AN - apologies for any mistakes - I have tried to correct them but might have missed a few. Perhaps one day I'll go back and edit it.
Thanks to those who leave constructive or positive reviews. To those who don't like it - why are you leaving me messages when you simply don't have to read it?
Chapter 17 – Saving Dumbledore
Harry felt like he should have expected this. Susan Bones had come to his DA meetings as she always did but had spent most of it glowering at him. They had all been subdued but obedient. Harry had reviewed spells that most people had trouble with and then moved on to using them together in dueling combinations.
Susan was angry. Harry understood that anger. Felt it himself when he thought he'd lost Sirius. Felt it when he lost Cedric. Felt it when he'd found that Burrow had been attacked. Harry, when he wasn't walking around the room helping other people, usually partnered up with someone from his own group of friends. But today he purposefully partnered with Susan. He knew she was upset and worried and like Draco Malfoy, had needed an outlet.
He allowed himself to be the recipient of that outlet. He didn't realise fully right then that Susan truly blamed him for the attack on her Aunt.
Moody, Shacklebolt and Tonks always said that Amelia Bones was a formidable witch. Powerful and more than capable of holding her own. Susan was no less formidable herself, Harry thought. She battled Harry with a viciousness that was previously unseen from the usually placid Hufflepuff. Watching her now, anyone would be hard-pressed to imagine that she did indeed have a gentle side.
Quick on her feet and with her wand, still she was no match for Harry, even before what he called his enhanced status of having full access to his previous memories. Harry could have disarmed her sooner but decided to let her have her outlet.
When it seemed her frustration was getting the better of her, Harry finished the duel with her wand in his hand.
He gave it back to her with a gentle smile and was taken aback when she snatched it from his hand savagely.
"Well done, Susan," he said quietly.
"You could have finished the duel sooner," she said astutely, her tone brittle.
Harry shrugged.
"Why didn't you?" She pressed.
"You looked like you needed to vent," Harry sighed. "I'm sorry about your aunt, Susan."
He noticed those closest to them had stopped to listen.
"I wasn't even home," Susan carried on, clenching her wand tightly.
"It's lucky you weren't," Harry said in a deliberately mild tone.
"Lucky?!" Susan screeched. "My aunt is in St Mungos fighting for her life, Harry. If she dies I have no one else. She could still have been safe if it weren't for you."
Everyone stopped what they were doing.
Yes, Harry thought to himself, he should have seen this coming.
"Why do you say that?" Harry asked quietly, aware everyone was listening.
"You're the chosen one," Susan spat out bitterly. "It's your responsibility to kill him. Why are you hiding here in the school?"
Ron stepped forward, pointing his wand at Susan angrily. His face was red.
Surprisingly, however, it was Lavender who came to defend Harry.
"Why should Harry be defending us?"
Susan seemed taken aback that it was Lavender who spoke. Even Harry was a little shocked. He'd not expected this of Lavender.
"Harry's the same age as us," Lavender growled. "He's been in the same classes as us. He has access to the same books. He has the same teachers as us. What make him more capable of fighting and winning against Voldemort than any of us?"
"He's Harry Potter!" Susan burst as if that was an answer in itself.
"You grew up with your magical aunt," Lavender shot back. "She's got more experience than Harry. Harry grew up with his muggle relatives. You have a bigger advantage than Harry. Didn't your aunt teach you spells to fight? Why should Harry fight for us? Why are you so willing to sacrifice Harry?"
Harry was honestly surprised at Lavender's impassioned defence. Surprised and warmed. Harry didn't speak to Lavender or Parvati as much, to be frank. They simply didn't have much in common. Lavender was a pretty witch who seemed to be more interested in looking good. She had a good mind, brilliant in her own way, but her interests simply lay in a different direction.
"Have you forgotten that Harry was the one who was tortured the most when we were captured by Death Eaters?" Lavender continued. "Have you forgotten how they tortured us all? You weren't even there, Susan. You were safe in Hogwarts. In fact, where was your aunt when we needed her?"
Susan looked away ashamed.
