Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Several wonderful reviewers asked some really good questions and brought up some excellent points. I believe I have answered them all in this and the next chapter. However, quick rundown: No, Harry didn't accidentally do the 8th level of Necromancy. It's more involved than the killing curse. The premise is that you shouldn't be able to do it unless you had mastered all of the other 7 levels first. It seems anyone can cast the killing curse. I'll make sure to explain it more in a chapter later.
Also, yes, Ron did see Charlie die and can see thestrals. It's easy for him to block out what happened since Charlie is alive now. He hasn't really come to terms completely with what happened to Charlie or to Harry yet. He'll get a really good shock next chapter when he gets to officially meet Chaos.
Keep the questions and ideas coming. It'll help me to flesh out the remaining few chapters of the story before we wrap it all up.
Dear Harry,
I haven't heard from you in awhile, and you missed our last floo call. Are you doing ok? How are things at school? I imagine everything is really busy since this is your NEWT year. Hey, why would Luna mention that you had been "taken" over the summer? What does she mean by that?
Charlie
Very Confused
x
x
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Dear Harry,
Did I do something you make you angry at me? If I did, I really am sorry. Just tell me, and I'll fix it. Why haven't I heard from you in a couple weeks? Ron sent me a letter, and he said he's worried about you, that you don't seem yourself lately. Mate, if Ron is worried about you, then something really is wrong. Please just let me know you're ok.
Charlie
Always Your Friend
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x
Harry,
Tom sent me a letter. I'm so sorry…I don't even know what to say. You did nothing wrong though. You are a good person, and we all love you. Nothing you do can change that. Snape is grateful, he isn't angry or anything. He asked you to do it. Please talk to someone. It doesn't have to be me but talk to someone. I can say with no doubts at all that the ends justified the means in this situation. Don't shut everyone out; we're all here for you.
Charlie
"How is he?" Ebenezer asked from where he had been chatting with Snape from the portrait over the fireplace in the potion master's quarters.
"I don't know," Tom responded as he pushed open the portrait door that Ebenezer had left unlocked for him. "He's closed the Occlumency door, and he's avoiding me. That means he can't talk to Nagini either, and she's getting pretty anxious about it. I don't think he's doing well, but I don't want to force open the door and make it worse." Tom ran a frustrated hand through his hair, very reminiscent of James Potter. "I just don't know what to do! And Sirius and Remus are about ready to storm the castle, and we all know that won't do any good!"
"What about his friends? The Weasleys, Longbottom, or Lovegood?" Severus asked as he took Tom's hand in his comfortingly.
Tom looked at him seriously. "He hasn't even been talking to Charlie. I finally sent the Dragon Weasel a letter about it. He hasn't heard from Harry since it happened."
"You mean, since he killed me," Severus rolled his eyes. "I just don't get it! I'm alive, I'm almost completely healed now, I asked for this, and I'm not mad at him one bit. Why is he taking it so hard?!"
"Might I wager a guess?" Ebenezer asked as he looked at them contemplatively.
Tom waved a hand and crashed on the couch. "Please, any ideas are welcome!"
"Well," Eb started slowly. "I have been chatting with Hattie about my little grandson and she thinks this whole situation has caused Harry to reevaluate how he sees himself. He believed himself to never be capable of murder under any circumstances, and yet he kills someone he loves."
"But I'm still alive!" Severus sneered in frustration.
"Yes, but Harry always believed that how something was done was just as important as the outcome," Eb explained further. "Hattie said that Dumbledore's insistence on the 'greater good' over the years is what caused Harry the most anger and frustration with the man. He sees what he did as equal to what he disliked about Dumbledore."
"Why is he shutting us all out though?" Tom sighed, realizing the truth in the portrait's analysis.
Slytherin shrugged. "That I don't know. Hattie thinks we should corner him and make him talk. I think we should probably just give him some time to come to terms with himself."
