DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 25 - Of Letters and Dungeons
Ice Manor was quiet in the early morning hours. It's windows darkened against the light of the rising sun. For once, there were no early morning meetings or strikes teams organizing in the side rooms. The Intelligence wing had been shut down. Computers and scanners turned off leaving the busy wing quiet and seemingly vacant. Pride members were dozing comfortably in the plush guest suites. Fighting the slow pull of wakefulness as their internal alarm clocks screamed at them to get up.
The windows of the library had been thrown open, the chill in the air being fought off valiantly by the slowly dying fire burning in the hearth. Harry sat behind the large dark wooded desk he had claimed as his so long ago. Fingers absently caressed the wood as he read over several documents that had been left to gather dust. He smiled as he flipped a page, eyes taking in the carefully organized training schedule and the notes on the strengths and weaknesses of several Pride members. He glanced up at a quiet rap on the, eyes shifting to the clock before he called out.
He rose as Blaise walked slowly towards him, Pride cloak limp and dirty. Smiling he moved around the desk, gesturing the Slytherin toward the pair of chairs before the fire. "Up a little early aren't you?" He asked casually, flopping into the welcoming embrace of the green chair.
"I could ask you the same." Blaise pointed out, glaring distastefully at the brilliant red and gold fabric of the second chair. Waving his wand, he transfigured the chair before settling himself. Hands resting on the padded arms of the black leather seat.
Tipping his chin up, Harry raised an eyebrow as he found himself looking at large black mark on the ceiling. Shaking his head, he made a mental note to have the damage repaired before turning his attention back to Blaise. "Is there something I can do for you?" He questioned, noticing the shadowed expression on the other wizards face.
"Actually, that's why I'm here," Blaise began. He leaned forward and placed his arms across his upper thighs. "I wanted to say thank you. You didn't have to save my father but you did." He finished, glancing down at the floor.
"Your father never seemed like he belonged in the service of Voldemort." Harry murmured, his eyes locked on the top of the dark head bowed before him. "Some people have to much pride to kneel in the dirt. I believe your father did what he had to in order to keep his family alive. While I may not agree with all the choices he made, he did the best he could when one considers the situations he was forced into."
Blaise looked up and gave a small smile, bobbing his head. "Thank you, Harry." He gave a slight sniffle and rubbed his eyes, hearing Harry shift uncomfortably he made to rise. "I'll leave you to get organized. Merlin knows we probably managed to screw something up in your absence."
Harry waved the comment away, gesturing for the other wizard to remain seated. "The Pride was run perfectly from what I've seen. Planning, training, ferreting out spies and Death Eaters. They're everything I ever hoped they'd be." Harry muttered, one finger making circles on the cloth of his chair. Shaking the feeling off, he leaned back and gestured at the ceiling of the library. "What happened here?"
Blaise looked up and snorted, shaking his head in amusement. "Ron and Hermione were fighting over the manor's dungeons." He swiped a hand over his face to hide his grin. At Harry's quirked eyebrow he sought to explain his meaning. "We had an emergency during a mission and portkeyed an Order member and a Death Eater spy to the manor. Ice didn't recognize them and dumped them in the dungeons."
"And these individuals now residing in my basement are. . ." Harry trailed off, watching as Blaise grinned in amusement over the answer.
"First there was just Severus and Lucius." He informed Harry, rubbing his hands together in what Harry assumed was glee. "The Order of the Phoenix joined them a few nights ago and since the locks are parseltongue we couldn't get them out." Blaise finished in a rush, quickly bursting into laughter as Harry shot him a devastated look.
"I suppose I should let them out then." Harry mumbled, raising a hand and carding his fingers through his hair. Sighing, he rose and moved to his desk, grabbing the Pride cloak laying across the back of the wooden chair. "Thank's Blaise." Harry said, pausing and offering his hand to the Slytherin. Smirking, Blaise took the proffered appendage and gave it a firm shake.
"Oh, and Harry?" Blaise called, turning and glancing at the library doors. "Ron wanted to know when you were going to let the Order out. I believe he's planning on going into hiding for a few weeks."
Harry looked back and smirked, giving a small wave before he vanished through the open doors. Blaise peered into the crackling embers of the fire and wondered if it would be worth telling Ron himself just to see the look on the redheads face.
