A/N – Most people didn't seem to mind me adding Amelia into the mix, but there was a loud resounding 'NO!' regarding Hermione. So, the pairing will be Harry/Narcissa for a while, with the addition of Harry/Amelia once they return to their normal timeline. Those of you waiting for the Epilogue for my other story – I have it typed up, I just need to make some edits, so hopefully I will be able to post it tomorrow!
Chapter 5 – A New Lord Emrys
The next morning Harry woke up to the feel of someone's soft skin against his own. He laid there for a moment relishing the feeling of Narcissa in his arms before he opened his eyes to see her tucked into his side with her arm wrapped lazily around his waist. There was a soft content smile on her face. He tried to pull his arm out from under her to go to the bathroom, but when he moved her grip tightened and pulled him in closer. Not wanting to disturb her, he just laid still and waited for her to stir. When Narcissa eventually woke up, Harry could feel her tense for a moment at the realization that she was in bed with someone, but then she seemed to remember everything that had happened and relaxed into him.
"Good morning Narcissa," said Harry letting her know that he was awake.
"Good morning Harry," she replied as she sat up and stretched. She smiled in satisfaction when she noticed Harry staring at her chest in interest. She leaned over and gave him a deep, possessive kiss.
"I'm going to go take a shower," Narcissa said as she pulled away. Narcissa then climbed out of bed and sauntered to the bathroom leaving Harry staring after her.
Narcissa had just closed her eyes and moved under the stream of water when she heard Harry stumbling into the bathroom. Seconds later, she gasped when she felt him step into the shower behind her, his front gently pressed against her back. She turned around and opened her eyes to see him looking at her nervously.
"Uh, hey," he said shyly.
"Hello," she said with a smirk. She chuckled as he shifted his hands up to rest hesitantly on her hips, and then she moved her arms up to wrap around his neck and pull him in for a kiss while she stepped back and welcomed him into the warm water.
After their prolonged shower they walked to the Flamel cottage for breakfast. They sat in amiable conversation until Harry had finished his third helping and then Harry and Nicolas went to the large barn behind the cottage that acted as Nicolas' workshop, while Perenelle and Narcissa stayed in the cottage.
"So what would you like to work on first Harry?" Asked Nicolas.
"Well, I think it would be a good idea to learn how to control my magic. I don't want to keep making Narcissa uncomfortable," said Harry. Nicolas nodded.
"I think that's a good idea. There is a lot you will be able to do with the amount of power you have once you learn to control it. The first thing you need to think about is possible outlets you can use to burn off some of your excess power on a regular basis so that it doesn't build up to a level that is difficult to control. Something like duelling could be a great option for you," Said Nicolas. Harry nodded.
"Can I ask you something?" said Harry after a moment.
"Of course," responded Nicolas.
"You mentioned that I will be able to intentionally channel my magic into people once I've gotten control of it. Does that mean that I will be able to use my magic to gauge people's intentions towards me?
"Yes," said Nicolas, knowing what he was really trying to ask. "I imagine your power will very much be both a blessing and a curse for you."
"How many friends do you think I will lose?" asked Harry quietly.
"It's impossible to say, but for everyone that you lose, I am certain that you will discover a true friend that has been waiting to take their place," said Nicolas knowingly. "You will have many enemies over your lifetimes Harry, but the friends you make will more than make up for the ones that you must walk away from." Nicolas let Harry think about that for a little while before he continued.
"Come on, I think I know where to start. Let me show you around," said Nicolas.
They spent the rest of the morning working on meditations and recognizing and manipulating his magical signature. Then Nicolas taught him how to apparate. After lunch, Harry and Narcissa went back to their cabin hand in hand.
"So, what did you do with Perenelle?" Asked Harry as they walked.
"Well, she taught me how to use my connection with you to tap into your magic, so that I can share some of my own memories with you. It will take some practice but eventually it should be second nature," replied Narcissa. "I have some I'd like to show you tonight, if you're willing?"
"Of course, I would love to see them," said Harry enthusiastically.
"What did you do with Nicolas?" asked Narcissa.
