Disclaimer:We have no claim on Harry Potter nor any characters or locations thereof. We gain only amusement from writing this.
WARNING: Drama, Creature fic. Harry and the gang finally make it to Hogwarts.
AN: Collaboration between Trulywicked and Acherona. Thank you so much for your feedback and lovely comments. We read each and every one of them and they warm us like hot chocolate on a cold and snowy day.
Please enjoy this chapter.
Catch Me In Midair
Part Twenty-One.
Harry closed his rucksack and looked around the room that had been his and Draco's for the last few months. He was actually sad to leave it, it was where he had made love to, bonded and fallen in love with his veela boy. Not to mention that it had been nice living in the cottage with Fleur, Bill, Sirius, Remus and of course Ron and Hermione. They'd been a family. He knew that they still were but once again things were about to change. Even if they were lucky enough to come through the other side of the war they couldn't return to this, life would move on and change. Harry supposed he was just feeling nostalgic, that and nervous. This was it, it was time to get the ball rolling. "Do you have everything?" He looked across the room at Draco.
He nodded, looking around once more himself. They were getting ready to walk into a battle and though the veela nature of him protested Harry being put into that kind of danger he knew they had to go. He'd miss the idyllic time here but they'd come back now and again because they'd both survive this. He wouldn't stand for anything else. He held a hand out to his mate, "Come on. Let's get downstairs with the others," he smiled at the curling wards painted over Harry's cheeks.
"Hmm, I look like I've been attacked by a deranged toddler armed with a quill and ink bottle. Not in too much hurry to go downstairs and be laughed at." He plucked at the amethyst geode around his neck, the owl carving and driftwood snake already wrapped carefully in cloth and packed in an unbreakable box. He treasured everything Draco had given him, except for the rat. "But you're right, it's time to go."
Draco twined his fingers with Harry's and walked out of the room and down the stairs to see the others all geared up and ready to fight. It was interesting to see them all in dragonhide leathers with extra scaled layers over the more vulnerable spots and wands in holsters. "Ah, I almost forgot," he turned to Harry and handed him a wand, "I asked Bill to contact Ollivander to get this made for you. I know you don't needit technically but you use less of your magic when you use a focus and it will make others underestimate you."
Harry accepted the wand, feeling a thrum of energy traveling from it and into him, connecting with his magic. He gave it a trying wave, smiling when it responded just as well as his own old phoenix feather, holly had. "Thank you so much, what's it made of?" He ran his fingers over the gleaming wood.
He smiled and brought Harry's hand to his mouth to kiss the knuckles, "I'll tell you after Curly is rotting in the ground. The wood is holly though."
Sirius grinned, he had a feeling he knew what that wand held inside it. "Awww aren't they cute Moony?"
"Adorable." Remus agreed with a chuckle and tried to keep his eyes away from Sirius bum, which looked very, very good encased in dragonhide, leather trousers. It was always like this, every time a battle was on the horizon the wolf inside him acted out, becoming almost...Giddy.
"Okay, I'll hold you to that." Harry ignored his godparents and holstered his new wand. "Are we ready to leave?"
Fleur shook her head and tucked a bit of white inside Bill's battle jacket then zipped it up and kissed his cheek, "You come back mon amour. I will be 'ere waiting, pregnant and lonely."
He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in for a proper kiss, his other hand coming to rest on her stomach. "Of course I'm coming back Blossom, as soon as I can and when I do this will be over and our babe will grow up in a free world. No shadow of Curly's darkness resting over it." Bill tucked a blonde lock of hair behind her ear. "Be careful love, keep the wards up at all times and have your wand with you where ever you go."
"D'accord." She ran her fingers over his scars, "And you take down zat furry sadistic bastard once and for all."
Sirius cleared his throat, "Er is it bad that I really want dibs on that," he squeezed Remus' waist, "I'm sick of him trying to come after my Moony." Greyback was insistent on getting Remus into his pack and Sirius had the sneaky and very unpleasant feeling that it had to do with the fact that Remus was a carrier.
Remus leaned in and nuzzled Sirius' neck. "I really don't care who kills and skins him, just as long as someone does." Remus would gladly kill Greyback himself but he knew he couldn't. Even in a war there was protocol to consider among werewolves. Remus would have to challenge Greyback in order to fight him and as much as it stung Remus knew he wouldn't win such a fight. He wasn't an alpha wolf and he wasn't strong enough. He would do his part by taking down Death Eaters, as many as he could.
