly pulled into a fierce kiss by the younger man. For a moment he wondered if the teen was trying to suck out tonsils he didn't have but rather than protest he merely allowed himself to enjoy the sensation.
"May I ask what all this is in regards to?" Severus asked with a raised brow as he noticed that Harry's cheeks were now brilliant shade of red.
"The snake just confirmed something I was hoping all ready." Harry muttered out as the blush darkened a bit before he went on to explain about all that had happened during the day. By the end of the tale Severus was sitting there with his mouth open before chuckling darkly at the thought of the jeweled snake biting Voldemort.
"Mates?" Severus mused out while running a hand through Harry's hair as the teen's head now rested on his leg. He noticed that Harry had an unsure look on his face and did his best to put him at ease. "I suppose I can live with that." He finally said and was rewarded with a brilliant smile.
Severus took note of a bold change in Harry over the next few days after their discovery, the younger man seeming far more comfortable around him then he had previously, as well as him being bolder with his actions towards Severus when in the presence of everyone else. It was almost as if he no longer cared what anyone thought about the relationship; though he assumed that finding out the bit about possibly being mates had had something to do with that.
The training sessions were still long and tedious but Harry was no longer tiring as easily as he had and with the addition of Sirius and Remus in the manor it gave him more people to identify and locate, though he seemed to be doing that much easier as well since the little jeweled snake had come along. Also having been led through the first floor of the manor so many times by Alexandria, another in the manor who was quite taken by Severus' new jewelry, the teen was now able to make it back and forth from the dining room, kitchen, study, and library to his room on his own, but Alexandria would always slither along next to him in case she was needed.
Severus merely continued to marvel at how easily his familiar had become attached to the young man, though considering how attached he had become himself, even without the information the bracelet had provided, he didn't think he could really blame her for it, he sometimes just wished he was able to understand what the two of them were talking about from time to time so he would know whether to be offended or not when Harry would occasionally laugh.
When Christmas morning finally broke Severus found his manor being invaded by Weasleys, Granger, Krum, and much to his own dismay a promise from Albus and Minerva to be paying a visit at some point during the day as well. He'd already been invaded once in his own opinion and was now being hit by a second wave, though he supposed out of respect for Harry he really shouldn't look at the man's adoptive family as some sort of attack squad out for his blood.
Severus had tried to keep to himself when everyone had settled in the study after arriving but he quickly found himself being seated on the couch and his lap filled with a very happy Harry Potter. From behind the young man he glared at Remus while Sirius did his best to keep himself from laughing at the shocked expression on the faces of the Weasleys and failing miserably at it.
"What's this all about Harry?" Fred and George both asked at the same time tilting their heads in sync with one another causing Draco and Lucius to snicker loudly at the two red heads.
"Remus thinks that Severus and I shouldn't be making an attempt to hide the fact that we've started a relationship." Harry said with a snicker of his own and a roll of his blank eyes. As Severus merely looked at the twins for a moment a thought came to him.
"Harry I think with the assistance of Misters Weasley there is something I would like to try before I let you waste the day away." He said with a dry laugh at the indignant look that crossed Harry's face even though it held a touch of amusement.
"We'll help for now, but you can be expecting a talk later." Fred said quickly with George nodding his head in agreement. At this Harry raised a brow.
"Indeed." He said simply as he had been expecting similar talks from the Weasleys as he had gotten from both Remus and Sirius. "Now, no one can tell them apart Harry, everything about them is identical, can you?" He asked simply and as soon as he did a look of intense concentration made it's way onto Harry's face as everyone in the room suddenly felt it power reaching out and as it did Severus could feel the bracelet on his wrist pulse as the amount of power in the room increased.
"Fred is on the left and George is on the right." He said after a minute or two. A look of surprise from the twins confirmed to Severus that Harry was correct and he smirked slightly feeling a rather overwhelming sense of pride towards the teen.
"Congratulations Harry." He said softly into the teen's ear. Harry broke out into a brilliant smile at this and the room quickly filled with the sound of others congratulating him as well, including the other Weasley men telling Severus they would be talking to him later as well. It was then that he finally noticed that some people were missing. He cocked his head to the side and raised a brow.
"I can't believe that I just not noticed that Ginny and Mum Weasley aren't here! Where in Merlin's name are they?" Harry finally asked the group. At this Arthur laughed a little. He could tell that Harry was a little relieved and confused about the fact that his youngest was not there and he could not really blame him since for the longest time Ginny had an infatuation with him that bordered on obsession after the Chamber of Secrets incident.
