Author's Note: I appreciate you readers very much! Don't think that I don't, because I do! I'm glad that people are reading my story. Makes me smile.
Pairings: Harry/Alphard, Tom/Minerva
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter series.
Thousands Of Reasons To Smile
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I could use a dream or a genie or a wish to go back to a place much simpler than this cause after all the partyin' and smashin' and crashin' and all the glitz and the glam and the fashion and all the pandemonium and all the madness; there comes a time where you fade to the blackness. And when you're staring at that phone in your lap and you hoping but them people never call you back? But that's just how the story unfolds you get another hand soon after you fold and when your plans unravel and they sayin' what would you wish for if you had one chance? So airplane airplane sorry I'm late, I'm on my way so don't close that gate. If I don't make that then I'll switch my flight and I'll be right back at it by the end of the night
- B.O.B
"We are going to be traveling to King's Cross in style." Boniface announced to his sons once all three of them came down the stairs with their school trunks looking tired and in Charlus case hungry.
Boniface walked them to his red 1935 Chevy Standard Sedan.
"In you get, Harry, " said Boniface helping Harry put his school trunk away. Harry got into the back of the car and was shortly joined by Charlus and Tom. Valerie went to sit in the passenger seat.
The journey to King's Cross was very quiet and uneventful compared to last year's trip. Mostly because Harry did not want to participate in the conversations. It had been a whole month since his birthday and Harry had heard no word from Julius. He had even sent the man letters of his apologies and that despite what Julius had said about him, he still wanted Julius as his godfather. Still, there was no response from the vampire and it confused and upset Harry. Harry remembered the many letters he had written to Julius in the second week of August when he hadn't heard or seen the vampire.
I don't hate you, I'm just hurt because you haven't even tried.
Harry
Third week without seeing or hearing from Julius.
I usually try to keep my sadness pent up inside where it can fester quietly as a mental illness. This is my signal to you to write me, or at least come see me so that we can talk?
Harry
Fourth week without any sign from Julius.
Dear Mr. Julius Bellamy,
This is the third letter I've written you. I must admit that the anger I felt has diminished and has been replaced with worry and concern. I'm worried. Unless you actually do not want me in your life anymore. If that is the case than tell me so, stop letting me write you letters which you are not going to respond to. I miss how you did care for me, how you made a way to make my day less stressful and cheered me up. Please tell me that this has not changed? Do you honestly hate me that much Julius? I miss everything that used to be us.
What happened?
- Harry
It was the end of August, fifth week without anything, letter, appearance, nothing from Julius. Harry had even went to the vampire's home, everything in the small flat was empty. No trance of anybody even living there.
Julius!
You can not honestly be mad at me! If the world was just going to punish me for my choices, it shouldn't have given me options in the first place! By now I know you don't care, I know sense you have not responded to any of my letters that you don't want to be involve in my life anymore. I get it, honestly I do. I don't know why I keep sending you letters, hoping that you will respond. I honestly don't. It's just hard to wait around for something you know might never happen; but it's even harder to give up when you know it's the thing you want.
I'm sorry for a lot of things, but most of all, that I never got the chance to tell you that, no matter what happens next, I'll never be anything but grateful for every moment I spent with you, even if some of the moments were very unpleasant. This is the last meaningless letter that I'm going to send you. I won't write to you again and bother you from now on. Goodbye Mr. Julius Bellamy.
- Harry
Harry of course Harry had to tell his family about what happened, it was a couple of days after his birthday because his parents had grounded him for two days, not a big deal to Harry, he didn't want to bring Julius up because he was still upset and did not want to talk about it. When he did tell them what Julius had said and for the reason why he was so quite and depressed, his family was shocked and angry on Harry's behalf, well most of the family anyway. Tom said that he, Harry, was just being a drama queen about it and that he needed to stop playing the sad misunderstood victim. Harry did not speak to Tom for three days. Harry even went out of his way to not even eat in the same room as Tom, he even moved his belongings to Tom's original bedroom and slept there. He just totally acted like Tom did not exist. Of course it did not last, obviously. Harry missed Tom's company and Tom was getting lonely and it just ended up with Harry bringing his things back into the room he shared with Tom that night without the both of them apologizing as immature as that was.
His great grandfather, oh he was pissed. There was no other word for it. Boniface thought for sure that Julius did not deserve Harry's forgiveness and told Harry so. Harry did not know what to do or feel. He was just tired and wished that this drama was over with already, but with Julius not answering his letters and him not even living at his flat anymore, it was plainly obvious to Harry that Julius Bellamy was not going to be in his life anymore.
They reached King's Cross with half an hour to spare. Boniface got them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, and led them away.
Boniface kept close to Harry all the way into the station as Valerie did the same thing with Charlus and Tom. Tom was giving his parents suspicious looks, but didn't voice his thoughts.
"Right then, " Boniface said, glancing around them. "I'll go through first with Harry. Your mother will got with you two, boys." Boniface said as he strolled toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten.