"They tried to rape me and Luna. Harry was locked in chains and he still tried to fight for us. Weak and bloody and he still tried to save us. But it wasn't up to him. It was up to me to save myself. Isn't that why they were teaching us to fight without wands? Harry didn't fail us. We failed ourselves. Everything we learned here was gone, forgotten."
"If you're not more powerful than Voldemort, then why is he after you, Potter?" Anthony Goldstein asked, stepping up to Susan.
"I don't know," Harry admitted. "I don't know why Voldemort chose to attack me. I don't know why he thinks I'm equal to him. I don't think I'm his equal. I'm just afraid for my life as any of you. For whatever reason, Voldemort has made me his target. And every time he attacks me, I'm more than aware of how lucky I am to walk away, and it's never unscathed. He has more knowledge than I do, he has more experience than I do. I couldn't beat him in a duel, Susan. "
Susan sniffed as she held back tears.
"Then why are we here?" Goldstein asked angrily. "Why bother to learn to fight?"
"Harry has never forced any of you to be here," Hermione answered coldly. "Any one of you are free to walk out the door any time. Every one of you who is standing here in this room right now is here because you've chosen to be here. If you're here because your friend is here, then it's because you've chosen to listen to your friend. You've chosen to learn from Harry, the same as I have. Harry thinks he's not more powerful than Voldemort, but I think he is. Voldemort wants to kill people like me because my blood isn't pure like yours, Susan. But your Aunt was a Pureblood and Voldemort still chose to go after her (Susan sobbed) because she opposed everything he stands for. That is why Harry is here. He's not here to learn to defeat Voldemort. He's here to teach us to survive when Voldemort or his Death Eater's attack.
"Voldemort's own Death Eaters are afraid of him and that's why they follow him. I'm not afraid of Harry and I'll always stand by his side. And Harry will always be by mine because we're both fighting for what is right. If I choose not to fight then Voldemort's already won one victory. Voldemort wants my kind dead. Why should I make it easy for him? It's not up to Harry to make sure I'm safe. It's up to me. If I die in this war then I'm going to go down fighting. I'm relying on Harry to teach me to survive because he's done that better than anyone. But it's not up to Harry to save me."
There was silence as everyone looked shamefaced at Hermione's words.
"I really am sorry about your aunt, Susan. But she was a powerful witch in her own right. She stood up for what was right and she was always fair. I'm sure she fought hard because she was the kind of person who never relied on anyone else to save her. I'm not anyone's saviour. I'm just another wand in this battle and like Hermione said, I would rather die fighting because I'm against Voldemort's ideology in every way," Harry finished quietly.
"Two years ago barely any one of you even believed Voldemort was back," Ron added. "Most of you believed Harry was lying because … because of whatever reason you were given by Fudge and the Daily Prophet. It was easy, wasn't it? To believe someone else rather than making your own opinions. I believe Harry's wrong. The sun doesn't shine from his bum but he is more powerful than Voldemort in every way that counts, even if Harry himself doesn't believe it," Ron added.
Harry turned his back and walked away from them all towards the back of the room, away from the door.
No one else moved.
"Voldemort wants Harry dead. Harry will be the first to say that he wouldn't want anyone to die for him. But understand this, all of you, I know that Harry will be the first to raise his wand to fight Voldemort, but if that sorry excuse for a wizard casts an Avada at Harry, I'll be there to take it for him. Because I choose to," Neville added in a strong voice.
"I'm sure there's someone everyone else would be willing to do the same for," Luna voiced, before moving to follow Harry.
"Today's meeting is over. The next one is scheduled as normal," Hermione said tetchily. "If any of you decide to come back, then think carefully why you're here. Don't waste our time or yours."
Slowly, with many lingering looks back everyone filed out. Lavender was the last, who walked over to Harry and threw her arms around his neck in a quick hug.
"They tortured us, Harry. They took our wands and they starved us and they beat us, but you never gave up. Even though you, and Neville, had been hurt the worst. When they tried to…" Lavender choked, trying to say the words again, "you still tried to save us. You never gave up. We thought we were weak because that's what they wanted us to believe. You made me believe we were strong, Harry. And that's why I will be here at the next meeting. You are special, Harry, whatever else you may think. You're a true Gryffindor and you make me want to be as well."
