Disclaimer: After all this time, I still don't own Harry Potter.
Mind-Speaking
::Parseltongue::
Harry smelled pancakes. That was what woke him up from a peaceful slumber in his room at Spinner's End. He groaned, not quite ready to face Siri and Remy yet. He hoped he'd be allowed to drag his feet and not head back to Grimmauld until late that evening. His parents had given him a lot of think about. Dumbledore was not to be trusted…he might not be evil, but he was making some very bad decisions. Whether those decisions were because he was ill or because he was trying to hide his illness mattered little since it all boiled down to the fact that he could no longer be trusted. And Fawkes…what in Merlin's name was going on there?! Deciding that he would eventually have to face the day, Harry pulled himself out of the comfortable bed and stumbled, bleary eyed, down the stairs to the kitchen.
He was not prepared for the sight that met his eyes. "Headmistress?" Harry rubbed the silver studs on his face absently as he tried to figure out what was going on.
"Harry, call me Melinda, please," Headmistress Masterson turned to smile at him from her pile of pancakes. Remus and Tom were sitting at the table with her, their own plates of pancakes in front of them.
::Morning, Hatchling:: Nagini hissed, in her large form, curled around Melinda's chair.
::Erm, Nagini? What did I miss? Why are they here, and why're you big?::
::You left me big yesterday, so the nice lady saw me when she arrived. She brought me with them this morning::
Tom was chuckling at Harry's look of utter confusion. ::It seems that Melinda likes Nagini even better large. I think they bonded last night as the only ladies in the house. I told her this was Nagini's normal size, but it seems that Sirius and Remus had loose lips and filled her in on a lot of things besides just my familiar last night::
::Uh huh, so does she know about you?::
"I might not be able to speak Parseltongue, but I do know when someone is talking about me," Melinda crossed her arms and looked at them sternly.
Harry shook his head. She might be significantly younger than Professor McGonagall, but sometimes the headmistress reminded him so much of his Transfiguration professor. The look she was giving him now was pure McGonagall all the way. "I'm sorry, Melinda," Harry escaped from the glare to the stove to grab his plate of pancakes. "I was just trying to figure out what all I missed. When did you get in?" He asked, not quite sure how to ask if she knew she was eating breakfast with the Dark Lord.
"Hestia brought me last night. I'm staying for Christmas," she said, pouring him a glass of milk from the pitcher. "Imagine my surprise when I appear in the sitting room of Grimmauld to find your godfathers…"
"Dogfathers," Tom corrected.
"Yes, thank you. Your dogfathers…dead drunk and playing Exploding Snap with the strangest house elf I've ever met before," she said, giving Remus a glare as he smiled at her sheepishly.
Harry huffed. "I can't believe I missed Dobby!"
"Then, Nags slithers over to me and she's like twenty times her normal size," Melinda glared at Harry this time, making him gulp his bite of pancake in fear.
"Her name's actually Nagini," Tom filled her in as he put some bacon on Harry's plate.
::Yes, please stop with the whole Nags business:: Nagini grumbled.
Harry looked between them questioningly. "Yes, I know, Dark Lord in your head now in human form," Melinda waved her hand dismissively. "You have no idea how hard it is to follow that story when the people telling it to you are drunk out of their minds. I honestly thought they were hallucinating until Winky was able to confirm it for me. I think Kreacher was hiding; I haven't seen him since I've been in."
Harry breathed out. "So…you're ok with everything?"
Melinda shrugged. "It's all a bit strange, but Tom here has been filling us in since we arrived. Frankly, I'm more upset with what they did to poor Severus!" She glared once more at a repentant Remus.
"Don't let him hear you call him that," Tom snorted into his tea.
"Where is Snape, and Sirius for that matter?" Harry asked, looking around like he might see them hiding behind a door or something.
"Drunk people don't make good decisions," Remus said in answer as he nursed a coffee, obviously still a bit hungover.