"I'm sure it doesn't help that the students are avoiding him more with the addition of Nagini to his person," Severus suggested. "There are a few Slytherins who are angry about his part in the battle last term as well."
Tom shook his head. "I don't even think he's noticed. The only people he seems to talk to regularly is a first year Hufflepuff girl and Luna. He talks to the Weasel and Longbottom, but it's more like answering questions than carrying on a conversation."
"What is with the first year Hufflepuff?" Snape asked, confused. "Are you talking about Ms. Smythe? I've seen them together in the hallways."
Tom nodded and leaned back, closing his eyes. "Yes, he cured her cancer a couple years ago. He didn't know she was a witch at the time, so he has this whole theory that Magic led him to her."
"Possible," Eb nodded in consideration.
"Wait…he cured her cancer?" Severus sat up straighter in shock.
"Fourth level of Necromancy," Tom held up four fingers. "It's extremely terrible to do though. I was shut out during the process, but the aftermath was worse than bringing someone back to life. It's best not to spread around that Necromancers can do this because it wouldn't be possible for Harry to cure more than one person every year or so, the backlash is too bad. He really should have picked an easier illness, but you know Harry, he always goes all out."
"Yes, you must make sure he never attempts the eighth level of Necromancy," Eb warned. "I fear with his temperament and past, he would never return to us."
"That's my plan," Tom assured him vehemently. "If it's the last thing I do, he'll never find a reason to try it."
"Well, what do we do for him now?" Snape looked between them.
"I think we give him a little more time," Tom decided with no real conviction. "Eb, you and Hattie keep an eye on him. Sev and I will look out for him when we can, and we all just hope he eventually comes to us. Flamel has been looking at him in concern recently too, maybe a man with a ridiculous amount of grandchildren will get him to open up if we can't."
"I'm not a patient man," Snape growled.
"Yes, we are all very aware of that," Slytherin drawled back.
A few days later, after classes ended on a Tuesday, Snape and Riddle were sitting in the potion master's office. Severus was grading essays with flourishes of bright, red ink, and Tom was flipping through a huge interior design book that Dobby had ordered him to go through to pick things out for the castle's remodel. Tom insisted that as long as there were working washrooms, he was happy, but Dobby insisted that it needed to be 'homey' as well…hence the huge design book. They both looked up as a knock sounded on the door.
"Enter," Snape drawled in his normal cold tone reserved for students. Draco Malfoy shuffled into the room with his hands in his robe pockets and looking like he would rather be anywhere else in the world than Snape's office at that moment. "How may I help you, Mr. Malfoy?" Severus asked as he put down his quill and looked up with a stern gaze.
Malfoy sneered, then followed that by a shrug. "It's probably nothing, but I figured I should probably tell you about Potter…"
"What about Harry?" Tom put down the book and sat up straighter, now concerned.
Malfoy rolled his eyes and continued to focus on Snape. Tom was two seconds from taking house points and giving detentions, and his expression clearly conveyed that. "Like I said, it's probably nothing, but Theodore Nott blames Potter for his father ending up in St. Mungo's, then Azkaban last year." Tom and Severus both nodded. It actually was Harry's fault, but they weren't going to admit that to the blond. "Anyway, Nott was bragging about locking Potter in a supply cupboard somewhere in the castle. It sounded like it was a couple hours ago. I'm sure the Golden Boy has already gotten himself out, but…you know…" Malfoy tapered off, obviously having stretched his good will towards Gryffindors to its extent.
"Potter is one of the most powerful people in this castle, of course he has gotten himself out already," Snape scoffed but stopped as Tom went white.
"Mr. Malfoy, thank you for this information," Tom said in calm and measured tones. "You will immediately return to your common room and tell no one of this conversation. Am I understood?"
Malfoy looked at him, his Slytherin self-preservation telling him he was in dangerous waters. "Completely, Professor Shade," Malfoy agreed and rushed out of the office once more.
Severus cast a questioning glance to his partner. "It's a supply cupboard…what's the issue? Harry can raise the dead and save himself from a kidnapping; I'm pretty sure he can open a locked door."
