Dear Surajmukhi,

If Dracula wanted to take a vacation with Jack the Ripper and the Swamp Thing, Durmstrang would be too dreary. On the way here I saw a fairy pointing the opposite direction, desperately urging us all to turn around and not enter this place of UTTER DESPAIR—

Lucius was not amused. He was not sitting in this muggle home, reading this letter at a muggle girl's desk as a source of entertainment. He broke into this home and cast a gentle sleeping spell on the residents so as to gather intelligence. Not surprisingly, Igor decided to not heed his warning. In fact, he decided to grow an actual set of male testicles and actively set up wards against Lucius Malfoy. He would be sure to remember to shove them down that idiot's throat.

Until then he would read this letter and not be amused by the overly dramatic Harry James Potter.

But did we heed the fairy? DID WE!?

Obviously we did not. It's not just the school that's depressing though (I'm not going to get depressed though so don't worry, this place is just poo) it's the wardrobe and lessons and teachers and the food. The food. It's like everyone is allergic to seasoning. I asked someone for salt and they spat in my face. Not literally. Severus would have gone to prison. There's a crazy inhumane wizard prison called Azkaban by the way. It has soul sucking monsters apparently. There's a cool spell but when I tried to use it I fainted.

Moving on.

There's one cool teacher here. He's a vampire. Like an actual vampire. He teaches Poisons soooo Severus loves, loves, loves him. Sorry. Sev says he doesn't love, love, love him. He just loves

Here a ugly streak of ink marred the parchment.

Okay he says he doesn't love him at all. Just greatly admires him. He's super old so "his knowledge is vast". I like him though cause he's cool.

He's got this ring that lets him go into dim sunlight so a place like this is really convenient for him. We're like somewhere in North Europe. Severus says he thinks we're in Austria but don't tell anyone. This place is super super secret. They even scan our messages! So don't be surprised if they turn the Netherlands into Finland. But they said they won't snoop and it's a spell that does the checking and changing.

Ooh! I'm on the quidditch team! I don't get to be the main Seeker though. UNFORTUNATELY that goes to this super cool, awesome fifth year guy named Viktor Krum. He's like the BEST seeker I've EVER EVER seen and he's REALLY HUMBLE about it too! He doesn't even boast about the fact that he's being scouted by like SUPER FAMOUS teams! I had to find that out by okay, Sev says snooping but I don't snoop. The letter was peeking out of his cloak and pick pocketing is like what kids do and is it really stealing if he doesn't know? I put it back.

"The answer is yes, young Mr. Potter," Lucius muttered to the boy. How did such a sneaky child make it into Gryffindor of all Houses? Though, Lucius supposed he was also kind and decent despite obviously being bitten by the jealousy monster.

GROWL NOISE HERE. Viktor is so cool, Mooki! And he's hilarious! He made Sev snort! SNORT! I can't even make Sev do that! I want to hate Viktor sooooo bad! It's not faaaiirrrr that he's so nice! He gives me all these pointers and shows me all his training and, when the upper guys tried to pick on the fresh meat, Viktor stopped them! I mean, I'm sure they weren't that tough and even I could have handled them but who wants to do all that when you can have a super cool older brother who is big as a house! Ooh yeah Viktor is like super buff. Like Superman buff.

Ooh my God!

Viktor Krum is a Bulgarian Superman. Wait no. That's BS.

I have to move on or you'll think I'm in love with him and break up with me and I don't think I'm ready for my first heartbreak. Do you think we'll be one of those couples that stay together from middle school until they're like really, really old? If we are there's this cool marriage bond that'll give you my lifespan but won't kill you JUST in case I die first. But I won't. I'm gonna live to be a thousand years old!

Speaking of bonds I like all our roommates! Sev and I got to stay together and then there's Numerius, Petronius, Seth and Quibilah and Bayo. Quibilah and Bayo are twins! So obviously they're my favorite two. They're super nice too. You'd think such a depressing, ugly school with dubious teachers and lessons that really shouldn't be allowed would have more evil arseholes but nope! The adults are weirdos but the kids are cool.

Okay, I'll write you again soon! Have some school approved photos!