XxXxX
Harry slid the door of his bedroom open and tiptoed over the carpeted floor. He paused next to the bed and smiled at the heap of blankets slowly rising and falling with each indrawn breath. Tossing the cloak across the foot of the bed, he sat down and pulled the covers back. Draco's shining locks were mussed in sleep, his serene face crinkling as he tried to pull the covers back into place. Grinning evilly, he leaned over the blond and blew gently in his ear. A hand brushed the side of his face, trying to push him away as Draco snuggled deeper into the pillow.
Harry stretched his arm across his boyfriend's waist before dropping his chin and nuzzling the side of Draco's face. His lips ran lightly over a silky cheek, wandering down towards the inviting lips. Laving lovingly, he gasped as Draco's mouth fell open in invitation a hand rising and sliding through his mussed hair.
A tongue met his and slipped happily into his mouth. Harry moaned as Draco's fingers tightened in his hair, pinning him closer as blue eyes flew open. Staring at each other, they continued the kiss, the feeling strangely intimate as their tongues dueled for control. The distant clatter of what sounded like a cow bell pulled the two apart. Panting heavily, Harry groaned and buried his face in the blond hair. Cool hands slid under the black shirt he wore, tensing his muscles and making him whimper. Rolling away, he lay atop the covers next to the other wizard. Relaxing for a moment, he slid a hand over his forehead before leaning into the blond.
"What the hell was that?" Draco rasped, motioning with his finger as the loud rattling started again.
Harry tipped his head and listened for a moment. "That would be the breakfast bell." He informed the blond, grinning as Draco snarled and ran his hands over his face. "I've got a surprise for you." Harry whispered into the Slytherin's ear, arms loosening as Draco struggled out of his grasp. He sat up on the bed and watched as the Slytherin wiggled from beneath the mountain of emerald and black velvet.
Padding across the floor, the blond shot Harry a veiled look before opening the wardrobe and rifling through the clothes hanging within. He mumbled under his breath as he yanked a pair of black slacks free and threw them at the bed.
Rising, Harry floated over to one of the dressers standing against the dark green wall. He allowed his hands to drift over the wood before pulling opening the third drawer. He caressed black silk for a moment, admiring the shine of the Pride cloak. "Put this on over your clothes." He ordered, grinning as Draco grumbled something uncomplimentary beneath his breath. Shaking his head, he moved to open the curtains covering the windows. His hands rested on the sill as he stared out over the gardens of Ice Manor. The gardens were a tangle of green and red. Brightly covered leaves resting upon the grass.
"Harry?" Draco asked quietly, fastening the buttons on the cuffs of the blue shirt he had found in the raven-haired wizard's wardrobe. He rolled his eyes when Harry failed to respond. Sighing, he glided over to stand behind the Gryffindor, wrapping his arms around the others waist and resting his chin on Harry's shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
Harry rested his arms over Draco's, entwining their fingers. "I've been gone so long." He whispered mournfully, gazing over the property that was his. "So much has happened. We've missed so much." He mumbled plaintively, feeling Draco nod against his shoulder.
"There's nothing we can do about that. Live for the moment, Harry." Reminded Draco, pulling away from Harry and scooping up the cloak lying on the bed. "You mentioned a surprise. . ."
Smirking, Harry turned and nodded. He pulled his own cloak on carelessly, fastening the clasp and settling the hood into position. Pride members nodded as the pair flowed through the halls, halting at the top of the stairs leading into the depths of the dungeon. Turning, Harry straightened Draco's cloak before lifting the large furred hood into place. "You must be perfectly quiet and keep the hood up until I give you the signal." At the blond's nod, Harry flicked his wand and led the way into the depths of the dark dungeon.
XxXxX
Curling a lip, Severus glared at the pacing Order. Tucking his feet under the bench he sat on, he glared at the wooden door with narrowed eyes.
"Surely they should be back by now." Molly said impatiently, pulling a watch from her pocket and peering anxiously at the time. She heaved a deep sigh as she went back to pacing, bumping elbows with Remus as he passed by her.