Harry had no idea why his great grandparents, Boniface especially, felt the need to make sure that he, Harry, was more protected than of Charlus and Tom. It couldn't be because he had no godfather could it? Sighing, Harry pushed his trolley forward. With a meaningful look at Harry, Boniface went casually against the barrier alongside with Harry.
In a moment, they had made it through the solid metal onto platform nine and three quarters and looked up to see the Hogwarts Express, a scarlet steam engine, puffing smoke over a platform packed with witches and wizards seeing their children onto the train, though not as many as last year, Harry noticed. Valerie, Charlus, and Tom appeared right behind Harry and Boniface.
"Harry I need to talk to you in private before you go on that train," Boniface muttered to him as Harry frowned in confusion. Valerie distracted both Charlus and Tom coaxing them onto the train while Boniface took Harry away privately away from the crowd.
"Harry I want you to promise me that you'll keep all your protection charms on you at all times. Even the one Malfoy gave you. The bracelet, the necklace, the ring band your Grampa gave you, everything! I need you to be safe while you are away at school. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Boniface asked Harry with all seriousness in his voice.
"Yes, Dad, I understand, but why not tell this to Charlus and Tom to? Are they not in danger as well?"
"Harry, my son, I... " Boniface ran his fingers through his hair nervously, "Julius is not ignoring you, he was captured by Gellert Grindelwald's followers along with many witches and wizards in Harp village that same night on your birthday."
Harry shook his head no. "That- that can't be right? How did Julius get captured? He's a vampire with super speed."
"You told me that you've been feeling discomforting muscle pains. There are different ways to cast the cruciatus curse on someone, getting a different effect every time," Harry looked at Boniface shocked about what he had just said, "For example, swishing the wand in a certain way will cause severe muscular pain, while other movements might cause mental distress-"
"I don't want to hear any more! Why didn't you tell me? Julius has been captured for a whole month? You knew I was worried! I was blaming myself! I thought Julius hated me, I thought-"
The conductor was blowing his whistle letting everybody know that the train was about to leave.
"I can not imagine what you must be feeling right now, Harry, going through the same thing as before with your previous parents, but please understand your mother and I are trying our best to keep you safe."
"I gotta go." Harry said running away from Boniface, from both his great grandparents and onto the train, getting out of the rain that had just started.
Harry couldn't believe what Boniface had told him. Julius had been captured by Gellert Grindelwald's followers! The muscle pains that he had been experiencing every other night, they were nothing to how Julius must be feeling them under the cruciatius curse. So Harry was sort of feeling what Julius was feeling. Did they torture him every night that Harry had felt some form of discomfort on his body? Harry felt so stupid. Harry had to do something. He just did not know what.
Harry came to the compartment door where he could see his family and friends in through the window. Harry slid the door open.
"...don't care that you're stressed-" Tom started but was interrupted by Charlus.
"Come on you guys, stop it!" Charlus tried to intervene between Alphard and Tom.
"Let me tell you the definition of stress Potter," Alphard said to Tom whom was looking at Alphard mockingly, "The confusion created when one's mind overrides the body's basic desire to choke the living daylights out of some jerk who desperately deserves it."
Ignatius laughed.
"In other words, shut up and leave me alone, Potter!" Alphard said grouchily, glaring at Tom whom looked like he was ready to curse Alphard.
"I need to talk to you guys in private, when you two are done. Erm... my brothers that is." Harry said to Charlus and Tom as soon as he found the compartment that his brothers were in. The train had just started to pick up speed. The whole gang was in the compartment Harry had walked into. Alphard, Minerva, Conall, Ignatius, and Lucretia. Dorea was not included.
"Okay, we'll be back guys, don't miss us too much." Charlus replied offhandedly following after Harry.
"Go away, Black, " said Tom rudely.
"Why can't I come? I practically know everything-"
"Al, don't, I'll be back okay? We won't be long." Harry said to the dejected boy.
"Yeah, sure, whatever." Alphard replied closing the door behind them.
Harry, Charlus, and Tom set off down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment, which was not hard seeing as there seemed to be less students this year with the threat of Gellert Grindelwald making a ruckus and causing fear with pure blood families and muggle born families did not want their children in danger. Not many would allow their children to attend Hogwarts anymore. There were even Auror's on the train, some walking around and some in the compartments.
"What do you reckon is going on? There wasn't this many Auror's last year." Charlus asked as they slid the door shut and sat down, taking a seat.
"It's obvious is it not?" Tom rolled his eyes at Charlus clueless expression, "Grindelwald must be trying to attack Hogwarts next, or something along those lines. The man is getting more and more dangerous and desperate for more recruits for his cause."
"Yeah, I guess so, anyway..." Charlus turned to Harry, "What were you going to tell us?"
Harry explained all about Boniface's private discussion and the promise that his great grandfather had made him give. When he'd finished, Tom looked angry, and Charlus had his hands over his mouth.
"You're going to do something stupid aren't you?" Tom asked Harry.
"Stupid like what?" Harry asked Tom mockingly.
"Stupid like willingly give yourself up to Grindelwald and his followers so that you can go on a rescue mission."