Tom shook his head, horror on his face. "No, he can't. Not a cupboard," he disagreed. "It comes from being locked in one for ten years and almost starved to death."
Snape's face turned white as well. "Can you reach him?"
The DADA professor closed his eyes for a minute. "No, the Occlumency door is closed, and I think he's panicking. His emotions are too high strung for me to force it open."
They shared an extremely concerned look. "We need to find him…"
"Find someone with a Marauder's Map," Tom suggested. "We'll split up and check all the cupboards we see until we run into Ron, Neville, or Luna."
Snape scoffed and waved his wand, casting his doe patronus. "Weasley, meet me in the entrance hall. Bring the map."
Tom gave a dry laugh as the patronus rushed out of the office. "Luna, meet me by the infirmary. Bring the map," Tom cast next as his snake patronus sped off. "You really are brilliant you know?"
"Indeed. Whoever finds him first sends another patronus," the potion master instructed with a smirk as they both rushed out of the office and went separate ways.
Ron rushed up to Severus just as the potions master reached the entrance hall; Flamel and Fawkes were right behind the redhead. "I was in the professor's office when I got your patronus," Weasley explained as he handed the piece of parchment to Snape. "I always carry it on me after last year. Is everything ok? Is Harry in trouble?"
"What is this map?" Flamel asked, looking at the bit of parchment with interest. He had been shocked when the patronus interrupted his career-counseling meeting with Ronald Weasley and was even more concerned when he realized it was Severus Snape speaking.
"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good," Snape tapped the parchment with his wand and ignored both of the other men and his annoyance at the activation phrase.
Ron shifted impatiently as Snape flipped through the map, searching for something. "Can I help, Professor?"
"You can be quiet," Snape responded, but it lacked any venom, just anxiety. With a sigh, Severus seemed to find what he was looking for. "Mischief managed," he tapped the map once more."
"What is it?" Ron asked as he was handed the empty map.
"Nothing, Mr. Weasley. Kindly return to your dormitory. You will be filled in later, I'm sure. Follow me and you'll find yourself in detention for a month," Severus turned on his heel and strode off in a billow of black robes.
Flamel laid a hand on Ron's shoulder when he took two steps after Snape. "Ah, Mr. Weasley, I think it best that you leave this one alone and return to the tower."
Ron looked after Severus in concern, but finally did turn and slowly started to make his way back towards the tower. Left alone in the entrance hall as his student returned to Gryffindor Tower and the potions master headed in the opposite direction, Flamel looked at Fawkes and gave the phoenix a bemused look. "Snape?" He suggested. Fawkes trilled in agreement and they both rushed off to follow the professor instead of the student.
They caught up with the dark man as he approached a supply cupboard in a little used corridor a floor up from the entrance hall. Snape had just sent off another patronus and was studying the door in front of him. "What's in the cupboard, Snape?" Flamel asked, dying of curiosity.
"Nothing good at all," the man sighed and cast several unlocking charms before one finally worked. "Please stand back and stay out of this," he instructed the alchemist, really wishing the man hadn't followed.
Flamel watched as Severus slowly opened the door and looked into the cupboard. "Harry? Are you all right?" The man asked. Flamel shuffled over to look into the tiny room.
Huddled in the very back corner of the cupboard, behind a mop, red eyes shown out and a small figure was rocking back as forth. Harry's glamour had failed when he lost control of his emotions, and Flamel inhaled a shocked breath when he got a good look at the Gryffindor. "Merlin's beard! He's a Necromancer! How?"
Snape had already squatted down on the floor and was halfway into the cupboard at that point. "Harry, can you come out?" He asked with more tenderness than anyone had ever heard in his voice. "Can you at least tell me you're ok?"
The figure said nothing but continued to stare at nothing and rock back and forth. Without turning around, Snape addressed Flamel. "Keep everyone away from here except Shade," he ordered.