Sirius squeezed his mate close, "I care. You're my mate and he's a skeevy threat. I really wanna use his nuts for target practice."
Hermione coughed, "Better to just make them fall off, there's a spell for that you know."
Sirius perked up, "Really? Do share Hermione, I'll supply you with dessert for life."
"The cantation is Exceco and uses the same slashing motion as sectumsempra, just put the intent behind it and off they come."
Ron grimaced and barely fought off the urge to stick his hand inside his trousers and cup his own bollocks protectively. "Really Mione, where do you learn these spells? Why is there even a spell like this? It's barbaric is what it is."
In this case Harry was prone to agree with Ron, even though there were some creatures that truly deserved to have their nads drop off. "Scary woman you are Hermione Jean Granger."
She chuckled, "Ron said that first. 'You're a little scary, you know that? Brilliant, but scary.' and it was created by Rowena Ravenclaw. I'll give you the full tale later."
"I stand by that statement." Ron said. "And you haven't exactly become less scary, or brilliant since I first said it." She looked so different with her hair gathered up and away from her face so that no one would be able to grab it. "Love you though and sincerely hope you'll never use that spell on me."
"You'd never deserve it," she gave his cheek a smacking kiss, "besides I like your bollocks exactly where they are. So, are we all ready now?"
Sirius nodded, "Moony and I are. Fleur?"
She stepped back from her mate and went to give Draco a gentle hug, kissed Harry on the cheek and nodded, "Go. And kick zem in ze couilles."
"We will, thank you so much for everything Fleur. For letting us into your home and your family." Harry reached for Draco's hand and squeezed it. "I'd say we're ready. Let's do it before something else turns up and craps all over our plan." As far as motivational speeches went it was rather shitty but it was pure Harry.
Draco released his wings and drew Harry close, shielding him with the wings. The wards were back-up in case his wings didn't work and there was no guarantee the wards would work either. They were apparating directly into the alley behind the Hog's Head and they were expected so, if luck was with them, they'd be fine.
Sirius nodded, "Alright, on the count of three. One. Two. Three."
"Oh bollocks, I'd forgotten how bloody cold it is up here." Ron hissed miserably as soon as they appeared in the darkened alleyway behind the dingy pub. At least there were no warning bells or blaring sirens so it seemed as if Draco's wings and the wards painted on Harry were holding up, at least this far.
A rough wooden door slammed open and an arm waved them inside. "Get in here you brats instead of standing out there chattering like witches at sewing party." Aberforth sounded just as gruff and unpleasant as usual. The moment they had all managed to pile inside the small backrooms of the pub there was a blonde blur flying at them and attaching itself to Draco. Luna smiled up at him and eyed the power radiating from him, he had truly become one with his veela since she had left. "My, my little one, how much you've grown." She hugged him, and Harry since he was still wrapped in Draco's wings, again before saying hello to the rest of them. Ginny and Neville was also in the room waiting for them and being ready to take them back to Hogwarts through the portrait passage way.
"It's good to see you again Luna." Draco smiled, "Believe me your presence has been sorely missed."
Neville eyed Draco just a little bit, "I'd be jealous if my Moonflower hadn't spent hours talking about what a cute hatchling you made."
Ginny coughed and, once Draco had pulled his wings back from Harry, copied Luna by flying at Harry and hugging him tight. "I'm so glad you're okay!" She sniffled a bit and hid her face in his shoulder.
Harry hugged her back, running one hand over her long, smooth dark red hair. "I'm fine Ginny and I'm so very glad to see that you are too, so glad to see you." He hugged her for a little longer before stepping back.
Bill and Ron watched in amusement as their baby sister went straight for Harry first. "If you're done with savior boy over there I wouldn't mind a hug either." Bill held his arms open.
She smirked and gave Ron a hug first, "Sorry I hug my brothers in order of cuteness Bill. Harry always gets the first hug."
"I take such offense to that but it's okay...I'll teach my baby to always throw up on her aunty Ginny." Bill grinned as he watched his siblings hug. Ginny had always had a tongue as sharp as a razor on her, Bill couldn't be prouder.
Ron hugged Ginny tightly, swept her off her feet and twirled her around. He'd missed his meddlesome little sister so much more than he thought he would. "It's so good to see you Gin...Don't listen to old grumpy over there. Any niece or nephew will adore you."