Snorting, Severus crossed his arms. "Even if they were successful I highly doubt the first thing they would do was tell us. They're all probably too hungover to remember where they are let alone where we are." He grumbled, ignoring the amused look Lucius shot him. Several of the Order members gasped at his statement, looking at each other nervously and murmuring their doubts. "Come off it. We were all young once, we know what's in their heads. They'll celebrate the littlest thing just as we did. Be it a won quidditch game or a passed exam."
"My son would never!" Molly yelped in Ron's defense, spinning around and pinning her choking husband with an angered glare. "They all know better! They're underage." She mumbled, walking unsteadily towards the bench Severus sat on and collapsing.
Shrugging the woman off with a look of distaste, Severus stood and rubbed his arms. "You think that's going to stop them? We're talking about a bunch of sixth year students who created a 'club' and then proceeded to capture, attack, and spy on Voldemort and his followers. Acquiring liquor or other illegal substances would be seen as a parlor trick."
A low chuckle of amusement, had the arguing Order quieting and glaring at the individual standing outside the door. The black hood he wore concealed his face completely, casting him in shadows. "The mighty Order of the Phoenix debating the Pride's ability to acquire alcohol? I'll assure you Severus here was correct. No one would deny us anything we asked. Since beginning this little 'club' my cellar has never run dry."
Remus snapped his head around, mouth dropping open as he stared at the figure. He inhaled deeply, heightened senses seeking the young wizards personal smell. He froze when he found the familiar smell, fighting down the urge to whoop with joy.
". . .my cellar?" Severus repeated, onyx eyes narrowing in anger. "Potter!" He barked, lunging at the door and wrapping his hands around the bars of the windows. Mouth opening to continue his rant, he stilled when a second figure shifted into the candlelight.
"How insightful of you Severus." The second individual murmured silkily, one pale hand rising to rest on the first's arm. Blinking in disbelief, Severus allowed himself to be pushed aside by Lucius. The rest of the Order was whispering, their voices growing louder by the second.
The elder Malfoy stared at the hooded Pride members, mouth dry as he mouthed his son's name. "Draco?" He croaked, fingers tensing as the individuals exchanged a look before nodding. Hands were raised and hoods were tipped back. Blonde hair shone gold and red under the flickering light cast by the candles. "Draco." He affirmed, one hand reaching for his son without thought.
"Hi dad." Draco whispered, catching the hand and squeezing it tightly. He welcomed the arm Harry wrapped around his waist, ignoring the quick arc of pale eyebrows.
"Harry Potter!" Remus hollered from the depths of the cell, hands planted on his hips as he tried to peer around the tall blond wizard. "You have a lot of explaining to do!"
"I suppose I do." Harry stated, gliding forward and placing a hand on the door. The wood curdled beneath his touch. A snake slid from the hard surface, head rearing back as it met the green eyes of the wizard who had touched it. Soft hissing filled the dungeons, creeping up through the manor as the dozens of resident snakes responded to the sound. Bowing it's patterned head, the snake slid back into the wood. With a loud click, the cell door opened for the first time. "I think your questions can wait until later though. There are many things I have to do before I can sit down and debate my actions with all of you."
Lucius threw his arm around his sons shoulders, following Harry Potter down the dungeon corridor as the raven-haired wizard led them from the dark. Emerging from the depths, he held his hand before his eyes and blinked rapidly at the bright light.
"You may not stay here." Harry stated, standing in the doorway. A flick of fingers indicated they should follow. The halls he escorted them through were empty, not one Pride member leaning against a wall or rushing around on some unknown mission. He halted in the large entrance hall, gesturing at the massive Celtic knot inlaid in the marble floor. "This is an apparation point. You all have five minutes to leave before I give Ice Manor permission to dump you wherever she chooses." Harry turned fluidly, cloak whirling behind him as he climbed the steps, he halted and looked back at Draco. The blonde clutched his fathers hand with a sad look on his face, eyes desperately searching Harry's for an answer.
"This way if you would, Draco. . .Lucius." Harry called, hand resting on the wooden banister. Under his fingers, the pale wood writhed and flexed, soothed by the touch of fingers it knew.
"Thank you, Harry." Draco said quietly, leading his father up the stairs after Harry. The Gryffindor led them down a short hall before stopping beside a door, one hand caressing the handle before pushing inside.