"She is still at the Burrow dear, she's waiting for Dean to get there, and then Molly will be bringing the two of them along." Arthur explained. As he did Harry merely nodded before turning his attention back to the other conversations that were going on around him now that he knew what was going on.
The group continued chatting for sometime, occasionally moving around the room so that Harry could practice telling who was where, though they didn't do this to much as Severus had promised Harry that he would be able to 'waste' the day. They had decided that they would wait until after dinner to open their gifts so that hopefully everyone was able to make it there by then. It was only a little after two when the frantic call came through.
"Arthur!" Molly screamed from the fireplace. Everyone in the room looked at the woman with wide eyes. From what they could see her hair was in disarray and she had some blood running down her forehead.
"Molly! What's happened?" Arthur yelled out running to the fireplace, already pulling out his wand.
"Death Eaters!" She managed to get out no more before she disappeared from the fireplace once again.
No one in the room said a word; they all just left as quickly as they had arrived some charging through the floo and others apparating from the house, luckily Severus had thought it best to drop the wards as soon as Molly's head had appeared in the fireplace.
"Harry I need you to stay here with Lucius and Draco…" Severus started to say but the look on the teen's face told him that he was already wasting time and energy by saying what he was about to say. "You need to be kept safe…" He tried again and almost jumped at the angry wave of energy that escaped from Harry causing the bracelet to pulse rapidly. "Fine, but stay close to me." Severus finally hissed out before standing and pulling Harry up against him tightly.
It was chaos at the Burrow when they landed, true the house had still be in the process of being rebuilt but it was destroyed once again. Curses and hexes were flying and the air was thick with magic even before Harry's started to pulse. Severus looked around quickly and saw Molly off to the side being tended by one of the twins and sighed in relief for a moment before a shield quickly went up in front of them blocking a stray curse that had flown their way.
"I thought you were the one paying attention." Harry said with a cheeky look on his face which merely caused Severus to scowl but it quickly faded as he noticed the dark look that suddenly over took Harry's expression. It was so lost and angry that it made Severus shudder for a moment.
"I can't feel Ginny anywhere, why can't I feel Ginny?" Harry muttered out, his eyes closed as he was obviously sending out his magic as wave after wave rolled off of him in his attempt to find his friend.
Severus' eyes scanned the yard, occasionally flinging out a curse or two as a stray Death Eaters would send one in their direction on occasion. He for the most part was shielding Harry within his robes otherwise he knew they would be the primary targets but it seemed that for a change they had the Death Eaters outnumbered as the others were clearly keeping them rather busy. The longer the two of them searched the more Harry's magic spiked and it was pushing people back and away from the two of them but surprisingly those on their side seemed to be unaffected by it for a change and Severus for the first time found himself grateful for the bracelet that he could feel pulsing right along with Harry's magic. It was when Severus finally caught sight of the all too familiar shock of red hair sticking out from a pile of rubble that the man felt his heart in his throat. It seemed that Harry was able to pick up on the wave of sadness from him and looked at him with a worried expression on his face.
"Severus, do you see her?" He asked with a pleading tone, his magic slowly starting to slip from his control and lash out in every direction it was able to go.
"Harry please… we should return…" Severus said making a plea of his own to the young man but Harry shook his head.
"Take me to her." He whispered out, his voice cracking a bit as he spoke and the feeling of sadness and anger from him could almost be tasted in the air, everything crackling with his explosive energy.
As they approached Severus quickly spelled the rocks away from the body that had once been the spunky Ginerva Weasley and Harry dropped to his knees reaching out blindly before locating her body and clutching at his fallen friend. Knowing there was nothing he could really do for the young man Severus merely lowered himself behind Harry and silently held him as he began to scream out his pain, sending out pulse after pulse of raw power.
Severus watched with wide eyes as dark clouds started to form in the sky and the ground began to shake beneath them. He did not know what exactly was happening but he'd no doubt in his mind that whatever it was, was Harry's doing, whether the teen realized it or not. He merely held Harry tighter in hopes that no one else the he cared for would get hurt in the senseless violence that was still going on around them. As if sensing his thoughts yet again Harry suddenly let out a pain filled cry as a wave of magic unlike anything Severus had seen him give off went rushing from his body, knocking away some of the lower Death Eaters while making the older ones double over in agony on the ground.