"Well of course, I'm the cute one." She gave him another squeeze then gave Bill his hug before tackling Hermione in a hug, "I missed you, like mad. Luna's great and all but I missed my Gryffindor sister."
Hermione squeezed back, "I've missed you too. I've been stuck around mostly boys for too long. I love them but really the testosterone kills my brain cells sometimes."
"Well luckily then, you have brain cells to spare." Ron said as he looked around the dark, murky backroom. The two Dumbledore brothers certainly didn't seem to have the same taste in decorating, that was for sure.
Luna was busy looking at Harry, looking at him so closely that it almost made him feel uncomfortable. "Eh, is something wrong Luna?"
"Oh no, no. I just really like the squigglies drawn on you. It would look better with some flowers too though, maybe a star map...Draco could draw his sign...You know, mark you." She beamed at him.
Draco coughed and deigned not to mention the vivid purple hickie that Harry was likely still sporting on his inner thigh. "I imagine the ink is coming off as soon as we're within Hogwarts Luna. I don't think Harry's one for a tattoo."
"No, not the tattoo type sorry Luna. The scars I have are more than enough of permanent memories." He gave her a smile through his blush, he thought of the hickie too and just how it had gotten there.
"Aw, no fun but to all their own I suppose. I wouldn't mind a tattoo...Maybe an oak tree on my back." She looked over her shoulder at Neville.
Neville turned a charming blush but before he could say anything Sirius cleared his throat.
"Okay, we've said hello to each other and hugged. We need to get into the castle now please, before Harry's wards wear off."
"Yes please, go, be on your way. I never signed up to have my home and business brat infested." Aberforth shooed them off toward the portrait, his eyes softening minutely at the sight of his baby sister.
"Thank you for all your help." Harry bowed to the old wizard and grabbed Draco's hand as the portrait swung open and they followed Neville, Ginny and Luna down the dusty pathway.
"This is weird don't you think?" Remus whispered at Sirius in the darkness. "Going into Hogwarts through a hidden path we didn't discover."
Sirius chuckled, "A bit but nothing stays exactly the same does it Moony? Some things just change and some things," he ghosted a touch over the back of Remus' neck, "get better."
"Very true love, so very true." Remus agreed as his skin prickled pleasantly as Sirius' touch. The bond they had now, the trust and love. It was stronger than it ever had been and despite everything that had gone down over the years, Remus wouldn't want to trade that for anything.
The walk down the pathway wasn't exactly silent, there were hissed out conversations and whispers the whole way between dear ones who hadn't seen one and other for a long time before the portrait swung open on the other side, revealing the room of requirements, looking like Harry had never seen it before.
Draco looked around, shifting to just behind Harry as every eye turned to them all. It looked like a refugee camp and he supposed it was one in a way.
Bill, Ron, Remus and Sirius instantly looked around as well and started to chat with the students in the room. Faded bruises could be seen on plenty of them and it made Harry's stomach knot. Still he knew it could have been much worse without Snape's potions and Hogwarts herself actively doing what she could to help.
Harry unconsciously stepped back, closer to Draco, to the point where he if it was possible he might actually meld with the other man. He could see it, in the eyes of all the heads who had turned to look at him when he walked through the portrait hole. These were people Harry knew, people who cared about him but he could still see it, the thought that now Harry was finally here. The Carrows would concentrate on him from now on and Harry would beat the big bad for them. It was what he was born to do, his destiny to be the sacrificial lamb. Harry knew that the thoughts he had were unfair and he really wanted to be here and he really wanted to beat Curly in a way that would keep him from ever coming back but all the same the expectations weighed so much...Enough to almost beat him to the ground.
Draco put his hands on Harry's shoulders and stroked down his arms comfortingly. He murmured into his mate's ear, "It's okay love. You're not doing this alone remember?"
Sirius was joking with Seamus, ruffling his hair and asking about the explosions the Irishman had become famous for and Hermione was over with Ginny, speaking to and comforting several first year girls. Neville moved a bit closer to Harry and Draco as everyone noticed the two men's closeness.
"Alright you lot! Short explanation, Draco got turned into a veela by You-Know-Who, also known as Curly," several snickers filled the room at that, "and Harry's his mate." The room exploded, everyone yelling, a few girls crying, and several people looking furious until Neville gave a sharp whistle. "Enough! I'm no Draco fan but he's been changed from one species to another, mated to a guy he spent six years trying to hate, and he's been working with us ever since he saved Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Luna from his own family. Leave off, if he makes Harry happy then that should be enough for us all."