"He taught me some meditations and we started working on how to manipulate my magical signature so that I can control the amount of power I release. Then he taught me how to apparate. He also suggested that I take up duelling as a way of expelling excess energy," responded Harry.
"Well I think I would very much like watching you duel," said Narcissa with a sultry grin as they reached the cabin.
That night they were sitting on the sofa together while Narcissa tried to share some memories with him. It took a few attempts but eventually it worked, and Harry got to watch in pleasant surprise as a young Narcissa played with Sirius, danced with Sirius, and when she was older walk with him around Hogsmeade. When the memory was over Harry took her hands in his.
"I knew you were related, but I didn't realize how close you were. I could feel how
much you cared for him," said Harry softly. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair nervously. He wasn't great at sharing things.
"I miss him so much sometimes," he said. "Did you know he was my godfather?"
"I did not. I had wondered how you became close enough to be named his heir," replied Narcissa.
"We were going to be a family, you know, me and him, once we cleared his name and he didn't have to be on the run anymore. I would have liked that," said Harry.
"I miss him too, Harry. I always regretted turning my back on him when Walburga disowned him. He was my only true friend growing up. I wish could have been brave like him," said Narcissa honestly.
"I'm sure he's proud of you now, Cissy?" replied Harry.
"Cissy?" said Narcissa. Harry just shrugged.
"I noticed Sirius used to call you that. I don't have to if you don't want me to," answered Harry.
"No, it's alright. I like it when you say it," said Narcissa with a reassuring smile.
o – o – o – o – o
The rest of the month passed quickly for Harry as he fell into a relaxed routine. The mornings were reserved for working with Nicolas while the afternoons and evenings were spent getting to know Narcissa, both personally and physically, and building the trust they would need for their relationship to last. He grew really close to Nicolas over their time together. Once Harry mastered how to control his magic, they moved on to alchemy and how to use the Philosopher's stone. They also talked a lot about Merlin, and the Effusio spell. Harry was surprised by how easy it was to talk to Nicolas, and not only did Harry see him as a mentor but he quickly became a confidant and a friend. Harry had shared a couple memories with Narcissa of his time with the Dursleys, but Nicolas was the only person he had ever openly talk about his childhood with. Harry realized he had a lot of anger and resentment towards Dumbledore for leaving him there, and he couldn't help but think of how different his life could have been if he had been raised in the magical world by people who cared for him. Nicolas urged him not to dwell in the past and instead focus on moving forward. Now that he could use his magic to tell people's true intentions towards him, he would be able to quickly build a strong network of allies and friends that would support him. Nicolas reminded him that he had over 600 years to make friends, he would never have to be alone again if he didn't want to.
"What is it like? Living for so long?" asked Harry on their last day together, while they finished up the rings for Dobby and Winky.
"Many people think only of the glory of immortality, and though it has allowed us to witness many great things and be a part of most of wizarding kind's most historic moments, there have been many times when it has felt like the costs greatly outweighed the benefits. The heartache of losing your children, and grandchildren, of losing your closest friends, making new ones and then losing them again. It can be extremely difficult, especially when you are someone that cares very deeply for others. And then a time comes when you have done everything and simply want to move on, but you can't because your work is still not done. I have been blessed to have had Perenelle by my side all these years. She has gotten me through many storms, I may not have made it through otherwise," answered Nicolas.
"I will miss you Nicolas, when you go," said Harry. Nicolas knew what he meant.
"Don't mourn for me Harry, it is long past my time to move on, and I will go gratefully. Besides, I'm not done quite yet," replied Nicolas.
o – o – o – o – o
Narcissa's month went much the same as Harry's. In the mornings, she would sit with Perenelle and work on utilizing her link with Harry to power her own magic. She increased her ease at sharing memories with him and learned how to use his power to increase the strength of her own spells, and even heal herself if needed. It amazed her that when she 'borrowed' his magic she barely scratched the surface on the total pool of magical power available to Harry. She could, and sometimes did, take an amount that would cause most wizards to end up with a completely drained magical core and Harry didn't even notice. The feeling of his magic swirling through her was thrilling and it made their evenings all the more fun.