Flamel finally shut his mouth and gave a little nod before turning around and casting a ward on both sides of the hallway to keep everyone but Evan Shade from even wanting to walk in their direction. It took almost five minutes before the tall, dark haired man rushed down the hallway, followed by a blonde Ravenclaw. The girl stopped and looked confused as she ran into Flamel's ward, but Tom continued on through until he got to his son.
"Harry! It's ok. I'm here. You're going to be fine," Tom assured as Severus moved out of the way for the other man to get into the closet. He didn't even attempt to talk Harry out, but moved the mop and bucket from his way and scooped up the smaller teen, hauling him out of the room.
"We need to get him to Pomfrey," Snape suggested as Tom sank down onto the stone floor with a catatonic Harry Potter in his lap.
"Do you have a calming draught?" Tom asked the potions master.
He always carried a few calming draughts and headache relievers on him, so it took only a couple second for Severus to fish one out of one of his many pockets and pass it to the other man. Tom immediately opened Harry's mouth and poured it down his throat, forcing him to swallow. "Come on, Harry. Come back to us," Tom said, holding his son tightly and running a hand through his hair.
"What happened to him?" Flamel asked in confusion and a whole lot of concern.
"Nott," Severus growled.
"Truthfully, it was probably a lot of things. The kidnapping, what happened Sev, and then this thing with Nott," Tom said to them both sadly, knowing Harry just bottled everything up instead of dealing with it.
"Should we get the mutts?" Severus suggested with a sneer.
Tom looked at Harry and slowly shook his head. "No, I think he needs to get away for a bit. He needs to be forced to actually deal with this."
"Spinner's End?" Snape suggested next.
After one more contemplative look, Tom turned to Fawkes and Flamel. "Deputy Headmaster, I have permission from Harry's guardian to take him from the school if needed. Please instruct his professors that he's ill and will return soon. Also, I suggest asking Remus Lupin if he will cover my classes for a few days. He should be very adequately prepared to do it."
Flamel gave the unseeing red eyes a sad smile before nodding. "Of course, whatever he needs."
"Sev, Nags isn't on Harry, please explain to her what happened. She can understand you even if you can't understand her. Also, would you mind packing a bag for both of us and sending it along with Hedwig?"
Snape nodded, willing to brave Gryffindor Tower to pack Harry a bag if it helped him get better. "Where are you going?"
Tom turned to the phoenix. "Fawkes, could you please drop us off in Romania with Charlie Weasley?" The bird gave a melodious cry before landing on Harry's lap and flaming them all out of the castle.
"It looks like I'll be contacting a Mr. Lupin then," Flamel said as he dispelled the wards. Luna frowned but wandered away when she realized that Tom and Harry had left.
"I never thought I'd see a day when we have a student who could become a Necromancer," Flamel said sadly with another glance towards the cupboard.
"Indeed," Snape stood, working out the crick in his still healing joints. "I need to go give a Slytherin detention until his graduation, if you'll excuse me." After he went a couple steps, Snape turned back around. "You may want to floo call Grimmauld Place instead of sending an owl," he said with a bit of a wince. "Lupin lives with Black, Harry's godfather. He'll rush over here ready to hex everyone if you don't explain to him what's going on."
Snape left without another word, the young-looking old man looking after him with wide eyes. "But I don't know what's going on…"
Charlie Weasley was just heading back into the camp after a long day of tending to the dragons for his dinner when a bright flash of fire appeared in front of him, leaving Tom Riddle and Harry Potter sitting in heap on the ground. "Harry? Tom? What's going on?" Charlie walked over to them as Fawkes flashed out again.
"Hi Dragon Weasel," Tom said in an extremely tired sigh. "You mind if we crash with you for a couple days?"
"Oh, Harry," the dragon handler sat on the ground, looking into the eyes of his friend who was still staring into space and rocking. "What happened this time?"
"It was just the last straw," Tom explained in the same tired tone. "He needs a break, and he's always wanted to see the dragons. Maybe he'll come back to us once he realizes where he is."