Love,

Harry Potter

Lucius glanced through the photos. Hmm, considering that Potter was a mere twelve years old, he had a bit of an artistic talent it seemed. Two were still frames, one of the dreary academy with a gorgeous full moon illuminating it. The other was of the redhead Potter hanging upside down and quite precariously from a beam, his face twisted in a pure, childish joy. There were a handful of moving pictures, introducing possible roommates, showing off a gooey monster coming from a cauldron, and of course many, many photos of the Potter twins.

Lucius wanted to burn the photos to a crisp but he was no fool and he had a feeling it was the residual dark magic contained in the journal that caused this rage. First and foremost he was a professional. This was a reconnaissance mission and he would leave no trace. Carefully he piled the photos back together and replaced the letter to move to the next.

Mooki,

The necklace still gets hot and I still don't see anything wrong. Am I going crazy? Does it mean something HUGE is coming this way? The more Severus tells me not the worry the more I know he's keeping something from me! Severus mentioned a bond that would link our minds together but that was it. He hasn't brought it back up and when I try he just mutters and wanders off.

Ooh. And I think there's a flu coming on. All the boys in our room are all droopy. I tried brewing some Pepper Up but it didn't do anything so it's probably a flu. Severus says I'm being paranoid but I'm telling him! This place is dreary but Bayo said he was having trouble casting spells! Mind, he wasn't that good to begin with cause who wants to be good at cursing people? But still!

Not only that but Severus is SLEEPING at night. He probably has it already but in the day he still has energy, probably more now.

I like that he's sleeping but I don't like this other stuff. Maybe it's Fatigue Fever.

Love,

Harry

It seemed that Potter wrote this girl often. From long, two feet letters detailing his day to short little notes with nonsensical thoughts jotted down. Every day he wrote to her, if these dates were correct. Multiple times a day. Puppy love indeed. And a huge violation to Wizard Law. The letters alone were bad enough but then the photos, the gifts… ooh, this letter was short but interesting as it didn't even greet the girl. Not only that but it was dated nearly a week ago and seemed the most recent.

At first I might have been going crazy but now I know I'm not! Seth couldn't get his broom to lift and all the other boys all have detention for sleeping in class. I asked for a temporary room change but the Headmaster said no. Have I mentioned him yet? Probably not because he's super not interesting. When everyone lines up you can't even tell he's the headmaster. Sev brewed a common booster to try to help.

It's not helping.

Harry

Tap! Tap!

Lucius started violently, his knees knocking into the child's desk and he knocked his head into the shelf above, sending a small garden careening to the ground. Lucius proved to still have quick reflexes and caught the flowers before they could be destroyed. Then he whipped to the cause of his distress, brown eyes burning furiously.

However, he paused upon seeing the owl.

A snow owl.

Harry Potter's owl.

It was nearly one in the morning, not the time for a child to be up and mailing letters. He threw open the windows and prepared himself for a small tussle to retrieve the letter but the owl barely even looked at him. She swooped in, dropped the letter from her beak, snatched a treat from an open bowl then dashed back off. Lucius noted a second letter clutched in her talon.

I'm so glad you answered me back with Candies. I'm eating through them as I write so if there's any sticky… ooh, I just got some right there. I'm sorry.

Everyone in here is acting like weird things aren't happening and they are! They're happening! This whole sleepy thing is spreading to the other dorms and even the teachers are looking sluggish. Speaking of Sev. He's being weird! The weirdest.

Now hear me out. Sev is weird, yes. But! He's getting REALLY weird to the point that I've been keeping record. Look on the back then come back.

Lucius turned the page around, somewhat curious to whatever phenomena Potter was noting. The boy was very dramatic and slightly emotional most of the time but this was the exception. In fact, he and everyone in their vicinity were in much greater danger than any of them could imagine.

Ugh. Was that guilt? Or indigestion?

Severus Odd Sightings

Night One: Severus raised his arm. I was coming from the bathroom so I went to see if he needed something but his eyes were closed and he seemed asleep. He only kept it up for a minute or two I think.

Night Two: Severus raised his arm in his sleep again. This time for almost an hour.

Night Three: Again his arm and it's midnight. Was it midnight the last two times?

Night Four: it's midnight again but this time he raised BOTH arms. They stayed up for only a couple minutes.

Night Five: he's sitting up. Midnight. His eyes are closed and he looks asleep. I called out to him but he just laid back down.