"You may use this room." Harry replied, giving a small half smile as he waved them deeper into the room. With pale walls and a single large window, it appeared to be nothing more then a simple sitting room. A fireplace, several bookshelves, a massive glass tank holding a sleeping snake. Nodding to the pair, the dark-haired wizard stepped out and closed the door. Apparently he had another guest he needed to deal with.
XxXxX
Draco walked slowly across the room, raising a hand and knocking lightly on the glass of the tank. The black snake's tongue flicked, upper body rising as it peered up at the blonde. Sighing, Draco turned to look at his father.
"How are you?" He asked politely, the picture of a well taught pureblood. He glanced up sharply when he heard a dry chuckle, mouth dropping open when he saw the look on his fathers face.
"I'm well, Draco. Perhaps much better due to my stay in Potters dungeons." The senior Malfoy said, gliding towards his son. In a quick movement he reached out and caught the younger wizard, pulling him into a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're alright. I thought he'd killed you." He whispered, fingers locking themselves in the black cloak his son wore.
"I thought he was going to." Draco murmured in response, his own hands rising to grip the robes back of his father. "Then he tossed me into a cell with Harry. How'd you end up in Harry's dungeons?" Draco asked out of the blue, mind wandering back to the fact that his father could have been present at the ball.
"When you vanished. . . I thought he'd killed you like he had your mother. I didn't have anything worth living for so I arranged a meeting with the Order of the Phoenix." Lucius explained, finally loosening his grip and stepping back from his son. "I should have contacted the Lion's Pride." He stated thoughtfully, one hand brushing over his sons pale locks.
Draco smirked in amusement, nodding his in agreement with his father's statement. "You should have seen them last night. They were amazing." He said, pushing his fathers hand away from his hair. For a moment the pair were quiet, enjoying the familiar presence of the other.
"So, Harry Potter?" Lucius asked, smirking when Draco blushed and covered his face in embarrassment. Nodding, the blond allowed his father to drag him into another hug. "I'm so proud of you." He mumbled, stroking his sons head while ignoring the younger wizards desperate attempts to escape his parents arms.
"Don't touch my hair." Draco whined, trying to sooth his mussed locks back into place.
Grinning at the muffled curses, he let his son go and moved to sit in one of the chairs before the fireplace. "Tell me everything." Lucius said, sitting back and preparing himself for the story of a life time.
XxXxX
The hospital wing was warm and sterile. Five brass beds covered with simple white sheets were lined up along one wall. Morning light filtered in through the glass panes of the window, casting trailing fingers across the ends of the beds. Only one of the was occupied. Pansy glanced up when he entered quietly, her mouth open and her wand pointed in his direction. Her face went red when she saw who it was, wand vanishing back into the voluptuous sleeves of her robes.
"Morning, Pansy." He murmured, eyes resting on the wizard lying still on one of the beds. Walking slowly, he moved across the floor towards the man who had once been his mentor. "What's the verdict?"
"He's extremely malnourished. There are several wounds on his wrists and ankles from the chains used to bind him. Mentally, I'm not sure but it is Dumbledore and he is alive." The Slytherin witch murmured, her findings given in a sad voice. "I'd like permission to have him transferred to Hogwarts or St. Mungos."
Harry glanced down before nodding in agreement. Ice Manor was not equipped to deal with such injuries or conditions as the ones the headmaster was suffering from. "Hogwarts. They can call in the specialists while still assuring he's protected. I've released the Order so he should be perfectly safe."
Pansy accepted his decision and began to prepare Albus Dumbledore for transport, knowing a portkey would be used to get him into Hogwarts. She glanced up and watched as Harry Potter stalked towards the hospital doors, pausing before looking back at her. Straightening, she raised an eyebrow and waited for him to speak.
"Excellent job, Pansy." He said quietly, giving her one last nod as he exited the room. Smiling to herself, Pansy checked on the old wizard before fire calling Madame Pomfrey.
XxXxX
Once again, breakfast was taking place at Ice Manor. Harry smiled and leaned back in his chair, watching as the Lion's Pride devoured the food placed before them. His fingers tightened around the arms of his chair, clenching on the wood. He let his gaze fall on Ron and Hermione, the pair sitting side by side on his left. Across from them, Blaise sipped a glass of orange juice, smirking as Hermione tried to explain something to Ron.