Most of the faces showed acceptance and even happiness for Harry and Draco but there were quite a few who only looked disbelieving and frankly disgusted. Harry wouldn't stand for that.
"It's true. Draco and I have bonded but more than that I love him. I'm completely head over heels in love with him and any slur spoken against him is spoken about me too. I've come here to clean house and I have no problem starting here if that what it'll take."
Hermione shifted, "And he won't be alone. I've spent the last three months getting to know Draco, the realDraco beneath the mask of what's expected of him, while he and Harry were busy falling in love with each other and I'm proud to call him a friend. Even if he's a pain in the bum."
Sirius laughed, "All true. He's a prat but he's a good prat."
"The feeling is mutual Black," Draco's smooth drawl only got another laugh out of the other pureblood.
The people in the room looked around at each other uncertainly until Cho Chang stepped forward and held out her hand, "Harry and Hermione's word is good enough for me. Welcome to the Hogwarts Resistance."
His lips parted in surprise. He'd never have expected Chang to offer her hand to him, not when he knew she still felt Diggory's death keenly. He cleared his expression and accepted her hand, "Thank you."
Harry reached out his too and shook her small slender hand. After the disastrous kiss back in fifth year, Harry had always felt somewhat uncomfortable around the tiny Ravenclaw seeker. That she reached out her hand in acceptance meant a lot. "Thank you Cho." He looked back around the room. "I'm sure there will be plenty of time for gossip later, what do you all say to kicking the filth out of this castle and making it free again?"
A loud cheer went around. Neville cleared his throat, "Before that though, would you all like to give the Hogwarts plant any magic you won't need for cleaning house?"
"Of course." Harry nodded and moved closer to Neville. "The plant has done so much to make the castle alive and active again. Such a strong ally should be thanked and revered. And I for one have magic to spare."
"Well said mate, I should be able to squeeze a little magic out too." Ron rubbed his hands together.
"Merlin little brother, when you talk like that it sounds as if there something else you're planning to squeeze out." Bill rolled his eyes and put Ron's head in a headlock making the younger Weasley squawk.
Draco nodded, "I've plenty."
"Same here, I think we'll all give her a little extra juice, eh Moony?" Sirius draped his arm over his mate's shoulders, "So Neville, you like to show us the way to the Hogwarts plant?"
Neville motioned for them to follow him and lead them to the door to the room of lost things. They'd kept the door to it there for easy access to the plant and everyone enjoyed riffling around in the room and claiming different things that no one really owned any more.
Hermione helped her boyfriend escape from Bill and looked around the cluttered room, "Good gracious, you could furnish a mansion with everything in here."
"Several mansions I think." Ron nodded and combed his hair back into place as best he could with his fingers. "Don't know how stylish they would be though." Ron pointed towards a seven legged table and some kind of brass lamp with what looked as eyes following you on the swirling brass.
"Wow Neville, it's huge." Harry sounded very impressed and Bill broke down cackling like a madman. Harry was seriously beginning to doubt the asset he would be in battle.
Bill wiped the tears from his eyes and leaned closer to Sirius and Remus. "I bet that's what Luna said the first time she and Neville..."
The normally calm and genial Gryffindor froze in mid-step and turned sharply, eyes glaring hard at the redhead, his hand on his wand, "Don't. Even. Thinkabout finishing that sentence."
Sirius' brows rose and he edged away from Bill, nudging Remus with him in case Neville exploded at Bill. It was almost scary to see.
"Eh...silence is really my thing so no worries here, not another word out of me." Bill actually cringed back, apparently something's were not to be joked about. Bill knew it was a bad joke when he started it but he had a strange urge to make fun of everything just to take the seriousness out of the situation. If it didn't seem so bad then maybe he could forget that Fleur was back at the cottage all alone, pregnant and alone. It was tearing Bill apart that he wasn't by his mate's side but he knew he had to be here. "Sorry Neville, it was crude and disrespectful and it won't happen again."
Neville nodded and relaxed again, "Apology accepted. Make jokes about Curly, or Snape, just erm...make the Snape jokes out of Tonks' hearing." He rubbed his ear, she'd yanked it hard the last time he'd said something about Snape.