Night Six: Midnight. He sat up again and I called out again. This time he didn't lay back down. Instead he turned his face to me and SMILED. I don't know. It wasn't a normal smile. His lips almost touched his ears and I swear it got so cold.

Lucius felt a shudder go down his spine.

Absolutely fascinating.

His Lord hadn't disclosed just what the journal was but emphasized its importance; at the same time his Severus essentially told him that it was something so evil he shouldn't allow it to touch his bare flesh. Though he would one day inform his dear friend that just close proximity caused a certain madness like a suffocating blanket he could only just barely keep off his airways. Luckily, the opposite held true as well. With the journal out of his home, he felt much better, less cold as though he could finally breathe.

But now there was this strange tightening in his gut as he came to terms that he unleashed an unknown evil on not just a child but on a school full of promising purebloods.

This is night seven, Mooki. And it's almost midnight. Something. Isn't. Right. In the morning I'm going to show Severus my report and I'm going to convince him to leave. I'm scared, Mooki.

Here the words were hurried, smeared and written in panic.

HOLY SWEET JESUS! Mooki. Mooki. Mooki! I don't know when you're going to get this but we are leaving this place NOW!

It struck midnight so I lit my wand to see what Severus was doing and he wasn't in the bed so of course I whipped around and he was RIGHT NEXT TO ME! SMILING! I nearly pissed my shorts and then to top it off he spoke! And what did he say?

"Hello, brother."

And then he was gone!

I swear I blinked and he was gone. I'm going to finish this off and then I'm going to find Severus and we're LEAVING. I'm not sure if we'll head home or to St. Mungo's or perhaps we'll go to Snape's and he can help us.

It doesn't matter.

Don't worry too much about it.

As soon as I can we'll head over to you.

Love, Harry

Lucius nearly flipped the page over to see if there was more but it was only the report.

"Who are you?"

Shite!

Lucius started again, his knees knocking into the desk and his head into the shelf again. He whipped around, this time his wand out but he wasn't met by a defensive adult with killer intent. Instead, he had to drag his eyes down to see a small, defensive boy with killer intent.

No, he was not exaggerating. The boy, no older than his own heir, held a wickedly curved dagger in his hand and it dripped with something… obviously toxic. Thick and green, nearly burning a hole into the floor below. Magical. And no doubt Potter's doing.

"Put down your wand," the boy, the muggle boy may Lucius point out, growled. Attempted to growl, his voice still high and childish, not even cracking. "I'll cut you before you get me with a spell."

Lucius scoffed. How dare—?

The boy lunged, sidestepping his wand before Lucius could flick his wrist. It turned out one cut was all the muggle boy needed and he was smart to hit clearly exposed skin, a simple knick on his outstretched wand hand.

That's how Lucius ended up flat on his face, completely numb.

"I apologize if you are an ally but Severus said that it is better to attack first and apologize than to be killed," the boy brushed back his dark strands to give him a crooked grin, "After all, I'm just a lowly, weak muggle, eh?"

Lucius thanked Merlin that he had the sense to disguise himself. When the boy disappeared from his limited sight and came back with a magic binding collar he thanked Merlin that he had the sense to disguise himself with Polyjuice. Even after paralyzing him and semi taunting him, it was obvious that the boy was a kind soul. He was as gentle as he could be propping Lucius against the wall in a comfortable position, hair brushed from his face so that he could see clearly.

"H-hhhoooowwww?" Lucius slurred, mouth working furiously against the numbness. He wasn't sure if he felt more outraged or humiliated or outraged at this humiliation. Him! Lucius Malfoy! Second in command to none other than the Dark Lord himself! Taken down by some muggle child?

"How what?" The Indian boy tilted his head in slight confusion, leaning away from his sister. He seemed satisfied that she was unharmed except the violation to her privacy. Soon he was back in front of Lucius, squatting between his splayed legs and propping his head on his open palm and a cloth sack dangling from his other hand. "Ooh, do you mean whatever you did to my sister and nanni?"

Lucius nodded.

Sorta.

His head flopped sideways. To add to his humiliation the boy kindly straightened him, not even having the decency to look smug about it all.