Lavender left the room too. Her head was held high. Harry realised that Lavender was a strong witch. Her strength was different to Harry's but it was there nonetheless. Thinking back to the beginning of the year, Harry realised how much Lavender had really changed. How much more effort she was putting into learning how not to be that beaten witch at the mercy of animals like the Death Eaters.
Harry took a deep breath and counted to ten before releasing it slowly, fortifying his mental shields.
Luna wrapped her arms around his waist and he felt her head resting on his back.
"They weren't always sheep," Harry said sadly. "The world is broken."
Harry straightened and turned slowly to hold Luna to his chest.
Hermione closed the door behind the last of the DA members and turned back to Harry with fire in her eyes.
"You lied to them, Harry. Every single word you said was a lie," Hermione said with fire in her eyes. "You do know why Voldemort is after you. You are more powerful than Voldemort. You do have more knowledge and experience than Amelia Bones, than Dumbledore even."
"But they don't know that," Harry rebutted. "And they're not supposed to know. The school was built as a sanctuary, Hermione. It was built as the one place where everyone was equal and whatever they learned within these hallowed walls, they used for the betterment of society. To build a better wizarding world. Each time we're reborn into a new life, a piece of that teaching is lost. It feels like with each new life we're going to be born into we'll be losing more and more hope. What point is there in defeating Voldemort now, when fifty years down the line, a hundred years down the line there'll be another one of him born to start this whole cycle all over again? I didn't lie to protect myself and our secret, Hermione. I lied because I took a vow to defend this school and what it stood for. And none of the Founders meant for any of us to be saviours. We are soldiers. It's not up to me as a Champion of Hogwarts to fight for any one person. It's up to me to show everyone to fight for themselves. Just like you said. At least, you understood what I'm trying to do here."
Hermione nodded a little sheepishly.
"I understand, Harry," she said softly. "I just didn't understand why you put yourself down."
"I didn't want anyone to rely on me to save them. All of them need to know that they need to save themselves," Harry answered.
"Give a man a fish he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime," Hermione quoted.
"Exactly," Harry smiled.
"We've never actually been directly involved in a prophecy before," Neville added thoughtfully, as they all lapsed into silence.
Harry never really gave it much thought.
"That is true," Luna added. Her expression was the same surprised look as always, but Harry felt his middle being squeezed as her arms tightened around him.
"So?" Ron asked without really understanding.
"In each life when we're reborn, we'll only gain our memories when it's the right time. Otherwise, we live our lives as normal," Neville began to explain. "Every so often, a prophecy will be announced, but there won't always be a saviour, a Chosen One, as it were, but it usually heralds a great power, and that power can either be Malevolent or Virtuous. There must be something in this life that is different for us. It just seems bizarre, for the lack of a better word, that the child of prophecy of this War, was a choice of not one, but two Champions. Harry's right, we're usually soldiers, not saviours. This isn't our usual role."
Harry realised it was true. Two Champions were potential candidates in Prophecy. That was definitely a first. As was Malachy actually marrying someone other than Maya, and furthermore, actually having a family, children. That was new. What was Luna's first? Harry almost gave up on it when it hit him. In this life, Malachy and Juno weren't related at all. In their first life, Malachy and Juno had started off as brother and sister. In subsequent lives, they may have been cousins, uncle and niece. They always had some relation in common. In this life, they were so far apart that they had no reason to meet each other at all. They didn't run in the same social circles, had no friends in common. In fact, even rare for the purebloods they had no relations in common, not even distantly. Even the Weasleys were related to the Malfoys, though Harry remembered this connection through the Blacks.
Intrigued, Hermione speculated, "So that maybe means in this life you're all expected to do something differently? Apart from the obvious I mean?"
"We can only guess," Luna sighed into Harry's chest as she snuggled closer.