Melinda ran a hand through his hair in sympathy. "The house elf convinced Sirius to make up with Severus. I'm not exactly sure what it was he convinced him to do, but it was something about a DADA lesson that Tom had at the beginning of the term. He kidnapped your poor Potions professor early this morning for some misguided attempt at bonding."
"Oh no!" Harry exclaimed, looking at Tom in fear. "They're going to kill each other!"
Tom shrugged and smirked. "Sev can take Sirius any day, and right now, I'm less than concerned with Sirius's well-being."
"I'm just happy I didn't get dragged along," Remus grumbled. "I haven't been this hungover in years."
"Well, if you want my advice…" Harry started.
"Nope, I don't want hangover advice from my sixteen-year-old godson," Remus frowned at him. "What I want is a hangover potion, but Melinda, Winky, and Tom have all refused to get me one."
"You deserve to suffer through it," Tom narrowed his eyes at the man.
A loud crack resounded throughout the kitchen at that moment when Snape appeared, still wearing flannel night pants and a black tshirt, pushing Sirius away from him. Harry couldn't hold back his giggles as Sirius Black fell to the floor of the kitchen, completely covered from head to toe in blue paint. Snape had two small splatters of orange paint on one shoulder, but besides that was remarkably paint free. "Next time you try to kidnap someone for paintball, make sure it's at least after 10am!" Snape growled as he made his way to the coffee pot to immediately pour himself a cup.
"Moony, I think I'm dying," Sirius dramatically groaned from the floor.
"Serves you right, Padfoot," Remus said, throwing a soggy teabag at his head.
The teabag slowly slid down the prone man's right cheek, leaving a wet trail in the blue paint. "That was completely uncalled for," Sirius moaned again.
"So, how'd it go?" Harry asked in a sing-song voice through his sniggers.
"The bloody idiot has absolutely no stealth or aim," Snape smirked at the blue man that he made a point to step over as he headed to the table. "And don't think this means I forgive you."
Harry took pity on his godfather and waved a hand in his direction, casting a nonverbal scourgify. Most of the blue paint disappeared, but there seemed to still be some stubborn bits in his long, black hair. "Thanks, pup. I'd never dream of it, Snape. But I did mean what I said as you were pelting me with those bloody painful balls of paint. Also, remind me to never listen to Dobby again," Sirius pulled himself off the floor and collapsed into the chair beside Harry.
"I could have told you that four years ago when Dobby almost killed me trying to save my life," Harry next banished the stray teabag from the floor.
"Stop cleaning," Tom gave his shoulder a small shove. "This isn't the Dursleys."
"Sorry, force of habit," Harry grumbled and ate another large bite of pancake.
"On that note, why are all of you at my house?" Snape growled at them over his coffee mug.
"Harry's here," Remus shrugged and pushed the bacon closer to Snape as a bit of a peace offering. Snape grabbed a piece of bacon but still glared at the werewolf.
"Ok, boys, now, important talk," Melinda sat down her teacup and looked at them all, a smile on her face. "What're we doing for Christmas?"
Christmas Eve turned out to the larger celebration as Harry, Sirius, Remus, and Melinda were all invited to the Weasley's. Melinda had never experienced the insanity of the Burrow before and stared in awe for the first fifteen minutes of the visit at the chaos around her. Luckily, the twins had been warned on pain of dismemberment by Remus that if they pranked his girlfriend, he would unleash everything in the marauder's arsenal on the two. That didn't stop Ginny from pelting the woman with question after question about what it was like at an all-girls school though.
Harry gave Ron an apologetic look as Charlie grabbed onto him as soon as he landed from the floo to play a seeker's game in the back garden. Ron seemed more amused than upset at his friend being stolen by his big brother. Harry had been warned to bring his broom, so he figured the game had already been worked out days before. Several Weasleys made themselves comfortable on the grass as spectators while Charlie and Harry took to the air. Harry completely missed the first snitch as he sat on his broom and stared in awe at the redhead. Charlie was a natural in the air and flew like he was born on a broom. It was like watching a dance or an artist paint as Charlie rushed after the little golden ball that Harry had made no move to go after.