"Why can't I joke about Snape if front of Tonks?" Bill said curiously as he waited for his turn feeding the plant. Right now Harry, Draco, Hermione and Ron were busy holding a pod each and feeding the plant their magic.
"She'd kick your bum for it. She and Snape are sort of...well you know. Kind of dating? They can't really go out on actual dates so if you're not a Carrow then you'll come up on them being cozy in different places. And not I don't mean thatkind of cozy though it's been seen once or twice, both times by Ginny, poor soul."
Ginny shuddered, "I did not need to see Snape's hand anywhere near Tonk's kitten knickers."
"Oh wow...Charlie's class mate and the dungeon bat, I did not see that one coming." Bill looked over at his baby sister. "Don't you fake shudder at me though little girl. You live for moments like that, it gives you a hook on them. I remember me and Fleur when we were at the Burrow...You were everywhere." He glanced over at Sirius, wondering how he took the news of his relative and Snape.
"Nym? Our little Nym and SNIVELLUS?! When? How? What the bloody hell?!"
Ginny reached out quickly and whacked him on the back of the head, "She's had the hots for Snape for a few years now, they got together about a week ago, the usual way, and if you don't want her turning you inside out you'll not call him that in her earshot." She then gave Bill a disgusted look, "You I can blackmail. Tonks...girl code prevents it. Snape? Not a chance in bloody hell. He'd kick my bum before I got the first word out."
"When did all my siblings get so bossy and grown up?" Bill shook his head but gave Ginny a proud smile.
Remus was holding Sirius' hand. "It will be okay Pads, you'd already committed yourself to play nice for Feathers' sake, this is just one more reason. Besides you know Tonks, if she sets her sights on something then she won't let anything stand in her way, not even her own relatives. Let's just be happy for them and make sure she'll have a bat to snuggle when this is all over."
"AH!" Sirius put his fingers in his ears, after squeezing Remus' hand that was, and went, "Lalalalalala I can't he~ear you!"
Draco came up, having finished his round of feeding the plant, and rolled his eyes, "What is he not hearing about?"
"Your godfather and your cousin finding each other in the romatic sense of the word." Remus shook his head at his bouncing and blithering mate with his fingers in his ears. "You can see how your other relative took the news."
"Oh that, I've known about that since she was at Shell Cottage, well her interest in Severus that is." It was on the higher end of amusing to see Sirius suddenly stop and turn round pointing a finger at him.
"You knew?!"
"Yes," Draco smirked at his mate's godfather as he spluttered, lost for words.
"Come on Siri, let's go feed the plant. You can angst and obsess over this later." Remus hooked a long arm around his mate's leather clad waist and pulled him over to the plant where two pods were left open now.
"But Moony~y!"
Draco rolled his eyes, "For Merlin's sake grow up. If I can accept Weasleys as family then you, supposedly one of the 'good' ones who keep touting tolerance and all that, can accept that Tonks and Severus are together."
Remus bit down on his urge to turn around and give Draco a piece of his mind. Sirius could seem theatrical and over the top but Remus knew it wasn't that he didn't accept Snape and Tonks together though he probably would never jump in joy at Tonks' choice. Sirius had missed out on 12 years of life and change was difficult for him, any kind of change, even the good kind. It wasn't his place to scold the littlest Malfoy though and they would have enough of a fight on their hands soon enough without turning on each other. "Let it go love, for now just let it go." He placed his hands on a pod and looked until Sirius did the same, his love for his mate stretching out over their bond.
Harry opened his eyes with a smile and slowly released the pod. The castle had welcomed him and it felt as it had been happy he was there.
Hermione stepped back and let Bill take her spot, a happy smile on her face. It was good to be home and to feel the castle's approval of their presence.
Ron held on a little bit longer than his friends, letting his excess magic flow into the pod he was holding. It was a nice feeling, that the castle recognized him too and sent its greetings and strength coursing through his body. It made Ron want to give back everything he could.
Harry walked over to Draco and leaned against him, his spirits lifted by Hogwarts own brand of welcome.
Draco slipped his arm around Harry's waist, "Feels good to be home doesn't it?"
"Mmm, it does. Better than I thought it would." Harry continued to lean against his mate.
"She's happy to have us back as well, did you feel that? The warm...hug I guess it was?"