"Maybe?" Charlie asked in fear.
"He will," Tom assured him, or himself, it was hard to tell.
"Here, let me help," Charlie offered as he scooped Harry up as if he weighed nothing. "Follow me."
Charlie led the former Dark Lord to a wizard's tent in the middle of the reserve's campground. Tom had little emotion to spare, but what he had was impressed at the well-kept kitchen and sitting room of the tent. Charlie quickly showed him the washroom and where Charlie's room was before pushing open the door to his second bedroom. "You'll have to share, but that's probably best with the state he's in anyway," the man said as he placed Harry in the middle of the bed and brushed the hair off his forehead. The Necromancer had fallen asleep sometime between the field they had landed in and the bed while Charlie carried him. "Please tell me he'll be ok…"
"He'll be fine. Another student locked him in a cupboard, and it sent him into a flashback. He'll snap out of it, but there's just been so much that's happened recently." Tom transfigured Harry's robes into pajamas and removed his shoes as he explained. "I think after some sleep he'll come back to us. Sev gave him a calming draught before we left; that's probably what knocked him out."
Charlie stood but looked like he'd rather stay. "I'll bring some food. Send a patronus if he wakes up or if you need anything."
Tom uncharacteristically reached out and grabbed Charlie's hand. "Thank you, Charlie. You're a good man," he said with so much feeling. Charlie just nodded, not knowing how to respond. He glanced back at his friend…his love?...one last time before leaving the two men alone.
"Thank you all for coming," Kingsley Shacklebolt said loudly to call the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix together. He had been elected the new head of the Order and was having a hard time getting everyone to focus during meetings. He didn't know how Dumbledore had done it.
"Listen up!" Molly Weasley called out in her best mother's voice and the entire kitchen full of people in Grimmauld Place quieted down.
"Er, yes, thank you, Molly," Shacklebolt smiled at the Weasley matron. "In this meeting we have a very important matter to discuss. We have the very last report from Severus Snape as a spy, one which he almost gave his life to get to us."
Snape rolled his eyes at Kingsley's dramatics but didn't correct him that he actually had died. "What do you mean 'last report?'" Bill Weasley asked as he glanced at the potions master who was flanked by a twin on each side. Fred and George had taken to sitting on either side of the man and calling him their honorary triplet ever since the battle. Snape was looking for a good opportunity to curse them until they could no longer remember their names.
"It's very clear, Mr. Weasley. I was found out," Snape drawled, causing the rest of the Order to start whispering amongst themselves again.
"Everyone please," Kingsley sighed, knowing a headache was coming on. "I need you all to listen. Severus was found out because we apparently have a spy in our midst!"
"What?!" Many voices yelled out along with several profanities and other exclamations.
"We've all taken a fidelity oath though," Tonks said with a raise of her hand as if she were in class. "How could anyone have turned to the other side? Only Snape didn't take the oath because of his position, and I hardly think he'd sell himself out."
"Brilliant observation, Ms. Tonks," Severus sneered over at the metamorphmagus. "There are ways around the oath. It wasn't an unbreakable vow."
"Or someone close to us could have turned," Bill suggested, looking hesitantly over at Snape. "What do you actually know about Mr. Shade?"
Snape pinned him with a death glare. "I know him better than you," was his sneered response.
"Children, please," McGonagall exasperatedly exclaimed. "Severus, Bill does have a point. Professor Shade and Harry Potter disappeared from the school earlier today. How do we know Harry is safe?"
"Because I wouldn't trust my godson to someone I didn't believe in implicitly, Minerva," Sirius Black crossed his arms and glared at the headmistress. "Harry needed to get away for a few days, and Evan is taking care of him. Your deputy headmaster assured me that he approved it all."
"But where are they?" McGonagall didn't let up. "Nicolas wouldn't tell me."
"Minerva, we just explained that there's a spy in the Order, why in the founders' names would I say out in front of everyone where Harry Bloody Potter currently is?" Snape glared at his employer.