"Mate! I have money on this game. Get it together!" Ron yelled from the ground. "Stop staring at Charlie's arse and look for the snitch!"
"Aw, Harrikins, you go ahead…"
"Stare away! Charlie, give him a good show…"
"While you're up there!" The twins called from the ground, obviously the ones who had bet against him.
Harry immediately turned bright red and ignored Charlie's smirk before he seriously focused in on looking for the snitch and not at the other seeker. Harry did, in fact, catch the snitch the second time, causing Ron to triumphantly crow at the twins.
"It was best two out of three!" Bill reminded Ron; Harry wasn't sure which side Bill had bet on.
"You ready, Har?" Charlie gave him a big smile and a wink as they waited for Mr. Weasley to release the snitch again since he was acting as referee.
Harry turned red once more, but sent a nonverbal, wandless stinging hex towards the arse he was accused of staring at. "Oi! No magic!" Charlie rubbed his bum as Harry flew off laughing to look for the snitch once more.
Stop flirting. I have money on this game too! Tom sent over the link.
You aren't even here! How do you have money on the game?! Harry shot back in bewilderment.
Remus is holding my bet. Tom answered. Now, get your head in the game!
"Dork Lord doesn't even like flying but bets on Quidditch," Harry grumbled under his breath as he flew around the Weasley's garden and kept an eye out for the snitch.
Oh, Love, don't forget to leave Mrs. Weasley's present from me please. Tom reminded him for the tenth time.
Are you sure you didn't bet against me! Harry rolled his eyes. Yes, I'll leave your ridiculously expensive handbag from the two of us!
Tom and Harry ended up having to enlist Melinda to help them get Mrs. Weasley's present, but they were quite pleased with the result. Melinda assured them that Molly would love the Prada handbag with extension and protection charms as well as a security ward to ensure no one could steal anything out of it. Tom had added all the charms and the ward himself after they bought the bag from a store that Melinda had to be dragged out of in the end. Remus was paid fairly well for managing the Black estates and holdings, but he was going to need to save up to get Christmas presents from that store if he was looking to impress the headmistress.
Harry caught a glimmer of gold from the corner of his eye. Unfortunately, it looked like Charlie did as well. They both dove at the same time, rushing for the snitch. The wind rushed through Harry's hair and his heart raced in exhilaration at the speed. His broom was the better broom, but Charlie had been closer. It was so close that they were both reaching out at the same time. Harry's fingers barely grasped onto one of the wings, pulling the snitch into his hand. At the same time, they both had to swerve or hit the tree at the corner of the orchard.
Getting tangled in each other, Charlie and Harry rolled over each other in the air before crashing down to the ground. "Oof!" Charlie grunted as Harry landed directly on top of him.
The raven headed teen coughed, getting air back into his lungs before just splaying out his limbs and head across the dragon handler. "You broke my fall," he said, wriggling around to make sure nothing was broken.
Charlie gasped a bit at the motion on top of him. "Erm, Harry, you planning to get off me?" He asked, realizing that he was about to be in a bad situation quick if the teen didn't get off and stop moving.
"Um, no," Harry grinned, meeting his eyes and showing the snitch he had caught. "I win!"
Harry wiggled around one more time to get a look over to the rest of the family and Charlie immediately shoved him off frantically. "Hey!" Harry exclaimed in hurt indignation.
Oh, Love. Stop torturing the man. Tom laughed. And tell Remus that I expect my winnings tomorrow.
What did I do?!
Harry, please stop and consider a minute. Think, if you were in Charlie's position and he was on top of you and almost grinding against you.
Oh… Harry paused and his face turned red as he glanced over at his friend that had a very concentrated look on his face.
He's probably reciting all the types of dragons and where they're located or something. Tom laughed in explanation.
You think he actually likes me? Harry asked in shock.
You could always just ask. Tom sent him a mental shrug. Harry was pretty sure that no he could NOT just ask.
The rest of the Weasleys rushed over to check that they were all right and uninjured. "That was awesome flying, Harry!" Ron exclaimed. "I told you to never bet against the Boy-Who-Lived!" He laughed at the twins.
