Disclaimer: I own nothing except my original characters of Lucy, David, Janice, Molly & Celia
Authors Note: This chapter starts in January. Enjoy everyone.
Chapter Twenty One: Birthday, Love and Sightings
Christmas had come and gone. New Years Eve had also come and gone.
It would soon be time for Harry and the rest of the New Marauders to be returning to Hogwarts for the school year.
But before they did there was a certain little boy who's birthday was due to take place on January the third a day before Harry left.
It was as a result of this that Harry, Draco and Molly had been roped in (with their full consent) to help prepare everything for their younger brother.
As Harry worked on blowing up balloons he lamented the fact that there were so few children of Davids own age that the boy could call friends.
Of course, there was Harry, Draco, Molly and their friends but in the first place they were all older than David by several years and in the second place all of them with the exception of Molly were at Hogwarts for a large part of the year and Molly herself would be heading to Hogwarts next year having been granted special dispensation for starting school earlier.
"Hey Harry, help me with this banner" his brother called out.
Harry tied off the balloon and pushed it aside as he headed over to the back wall of the ballroom where Draco was hanging a long, orange and red coloured banner that read "Happy Sixth Birthday David" on it.
Harry climbed the other ladder next to Draco and the two of them hoisted the banner aloft.
Unfortunately, timing has a way of causing problems so often and just such a thing happened here.
Harry became distracted by a sound coming from the two way mirror in his jeans pocket.
He reached into the pocket and pulled it out "oh hey babe" he said to Ginny when he saw her beaming face.
"We're coming over in a minute to help, can't wait to see you love" she told him.
"Sounds great, love you Gin Gin, see you in a minute" they blew a kiss to each other and the mirror went blank.
A noise of someone clearing their throat forced it's way into Harry's ears.
He looked all around but couldn't see anything.
He did however notice an empty ladder and with a glance at the ground saw a very irritated Draco, looking dishevelled, lying on the floor, the banner draped over him like a sash "if you're quite done conducting your love life when we're decorating" he spat out irritably.
Harry grinned "what's the matter Draco? jealous because Luna hasn't noticed you?".
Draco's face and ears turned bright red and Harry grinned even more as realised that his hunch all this time had been correct.
He knew of course that his brother had at one time had a thing for Ginny, probably even wanting to date her but not it seemed he had moved on to their blonde haired friend "oh! so I was right! you do fancy Luna!" he said gleefully.
His brother seized a nearby spoon and threw it at him "oh shut up" he snapped.
Harry stopped teasing his brother, got down from the ladder and walked over to help him up.
Once they were seated on a plush sofa Harry turned to his brother who seemed to be deep in thought "you should just tell her how you feel" he told Draco plainly.
His brother glared at him "like it's that easy" he said in annoyance.
Harry smiled "well it was for me. I told Ginny I had feelings for her and I was lucky, she had feelings too and now look at us".
Draco stood up looking angry "oh yes Mr Perfect Potter!" he threw his arms up "everything's so easy for you isn't it! you do something that would get most people expelled and you end up on the Quidditch team while me?" he pointed to himself "I end up in the bloody reserves with no hope in hell of getting on the team until Wood leaves!".
Harry stood up, his blood boiling in anger. Before he could speak, his brother continued his rant "all you have to do is snap your fingers!" Draco snapped his fingers to demonstrate "and the girls come running. I've never had it so easy, I've had work for what I have!, my Mother killed herself while I was in the next room!".
Harry could see that Draco was crying now but instead of comforting his sibling as he usually did, his own feelings were so confused that he said "you think I've had it easy do you?".
Harry got right up in his brothers face, so closed they were within spitting distance "I nearly died in that chamber back in May or did you forget that incident? oh of course, you weren't there were you? Ron was though" he added maliciously "and in only my First bloody Year I had to kill Quirrell and save the stone!".
His brother sneered "you didn't have to Harry! that's just your typical bloody hero complex coming out as usual!".
Harry was feeling enraged now "and what about when I almost died at the age of eight? huh? was that a "hero complex"?".
"I saved you!" Draco shouted.
Harry snorted "yeah so you could get the glory for doing it".