"I felt it, it filled me up and gave me a...Boost I think is the best word for it. Hogwarts will do whatever she can to help us with this. That's not a bad ally to have at your back." Harry looked up at Draco. "So, am I still covered in doodles?"
"Yes, hold still," Draco chuckled and used his wand to clean the ink off of his mate, "there. Gone."
"Thank you, as much as they might have helped in Hogsmeade I do deserve to be ward free." Harry smiled and ran his fingers through his hair in a motion of habit.
"You're cuter without them anyway." He fiddled with the geode round Harry's neck, "Soon as the plant's fed we'll be destroying the Horcruxes right?"
"Yes, though we should go somewhere more private. The backlash when the previous Horcruxes were destroyed were pretty large. I don't want anyone here getting hurt." Harry looked down at his amethyst. "We never did find one for you, I wish we had."
Draco lifted the geode to his lip and kissed it, putting just a little of his magic into it, "Don't worry about it love. Really. As for a more private location to destroy the Horcruxes, I might have an idea for that."
"Oh please, to tell me to stop worrying about you is about as effective as trying to stop the tide." Harry wrapped both their hands around the geode. "And yes please for the private location."
Draco rubbed his thumb over Harry's knuckles, "Salazar's Chamber. No one can get in unless they speak Parseltongue."
Ginny heard him and shivered before nodding and putting her two knuts in, "It's the most secure place in the castle. I'll be coming though, I want a crack at one of those bloody things."
"You want to go back down there?" Harry sounded surprised. He didn't have any fond memories of that place. Draco was right that it was the best and most logic place to deal with the Horcruxes, if it weren't for that Harry would gladly have spent the rest of his life without stepping foot in that chamber again.
"Want to, not really but...I need to." She met his eyes, "I have to face it and I need to get some of my own back. I know everyone in the family is really torqued at Lucius Malfoy for slipping the diary into my things but just because something is there doesn't mean it has to be used. I made the decision to use the diary and even more, after I tried to get rid of it and you got hold of it, I took it back knowingthat it was evil. I made the mistake and you nearly died because of it. I need to go down and face it and get my honor back, even if it's only in here," she tapped her heart, "that I feel it's been lost."
Harry walked over and kissed her tenderly on her forehead. "I understand perfectly Gin, you don't have to explain yourself to me." He pushed her hair behind her ears. "Why don't you destroy the diadem, you found it and you've looked after it since. It's only right you destroy it like a big up yours for Curly."
She gave him a squeeze, "Thanks Harry."
Draco studied her closely. He'd never, never have thought that any of the Weasleys would hold that opinion, well anyone really. He didn't doubt that she probably cursed his father regularly for slipping the diary into her things but she blamed herself more. "You're one hell of a lady Ginevra."
"That you are and always have been." Harry agreed with a fond smile. He was happy that all conflicting feelings were gone now and that he didn't feel uncomfortable around Ginny at all. She was his little sister and she'd always be.
She grinned, "You're not too bad a bloke yourself Feathers, Harry of course is flawless."
Sirius bounded over, having fed the plant, "Okay enough bonding people, we have soul pieces to destroy, two sick Death Eaters to evict, the Big Bald Bastard to kill, and a war to win," he clapped his hands, "chop chop! Oh and Feathers?"
Draco eyed him warily, "Yes?"
"I said before I don't want to grow up remember? It's no fun, but since Nym hexing me blue would be less fun, I can take it. It's just...Snape, romance, ew."
"You're a good man Snuffles. And if there's any comfort it's not like you're the one being romantically involved with Snape...Just so you know though, I completely agree with the ew." Harry could not understand Tonks attraction with Snape of all people but it wasn't any of his business. If it made Tonks happy then he was all for it.
"Of course I'm a good man, I've got Moony to keep me on the narrow, if not straight." He grinned back at Harry.
Harry just shook his head, eyes filled with laughter and love for his impossible, childish and utterly wonderful godfather. "You are also full of it Snuffles but it's okay, I love you either way."
"That's cause I'm so lovable, right Moony?" Sirius looked over his shoulder at his mate.
"Extremely loveable and persistent, like a rash. No matter how many times you ignore it, it just keeps itching until you give in and scratch." Remus' tone was dry but his smile spoke volumes. It was true that Sirius was very loveable. He'd captured Remus' heart long before puberty and he'd never given it back. There was no other Remus would ever love, even the thought of it was unimaginable.