"Don't call me that," Harry shot a jelly legs jinx at his friend who fell to the ground, laughing in unconcern.
Charlie recovered quickly and they all rushed into the house for dinner, after Bill finally took pity on Ron and ended the jinx. Dinner was a happy affair considering it was the middle of a war and Percy still hadn't returned to the family after leaving them. The dark cloud cast shadows over the gathering, but there was plenty of food, laughter, and stories to try to dispel as much of it as possible. The night did eventually have to end though. "Hey Ron," Harry pulled his friend aside as they gathered their coats to leave. "I left some presents under your tree for you, Charlie, and your mom."
"Thanks mate!" Ron exclaimed. "I sent yours with Pig a few days ago, you got it right?"
"Under the tree!" Harry grinned at him happily. "Er, please tell your mom that her gift is from me, Siri, Remy, Evan, and Snape. Don't let her think it's just from me, ok?" He didn't think Mrs. Weasley would accept quite an expensive gift just from him, or even just from him and Tom.
"Really? Snape as well?" Ron raised an eyebrow.
Harry shrugged. "He likes your mum. Took him a while to come around, but he respects her."
Harry was almost bowled over as he walked out of the front door of the Burrow and was grabbed into a big hug by Charlie. "Happy Christmas, Harry," Charlie said after his customary twirl around before setting the teen back on the ground. "Wow, you've had a bit of a growth spurt, that's getting a little harder to do."
Harry scowled playfully. "Yeah, Ron gets a growth spurt and grows a foot, and I get two inches! Happy Christmas though, Charlie."
Harry was still smiling as Sirius apparated them away. He wished he could see the look on Charlie's face when he opened his new Nimbus 2001 broom in the morning or when Ron saw his box seat tickets to a Chudley Cannons game, but he'd just have to hear about it later. His Christmas was already claimed by his little family.
Christmas morning was a less boisterous affair at Grimmauld Place. Not that it was any less fun, but it was only Sirius, Remus, Melinda, Winky, Kreacher, Dobby, Tom, Snape, and Harry. The house elves were confused at first that they were required to attend Christmas, thinking they would be serving, but they quickly got over their confusion as they were each handed presents of sweets and a galleon to spend as they saw fit. Well, Kreacher and Dobby settled in and they had to talk Winky around from her horror at being included and given a present.
Things were still tense between the Marauders and Snape, but they were all putting forth an effort and trying at least for Harry's sake. Pretty much everyone got Harry clothes, mainly just because he refused to go shopping for them and had no concept of fashion to begin with. Sirius and Remus included some prank supplies, Melinda some TIW branded notebooks and pens since she agreed that the parchment and quills were more than a bit outdated at Hogwarts, and Tom and Snape included a very old book on blood magic since Harry's lessons were still going on sporadically with Hattie.
All in all, it was a good Christmas, but Harry thought the best part of it happened at the end while everyone was leaving. Melinda had flashed away with Hestia already after disappearing with Remus for a while and returning a bit rumpled. Dobby had headed back to Hogwarts soon after, and Tom and Snape were heading to the floo. "Bye Dad, bye Snape. Happy Christmas. Love you both," Harry told them as he gave his dad a hug and awkwardly nodded at Snape who wasn't on the approved hug list quite yet.
"Severus," Snape offered as he nodded back at Harry. "You may call me Severus when we aren't in class."
Harry grinned at him broadly. "Thanks, Sev!" He exclaimed.
"Harry, what did I just…" Tom clamped an arm around Snape and pulled him into the floo, cutting off his protests at the nickname.
"Love you, Little Snake," Tom called just as the floo flared and they disappeared.
It was Boxing Day and Sirius, Remus, Harry, and even Nagini were lounging around the sitting room, recovering from the massive amounts of food they had consumed over the past two days. "You want to do anything today, pup?" Sirius asked as he nudged his godson's leg with his foot.