"We had our own lives in the Founder's times. Before they found us, we were all really orphans. What set us apart was that we had above-average magical ability. The Founder's paid extra attention to us and we pledged our lives to them and to this school. We know in order for us to be reborn, there was a harness of great power, but we're not allowed to remember what it is."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, interestedly, leaning forward.
Harry didn't answer straight away, instead, he wondered how to explain this.
"As hard as it to believe, there's one thing we all know to be true. A soul exists. Everyone has one. Wizards, Witches, Muggles, animals magical or otherwise. The way it was explained to us, new souls are created all the time, the number of new souls is exponential. But there are some souls, like mine, Neville's, Luna's and Lucius' that are old, that have lived previously, but in rebirth they also essentially become new. Under normal circumstances, when a soul is recycled, it's reborn with a blank slate. Every memory is new, every experience is new. Rightfully, we should never have had access to our old memories. There might be some experiences that might leak, such as my ability to fly. Air has always been my Element. In every life, I've had an affinity for Air. Flying is more than in my blood, it's in my soul. Same as Neville's ability with Herbology. His element is Earth and so on.
"When we were chosen as Champions for Hogwarts, we were given the additional… skills… to be able to remember previous memories, they were imprinted into our souls. What I'm saying is this; in this school, there ARE more people who have lived previously, but they've been given a blank slate to start again. And the rest are new souls who have never lived before."
"Do you know who?" Ron asked, eyebrows high.
Harry and Neville shrugged.
"No," Neville answered simply. "It makes no difference. A blank slate usually means a different person. Someone who might have been an enemy could just as easily be reborn an ally. If you were an old soul, Ron, you might have been someone who was fighting for evil, you might have been fighting for good. You might have been a blast-ended skrewt."
Ron pulled a face and reached out to thump Neville who laughed with the rest of them.
"What about-" Hermione began to ask but was interrupted with a knock on the door.
They all exchanged looks with each other but Neville, Luna and Harry consulted the wards.
"Who is it?" Ron asked in a whisper, as if the person in the other side might hear. Harry noticed his red-haired friend gripping his wand tightly.
"Malfoy," Neville answered darkly.
"He's been following you a lot lately," Ginny said idly.
Harry and the other Champions did have full access to all the wards for the school and the grounds, but that didn't mean they had monitored them every second of the day. Harry had been aware that Draco watched them constantly, but chose to ignore it. Since the day at the Quidditch pitch, Harry felt that maybe Draco would eventually get his head out of his arse, but really other than protecting him for the sake of Lucius and Narcissa (and Adelaide) Harry stayed well away.
Lucius had retreated into himself since Narcissa's passing. She may not have been Maya, but Lucius had loved the witch and she had loved him. Lucius, who was so enamoured with Adelaide from the moment of her birth, was even more protective of. Whilst he was taking lessons, Adelaide was looked after in the Hospital wing during the daytime, looked after by no less than 5 Hogwarts house-elves, Madam Pomfrey (who was always present in the Infirmary) and whichever professor happened to have a free. Harry and the others also ventured up to Hospital Wing when they had free periods to look in on the youngest Malfoy witch. Lucius spent all his free time between lessons racing to be with his daughter and then wasted no time whisking her away to his own quarters once classes were finished for the day, choosing to take his meals there also.
Harry wanted to help his friend but let his have his time alone for now.
This life was definitely full of firsts for them all. Lucius had children for the first time, Harry and Neville were chosen directly for a prophecy for the first time. If Luna had a first in this life, it either had not been revealed to them all yet, or maybe she knew and hadn't shared. Realistically, it didn't matter right now.
"Should we let him in?" Ginny asked in the same low voice as her brother.
"Sure," Neville said sourly. "Let's see what he wants."
With a sigh, Hermione waved her wand at the door and it swung silently open just as Draco seemed to raise his hand to knock again, an impatient look on his face.
"Do come in," Harry said dryly, not removing his arms from Luna who was still snuggled against him.
Draco hesitantly stepped in, looking warily around the room.
"Where are all the others?" Draco asked haughtily, but Harry saw his swallow nervously.
"We completed the meeting early," Harry said smoothly, when no one else ventured to answer.