His brother looked ready to hit him but didn't seem to have a response.
Harry continued "I was one and a half when I lost my Mother. I nearly lost my Dad too and when I'm older I have to kill my Mum's murderer because of some stupid Prophecy!".
"Hero Complex" Draco said snidely.
That did it at last.
Harry leapt at Draco, tackling him to the floor.
The two of them wrestled for several minutes as Harry got the upper hand and began trying to punch his brother only for Draco to turn the tables on him.
After what seemed like an eternity a voice that was usually calm shouted "what are you two doing!?".
Harry felt strong hands haul him away from Draco and saw his Uncle Peter pulling Draco away.
He tried to wrestle himself from the persons grip only for them to say "calm down!".
He was dragged, resisting fiercely, from the ballroom and hauled upstairs to his bedroom.
One glance back at his brother told him that Peter was doing the same thing to Draco.
Harry glanced up and saw a tuft of light brown hair with flecks of grey and a pair of green eyes.
He knew it was his Uncle Remus.
As angry as he was he knew how strong his Uncle was and that struggling would be pointless.
His Uncle thew him bodily onto the bed.
He glared at Remus angrily "why'd you stop me!?" he demanded furiously.
Remus stares at him his face calm "because you were attacking your brother Harry".
"The way he just spoke to me made it very clear he doesn't want to be my brother" Harry said scornfully.
His Uncle whipped out his wand.
For one fearful moment Harry thought he would curse him but Remus merely waved the wand, causing a comfortable chair to cross the room.
Remus promptly sat down still staring impassively at Harry "I'm sure Draco was just upset Harry. I doubt he meant any of what he said" his Uncle said reasonably.
Harry glared at him even more "what like when he said how easy it is for me!" he replied hotly "when he claimed I didn't deserve my place on the Quidditch team, or that all I have to do is snap my fingers and girls come running?".
Harry stood up and began pacing "he thinks I've had it so bloody easy!" he shouted "but he's not the one who faints like a girl around Dementors!. He's not the one who had to kill people because they want me dead!. He's not the one who saw his Mother die in front of him!".
Harry's tough exterior was cracking.
He could feel it as he continued to give vent to his feelings.
"He's not the bloody one who has a price on his head!. This fucking prophecy!" Harry swore.
He sank down on to his bed and began to sob "he's not the one who has to face up to a monster someday and kill him or be killed!. He has no idea the pressure! what it's like to have to avenge my Mothers killer when his Mother had the choice!".
Harry picked up a glass on his bedside cabinet and hurled it as hard as he could against the far wall "he's got no one to blame for his Mothers death! no need to seek revenge. Every day I feel the loss! every damn day I have to go around putting up with this celebrity!".
Harry stared at his Uncle through watery eyes "does he really think it's fun for me to have people calling me the Boy Who Lived or The Chosen One? I hate it!. I just want to be a normal teenage boy!".
Harry couldn't say any more. He was so choked up with sobs that he felt as if his body would crack under it's weight.
For nearly thirteen years he had kept these feelings bottled up inside.
He had been through in thirteen years, more than most other people wouldn't experience in a life time or even two life times.
He felt so broken up right now.
On the one hand he loved Draco as a brother and wanted to go to him, to apologise for his words and actions but on the other hand he couldn't easily forget or forgive Draco's words.
He had no idea what to do "help me Moony" he sobbed.
Through his blurry eyes he saw his Uncle move from his chair and sit next to him on the bed.
He was drawn into a tight hug and continued sobbing into his Uncles jumper "please help me. I don't know what to do!".
Draco felt so angry at this moment in time.
All he wanted to do was swear. To kick furniture and to rage against anything and everything.
How dare Harry give him advice?.
It was always so easy for his "perfect" brother.
He got girls without even having to try.
He got put on the Quidditch team at school when he'd deserved to be punished and he dared talk about what he'd been through?.
As if Draco hadn't been through the same thing.
Every bad feeling Harry had Draco felt it.
Every negative or upsetting thought he had, Draco heard it.
Ok sure, Harry had lost his Mother when he was one and a half and that was awful but Draco had lost his Mum too.