"Awww that's so sweet Moony, makes my heart flutter," he bat his eyelashes at Remus.
Neville shook his head, "These are our saviors. We really aredesperate."
"Desperate we may all be but remember that Sirius and I have already made it through one war, we have every intention on making that two. Besides a bit of desperation is a good thing, it'll keep us on our toes." Remus eyes were sharp and glowing amber as he smiled at Neville.
"Honestly I'd like to get off of my toes, I've been on them all year."
"You've done more than anyone could possibly have asked of you Nev." Harry replied. "Hopefully this will be the end and we can all finally kick up our feet and relax."
"No Harry, I've just kept things burnin here is all. You, you've done far more for us all and ever since you came to Hogwarts at that. You, Ron, and Hermione, you've fought and sacrificed for us from day one, the least I could do was try to make sure it wasn't wasted effort."
Harry smiled and patted Neville's shoulder. He wanted to protest as usual because really he hadn't done that much, not in the big scheme of things but there wasn't time for that now. "We've all done our part and we shall continue to do so. Will you come with us now? To get rid of the Horcruxes?"
"Of course Harry."
Hermione smiled, tucking her arm through Ron's, "Yes, let's get this part over with."
Draco reached out and snagged Harry's hand, "As soon as the two we've got are destroyed, Curly will be coming here so we'll have to eject or incarcerate the Carrows immediately so they don't bring down any of the wards."
Harry curled his fingers around Draco's. "Yes and I don't think being stuck to the ceiling or shoulder deep in swamps will do it this time as great as those things have been. They need to be pushed out, completely out of Hogwarts grounds or knocked out in a way that will keep them knocked out until it's all done." Harry looked around as they stepped out of the Room of Requirements and started down the corridors that would take them to the closed off girl's bathroom.
"Again, just reminding you, I'll handle Alecto."
Neville looked over in surprise at the venom in Draco's voice. He'd never heard that tone, not even when Draco had been threatening Harry after Lucius' incarceration in Azkaban. "You really hate her."
"Loathe, Longbottom, hate is too weak a word."
"Just you remember to be careful Draco." Harry's eyes narrowed. "I won't stand in the way of you going after her but I will pull your feathers out one by one if you get hurt in some sort of quest for revenge."
"Yes dear."
Ginny giggled, "Truth be told they aren't all that strong, I mean we faced off against Bellatrix, her husband, Dolohov, the Death Eaters at the wedding, and er, your Dad Draco and compared to them the Carrows are weak. It's more that they've had Snape's backing, sort of, that's given them all the power here. That and their sadistic punishments."
Neville nodded, "If Tonks is right about Snape being...well on the side of Hogwarts if not the Light, then he's had to back them up so he could keep the top seat and not have a worse Headmaster come in."
"They may not seem very strong but the Carrows have Curly's trust and he placed them here for a reason. I don't think we should underestimate them." Bill put in. He knew that the ones who had been at Hogwarts may have a clearer picture of the Carrows than he did but he also knew how dangerous it could be to think something would be easy or someone weak.
Harry squeezed Draco's hand and leaned in to whisper softly. "Because of that Dear comment you have now forfitted your right to say anything at all once I go to battle...Just so you know." He gave his mate a too sugary sweet smile and let go of his hand.
"I won't say a word, so long as you actually fight," Draco held Harry's gaze, "No just standing there to sacrifice yourself." He leaned in as well and murmured, "Remember that if you die I'll follow soon after."
"Cheating bugger." Harry muttered. With those words Draco had efficiently and instantly put a lock on all such tendencies that he might have. No matter what he did he would try his best and fight to his last breath to keep Draco alive.
"Slytherin remember? I want a long, longlife with you Harry Potter and you're not cheating me out of that."
"Oh~h."
Ginny breathed in a steadying breath as they stepped into the bathroom, "Hello Myrtle."
"Oh! Have you come to visit me? It's dreadfully lonely here these days." Moaning Myrtle peered at the redheaded girl then spotted Harry with Draco, "Ohhh you've made up. Rats."
"Aw but Myrtle, with us together it means you'll always be our favorite girl." Harry smiled at the always pouting ghost, having learned with age just how to handle her the best.
A silvery blush dusted over her cheeks, "Well you're forgiven then. But I know you're not here just to visit me, no one ever comes just to visit."