"We're missing Alastor Moody too," Arthur Weasley reminded everyone. "Has anyone heard from him recently?"
Remus cleared his throat. "He went to the seaside for a few days. He should be back any day now. The man was overworked, anyone could tell."
"That's sooo true," Tonks snorted in agreement.
Kingsley sighed once more. He really wished Albus hadn't needed to step away and was looking forward to his return dearly. "We need to discuss compartmentalizing information more, so that whoever this spy is doesn't know everything. We also need to discuss a way to figure out who this person might be…"
An hour later and very little had been decided. Mainly, they had chosen another time to meet in a few weeks to share more ideas and information. As everyone left by either the floo or stepped outside to apparate, Severus Snape took ahold of Molly Weasley's arm. "Molly, could you spare me a moment?"
With a smile and a backwards glance to Arthur, the woman followed Snape out of the kitchen and up the stairs, noticing that Sirius Black trailed along behind them. All three entered Harry's room where Severus closed the door. It was the best warded room in the house with silencing and locking wards, to all the parental figures' exasperation. Voicing the obvious question, Molly looked over both men in confusion, "Why are we in Harry's room?"
"Harry placed permanent silencing wards on his room," Sirius huffed as he crossed his arms and leaned against Harry's desk. "I doubt Moody could take them down."
"Is Harry alright, dear?" Molly asked, turning to Severus with a worried look. "Neither Ron nor Ginny mentioned him leaving school. He isn't in danger, is he?"
"No, he's not alright," Severus sighed. "He will be though," he assured her.
"What happened?" The woman gasped.
"So much, Molly, so much," Sirius scrubbed a hand down his face in frustration.
"Bill told us what he must have gone through…" she began with a horrified look on her face.
"We can't talk to you about it, you'll have to ask Harry," Severus stopped her with a wave of his hand. "Look, we asked you here because Evan flooed and asked us to tell you that Harry would be fine and to assure you he's safe. They're with Charlie if that eases your mind any."
Molly visibly relaxed some. "Oh, that's good, then. That was very nice of Professor Shade to think to tell me."
"He knows how much you care for Harry," Sirius explained with a look over her head at Severus, clearly communicating that neither of them understood why Tom and Harry were still so fanatic about caring for the woman.
Molly stood with a brisk nod. "Right then…I'll just go whip up a care package and send it to the three of them. They don't feed Charlie well enough on the reserve, and both Harry and
Professor Shade are too thin. I think some meat pies and maybe some cake as well…" she continued mumbling. "Oh, and it might get cold, maybe I should send a new jumper for each of them…" she planned as she exited the room.
"Well…that probably answers our question," Sirius snorted a laugh as they understood just a little more why Tom and Harry cared for Molly Weasley so much.
Harry blinked his eyes open just as the run was rising through an unfamiliar window. Very confused, he glanced over to see his dad snoring softly on the bed beside him, but he was certain he had never been in this room before. Still in a fog of emotions he couldn't process, Harry slipped on his shoes and made his way out of a tidy little house, only to find that it was a tent when he exited. It seemed that no one was stirring yet as the sky just tinged pink with the sun peaking over the horizon.
Harry set off in a meandering stroll, not knowing or caring where he was headed. It was only with a touch of discomfort that he even noticed he was wearing pajamas in the cool of the morning. The red eyed man hadn't even set his glamour on his face as he headed out into a meadow, wondering why he couldn't bring himself to care about anything.
After walking for probably more time than he had realized, Harry was finally brought to a stop as a rush of wind swept over him, causing him to shiver in his thin clothes. ::Hagrid's friend. It has been many moons since I last saw you:: A dragon said as it landed in the field in front of Harry.