He had only been in the next room when it happened he'd been told later.
She'd killed herself so as not to be used against her only Son.
And then there was this Prophecy business.
Harry claimed he had no idea what it was like because he didn't have one hanging over his head.
Claimed that his Mother didn't need avenging.
But the news flash was that this made it worse not better.
He had no one to properly vent his anger at over her death.
He couldn't exactly rage against dead woman could he?.
That wouldn't be right. He couldn't rage against Voldemort or his birth Father Lucius Malfoy for neither had killed her.
So where the hell was he supposed to take this built up emotion?.
Who could he vent against?.
Who could he blame?.
"What the hell was that fight all about Draco?" his Uncle Peter asked, cutting through his thoughts.
Draco glared at him "we were speaking some truths at last is all. He said how he felt and so did I. Mr Perfect Potter, no has any problems, never has to worry about girls or his emotions".
"Now you know that's just not true Draco. Harry had just as many problems as you, if not more" his Uncle said.
Draco scoffed "oh yes I know. The Prophecy. But lets be honest other than so hypothetical time in the future where he may he face Voldemort and I stress the word may, what else do he have to worry about? really? he got on the Quidditch team when he should have been punished and he gets a girl just be clicking his fingers! I've never been that lucky".
The next response from his Uncle stops his rage dead "and I suppose he was lucky to have his Mum killed in front of him was he? and to have the most evil wizard in our history try to kill him?".
His Uncle was glaring now "I can't believe after everything the two of you have been through together that you are behaving this way!. You're brothers for god sake! try acting like it!".
Draco glared "we're not brothers not really! only thanks to some stupid blood ritual!".
"Oh Draco open your eyes!" his Uncle snapped "being a brother is about more than just blood".
His Uncle walked closer "it's about being there for someone through everything. It's about sharing the good times and the bad. It's about laughing with your brother when somethings funny. Comforting them when they're sad. Fighting with them when they're in danger. That's what being a brother is!" Peter said "I'm not related by blood to your Dad or to James or Remus and yet I view all of them as my brothers. They protected me. They shared my adversity and my triumphs. James even invited me to live here!".
Peter gestured around "he wouldn't take no for an answer and you know why?. It's because we're brothers and we always bloody will be! so grow up Draco and go and talk to your brother because I'm sure that right now he's just as upset and angry as you are".
His Uncle stormed out of the room leaving him to ponder on what had been said.
Harry had sat brooding in his room for several hours after the incident with Draco. His feelings flitted between anger, sadness and regret.
As the sun began to set that night he made a decision.
He got up from his bed and headed for the door.
He was just heading to his brothers bedroom planning to make the first move of reconciliation when said brother came out of his own room a few doors down.
The two brothers stared at each other impassively for a moment each waiting for the other to make a move.
It became clear to Harry that if neither of them made a move then their enmity would never be sorted.
He started to move forwards and it seemed that his brother through their mental link had heard the idea and decided to match it.
They met outside Harry's Dad's bedroom.
For a while they didn't talk.
The silence was heavy as it was a funeral.
And then at the same time they opened their mouths "I'm sorry!" they both said.
They looked intently at each other "I was wrong" Harry said.
"So was I" Draco admitted.
"I didn't know you truly felt like that" Harry confessed.
Draco shrugged "a lot of it was the heat of the moment" he replied.
Harry sighed "I'm sorry for what I said about you saving me. I know you weren't looking for glory".
His brother snorted "no more than you are with this prophecy hanging over your head" Draco sighed "god what an awful thing to say".
Harry moved so that he was standing right next to his brother "look Draco, we both said things we didn't mean, it's been stressful, this business with Buckbeak and Mundungus Fletcher on the loose, I think we both needed to vent".
"You were only trying to give me advice Harry. I appreciate that now and I shouldn't have bit your head off like that".
"No you shouldn't" acknowledged Harry "but neither was it my place to give you advice. I should have left it to Dad or someone else".
"It was good advice" Draco confessed.
"Brothers?" Harry asked the question hoping it was still true.
His brother laughed "one fight isn't going to change it. Brothers together..." Draco put his fist out.
Harry met it with his own as they touched knuckles "Brothers forever" Draco finished.