A loud hoot halted conversations around the room. All eyes watching the small procession of owls glide towards Harry. The snowy white Hedwig settled herself on the back of Harry's chair with a snap of wings, beak lowering to tug lovingly on a lock of dark hair. A nondescript barn owl gave him a harried look as he landed on the table, leg extended. Emerald eyes narrowed on the seal holding the parchment closed. Accepting the letter, he glanced up as Ron groaned, watching the redhead slowly reaching out to except the red parchment the third exhausted owl carried.
"Ronald Weasley! I Don't know what you were thinking but I suggest you to return to Hogwarts immediately! Your father and I are very disappointed in you! Dragging your younger sister into harms way without thought!"
Harry flipped the flap of his letter open and leaned back in his chair, eyes flowing over the neat script. The booming voice of Mrs. Weasley echoing through the once silent hall.
To Whom It May Concern:
The Ministry of Magic wishes to hereby demand that the vigilante group known as The Lion's Pride cease all operations. All activities and records held by the concerned should be handed over to the Ministry for discussion and discovery. If individuals concerned fail to act within the next twenty days, all assets and properties owned by the concerned will be seized or frozen.
Under law 35.5.7, no group shall be created for the purpose of acting or dealing justice other then those already established by the Minister of Magic.
Law 35.6.3 states that no wizard or witch has the authority to detain or imprison another without reasonable cause. If reason is had, the individual must turn the detained over to Aruors for prosecution, failure to do so will result in the arrest of both individuals.
Harry stopped reading there, raising his gaze and meeting the concerned eyes of Hermione. He ran a hand over his face as he rose to his feet, glancing around the large Hall. Tapping the letter against the table, he thought deeply before clearing his throat. The Pride peered at him anxiously, all wondering what had disturbed him into standing. Moving around the front of his chair, he held the letter up.
"I have just received a letter from the Ministry of Magic. In it, they refer to the Pride as a vigilante group and demand we cease all activities." He paused as murmurs began, outrage brewing among the witches and wizards who had poured their hearts and souls into the Pride. "I, however, am not ready to be given a slap on the wrist and sent back to Hogwarts with my head hung in shame. We fought when everyone else failed to raise their wands. When many were sinking into a state of despair we rose up and took back what was ours. They dare to condone us for fighting for what we believed in. So I ask you this, do we fold? Or do we fight? There is no lion without the Pride, I'll remind you of that . . . but the choice remains yours."
"We fight it!" Terry Boot hollered from near the end of the long table, clenched fist held above his head. Someone started stomping their feet and banging on the table, the noise quickly taken up as others echoed the Ravenclaws words. The sudden noise had Hedwig leaping into the air, her wings catching her as she shot out the owl window at the top of the room.
Hermione rose suddenly, her glass of orange juice held aloft. Silence feel quickly, all waiting with bated breath to hear the Gryffindor witch's words. Solemnly, the bushy haired girl looked around. "Pride to the end." She stated, tipping her glass slightly. Her words were echoed as everyone held up their glasses and toasted themselves.
"That's what I thought you'd say." Harry murmured in satisfaction, smiling and bowing his head before the roars and growls of the Lion's Pride.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review. Next week I shall post the epilogue as well as my final thoughts and responses about this fic.
Dreamer of Destiny - I wish I could have shown all of the reunions and tear jerking meetings but I just didn't have the time to write them in.
SwiftShadow - lol, I know the feeling.
acalboi - I'm glad you enjoy my work. I think that everyone is too caught up the actual act of sex to remember there is supposed to be a lot of meaning behind it. It's become to commercialized and is slowly losing it's meaning.
Black Roses of Death - aw, there are hundreds of great stories out there, it's just a matter of finding them. Even though I'm ending Dying Flames, I've already started my newest fic: The Dragons of Raveana.
C K Brook - Glad I got it up in time for you to read and hope this chapter alert was in your mailbox when you returned.
Monkeyman666 - Yes, Harry and Draco are gay together, this is slash.
Raven2090 - This story was originally intended to be a one shot but I couldn't leave it alone so I picked it back up and started writing.
Lady Silverhawk - Amazing how addicting it is, eh?
HikaruNoJingoku - lol, there are always loopholes, it's only a matter of finding them.