Ginny shifted, "We're going down to the Chamber Myrtle. We have some things that need destroying," she held up the diadem, "and we need to do it down there."
"Oh will you be opening it or will Harry then? I like your Parseltongue a bit better than his, yours is softer and sweeter."
Harry's eyes were huge and green as he looked at Ginny, from the corner of his eye he saw Ron drop his jaw and Bill take a step closer as well. "Your Parseltongue Ginny? Keeping secrets now have you?" When he thought about it, it did make sense that she would remember some of the Parseltonge after having been possessed by Curly's spirit and in a way it made Harry feel better that she knew it too, made him feel not so alone.
She frowned, "No, not that I, Myrtle I don't speak Parseltongue. That was Riddle possessing me."
The ghost giggled, "Silly don't you know that some things, once known, used, or given, always remain? For almost a whole year you could speak a whole other language, that knowledge doesn't just go away because Tom's out of your head."
"So, you think I..."
"You won't know until you try, Filly." Draco's voice was calm and soothing, understanding that she probably didn't want anything left of Riddle in her mind.
Harry stepped closer, "Even if you can speak it the gift is all yours. It has nothing to do with Curly anymore, it's all yours just like my ability to speak Parseltongue is mine now." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Give it a try Gin, and use one of Curly's greatest prides against him."
Sirius grinned, "Yeah just think of how he'd react to hear a Weasley cursing at him in Parseltongue. Oh I hope you can speak it just for that priceless moment."
She gave him a little smile in return, "Okay so...how do I, what do I...I don't really remember ever speaking it and just hearing Harry do it so..."
Hermione spoke up, "Well you can try staring at the snake on the tap or there's a spell to recover hidden knowledge but it isn't selective. Anything you've buried or deliberately forgotten will be remembered. It could give you information overload though."
Ginny nibbled on her bottom lip in thought then closed her eyes before saying, "I think I'll go with the second option, hurry before the Carrows find us."
Hermione swished her wand in the air and intoned an incantation, "Datgelu gwybodaeth cudd."
Ginny staggered as the influx of old memories swamped her. She felt two different hands take each arm and help steady her as she assimilated everything that was rushing through her head clear as daylight. Before long she opened her eyes and blinked at Draco on one side of her and Bill on the other, Bill eyeing the veela with amusement. She cleared her throat, "Um okay, you can let me go now."
Bill winked at Draco, pleasantly surprised at Feathers' actions regarding his sister and kissed Ginny's freckled cheek. "Okay Gins, as long as you're sure you're okay to stand on your own two feet. You became paler than veela boy there for a second." He slowly let go of his little sister and watched as Draco did the same.
"Do you remember Parseltongue now Ginny?" Luna asked curiously as she held Neville's hand, fiddling with the bracelet she'd made that Neville still wore.
Ginny tilted her head and gave it a try, "Haa sseyaaa ssssehshhh."
"I'll take that as a yes then." Luna continued to beam at Ginny, happy for her friend and that she was taking power of what had happened to her during her first year.
Harry was smiling too. "Oh just think of the conversations we'll be able to have." He looked around the wide eyed group. "She just said 'you tell me', just to be clear." He translated.
"I'll take that as a yes then." Ginny shifted in place.
Hermione smiled at her, "Myrtle's right, your Parseltongue is softer than Harry's. Harry always sounds aggressive when he speaks Parseltongue."
Draco coughed. He'd been privileged to hear Harry speaking Parseltongue quite often. Apparently Harry liked to hiss his dirty talk and he wouldn't call it aggressive, seductive as hell and a little dominating were the labels he'd put on it.
Harry's gaze shifted to Draco and he turned a little red on his neck and ears. He really did love to hiss out all the dirty things he wanted to do to Draco when they were intimate. It made him feel passionate and powerful without any embarrassment. "Hmm, yeah well...Maybe it's a gender issue. Go on Gin, try and open the door now."
Ginny went to the tap and hissed at it to open, wrapping her arms around herself as the passage to the chamber was revealed. She took a deep breath and jumped down the pipe slide.
"She's not one to dawdle or hesitate now is she?" Remus smiled, admiring Ginny's bravery to face the unknown first of them all.
"She's a Weasley, of course she's amazing." Bill replied and jumped down the slide after his sister and one by one the rest of them followed.
To be continued...
AN: Thank you so much for reading and as usual we would adore hearing what you think. See you next chapter.