The two of them drew each other into a powerful hug and stayed that way for some time.
The next day, their second to last before returning to school, was the day of their brother Davids Sixth birthday party.
Harry couldn't believe how quickly the little guy was growing up.
He was so smart already.
He'd been able to read and do maths problems from the age of four and at the same time had shown a great aptitude for writing.
Harry wasn't sure why but he had the hunch that his brother would be a powerful wizard when he grew up.
As they put the finish touches on the ballroom, his thoughts turned to the day when he found his brother drawing a picture, a picture of a bald wizard with flat nostrils and glowing red eyes.
Lord Voldemort.
Harry shivered at the memory.
Despite shrugging it off he'd seen since, more pictures his brother had drawn of past events or events that had come true including of a short, fat man with no hair.
The traitor Mundungus Fletcher.
His thoughts returned to the present as his Godfather appeared and helped him with the banner.
Once they were done, everyone of the guests got into position and David was led in.
Harry watched on happily as his brother smiled widely and clapped his hands in delight at the decorations (the theme was trains) and at the vast array of foods and presents and all of the guests.
The party that followed lasted until nine pm and involved Harry and his other siblings and friends being roped into games of pass the parcel, hide and seek, duck duck goose and more.
Harry watched on as his brother tore into the present Harry had got him. It was a book on the Greatest Quidditch Players.
His brothers face had lit up and he'd hugged him and shouted "thank you! thank you! thank you!".
That night as the party was winding down David fell asleep where he was sat cross legged on the floor.
"I'll get him up to bed and settled" his Aunt Janice said and made a move to get up.
Harry knelt down "no it's alright Aunt Jan, I'll take him up" he said helpfully.
His Aunt beamed at him, ruffled his hair and said "you really are a good lad Harry".
Harry smiled and moved to carefully pick up his little brother.
As he carried David out of the ballroom, across the entrance hall and up the stairs, Harry lamented just how heavy his brother had gotten while he'd been away at school.
That was the one thing Harry did not like about being away so often. Missing his siblings grow up.
By the time he reached his younger brothers bedroom on the second floor he was exhausted.
Thankfully Draco and Molly were there to help.
Molly opened the door for him and Draco helped him carry David to the bed.
They got him changed into his pyjamas and under the duvet.
Harry gave him a kiss on the forehead as did his brother and sister and they then slipped quietly out of the room, though not before Harry murmured "sleep tight Davy. We love you".
The train ride back to Hogwarts was as lively as ever but Harry noticed that one person was not joining in the merriment or the discussions.
Draco.
His brother, seated near the window of their compartment, merely stared out at the snow covered grass and the darkening sky as the train chugged it's way northwards.
He knew his brother was deep in thought through their mental link.
In this way the link could be both a blessing and a curse as neither brother could truly hide their thoughts or feelings from the other.
Harry decided he needed to say something though he no wish to provoke an argument such as the one they had at the Manor.
Through their link he asked "Draco why do you have a face like a slapped arse?".
His brother clearly hearing this glared at him for a moment before turning back to the window and replying over their link "I'm thinking about what to say to Luna".
"At last" Harry said mentally "I was beginning to think you'd never tell her".
"I may not yet" Draco told him "I have no idea what words to use. I've never felt like this before".
Harry smiled "neither had I before Ginny and me got together. Just be honest with her about how you feel and see if she feels the same".
Their mental link was so silent for a time that he feared his brother would shout at him again.
Eventually the response came through "thanks Harry. I'll do that".
The first part of January went quietly enough with classes and Quidditch practice.
The New Marauders had planned a prank to be played on Ron's brothers and Lee Jordan in retaliation for a prank played on them at the start of the month.
The plan involved a new sweet they had designed that when chewed would cause the person in question to transform into a clown complete with face paint, silly shoes and riding a unicycle while being forced to juggle.
The problem they had run into when designing the prank was how to convince two arch pranksters the level of the Weasley Twins and their accomplice to eat said sweets.
In the end they settled on making their sweets look and taste exactly like a bag of fudge that the Weasleys had been given as a gift for Christmas.