Harry suspected he knew where this was going. And he'd already promised his friends that he wouldn't let it happen. The others stepped away from Harry and Draco to 'give them privacy' but Harry knew it because they wanted him to handle it by himself.
Draco nodded absently as he looked around the room. Given that the DA had spent more than a year training in this room alone, they'd been able to make the room their own. Harry set up a leader board of various competitive spell casting they'd done to make the training more fun. There was one with that had a scoreboard of who had hit the most targets, with a sub scoreboard of whoever had hit the most moving targets. Another one with various scores of who held the longest time record for a Shield Charm. There were various ones pinned up around the classroom. Their training complemented the challenges in Defence classes that enabled them to perform better all around. Harry found it enjoyable and fun and knew his fellow DA mates found it useful as well. Harry had purposely not divided it into a House thing. Due to their competitive nature, it was each individual for themselves, and everyone worked hard to get their names in the top 5, with the rest of the names getting smaller and smaller. Not everyone competed in every challenge, but there were a few names that popped on most boards.
Harry let the silence play out. Draco was here for a reason, and it was up to him to make the first move and ask for something that Harry would never grant. That's just the way it was. Harry heard his friends whispering furiously behind his back, and Harry knew they probably discussing the best way to lynch Harry if he agreed to let Draco into the DA.
"Some of the Slytherins come here. I've heard them talking about it," Draco began, still not looking Harry in the eyes.
"We've had Slytherin students in the DA since last year," Harry confirmed mildly, quite content to let Draco take his time. There was a vindictive part of him that enjoyed watching the ferret squirm. Harry wasn't the vengeful sort, not really. But Draco had made Hogwarts hell for him without a true reason. At least Snape had an excuse, as feeble as it was. Draco had been cruel for the sake of being cruel. Harry was aware his behaviour had been no different than that of his father and godfather. They had eventually grown up. Hopefully, Draco would too.
"They've said good things about the club," Draco muttered, looking at his fingers.
"I'm glad," Harry said, amused.
The whispering behind him stopped abruptly and Harry's friends moved back to join him in facing Draco.
"What do you want?" It was Hermione who'd asked the terse question.
Draco, taken aback, eyed Hermione's wand wearily. Harry knew there was a story there and had purposely not questioned his friends.
"I want to join the DA, Potter," Draco said more snappily than he'd probably intended.
"No," Harry said simply.
Draco looked shocked at the refusal. Probably expected that he would be allowed entry, maybe because of what he thought was his recent tragedy or maybe because of their obvious connection to Lucius.
Draco's mouth opened and closed several times as he tried to question the rejection. Harry had to admit that he was enjoying the sight of a speechless ferret.
"Don't you have room for one extra person?" Draco rallied quickly.
"No," Harry said without rancour. "Not if that person's you."
"That's not –" Draco began.
"Fair?" Ron interrupted with a slightly mischievous grin.
Draco's usually pale face was botched in red.
Draco could not retaliate to that.
"Please," Draco said as if the word was being dragged from him. "I just want to learn. I know you can teach me to fight like you."
"Draco, there's no way I'm let-" Harry was interrupted, to his shock by Ron of all people.
"Now, now, Harry," Ron chided. "Maybe we're being too hasty. Malfoy deserves a chance, doesn't he?"
He looked to Hermione and the others in support.
Harry was surprised that they all seemed to be in agreement. Particularly Hermione and Neville. Two who had suffered most at the hands of Draco Malfoy.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked them, confused.
"We've consulted amongst ourselves, Harry," Neville said, giving Draco a hard stare. "We'll let you join the DA under 3 conditions, Malfoy."
Harry sighed. He suspected where this was going. He knew he should stop the whole thing and refuse entry altogether for Draco. Though, he suspected that the conditions would be difficult, he supposed it would only be fair.
"What conditions?" Draco looked wary, as well he should. Apart from Harry who didn't know the exact conditions yet, they all looked a little smug.
"The first," Neville began looking straight into Draco's eyes, "is that Lucius fights Harry in a 3 minute boxing match and wins."
"Why are you involving my father in this?" Draco asked indignantly.