In the afternoons, her and Harry would share memories and talk about their hopes for the future. She knew trust didn't come easy for Harry, but each day she felt like they were getting closer, and his walls were dropping more and more. In the evenings, they often explored the physical side of their new relationship. The more they were intimate, the more confident Harry became. One night about two weeks into their stay with the Flamels, Harry had been so lost in the moment of their union that he had accidently let out a burst of magic and Narcissa's orgasm had been so powerful that it lasted for several minutes and she had almost passed out. Harry quickly realized that he could use his magic to amplify the experience for Narcissa and began experimenting on the best ways to use it to please her. Narcissa certainly had no complaints about that, Harry was proving to be a very fast and enthusiastic learner much to her delight. She had long forgotten the pleasures of intimacy with another, and Narcissa found that she was enjoying the physical side of their relationship very much.
Like Harry, she quickly developed a strong bond and friendship with Perenelle. She found herself opening up about her marriage to Lucius, what it was like growing up as a Black, and the expectations that were placed on her. She talked about her guilt at everything she had done in support of the Dark Lord, and the dreams she had given up on. Eventually she told Perenelle about the abuse and how she had come to be married to Harry Potter.
On their last day in Devon, Narcissa was sitting on the sofa in their cottage thinking about her most recent conversation with Perenelle.
"You have a second chance with Harry, Narcissa. He will take good care of you, and you will find with 600 years or more you will have plenty of time to do everything you could possibly think of. I spent three decades as a muggle primary school teacher when we first moved to Devon because I had tried everything else in the wizarding world and I always loved children. Trust me, there will come a time when you struggle to find something new to pursue. Take what fate had given you and allow yourself to be happy. Let go of the past, let go of what others have expected of you. Six or seven lifetimes is too long to burden yourself with things you cannot change, my dear," Perenelle had said. Narcissa was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of Harry walking into the kitchen. She watched as he walked over and leaned down to give her a languid kiss before sitting down beside her. Winky immediately appeared with a cup of tea.
"Thank you, Winky," said Harry kindly as he took the proffered cup and took a sip. "How was your day Cissy?"
"Good, I think I will miss being here," she said with a hint of sadness.
"Me too. I was thinking today about how hard it will be when they move on," said Harry. Narcissa nodded in understanding and gently reached over to take his hand.
"Are you ready to go?" She asked.
"I think so, Nicolas and I have finished the rings for Dobby and Winky, and he has walked me through the alterations he made to the spell to allow him to keep his magic, so I know what to expect. Are you ready?" asked Harry.
"As I'll ever be I suppose. I'm a bit nervous about it will be like in Albion, but I am looking forward to meeting the Druid and learning about their culture," answered Narcissa.
"I'm nervous too Narcissa, but we'll be together, so everything will be alright," Harry said as he leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss for reassurance.
That night they laid in bed facing each other while Narcissa shared memories with Harry of Draco growing up. He wasn't really that interested in seeing memories of Draco, but he knew it was important to Narcissa to share them with him, so he didn't complain.
"You know, when I first met Draco that day at Madam Malkin's, I thought he was an arrogant, judgemental arse," said Harry with an apologetic look towards Narcissa. She winced slightly but didn't let go of his hands.
"He is very much like his father," she said.
"Yes, but only because that is how Lucius raised him. It is not the person he has to become," responded Harry as he gently pushed strands of loose hair behind her ear. "I judged Draco that day, just as much as he judged me, but I realized tonight, seeing your memories that his childhood wasn't that much better than my own. I saw the way Lucius treated him, they way he groomed him to be just as cold and ruthless as he was, but I also saw that is not what is in his heart. It is not the person he wants to be. It is simply the only thing he has ever known. It is what he has been told is expected of him, much like your own experience growing up."
"I hope you are right. I would like to see him get the chance to become his own person. To be happy," replied Narcissa.