In order to carry out the plan two of the New Marauders had taken up places in the Gryffindor common room.
Draco and Neville were to keep the Twins and their friend engaged in conversation and through a game of chess thereby giving the much more nimble Harry, time to sneak into the Year Five dorm and swap out three regular pieces of fudge of which thankfully only three were left and swap them with the creation from the New Marauders.
As Harry was swapping out the fudge cubes he heard someone clear their throat and thought for sure that he'd been caught.
He looked over his shoulder and saw the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain Oliver Wood grinning at him "I figured you were up to something when I saw you bypass your dorm" Wood told him.
Harry went to say something "Oliver this isn't...".
Wood however was grinning "don't worry Harry. Your secrets safe with me. Whatever prank you're planning I won't say a word".
Wood winked and disappeared again.
Harry stared after him for a moment before returning to his task which he managed to carry out successfully.
Smiling to himself he exited the dorm and headed back down to the common room.
On the way he met Ginny who was heading up to the common room from her own dorm "hey love" she said giving him a peck on the cheek.
Harry smiled and pecked her on the cheek in return "hey love".
They clasped hands and entered the common room "what were you doing in Fred and George's dorm room?" she asked him shrewdly.
Harry grinned "a prank" he whispered.
She smiled "I can't wait to see it in action".
They headed over to where the others were sitting, engrossed in a game of Wizards Chess between Draco and George.
Draco seemed to be winning handily judging by the frustrated look on George's face and the amused expressions on everyone else's.
As they reached them, Harry threw the thumbs up to the other New Marauders who gave a brief nod of acknowledgement of a mission well done.
That night at dinner Harry and his friends kept casting surreptitious glances at Fred, George and Lee as they waited to see if the three of them would eat the fudge and if so, whether the fudge would work.
Harry was halfway through a second helping of his favourite dessert, sticky toffee cheesecake, when there was a loud bang.
Harry jumped and sent his plate flying.
He looked around wildly for the source of the sound and found much to his amusement and satisfaction that two clowns wearing long floppy shoes, ridiculous face paint, red noses and green hair, were balancing precariously on top of unicycles and being forced to juggle.
He began to laugh. Slowly at first but then more forcefully. It began a giggle, then a chuckle and finally a deep belly laugh.
He was joined by his friends and the other Gryffindors and many students from other tables.
He noticed the Twins' friend Lee was laughing as well after recovering from his initial bemusement at the situation.
Harry was a bit disappointed that Lee had not fallen into the trap but it was still hilarious.
As per the spell, the Twins cycled multiple times around the various tables including near the staff table where Harry noticed that most of the Professors were helpless with laughter.
His Uncle Remus and virtual Uncle Severus were doubled over laughing like hyenas, Hagrid was guffawing loudly and pointing, most of the other Professors were smiling widely in amusement while the corners of Professor Dumbledore's mouth had twitched up and there was a familiar twinkling in his blue eyes.
After ten minutes, the spell wore off leaving two very confused redheads to stare about them clearly wondering what had just happened.
Almost the whole hall had risen in applause for the prank which Harry and his friends had acknowledged with bows, grins and waves.
The next morning at breakfast, the joy that had come from a prank well done, was broken as suddenly as it had appeared.
Harry had just tucked into bacon and eggs when a great rustling could be heard from the rafters of the Great Hall and hundreds of owls descended to the House and Staff tables to deliver various post from parcels to letters and in a few cases, howlers!.
Harry's own owl Hedwig landed gracefully on the table in front of him. Clutched in her beak was a copy of that day's Daily Prophet.
Harry didn't read much of the paper but he had been subscribing to it ever since he'd been told of the escape of Mundungus Fletcher.
He took the paper from Hedwigs mouth setting it down next to him in a space he'd cleared of plates and cutlery.
"Here girl" he said and handed her a goblet of water.
She took a sip of it and nibbled some bacon that he offered her.
He gave her a brief stroke of her snow white feathers, she nipped his finger affectionately and took off, no doubt heading for the owlery where she spent most of her time or perhaps to hunt.
Harry took a sip of water as he looked at the article on the front page.