"Well, the shortest explanation is that my sister decided to be in love with Wizard Jesus so I took some precautions," the boy sat back on his heels and pulled down his pajamas collar to reveal magical runes branded on the boy's brown chest, right above his heart. It was old magic, not old enough to be considered obsolete but it was certainly barbaric. "Of course I didn't do it on my own and it was quite terrifying and it's not like it gives me magic or anything but it did give me a resistance to your spell."

"Umm, listen, I don't know who you are or why you're here and I mean you no harm. I'm just going to erase your memory and use this port key to send you to your ministry," the boy dug a vial and a supposed port key in the form of an old sock from the enchanted cloth sack.

Normally Lucius wouldn't even think to believe a child's threat or a muggle that breathed however this child was a friend of those evil twins who flaunted breaking the rules.

That was a port key.

That was a memory erasing potion.

Sweet Merlin. How far back would that potion eat his memories? Would it be permanent? Who would be at the Ministry this late at night? No one could see him like this. What—?

Suddenly the room was flooded in a bright white light and the unmistakable warmth of a patronus washed over them. In the middle of the room was a snow owl, beautiful and absolutely massive. It spread its wings, light struggling to stay bright. How far it must have traveled, how much magic to make it shine so bright? It opened its beak to let out the devastating sound of a terrified, distressed child.

"SEND HELP!"

Harry Potter.

The owl vanished.

At some point the boy had dashed across the room, his sister first on his mind. But now he stood there, legs trembling, mouth open and eyes wide. The poisoned dagger fell almost silently to the carpet.

Confused.

Scared.

Concerned.

Ignorant.

All those emotions twisted the boy's face, flooded his eyes. Lucius could practically taste the helplessness. The man smiled.

"Iiiiii kiiiinnn haalllppp."

-/+

Very far away, Harry had just sent off his final letters. One to Surajmukhi and one to Aunt Petunia. He hoped Hedwig would rest at some point before coming to find him. Oh, he should have told her to stay away because they would not be there past this night—this hour if he could help it.

Harry didn't care about their clothes, supplies—none of that mattered. He just needed to find Severus. He ran down the halls loudly, uncaring if he awakened or alerted anyone. He just needed to find Severus. It took him an embarrassingly long time to remember the necklace burning a hole into his sternum. He pressed the rock to his eye and was surprised to find himself in the sky. And down below was Severus and Professor Luca?

Were they FIGHTING!? Harry couldn't watch past the sight of their professor picking Severus up by his collar and throwing him clear across the room, nearly sending him over the edge. He had to do something!

He went to the wrong roof the first time. The second time. By the third, thunder had cracked the skies open and rain pounded loudly on the stone building, lightning flashing across the windows. Harry reached the top of the third roof, lungs burning and legs just barely holding him up.

Please, let this be the right roof.

Please, let him get to Severus in time.

He couldn't lose him.

He had to save him.

Harry flung the door open and stopped short, breath caught in his lungs and body unable to move. He held onto the handle, sure it was the only thing keeping him up.

"What…?" Harry swallowed, still not quite able to comprehend what he was seeing. "What? What have you done?"

Severus was directly in the center of the roof, looking up at the rainy sky. As though this were just a regular night. As though their professor wasn't lying dead at his feet, with a large, wooden stake sticking from his chest and another large, wooden stake still in Severus's hand.

"Sev! What did you do?!" Harry shouted, a loud clap of thunder pushing him into action. He stumbled a few steps forward but he came to a stop when Severus finally, finally looked at him. Why? His eyes were the same color but they weren't Severus's eyes. They were cold and unfeeling.

"Hello, brother," Severus greeted almost cheerfully but the smile that twisted his twin's lips was grotesque and almost obscene. It wasn't right.

"R… un…"

Harry almost didn't hear it but he saw slight movement and it was their professor. He wasn't dead! The vampire reached weakly for him, pale hand barely raising from the ground but he seemed determined.

"Run… Harry. He's… not—!" The vampire let out a pained groan as Harry's spell yanked him clear across the roof and away from the stake Severus attempted to drive through his flesh once more.

"Now. That. Wasn't. Nice. Brother." Severus tilted his head, smile widening. With each word he took a heavy, thudding step towards him. If he thought he was threatening him, well, he wasn't!

"Sev, this school is doing something to you," Harry licked his lips and carefully stepped over Professor Luca. He didn't know what was happening, he wouldn't fight his brother but he couldn't stand by and allow him to hurt their professor either.