"We'll help him Narcissa. I promise," said Harry. Narcissa smiled at him as she pulled him in for a deep kiss. She moved to straddle his lap and slowly licked around the edge of his lips to request entrance. When his lips parted, she plunged her tongue into his mouth. Narcissa moaned when she felt one of his hands begin to massage her breast as the other reached around and grabbed her bottom. When she felt him fully harden against her, she reached down between them and guided him into her wet centre.
o – o – o – o – o
The next morning, they stood in the Flamel kitchen to perform the effusio spell. Harry and Nicolas stood in front of each other, hands clasped together and eyes tightly shut, while Narcissa and Perenelle sat at the table and watched them.
"MAGICAE EFFUSIO," whispered Nicolas and a beam of pale golden light surrounded them before condensing into a small ball above their heads. They watched as Nicolas eyes shot open and he focused intently on the ball of light slowing moving towards Harry. He separated it into a ball of dark golden energy, and pure white energy before he pushed the golden ball quickly towards Harry and let go of Harry's hands to grab the levitated white globe of energy and absorb it back into himself. Both men were thrown backwards and landed on the floor with soft thuds. Narcissa and Perenelle, quickly stood up from the table and went to their husbands' sides. Nicolas began to stir immediately and sat up, but Harry continued to lay on the floor his eyelids fluttering as if he was dreaming.
An hour later, Harry woke up on the Flamel sofa. He could hear soft whispering at the kitchen table and sat up with a smile. Narcissa saw him and smiled in return before she walked over at sat next to him on the sofa.
"How do you feel Harry?" she asked as he stood up and stretched. He looked down at her to answer and she gasped when she saw the golden flames swimming in his eyes, before they disappeared when he blinked.
"I feel fine Narcissa," he said as he leaned down and kissed her gently. "And you don't have to worry about where will be living."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I have all of Merlin's memories of building it, and I assure you it is fit for a queen," Harry said cheekily as he walked towards the kitchen.
"Perenelle, could I bother you for some food?" asked Harry. Perenelle nodded and flicked her wand, causing a plate of food to appear on the table in front of his empty chair. Narcissa followed him and reclaimed her chair next to him.
"How do you feel Nicolas?' asked Harry as he took a bite.
"Like a huge burden had been lifted. I never realized how heavy a weight Merlin's magic was to carry until it was gone," said Nicolas in awe.
"Well thank you for carrying the burden for a while Nicolas, I will strive to make you both proud," said Harry.
"You already have, Harry." Said Nicolas fondly. When Harry finished eating Nicolas said what they all were thinking.
"You should get going." Harry nodded and called for Winky and Dobby. A second later the house elves appeared with a suitcase each for Harry and Narcissa. Nicolas walked over to them and gave them each their ring.
"We will see you both soon," said Perenelle as she hugged them both.
"Yes I suppose you will," said Narcissa with a gentle laugh, remembering that only a matter of seconds would pass for them. After a quick handshake with Nicolas, Harry nodded and tapped the stone on his ring with his wand before he took Narcissa's hand reached his other out for Dobby to take. Once Winky had taken Narcissa's hand Harry closed his eyes and thought about Merlin's memories of Albion.
"I am Lord Emrys, guide me home," he whispered. As soon as he spoke the words light swirled around them and then they were gone, leaving a frozen Nicolas and Perenelle behind.
o – o – o – o – o
When the spinning stopped, Harry opened his eyes to see that they were standing in a large circular clearing in the middle of a deep forest. In the distance, over the trees, he could just make out the top of a majestic castle. Harry smiled.
"Where are we Master Harry, sir?" asked Dobby.
"Welcome to Albion, Dobby," said Harry as he gently squeezed Narcissa's hand and started guiding her in the direction of the castle. As soon as they took their first step, about a dozen cloaked figures stepped out the trees surrounding them and removed their hoods. The tallest of the cloaked figures stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Welcome Lord and Lady Emrys. We have been waiting a long time for you. My name is Cathbad, I am the eighth chief of the enclave," said the Druid chief. Harry looked at him closely. Cathbad was a handsome, muscular man in his forties, with long brown hair and a bright, cheerful smile. Harry let his magic flare momentarily and then breathed a sigh of relief at the content smile that crossed his features.
"Ah, you are a sorcerer. Milcah will be delighted," said Cathbad.