His water slid down the wrong way in shock and horror at the headline which glared out at him "Fletcher sighted in Hogsmeade".
He began to choke and splutter and had to be banged roughly on the back by Ron who was seated next to him.
"What's got you so upset Harry?" Hermione questioned.
She looked over at the headline and turned pale "oh Harry" was all she could say as looked at him pitiably.
Ron and the others also took a look.
Ron swore loudly "bloody hell Harry!".
Harry nodded, no longer feeling hungry.
The man who had betrayed his Parents and himself was far too close by for comfort and there was only one reason he would be so near to the school at which Harry resided.
The thought that sprang to his mind was not at all a cheerful one.
One bright spot was Harry's Patronus lessons.
He had begun learning the charm with Remus and his friends and brother on the first Saturday after term had resumed.
At this precise moment he was feeling quite frustrated. He'd shouted the incantation as instructed and yet, just as at the first session a week ago, had only produced wisps of smoke that Remus had informed him was called a "non corporeal patronus".
He slammed his wand on the desk "damn it!" he said angrily "why can't I do it?".
The others stopped trying and stared at him while his Uncle came to his side "don't be so hard on yourself Harry. This charm is miles beyond even Seventh Year students. In fact..." Remus looked around to make sure no one else but those present, was listening "the charm is only know by members of the Order Of The Phoenix" he told them all.
"Really?" Neville asked in amazement.
Remus smiled and nodded "that's right" he turned back to face Harry "so don't be so upset at not getting it straight away. It takes a lot of time and effort to produce one".
It was the third week of January. God how time seemed to fly, Draco thought as he sat at a table in the Library reading through a book on numbers and magic for his Arithmancy class.
"Hey you" came a familiar soft voice.
He turned at the sound and smiled as he saw Luna approach his table.
As she smiled back he felt an odd sensation in his stomach.
It felt like his stomach had dropped to his feet and his heart was trying to jump from his chest.
He had described the feeling to Harry, the only person he felt he could open up to about such things and Harry had been of the opinion that at the very least he had some feelings for Luna beyond just being friends.
As she sat down in the seat next to him he shivered and felt that his brother was absolutely right.
"What are you working on?" she asked him, looking over at his book.
Draco grimaced "it's just a book on Arithmancy".
"Oh" she said.
He stared into her pale silvery eyes and knew that it was now or never.
He had to tell her what he was feeling or he'd never have the courage and then she'd meet someone else and...oh god...just do it!.
"Luna I think I love you!" he blurted out.
He then kicked himself, feeling instantly embarrassed at saying it in such a way.
His blonde haired friend was silent for a long while.
So long in fact that Draco stood up and went to walk away feeling totally humiliated and certain that she did not return his feelings.
As he turned away from her and began to walk, a soft hand grabbed his own and another one turned him around.
He was face to face with Luna now.
There was wide smile on her face "do you really?...love me that is" she said.
Draco nodded, his throat feeling very dry, his heart beating fast.
Luna planted a big kiss on his cheek and pulled him into a warm hug "oh god I can't believe you love me" she said.
"I love you too" she told him and his heart leapt "I've been wondering how to tell you since the summer but I couldn't pluck up the courage".
Draco laughed loudly earning him an angry glare from the hawkish Librarian Madam Pince.
Luna looked confused as to why he was laughing.
He clued her in on the joke "I've been wondering how to tell you as well" he told her "I've been terrified of telling you in case you rejected me!".
"I'd never do that" she murmured "never, never, never".
Draco heard a jubilant voice in his head.
It was his brother and he simply said "it's about bloody time". Draco grinned widely.
When they entered the Gryffindor common room, their hands intertwined Harry and the others cheered and clapped.
Some whistled and all of them came over to Draco and Luna to congratulate them.
Draco was feeling so overwhelmed with happiness at it all.
Authors Note:
Hi everyone. Hope you all enjoyed reading that chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I think it had the right mix of drama and fun but I'd appreciate reviews if you can so I know what worked and what didn't.
Did you have a favourite part? I'd love to hear.
Regardless, that's all from this chapter.
The next one will start in February and will deal with more Quidditch, Valentines Day and a retaliatory prank from the Weasley Twins.