"I'll kill them all." Harry hissed out, his voice deadly and menacing. Severus almost jumped away from the teen until he heard a slightly more pleading tone escape from him. "Why… why couldn't you have just waited at the manor for him… why are you always so stubborn." Harry whispered out while rocking the dead girl in his arms.
Severus just listened quietly as nature seemed to mourn the passing of Ginny with Harry, as rain started to pour down on all of them, and barely took notice to goings on around him until he was broken from his silent contemplation when shocked wail escaped from Molly Weasley when she finally made her way over to where they were with Ginny's body. There was much crying and sadness but Severus finally managed to get Harry to release Ginny's body so that the others could let their own grief wash over them as well, all the while silently cursing his former master for once again giving Harry more ammunition to hate himself, despite the fact that it wasn't his fault.
After a long while and a visit from the Aurors, to collect the Death Eaters that had been captured, Severus finally managed to convince Harry to return to the manor and that found the two of them curled up on the couch with Harry burying his face into Severus' chest and crying more angry tears for what seemed like hours until Severus was sure the teen had nothing else to cry. He had worried from time to time about the safety of his house as Harry's magic continued to whip around the room but surprisingly everything managed to stay intact and Severus again chalked it up to the bracelet. It was after a long gap of silence that Harry sniffled again and tightly gripped the front of Severus' robes.
"You can't go back to him now." He said simply. Severus had known this was coming and he knew that one day Voldemort would catch on to the fact that he was being played by him he just didn't quite expect it to be happening so soon. The fact that Voldemort hadn't summoned him, Lucius or Draco to inform them about the attack on the Weasley's was surprising to say the least but also made him wonder about who exactly was playing who.
"True and I don't believe Lucius or Draco will be able to either." Was all he said before resting his chin on top of Harry's head who was contently listening to his heart beat as if trying to reassure himself that Severus was indeed alive and safe.
"It's my fault, but I'm glad you can't go to him anymore." Harry said flatly. "I just wish it didn't mean that…" He trailed as a small cry escaped from him again.
"Harry this attack today is not your fault, no one knew about it, Lucius, Draco, no one, me included. Riddle told no one. He no doubt suspects all of us and has gone back to his plan of attacking pureblood families that he views as 'blood traitors', as you've not been seen anywhere but Hogwarts so he would have no clue as to where to attack to find you." Severus said quickly while using his free hand to rake Harry's hair back with his fingers, as he did so though he frowned a bit before placing his hand on Harry's forehead. "You're burning up." He muttered before standing and carrying Harry to his room.
As soon as he laid him down a small groan escaped from the teen before he suddenly started writhing on the bed in pain. Severus could do nothing but watch in horror as Harry's body twisted in ways that could not possibly be natural. He hadn't even heard anyone else enter the room until he heard someone screaming.
"What the hell is happening?" Sirius screamed out at the sight of his godson screaming in pain. Severus looked at the other man for a moment and Remus couldn't help but notice just how lost he looked.
"I don't know! He was in pain over Miss Weasley, we were talking, and I noticed that he seemed to have a slight fever." Severus explained quickly before seeming to come back to himself and casting a quick pain relieving spell at Harry before rushing from the room. When he returned he quickly started pouring various potions down the teen's throat and sighed with relief when Harry slowly seemed to start settling down.
"Tell me Severus." Harry whispered out, feeling them but ignoring the fact that his godparents were there right that moment.
"Tell you what?" The older man asked clearly confused by the younger man's sudden request for some type of information.
"Tell me how you feel about me." He said before gasping lightly as a small tremor of pain shot through his body.
"I… I can't… I…" He stammered out suddenly feeling as if his tongue were too large for his mouth and wondering for a second if someone had jinxed him.
"You can tell Sirius but not me?" Harry murmured sadly and Severus stared at him realizing that Harry had to have heard the conversation he'd had with his dogfather a few days previous. He could only frown for moment as he realized the cat was out of the bag before sighing slightly.
"I love you, impertinent brat that you are." Severus said with a sigh waiting for the rejection that he was so sure he would receive from the teen.
"I do believe I love you too." Harry said before his blank eyes suddenly slipped closed leaving all three men in the room to stare at him as he slipped into unconsciousness.
End Chapter 13… don't kill me over Ginny, I've blame the fact that I've been reading way to many stories where she is a crazy bitch. Also in the original version of this story someone else died but I decided to go with Ginny time around. Seemed like a better option. Anyway they say Chapter 13 is the worst for people with multi-chap stories and I am inclined to agree, thanks for getting through it with me and hopefully Chapter 14 will be much better. Happy Christmas everyone!