"Considering your every threat when you don't get your own way is to tattle to your father, Malfoy, we thought we'd just pre-empt you on that," Ginny added coldly, crossing her arms.
Draco flushed.
"What's your second condition?" he asked stiffly.
"If your father wins, the second condition is for you to beat the highest number of targets, knocking off Harry's name on the Leader board," Ron continued where Neville left off, pointing Draco towards the Leader board in question.
Draco walked towards the Leader board. Harry, Luna and Ginny were on the Leader board for the most targets, but with a subcategory in the least time possible. Harry wasn't actually in first position. He was just behind Ginny, but he had been holding back a little as well and had been planning on knocking Ginny from first place. Harry expected Draco to make a snide comment on the fact that Harry was in second place behind a Weasley. Those targets were stationary so Draco shouldn't have too hard a time. The real challenge was moving targets that got smaller and smaller.
Harry, Neville and Ron were tied in first position for moving targets for the highest amount but had different times.
"What's the third condition?" Draco asked.
"You won't be able to meet the first two conditions, so don't worry about the third, Malfoy," Hermione said confidently, crossing her arms and tilting her chin up in Malfoy-esque manner, Harry thought.
Malfoy didn't like that. An angry red tinge spread across his cheeks.
"I bet you didn't make other people jump through the same hoops," Draco said stiffly.
"Other people didn't go out of their way to act like knobheads since first year," Neville said evenly.
"There were too many wrackspurts around you," Luna informed him as she skipped to Harry's side, slipping her hand comfortingly into his.
"You've always wanted special treatment, Malfoy," Ron said in a tough voice. "Now you have it."
"Leave my father out of this," Draco said tautly.
"Bring him to the gym. We have spare gloves there," Neville said ignoring Draco's words.
"Leave my father out of this," Draco repeated.
Harry stepped in, "Those are the conditions, Draco. Either meet them or give up."
Draco was angry.
"Half an hour, Potter," Draco bit out and huffed out.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Neville," Harry said on a sigh as soon as Draco was out of earshot.
"We're doing this for Lucius," Neville replied. "He needs this."
"Thank you for volunteering me," Harry said dryly.
"It was your barrier," Neville said simply. But there was a smirk on his face.
"We'd better get down there," Luna told him, capturing his hand, and tugging him with her.
The others followed sedately.
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Hermione asked, her earlier confidence forgotten.
"Do you want Malfoy in the DA?" Ron snorted.
"Well, no. Not really. But –"
"Relax, Hermione," Ginny said happily. "Malfoy won't be able to meet the conditions to get into the DA."
"All right," she gave in.
Neville walked into the gym first, Harry and the others only a few steps behind. Harry made a beeline for the gloves and straps. All the equipment was well maintained and cleaned regularly by the house-elves daily, to Hermione's dismay. She had wanted to liberate the creatures, instead they were given more work within the castle. Although she had stopped leaving knitwear in the common room, she still tried to talk to them about their rights whenever there were not any teachers around.
Sirius was in the gym with Shacklebolt. They were laughing at the weights section, trying to outdo each other bench pressing. Sirius caught Harry's eye, surprised to see them there. He counted off Shacklebolt's reps and then they both joined Harry and his friends at the ring area.
"Harry? Did you cancel the DA meeting today?" Sirius asked, bemused as he wiped down his sweaty chest with a towel.
Shacklebolt was doing the same and Harry couldn't tell because of the other man's dark skin, he was sure there was a blush when Ginny said in a bright voice, "Nice abs, Professor."
Shacklebolt hurriedly put his shirt back on, ignoring the girl's looks. Harry had never seen the calm and collected Auror this flustered.
"We finished the meeting early today," Ron explained darkly. "Some of the members needed to think about their priorities."
Sirius and Shacklebolt looked concerned.
"Is there anything we can do?" Shacklebolt asked.
"We handled it," Harry said quickly.
"So, you lot here for a quick workout instead?" Sirius asked with a look.
"Actually," Harry started to stay awkwardly but was interrupted by Ginny who explained everything from Draco's request to join the DA and the conditions that the blond boy had to meet.
