Muahahahaha! Chapter 19 has arrived! It lives! It lives!
Hem hem.
I do apologize for Mr. Hate's deplorable issues. He is nothing more than a filthy muggle you see so-
DIE UMBRIDGE TOAD DIE!
*Hits ugly pink toad over head with giant rainbow carrot from nowhere*
…
Ok. I'm good now.
*gurgling sound is heard in background*
Anyways… Here's the next chapter. I hit a little snag with some writers block but we're all good now.
I also started a new story. It's called Circinus Black. Don't worry. I plan to make this story my main priority so most of the updates for that one won't happen until after the ones for this one. I just had to start typing it because I was attacked by plot bunnies with a burning fiery vengeance.
Still, would you guys be awesome and read he first chapter of that one? I want some input on whether you think it'll be any good or not. I actually had already posted it, but I had to go back and rewrite part of it, so, even if you've already read it you should do it again since I changed some things.
I drank coffee today.
Four cups of it.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!
Ok. I'm good now.
For reals this time.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer- Sits in jail and plays a harmonica.
~HPT~
Chapter 19- What? (I'm running out of ideas for good chapter names)
When Veritaserum managed to prove their loyalties and trustworthiness, Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini were let into the fold. Both came from dark pureblood families and were familiar with many different curses and hexes and as such didn't need as much training as the others had in the beginning.
Who went on what missions changed often enough, as there were times when some people could work together and times when they could not.
But there were a few who were always involved.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Neville, Draco, and Blaise seemed to end up on every mission together, and despite initial distrust, they worked well together. After awhile it became almost awkward to try and include anyone else; whether they were on an attack against death eaters or gathering information.
They could work with Aurors occasionally, but always with viewing the Aurors as a separate unit. Same with members of the Order. The only ones they were really comfortable working with were the twins, and they spent most of their time in their shop that they had just opened.
School had become difficult to keep up with, and so for all intents and purposes they were barely attending. They learned just enough to be able to pass their OWLS but focused mostly on the war. And it had indeed become a war. It was as though the battle at Diagon was the starting bell for things to pick up.
Despite everything they managed well, and became more skilled through both training and experience.
Still, happy care free days were so rare they were almost nonexistent. Though they each had their own way of escaping reality for awhile.
Luna threw herself into learning how to heal. Neville had his plants, Hermione her books. Ron had Quidditch, and working with the twins. Draco worked with Snape on potions. Blaise drank. And Harry…
Harry didn't really have anything. But he sometimes joined his friends in their escapes.
And then Teddy was born.
They had been so caught up in things he hadn't even known that Mooney and Tonks were together. But when they called him to Grimmauld Place he came. And when they asked him to be Teddy's godfather he didn't hesitate to agree.
The first time he held the tiny little form with that tuff of blue hair on its head he knew he would do whatever it took to protect him. Teddy was his godson. His baby brother. Not by blood but by love.
Teddy became Harry's escape.
It was only a week later, they were nearly three-fourths the way through Fifth year now, when another attack occurred.
The death eaters had targeted a small village made up mostly of muggleborns. The group went as they almost always did when an attack occurred. The battle was more chaotic than the one in Diagon had been. It was raining, and hard to see.
So it was no surprise they didn't notice until the end of the battle that something wasn't right. And by then it was too late.
Ron was missing.
He had been captured.
~HPT~
Harry sighed as he waited on the couch. Sirius had been teasing him constantly and he had only managed to get the man to leave him be by telling him he had something serious to talk to him about. The man had straightened up then.
The man had been both surprised and then worried after Harry let him know about the situation with the newborns. They had been waiting for the others to come home in silence since then; knowing there would be no point trying to come up with a plan until the others had been informed as well.
Neville and Blaise were home first. Harry had called them as well as Ron to tell them to come home when they could. Almost immediately they came and sat down. They knew from the looks on their faces that this was serious and they also knew Harry wasn't likely to tell them anything until the rest of them were home.
It was only a few minutes later that the floo flared to life, making those in the room tense until Ron stumbled out of it. Harry was only mildly surprised to see the twins were not with him. After all, they still a great deal of work to do on their shop.
Ron looked confusedly at the serious faces but sat down near Harry without a word. It was nearly an hour of stressed, tense silence before the others finally arrived home from school.
When everyone was finally settled Harry cleared his throat.
"A couple days ago I was approached by two newborn vampires. They came to me as a Drake. They have no idea I'm a shape shifter, or a wizard, or Harry Potter. They're muggle vampires and as far as they know I'm just a very intelligent dragon."
Everyone was paying absolute attention and while both Draco and Hermione looked as though they wanted to speak, they managed to refrain themselves.
"They came seeking my protection. And I agreed."