Harry looked up into large, familiar yellow eyes. He blinked a couple times before the first smile he had smiled in a long time tugged at the corners of his mouth. ::Norberta? Hi. Wow, I guess I must be in Romania. How are you?::
::I'm fine, little one. The west pond is still algae free and the black bears have multiplied nicely for our dinner. Thank you for your help:: Norberta sniffed at Harry, bringing her snout right up to his torso. ::You've changed much since last I saw you. Are you considered an adult for your kind now?::
::I am:: Harry reached out and slowly touched her nose and petted it.
::I haven't seen another of the humans with red eyes before. You must be a fierce warrior as red eyes are only gifted to the most powerful dragons::
::I'm not sure it quite works that way in humans:: Harry laughed and then gasped in awe as five young dragons flew down around him. ::Norberta…are these your babies?!::
::Yes, little one:: The dragon laughed fondly as a few of the babies stumbled, not being very proficient at landing yet. Norberta then curled up on the ground in the middle of the babies who all started playing around her. ::Come, little one. Sit and tell me of your life and how Hagrid is doing::
Charlie Weasley was roughly shoved out of his bed by a stressed-out Dark Lord at an ungodly hour of the morning. "He's gone! Harry's missing!" Tom almost shouted as he still shook the man who was definitely awake now.
"What?" Charlie jumped up, concerned for his friend's safety before his brain caught up to him and he put a calming hand on the other man's shoulder. "Tom, calm down. He'll be fine. Remember, he can talk to dragons. They probably won't attack if they can chat with him. I'm sure they're just listing off all their complaints and things they want us to fix around the reserve."
Tom felt that the Occlumency door was open once more in the back of his mind and let out a sigh of relief. The whirlwind of emotions on the other side of the door was keeping him from really getting a read on Harry, but it was open, and he was there…it was more than he could say for the day before. "We still need to find him. I don't like your use of the world 'probably.' Besides, I can talk to the dragons too."
Charlie smirked at him. "Yes, but you're you, and people actually like Harry. Maybe leave the dragon-talking to him."
"Please, I'm delightful!" Tom scoffed, hurt. "People like me!"
"Snape likes you," Charlie chuckled and started pulling clothes out of his drawers. "I'm heading out now. Stay here since no one else on the reserve knows you're here yet. Let me warn them first. I'll send a patronus when I find Harry."
Tom turned around quickly as Charlie started stripping to change without the slightest hint of modestly. "Erm, right, yes, I'll just make some breakfast then…"
"You know how to cook?" Charlie asked with an incredulous expression as he pulled on some dragon-hide pants.
Tom shrugged and quickly escaped the room. "I've seen Harry, Sev, and Kreacher do it hundreds of times. It can't be too hard."
"The tent is spelled to be unable to burn down, please don't test it out though!" Charlie called as he pulled on his shoes and left the tent.
Using a point-me spell with his wand, it didn't take Charlie long to track down the missing Necromancer. He sent his massive, dragon patronus back to Tom, but he didn't know how to approach, literally, the situation. The large, very protective Norwegian Ridgeback was curled around the teen, four baby dragons were running around playing, and a fifth baby dragon was curled up beside Harry napping. More concerning to Charlie though (everyone else on the planet would probably say the mother dragon was the most concerning) was the fact that tears were streaming down Harry's face as he seemed to be letting out a long stream of hissing between sobs.
::The crazy one that keeps trying to convince one of us to fly him around is approaching. He is your friend, is he not?:: Norberta asked the distraught teen who had been spilling his life story about the last three years to her.
Harry looked up in mortification to where Charlie was looking on from a safe distance. ::Charlie. That's Charlie:: He smiled and waved to his friend.
::You need to talk with one of your kind. Tell him what you told me. I don't understand your human emotions:: The mother dragon explained kindly. ::You may give him permission to approach. Make it very clear that I will NEVER be flying him around anywhere though:: She added in an indignant huff at the end.
Charlie really tried to contain his glee when Harry called him over and told him it was safe to approach. Turning his focus from where he was now sitting with his back to a massive dragon to his crying friend, Charlie wiped the tears from Harry's cheeks. "Please tell me what's wrong…I've been so worried about you."