"Does not leaving this couch count as something to do?" Harry, proudly wearing his new Weasley jumper, lazily lifted his head to grin at his godfather. "I do however need to brew some more ritual candles tonight, but I'm good just sitting here until then."
"I vote with Harry," Remus agreed from where he was sprawled over an armchair. "I'm out for the brewing though. I leave the potions to you and Severus."
A loud crack resounded throughout the sitting room and Charlie Weasley fell to the floor holding a sheet of parchment. "Bloody hell!" He exclaimed from where he lay.
"Charlie?" Remus asked in confusion.
"What are you doing here?" Harry stood to help his friend off the floor.
Before Charlie could answer, the floo flared and Snape stumbled out, followed by Tom. "Stop pushing me into floos!" Snape snapped at his boyfriend.
"If you didn't look so cute stumbling out, I might," Tom helped him up.
"You!" Charlie jabbed a finger at Tom accusingly. "I just got back to Romania! You had no right to send me what I'm assuming is a highly illegal international portkey without even asking permission first!"
"What's going on here?" Sirius was very confused at why everyone was just showing up in his sitting room.
"Family meeting!" Tom called out in explanation.
"Ah," Charlie nodded his head in understanding.
"What?" Harry asked his friend.
"Family meetings are sacred," Charlie explained. "Everyone, and I mean everyone, has to attend. So…I made the family?" He smiled at the end.
"Of course, you made the family, Dragon Weasel," Tom grumbled and crossed his arms from where he stood by the fireplace. "I was sending Luna a portkey as well, but her owl got to me first. She said she knew what the meeting was about, was busy on safari with her father, and she gives her voting proxy to Charlie if we need to vote on anything as the only sane one of this bunch…her words not mine."
"All right!" Charlie smirked in triumph.
"You have met Ms. Lovegood, correct?" Snape raised an eyebrow at the girl calling Charlie sane.
"Of course, I know Luna," Charlie responded like he didn't know what Snape was talking about. "She's been sending me letters since she became friends with Harry two years ago. We talk about the Crumple Horned Snorkack. I think that's what they're looking for on this safari actually. I really hope they find one."
"Anyway…why're you all here?" Sirius finally asked from where he was still sprawled out on the couch.
"We have a problem," Tom responded with a glance towards Snape.
"The Board of Governors went over Dumbledore's head and hired the new History of Magic professor," Snape explained. "It's Lucius Malfoy."
"What?!" Sirius exclaimed, sitting up now.
"But he's already tried to kill Harry once!" Charlie pulled the teen into his arms protectively.
"Twice actually. Second year and if you count the graveyard in fourth. I definitely count it," Harry narrowed his eyes. "Didn't he get fired from the Board of Governors after second year?"
"He got himself back on last year," Severus nodded. "With Umbridge in charge, Dumbledore wasn't there to vote against him."
"Would he have voted against him?" Tom snorted in disbelief.
Snape rolled his eyes. "Yes, Dumbledore would have."
"Regardless, now Baby Malfoy has Daddy Malfoy there to help him in whatever the evil me has planned. The school isn't safe," Tom continued.
"Has it ever been?" Harry shrugged unconcernedly but kept a hold onto Charlie's arm that was still around him.
"What can we do to keep Harry and the other students safe?" Charlie asked. "The two of you are there, so at least he isn't alone."
"The portraits are on our side as well. Hattie and Eb have them looking out for trouble already since… Baby Malfoy, is that what we're calling him now?...anyway, since his attempts to kill off Dumbledore," Harry said.
"Good," Tom nodded and pulled a bag out of his pocket that he then enlarged. "Sev and I have been talking and we have a few safety measures we think are for the best. First of all, Sev will now be making all his reports to Sirius and Remus as well as Dumbledore since we can't trust the old coot anymore."
"Wait, we can't trust Dumbledore?" Charlie asked in confusion.
"He has dementia. My parents found out when I had them keeping an eye on him," Harry told him. "Unfortunately, he's trying to hide it from everyone instead of letting others help him make decisions when he's impaired."