"Whatever do you mean?" Severus giggled, hand coming to cover his mouth delicately. Not right.

"Let's call help for Professor Luca and leave," Harry said firmly, glaring at the boy. Severus was still his twin but this giggling thing? That was the school. And he would not let this school consume his brother.

"I—!"

Harry took the chance to lunge at the small boy. He knocked the hand to the side and whirled behind his brother, wrapping his arms around his waist and then bringing him swiftly above his head in a wide arc until he successfully slammed the boy's head to the ground. Severus's body went slack without a sound and, damn, if Harry didn't want to shout his success. Instead, he lifted a tired fist to the pouring skies and sent a silent little cheer to their parents, sure all four of them were looking down.

He knew it.

Never, ever has he ever beaten Severus in a fight.

And he still hadn't.

Because this wasn't Severus.

Harry uselessly licked his lips and pushed himself up to take stock. Severus was unconscious, already looking like himself with his face peaceful and still. Professor—

"I didn't forget you, Professor!" Harry gasped, scrambling over to the man. He raised his wand and shot off one of the special signals the school taught him then he dropped to his knees and did his best to steady the stake and guided his professor to hold it. "I'm not going to pull it out. Neither should you, not until you have some blood to drink. I'd give you mine but…" Harry looked back at his brother. "We've got to dash."

"Don't…" Professor Luca gasped, trying to stop him but his strength was completely gone so Harry broke the hold easily.

"Don't worry. I bet we just have to get away from here. It's the school. Ooh, I hear shouting . Lemme just…" Harry fumbled around until he got his wand and cast a light shield over the vampire, just enough to stop the rain. "Please, don't die permanently. I would miss you and Severus would be devastated. Help is coming."

Harry gave the man a gentle pat.

Time to go.

Harry may have abandoned most of their things but he had the sense to grab his broom and shrink it into his pocket. Luckily it received zero damage so he was able to enlarge it and climb aboard. It was too easy to pull Severus onto the broom, sitting so that he was curled into him, head tucked under his chin. He made a note to force the boy to eat more.

"Back home we go," Harry muttered. Yes, home was the smartest choice. Maybe or maybe not. Harry wouldn't find out because they were suddenly attacked. And not by magic or something that made sense—no, the sky was suddenly filled with black cloaked figures.

Literally.

Above them.

To their left.

To their right.

Below them.

Were those… Harry took his glasses off against the rain. Were those dementors?! As in the guardians of Azkaban?

One swooped in close and Harry attempted to dodge but one, reaching stick thin finger grazed his hair. A woman screamed in the distance, so loud and clear Harry thought she was beside them. But she wasn't. That was ridiculous. Another dementor swooped in and Harry dodged but ran directly into another one. He twisted away before it could attempt to suck away his happiness. There were so many. He could try to fight them and maybe he could win but not with Severus unconscious in his lap.

So Harry ran.

Pretty simple.

Unfortunately it wasn't actually that simple.

It was a blur really.

Heart pounding.

Pushing his broom past its limits.

Trees. Trees would help.

But then something happened, something hit him in the broom and they were sent crashing to the ground.

He was sure that it hurt. After all, he curled around Severus to take the burnt of the landing and he was sure he heard something snap that wasn't a branch.

But that wasn't important.

He had to get up.

Something shot them down. That wasn't dementors. He had to get up. There. He could see glowing wands and were those red Auror robes? And the dementors were in front of them like search dogs. Shite! Shite! What to do? What to do?

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry shouted as the fastest dementors reached them first. A large snow owl, an exact replica of Hedwig, shot from his wand and washed him with joyful warmth. It spreads its wings fiercely at the dementors and the beings hesitated, retreating out of the light but that wasn't what Harry wanted. He was much more fearful of the humans closing in rapidly. He had zero faith they were there to help them.

"SEND HELP!" He shouted at his patronus and sent it off to the first person he could think of.

The dementors swooped in like the greedy pigs they were but what was Harry to do now? He couldn't… even…

A woman screamed.

-/+

TBC

I did it! Very surprising. I thought I'd have to pause for years lol. I could only think that I wanted Harry letters and dementors and the two surprisingly didn't mesh.

Anyway I hope yall enjoyed it.

Stay safe ducklings