"It is an honor to meet you Cathbad. My name is Harry and this beautiful woman next to me is my wife Narcissa," replied Harry. Cathbad nodded to them both before coming up and kissing Narcissa on the hand softly.
"He does not lie about your beauty. If I did not already have seven wives, I would attempt to steal you away," said Cathbad as he pulled away, leaving Narcissa blushing at the compliment. Then he gestured towards the castle.
"Follow me Lord and Lady Emrys," said the chief as he led them through the trees. As they walked silently through the woods Harry watched as Narcissa kept opening her mouth like she wanted to say something, but then she would look at Harry hesitantly and close it again. 'I wonder what is up with her. I'll have to ask her about it when we are alone.'
When they walked out of the forest they were standing at the edge of a tall cliff. Harry looked up to get his first real look at Albion. He heard Narcissa gasp softly next to him.
'It looks exactly the same as it did in Merlin's memories, but it is even more spectacular in person.'
They both stared in awe at the majestic castle situation in the middle of a large central island surrounded by many smaller islands of high cliffs and forests. The castle was pristine as if never even touched and though it was smaller it would give Hogwarts a run for its money in terms of beauty. Immediately surrounding the castle was a small village encased by a wall around the edge of the island. There were various bridges crossing the ocean and connecting the castle to the other smaller islands that encircled it.
"Welcome to your new home Narcissa?" Said Harry with a smirk.
"You don't mean? - we'll be living there?" she asked.
"I told it was fit for a queen," he said in way of a response. Narcissa rolled her eyes at his teasing but then she squealed in excitement and bit her lip playfully and she looked at him with pure joy in her eyes. Harry smiled at her show of excitement. 'It is nice to see her being more expressive.'
"I assume you know how to apparate," said Cathbad, pulling Harry out of his thoughts.
"Yes," said Harry and Narcissa at the same time.
"Then we will meet you at the front gate," said Cathbad as he and the other Druid disappeared from sight. Harry and Narcissa looked at each other for a moment before giving each other a nod and apparating away. They were quickly followed by Dobby and Winky, still carrying their suitcases.
The gate opened for them automatically and they walked inside. Cathbad was close behind them, but the rest of the welcoming party chose to remain at the gate. They received many curious and fascinated glances as they walked up the cobblestone road towards the castle entrance. Nobody stopped them or said anything, but they all watched as they passed. Some seemed hesitant of them, but many of the villagers waved and some even bowed.
"Stories of your arrival have been passed down from generation to generation since the time of Cathbad I. They have spent their whole lives hoping to witness your arrival, but now that you are here, they are wondering how things will change," explained Cathbad.
Harry was equally fascinated by watching them go about their day. There were many little shops and street carts selling everything you could imagine from all over the world. Children ran in the streets, chasing each other up and down alleys while their parents laughed in conversation. In Merlin's memories these streets were empty, so Harry was surprised to see so many people living and working here. ' I wonder how they came to be here.'
"A few centuries ago, a group of the more progressive Druid decided to leave the cave and settle here to form their own society. They are still Druid, but many of them no longer follow the ancient ways and they often travel to other realms and bring visitors to the village. Some choose to stay; it is why you see the presence of so many world cultures," replied Cathbad. Harry looked at him in shock as he realized Cathbad had answered his unvoiced question. 'So, they really do communicate telepathically. I hope that is something I get to learn while I am here.'
"I imagine it will be one of the first things we will work on, otherwise you will feel most left out," said Cathbad with a smirk. Harry blushed in embarrassment and hurried to the castle entrance where Narcissa was waiting.
"You will want to hire some locals to man the entrance. I imagine there will be many people wanting to meet you and get a look inside the castle," said Cathbad. Harry and Narcissa both looked at him in surprise.
"The castle has been preserved with magic, but you will be the first people to step inside since Merlin sealed it when he went to London over 600 years ago. It can only be unsealed by an Emrys," explained Cathbad. Harry and Narcissa nodded in understanding. "I see you brought your elf companions, but if you find that you need more help, there are many villagers that would be most eager to work for you."
"Winky and Dobby are capable of caring for the master and mistress. They shall not be needing any other help," said Winky firmly with her hands on her hips.