Harry blinked. That actually sounded like a good idea. Harry winced when Tom smacked up upside his head.
"Ow!"
"Don't you dare!" Tom hissed at him, on the border line of parseltongue.
"Well what else am I suppose to do?" Harry argued with Tom.
"Are you out of your bloody mind, Harry?" Charlus asked shocked at what Harry was planning on.
"He's been captured for a whole month!"
"Not your problem. He shouldn't have gotten himself captured!" Tom said uncaring.
"Wouldn't you do the same thing if it was Dumbledore?"
"Not bloody likely. First of all, in reality Dumbledore would not have been captured, he's more skilled than that. Secondly I know that Dumbledore would not want me to stupidly go after him blindly with no plan, no experience, and no help. Lastly, Grindelwald must have hundreds if not thousands of followers, recruits, whatever at his side. How is one little twelve year old boy going to stop him? You can't so don't even think about trying."
"Harry I know what Tom said is harsh, but it's true. You can not do this, especially on your own." Charlus whispered to Harry whom was looking down, feeling defeat.
Than suddenly the train started to slow down.
"We can't be there yet, the trip to Hogwarts is an hour or so." said Tom, checking his watch.
"Why are we stopping then?" Charlus asked as the train was getting slower and slower.
As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows. The train came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of racks in the other compartments. Harry, whom was feeling a sense of deja vu watched as Tom whom was the one by the window, wipe down the condensation on the window and made a patch clean to peer out.
"There's something moving out there, " Tom said, "I think people are coming aboard... "
'It can't be dementors! Please don't let it be dementors!'
Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.
"Does everybody have their wands? Harry?" Tom's voice came from in front of Harry. In the darkness Harry could see Tom's outline as he was standing up.
"You don't honestly think this is serious? I'm sure the train must have broken down?" Charlus was saying to Tom, still seated next to Harry.
"Lumos Solem!" Their whole compartment lit up with Tom's wand. "Don't be stupid, Charlus, this is not a coincidence-!" Tom was interrupted by what felt like a big explosion that had also made the train shake. There was shouting of curses and the screaming of students from outside their compartment door.
"Harry, your wand." Tom was saying urgently to him.
"I got it." Harry said whipping it out and coming to stand at Tom's side.
"Charlus?" Tom turned to the boy whom was rooted to the spot. Harry looked at Charlus as well, he looked very frighten.
"Charlus, get up!" Tom said pulling his brother to his feet.
"Ww-we can't take on fully grown wizards on our own! Were just... were just second years!" Charlus exclaimed, he seemed to be hyperventilating.
"You've got to be kidding me? Are you hyperventilating?" Tom asked Charlus just as more loud booming noises were made, it sounded like it was coming closer to their compartment door.
"N-no!" Charlus stuttered acting a bit defensive.
"Y-yes you are!" Tom stuttered back mockingly to Charlus.
"Tom, stop it! Instead of mocking Charlus, how about you help him? Were family and family sticks together." Harry said to a very annoyed Tom.
"Excuse me if I find my brother's cowardliness a disgrace. Especially when those followers of Grindelwald could be after you. He's being pathetic. Some Gryffindor." Tom said harshly to Charlus whom looked down shamefully.
"Tom that was a very narcissistic thing of you to say." Harry glared at Tom whom glared back. Before Harry could say something else the compartment door suddenly shook and then the glass burst into pieces showering the boys of it's sharp shards.
The door opened with such force it made Charlus jump in fright. Standing in the doorway was a cloaked figure with a wand at hand. The man had long black slimy looking hair that went to his shoulders and was wearing a very long dark midnight blue cloak. His whole attire was dark blue.
"How are you zis morning? Well I hope?" When the man did not get a response he walked in more into the compartment just as Tom threw an Expelliarmus spell at the man, but the cloaked man deflected the spell easily and sent a spell back at Tom just as quickly. "Stupefy!"
Charlus knocked Tom out the way and got hit with the spell instead.
"Zebastian, letz go!" Came another follower of Grindelwald's. The man was distracted which gave Harry the opportunity to send his curse.
"Conjunctivitis!" The curse caused 'Zebastian' eyes to swell shut and caused great pain to the man making him drop his wand in the process.
"Everte Statum!"
"Protego Totalum!" Tom had jumped up in front of Harry forming a shield to protect both of them. Tom's spell work still ceased to amaze Harry.
"Glacius!" The man threw another spell at Tom causing a crack in Tom's shield. Harry got his wand ready.
"REDUCTO!" The spell broke Tom's shield in seconds harming Tom in the process. There was blood everywhere on Tom.
"Tom!"
"Incarcerous! Indepedimenta!" Tom was down for the count.
"Converto Bestia!"
"Grab Zebastian and letz go, more vis aurorz and vis minister zis coming." Said the man that had wounded, binded, and tided Tom.
"Grindelwald vill ve verry mad that ve-"
"Grab the boy, Venny, an zest go."
Then the man picked up a baby red fox whom was struggling to get away, but to no avail the man picked up the fox easily and left out the compartment following after the rest of his companions.