"Protection from what?" Harry looked over at Draco, his eyes were narrowed in thought and Harry didn't need to use legimency to know he was trying to figure out just how much trouble Harry had gotten them into.
"From their sire. Her name is Victoria, and she apparently has a grudge against the Cullens." He paused and took a deep breath to calm himself. "She's creating an army to kill them."
Harry looked around himself at his family.
The expressions ranged from terror to rage.
~HPT~
Paul sat in their clearing and stared up at the boulders. He felt… not numb, but disconnected maybe?
It had been strange. When he was with Harry it felt right. He got lost in the moments between them. But when he was away he fussed and panicked; mostly because of the short teen's gender. It still bothered him that Harry was male, but he barely gave it a second thought when he was actually near him.
He had almost had a panic attack when Sirius caught them. He had jumped a little when the man laughed. But now he was calm.
And oddly disconnected.
Part of him was insanely pleased over the events. Another part of him was practically screaming. And the last part of him was complaining that they had yet to kiss.
For now he pushed the screaming part away and thought about the complaining part.
It was true. He and Harry had never actually kissed yet. There had been kisses on the cheek for him. He had kissed Harry on the forehead and the nose. He had licked and bit Harry's neck and practically groped him. But they had never kissed on the lips.
He thought about that for a bit. Did he want to kiss Harry?
The part of him that was freaking out calmed down as he thought. He imagined it in his mind. Running his hand through soft black hair. Bright green eyes closing as he brought him closer. Pressing his lips into soft, smaller ones.
Yes, he decided.
He definitely wanted to kiss Harry.
So now he just needed the right moment to do it.
~HPT~
Bree sat quietly at the edge of the cliff looking out over the forest. The sun was high up. She was sure it was already past noon. She had been waiting for Wrath to return ever since he left. Riley had taken off to practice hunting. He said he wasn't going to kill anything, but he could still practice the basic motions. He'd wanted for her to go with him but she had declined. She wanted one of them to be here in case Wrath returned.
She knew he probably wouldn't be back until dark, after all, while she didn't know where he went she knew it would be stupid for him to fly around in the daylight; at least as long as he wanted to stay hidden from the humans. But she couldn't help but to wait and hope he found some way to come back sooner.
Riley had sighed and given her a sad sort of look before running off. She wondered if he thought Wrath wasn't coming back. But she knew he would. He had promised to protect them after all.
Hadn't he?
~HPT~
"Why the hell would you promise something like that?"
"How do you know it's not a trick?"
"Fucking rookie mistakes mate…"
"I used legimency! They're not-"
"What about the Cullens?"
Everyone froze. It was the first time Sirius had spoken, having already been told what was going on by Harry, and trusting his son in the matter. He looked at his family. Draco was on his feet and his hands were balled into fists. Ron was slouched forwards, head in his hand. Blaise sat in a chair, also quiet. Hermione was standing like Draco and had been pacing until Sirius spoke. Neville and Luna sat relatively quiet as well. Both had attempted to speak but had not been able to with Draco's and Hermione's raised voices drowning them out.
Ron looked thoughtful now. Regardless of whatever mess Harry seemed to have gotten them into, it did involve the Cullens.
"We need to tell them."
"No." Draco looked furious. "We can't tell them about the newborns. Not without telling them about us."
"Pride, this concerns them as well. Victoria is creating the newborns to-"
"I don't give a damn why she's making them! I'll not have you revealing us to a bunch of blood suckers!"
"DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT THEM LIKE THAT!"
"I'LL TALK ABOUT THEM HOWEVER I PLEASE!"
"THEY'RE MY FRIENDS-"
"AND WE'RE YOUR FAMILY!"
It was quiet then. No one moved for a moment. Draco and Harry were both on their feet, standing barely a meter apart.
"We're your family. Doesn't family come first?"
Harry looked away, ashamed, but did not back down. Draco simply shook his head and walked away.
"So." Harry looked up at Ron; there was something close to pity in the redhead's eyes. "Should I call them over?"
Harry nodded. "The shifters too, Gluttony."
~HPT~
The Cullens and shifters watched as the argument progressed. They had all been called over here and told to come immediately. No one had argued, because it seemed to be an emergency. Even Sam and his pack were here.
The argument had begun just after they were led to the backyard. The tables and chairs were gone, replaced by logs of wood to sit on and they wondered where the rest had all gone. None of them quite understood what was going on. All they knew was that Harry wanted to tell them something and Draco seemed adamant that he didn't.
"They deserve to know!"
"It's none of their business! They don't need to know anything!"
"We know about them! Why shouldn't they know about us?"
"BECAUSE IT'S NONE OF THEIR BLOODY BUISNESS!"
"They're our friends Draco!"