"I meant no offense little one, I am sure they will be well tended in your care," said Cathbad with a small bow to the house elf and a wide grin. "I will leave you to give your lovely wife the grand tour Emrys. I hope you will consider joining us for dinner this evening?"
"Yes, of course," said Harry.
"Wonderful, then I shall return at light fall to escort you," said Cathbad. Then he disappeared. Harry turned to the door and placed the palms of each of his hands against it until he heard a soft clicking sound. Then he firmly pushed it open, noting that it was much heavier than he expected it to be. They walked inside and Harry searched Merlin's memories of the castle to decide where to take Narcissa first.
"Would you like to take a look around?" He asked as he took her hand and gently interlaced their fingers.
"Oh yes, very much," said Narcissa with a wide smile. Harry nodded and began to guide her up the main staircase.
"Winky, Dobby, you should probably come along as well, in case there are any changes my lady wants made," called Harry cheekily, earning him a playful smack in the arm.
"You don't need Winky and Dobby to take notes Master Harry, sir. The castle is sentient like the come and go room at Hogwarts. Dobby can feel the magic. All you need to do is ask for what you want, and it will appear," explained Dobby.
"Oh, well in that case, why don't you put our belongings away in the master suite and then get settled. We will let you know if you need anything," replied Harry. Winky and Dobby nodded happily and then disappeared. Harry and Narcissa walked the whole castle. Narcissa eagerly made any changes she saw fit to each room as they went, just as Harry knew she would, but he refrained from teasing her about it.
The castle had several bedrooms, a few large sitting rooms, a formal and informal dining room, a large kitchen, a wine cellar, a ballroom, a private study and formal office, a potions laboratory, workshop, training room, and a large meeting room with an elaborate round table in the middle. The master bathroom had a large four poster bed and a balcony overlooking the back of the island which was uninhabited, and the castle garden. The en-suite had a large bathtub like the one in the prefect bathroom he used to decode his egg in fourth year and attached to the other side was a suite of rooms meant for Narcissa.
After making a few minor changes to the bathroom, they went back into the bedroom and Harry watched as she changed the colours of the drapes over the bed and the rug, and - wait!
"Please don't tell me you are decorating our bedroom like the Slytherin common room. You do realize I'm a Gryffindor, right?" Narcissa laughed melodiously and walked over to Harry with a pout.
"But I've always really liked those colours," she said as she pulled him in for a searing kiss. "Besides, you'll be more cunning Slytherin then brash Gryffindor by the time I'm through with you." Harry tried but he couldn't resist her pout.
"Fine," he mumbled as he dragged her out of the room to finish the tour. They ended their journey in the part of the castle Harry was most excited to see, the library.
The edges of the room were lined floor to ceiling with full bookshelves and it seemed like there were endless rows of shelves filling the rest of the space. You couldn't see the back of the room and there was no way tell where it ended. It was much fuller than it was in Merlin's memories. 'Hermione would love this place.'
"Every book that has ever been written is in this room," said Harry as Narcissa looked around in awe. "As soon as the ink has dried a copy appears here." They agreed to take a few books on telepathy and Druid culture and history to begin reading before dinner. Harry walked over to the large open tome on a podium near the entrance and asked for what they wanted. A stack of books quickly appeared on an empty table nearby. They carried them down to the conservatory that looked out at the rose garden and started to read. Narcissa sat against the arm rest with her feet lying in Harry's lap. Harry removed her shoes and socks and massaged her feet gently as he read, smirking every time he heard her moan. When he finished the first two chapters he stopped and closed his book turning to Narcissa as if suddenly remembering something.
"Narcissa, when we were in the forest you kept looking like you wanted to say something, but you never did, why not?" Asked Harry. Narcissa sighed and closed her book to look over at him, moving her feet out of his lap so she could sit up next to him.
"I learned early on in my marriage with Lucius what my place was in public settings. He expected me to be proudly at his side, but silent unless he addressed me directly. Today was our first day in company outside of Nicolas and Perenelle and I - I didn't know what you expected of me. I didn't want to upset you, so I just stayed quiet." Harry's eyes glazed with fire as she finished explaining, but he kept his magic under control.