"Plus, he probably wouldn't accept Harry now that he's a necromancer," Sirius added. "He would think he's a new Dark Lord or something."
"I'm still angry he kept me away from my cub when he was a baby," Remus growled. "You never should have gone to those monsters."
"Agreed," Tom nodded. "Besides, I still hold the title of Dark Lord, even when we kill off evil me. It's a descriptor of my magic level, ability, and following. That all hasn't changed even though I'm sane. So, no, you can't have my title just yet, Harry."
"Didn't want it one bit," Harry smirked at his dad.
"So, since Severus refuses to let me remove his Dark Mark…"
"Don't start that again, Tom," Snape sneered at the man on the other side of the fireplace.
"I'm not…really. I'm just saying, since you insist on continuing to spy, you'll also tell Sirius and Remus everything so we can make sure the Order knows the relevant information and Dumbledore isn't endangering anyone," Tom explained as he took a ring box out of the bag. "These are next," he said as he started to pass around the ring boxes.
Harry opened his to see a plain, white gold band with a serpent engraved so that it looked like it was wrapped around the band. "Ooo, I like this," he smiled as he slipped the ring onto his finger and it sized itself to fit him. "What's it do?"
"These are family line rings," Tom started explaining.
"Really?! I've heard about these! That's so cool," Charlie said as his ring sized to fit his hand as well.
"Why do they have to have a snake on them?" Sirius grumbled, but put his ring on anyway.
"Because I'm the head of house for House Slytherin," Tom rolled his eyes. "There are only three of us in this room that are family heads and are of-age. The Slytherin, Black, and Prince crests all have a snake on them. So, take your pick, but the ring was always going to have a snake."
"What does the Potter crest have on it?" Harry asked as he stared at the ring in admiration.
"A dragon," Sirius said with a smile.
"That's awesome!" Charlie and Harry exclaimed at the same time.
"Please people, it's like herding nifflers," Tom sighed in exasperation. "Look, the rings are family line rings given by a head of house to protect their family. It links us all together. Touch the ring with your thumb and ask for help and we'll all be notified that you're in danger and where you are. Tap the ring with your thumb twice and think 'Familias,' and it'll call a family meeting."
"Will it work internationally?" Charlie asked, giving his ring an appreciative look. He knew they were very expensive, hence why his family didn't have them, and it look a lot of magic to link them all. Sometimes it was nice to have a Dark Lord on your side.
"Yours is spelled as an international portkey as well," Tom nodded. "It'll deliver you to whoever's in trouble or the family meeting if you tap it three times and think 'Portus.'"
"Wow, Tom. This is…just wow," Charlie was at a loss for words.
Tom gave him an appreciative smile. "I sent Luna's to her already. Charlie…do you think your mum would wear one?" He asked tentatively as he pulled another ring box out of the bag.
Charlie thought for a minute as Tom and Harry both looked at him expectantly while the other men just rolled their eyes at the two. "You'd need to separate it so she doesn't get called to family meetings or when one of us are in trouble, so that it only works for her to call for help. Could you do that?"
"Already done," Tom smiled as he still held out the box.
Charlie took it. "I'll try to convince her. I'm not sure what I'll tell her yet, but I'll think of something."
"Well, my best DADA professors were a werewolf, a Death Eater in disguise, and the Dark Lord. Maybe Daddy Malfoy won't be so bad as a History professor," Harry remarked. Everyone looked at him like he was crazy. "What? It's the truth," he said indignantly.
Charlie shook his head. "Look, I love you all, but how do I get back to Romania? My shift on the reserve starts soon. Oh, and Harry, I absolutely love the broom, and I think Mum slept with that purse she likes it so much."
Tom looked very pleased with himself, and Harry grinned at the redhead. "Thanks, I really love the necklace with the dragon fang too."
Tom motioned to the floo as the best option for travel and Charlie sighed. "I really hate international floo travel," he grumbled again as he threw the floo powder into the grate. "Be safe, Harry," he added as the flames pulled him away.
Up Next: Daddy Malfoy and Baby Malfoy scheme...