"Bollocks! They're your friends! This is not just your decision to make! You have no right to-"
"No right? NO RIGHT? I have every right! They're my friends and I can damn well tell them the truth if I want to!"
"This isn't all about you! I think the damned attention's gone to that stupid golden boy head of yo-"
Suddenly Harry punched him. He slugged him hard in the face and Draco lost his balance, falling to the grass. He stared up at Harry for a moment looking almost shocked before his expression contorted in anger and he leapt to his feet; ready to return the favor.
Jasper could feel the anger in the air, but looking around it appeared as though all the other members of the Black family were perfectly calm. They were observing the fight with interest but without concern, almost as though it had been expected. That alone kept any of the vampires or shifters from trying to interfere.
They were circling each other like dogs. When one would move forward to attack the other would block and respond in kind. This went on for a few minutes and the two of them seemed to forget the world around them.
For a moment it looked as though Draco had gained the upper hand. He sent a kick at Harry's stomach that the green-eyed boy couldn't block in time, making him grunt in pain. He followed up the blow with a few punches and Harry was knocked to the ground.
He paused for a moment, panting, then jumped to his feet and began to attack Draco harder than before; his punches and kicks becoming more vicious.
Draco blocked a punch to his face only to be bent over by a hard knee to his stomach. It was followed in close succession by a kick to his ankle that brought him to his knees and then a harsh punch to his, now unprotected, face.
He was sent sprawling, breathing hard and blood pouring from his nose. Already bruises were forming and Jasper suspected that nose to be broken; if the sickening crunch that had filled the air when Harry had delivered the blow was anything to go by.
Draco panted and Harry stood over him, that dark rage that seemed to thrum beneath his other emotions brought closer to the surface, though not yet at the forefront. Jasper could feel the air cackling around him.
"Do you yield, Pride?"
The blond glared up at him, the odd nickname of pride seeming to suit him at that moment. Jasper could feel his shame. Not shame at having lost the fight, but at what he had said to start it. Shame at not trusting his brother. But his pride was wounded and he was reluctant to give in, to apologize. He said nothing, but closed his eyes and turned his head away.
This seemed to be enough for Harry, who nodded and relaxed his muscles. He sighed tiredly and suddenly looked very weary; old beyond his years. He reached his hand out.
"Brother."
Draco opened his eyes and looked up. He swallowed and hesitated for a few moments. Jasper worried he wouldn't accept the hand at all.
He needn't have.
The bond let out a breath before reaching up and grasping his hand. He winced as Harry pulled him up and kept his head down, not daring to meet Harry's eyes.
Jasper could feel the shame and regret and even a little dose of sorrow rolling off of him in waves. He was confused. The way he figured it, the blond had been right. As much as he wanted to know what they were hiding he could've easily understood that it wasn't just up to Harry to tell them.
So why had none of the others argued about it?
Why did Draco feel as if he was in the wrong?
What was he missing here?
Harry had not let go of Draco's hand. He pulled him in close and hugged him; careful of his wounds. He was showing Draco he forgave him even though the blond had not apologized. He tensed before drawing in a shaky breath and hugging his brother back.
His emotions were overwhelming. The relief that Harry was no longer angry was so great Jasper believed Draco would be crying if it were just his family present. There were waves of relief coming off of the others as well and Jasper once again felt as though he was missing something.
Harry was the youngest member of the Black family.
So why did he have more authority than their father?
"Draco." Harry spoke his name in a soft tone as he pulled away from the hug. "We don't have to share all of our secrets. That is not what I am asking for. But they have earned the right to know the basics, especially given the circumstances. If they want to know more than they can ask, but I will never ask for you to share something private. Alright?"
Draco nodded hesitantly. "My secrets shall remain my own?" Harry nodded, a sad smile stretching his busted lips. The blond sighed and Jasper became conscious of just how tired the young man was. Not a physical exhaustion, but an emotional and mental one. He sought peace. It was a strange feeling, and one that reminded him of something he felt form Harry occasionally.
What had happened to these people?
Silently and obediently, Draco walked away to sit between Neville and Luna against one of the trees of the forest. The blonde girl immediately began to look him over and Harry watched them for a moment. His eyes looked far away though; as if he was seeing something that was not there.
Paul cleared his throat and Harry snapped out of his reverie as though he'd been slapped; eyes immediately seeking out the shifter. "So… What's the big secret?"
Harry smiled deviously.
"What do you know about magic?"
~HPT~
Whew… All done. I actually wrote that scene with Draco and Harry several chapters back, so I'm glad I finally was able to implement it.
The rest kind of sprung up on me. I honestly hadn't expected to touch on the 'big reveal' for a few more chapters but it seems Harry and company has better ideas.
Hmm…
Anyways. I'm not sure I liked how this chapter turned out, but I hope you do.
Send me reviews loves!