"I hope someday you will believe that I am not Lucius and that I will never treat you the way that he did. I see you as much more than just a pretty decoration on my arm Narcissa. I respect you; I need you. I have no idea how to navigate the world as Lord Potter-Black-Emrys. I will depend on your guidance and council, and there will likely be many times where I will need you to speak on my behalf because I don't know or can't remember what I'm supposed to say. No matter who we are with, I want you to feel free to speak if you have something you want to say. Besides, I'm sure I'm much more likely to say something embarrassing then you are," finished Harry. Narcissa smiled softly at him.
"I will proudly be your voice when you ask me to Harry. Thank you for trusting me," replied Narcissa.
"I may not have trusted you very much in the beginning, but I know better now. I know you Narcissa because of all you have shared with me, and I do trust you. I want you to know that," said Harry sincerely. Narcissa's smile turned feral as she moved onto his lap.
"I am going to show you just how happy I am to be Mrs. Potter-Black-Emrys," she said huskily as she licked around the rim of his ear and reached down to unzip his trousers. Before Harry could come up with a response, he lost the ability to think coherently all together.
o – o – o – o – o
Lucius Malfoy was having one of the worst months he had ever had, and that was saying something because the last year had been shite. He had spent the entire month searching England, Wales, Scotland, even France for any hint of his wife or that blasted Harry Potter. The Dark Lord had made it very clear that he either found Harry Potter, and took care of his wayward wife or he sacrificed his son, the only thing he really had left to bargain with, for the Dark Lord's next ritual. His fortune was gone, his sanity was dwindling from one too many rounds of the Cruciatus curse, and he knew that if he didn't find Narcissa soon, his life was likely forfeit as well. Draco would be sacrificed, but he wasn't stupid enough to believe he wouldn't be as well.
Just as he was stumbling out of a tavern in Glasgow, he felt his dark mark burn, letting him know he was being summoned. He shivered and took a deep breath, but before he could respond and apparate to his master, his world froze.
o – o – o – o – o
Albus Dumbledore sat down at his desk in an aggravated fury after destroying everything in his office. He had spent the last month searching for Harry Potter to no avail. He went so far as to put an ad out in every newspaper in England, and he was constantly monitoring the owl post service. He hadn't had any more luck with the house or finding Flamel either and Molly's incessant worry about the boy was grating on his nerves.
The new minister was furious with him and he was running out of favours to call in. To make matters worse he had just received a visit from Voldemort regarding the whereabouts of the boy, things had to be really bad for that to happen. They weren't allies, but they weren't exactly opponents either. Neither of them were ready for the rest of the world to know that. They were too useful to each other. Dumbledore passed information to Voldemort through Snape to keep the war going the way he wanted it too. The more they feared Voldemort, the more glory there would be when he eventually saved the day. Voldemort, for his part, was more reliant then he should be on the information Dumbledore provided.
Albus had only spoken to Voldemort one other time. After Harry had the vision of Arthur being attacked in the Department of Mysteries, Dumbledore knew that Voldemort hadn't just passed some of his powers to Harry when his killing curse rebounded. Harry was a Horcrux. He told Snape to pass that on and then that night he received a visit from the Dark Lord himself. Voldemort thanked him for the information and then asked that he continue to keep Harry weak and dependent on him, but safe. Dumbledore got the message, but also got something else. He could use Harry as a sacrifice. With his death it would give him the reason he needed to challenge Voldemort and defeat him; when the time was right of course. He decided he would keep him safe, but slowly give him information about the Horcruxes and prepare him to make the ultimate sacrifice he would undoubtable make. He had a saving people thing after all. But for that to happen, he had to find the boy, and quickly, but where to look? He had to tread carefully, because even Albus Dumbledore could outlive his usefulness, which is exactly what would happen if Flamel found him first. He was so wrapped up in his plans that he didn't notice Fawkes soft trill of sadness before he flew out the window, never to return. Dumbledore reached for a sherbet lemon, but before he could put it in his mouth he froze.