"I don't know what's wrong," Harry finally gasped out. "Everything…nothing…It's just like I keep getting caught up in my past and can't move forward…but then Voldemort is forward, and I don't know how to handle that. Did Dad tell you? I killed Sev."
"You saved Snape," Charlie corrected and pulled Harry into his lap so he could put his arms around his friend.
"There's just too much in here," Harry jabbed at his head with a finger.
Charlie ran his own finger down Harry's face, running it over the silver necromancer markings and causing Harry to shiver in a not unpleasant way. "Tell me what you were thinking yesterday when we couldn't get you to come back to us. Start there and we'll sort it out together."
As the sun rose over the reserve and the baby dragons settled down for naps around them, Charlie learned much more about Harry's childhood than he ever had before and what all had happened at the end of the summer and the start of this new term. Harry just let it all go in a stream of stories, finding catharsis in finally telling someone what he had been through and how he felt about it. Charlie for his part didn't interrupt. He just ran his hand up and down Harry's back soothingly and let his friend explain it all. Charlie was certain that if Tom hadn't handled the Dursleys yet, he would be making a visit to their house himself. He figured it was highly unlikely that they were still alive and well though with a Dark Lord having adopted this amazing person he was falling for, or really had already fallen for long before.
Having talked himself out, Harry sat in the quiet peacefulness, feeling the rise and fall of Norberta's chest and the gentle snores, followed by puffs of smoke, from the baby dragons. Instead of looking with blame or anger or even pity at him, Harry was shocked at the look his friend was giving him. It seemed almost like…love? It was the look Harry felt he was probably giving the man himself at the same moment. "You are an amazing human being, you know that, right?" Charlie asked, wonder in his voice. "You are my absolute favorite person, and I would do anything to have kept you from what you had to go through."
After what seemed like forever, Harry finally decided that he really didn't have much to lose. If Charlie stuck with him through all of his strange and crazy experiences so far, he probably wasn't going to scare the man away very easily. It was a strange realization for Harry. He was used to assuming that everyone would leave him if they knew everything. Reaching the decision, and then not questioning it, Harry tugged down on the back of Charlie's neck, crashing their lips together in a frantic kiss. He knew he had startled his friend as Charlie stiffened in surprise. Harry was just about to pull away and apologize when soft lips started tangling in his own, returning the kiss as he pulled Harry closer.
::Ahem!:: Norberta breathed a puff of smoke at them several minutes later as the kiss became even more heated. ::If you're planning on doing any mating, I would prefer it to not be right beside me. Humans!:: She huffed with what could only be called a roll of her eyes.
Harry laughed turned red. Charlie joined him in laughing, not knowing what the dragon had said, but guessing correctly from Harry's red face. ::Sorry, Norberta. Thank you for listening. I'll come talk to you again soon, ok?::
::I'd love that little one. Maybe I can introduce you to Smoke then:: She said as she stood and prodded a few of the babies awake.
"Come on. We need to go make sure your dad hasn't burned down my tent," Charlie stood and reached down to help Harry up.
"Oh no…you didn't let him cook, did you?" Harry asked with a groan.
"Yes, and I'm going to pretend it's the best thing I've ever eaten," Charlie smirked at him as he threw an arm around the shorter man's shoulders. "I have to keep on his good side if I'm going to ask if I can date his son."
Harry snorted. "Oh please, he doesn't get a say in who I date!"
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "I think I'll still ask the man who knows every torture curse in existence his permission if you don't mind."
"Well, I'm not asking your mum if I can date you…she's terrifying when she gets upset," Harry shuddered.
"Hmmm, Dark Lord…Molly Weasley," Charlie said as if he were weighing the two. "You're right, you're screwed. I think I'll stick with the Dark Lord."
Harry playfully punched him in the arm and then pulled him down for another quick kiss before they entered the campground again. "Mixed signals, mate!" Charlie laughed and pulled Harry along once more, really hoping his tent was still standing when they got back.
Up Next: The Dark Carnival...