Sirius and Shacklebolt exchanged indecipherable looks.
"I hope you're sure about what you're doing," was the only thing Sirius said.
Harry wasn't sure, actually. He didn't know how Lucius would take it.
He didn't like Lucius' withdrawal. Harry understood the concept of needing time. Lucius had lost not one witch he'd loved, but two. A person was lucky to find love once in a lifetime but to find love a second time and still lose it. It was devastating. Harry knew Lucius would still be a mighty warrior and a good father, but he (and the others) wanted the man to know that they all grieved with him. Lucius wasn't alone.
"Do you think he'll turn up?" Sirius asked eventually, watching Luna help Harry with the hand wraps. Harry had already changed into something more suitable.
"I believe he has," came Lucius' voice behind them.
Lucius stood at the entrance to gym, looking grim. Draco stood nervously beside him, holding little Adelaide. Harry was unsure if Draco was nervous because of his baby sister in his arms or the fact that Lucius was mad enough to spit fire. Harry tamped down on his own anxiety. He was doing this for Lucius, he reminded himself. He was doing this for Lucius.
Draco wasn't sure if his father would agree to the first of Potter's conditions. When he'd told Lucius what the first and second conditions were, his father looked like he wanted to rip someone's head off.
He hadn't wanted to involve his father at all. He couldn't say why he wanted to join the DA. Part of it was because of his mother. She'd insisted that he try to get on better with Potter and his friends. He didn't actually need to join the DA for that, but he'd heard Potter's group was good and he thought he might as well benefit from it.
He was starting to regret it, but didn't want to back down.
Lucius walked forward, stepping towards the ring, leaving Draco to follow with his sister in his arms. She was awake and gurgling obliviously away. She didn't seem to be picking up on the tension in the room.
Longbottom stepped forward with hand wraps and 16oz boxing gloves.
"You might want to transfigure your clothes into something more comfortable," Longbottom was saying.
Lucius was still in his teaching robes. Wearing formal slacks and a button-down shirt underneath his robes, with a waistcoat. He stripped off his robes and waistcoat and began to undo his shirt, giving Potter a forbidding look the whole time.
"I know what you're trying to do, Harry," was all his father said.
Potter simply raised an eyebrow.
Lucius allowed Longbottom to help him with the wraps as he toed off his shoes and then his socks as well. Longbottom transfigured his father's slacks to the Hogwarts jogging bottoms that they wore in physical Defence classes. Lucius was left in jogging bottoms and gloves, choosing to remain topless. Draco had to stop his jaw from dropping. He knew his father had been a Beater on the Quidditch team in his day, and for that he required upper body strength. He also knew that his father had broad shoulders, but he didn't quite realise Lucius had been hiding that sort of physique under his robes. His father was… well, impressive. Whilst he didn't have six pack abs like Potter, Longbottom and Weasley (Or Draco, who was quite proud of his), his chest was hard and well defined, his stomach was flat and taut and Draco had no doubt that he could bounce a sickle of his father's abdomen.
He didn't notice Granger and the Weaslette staring as well.
Draco let out a sigh of relief. He knew Potter had been boxing all year and was good at sparring. He'd demonstrated enough in classes to show off his skills. But it made him feel better that his father looked like he could hold his own. There was definite strength in Lucius' arms.
Potter had already changed into his workout clothes too. His gloves were already on.
Black conjured a few chairs for everyone and beckoning Draco forward he gestured for Draco to pass Adelaide over.
Draco hesitated for a second before giving in. She was getting heavy and Draco was not used to holding a baby.
He took a seat next to Black, who was now holding Adelaide. Granger and Lovegood chose to sit down on the opposite end of him. Draco was unsure if it was because they didn't want to sit next to him or if it was because their side was closer to Potter's corner.
Everyone else chose to stay standing. Weasley went to Potter's corner, and Longbottom was in Lucius'.
"This is a 3-minute fight. We'll split it into two rounds of 180 seconds. The rules are simple; nothing below the belt. Anything illegal I will decide. Win by knockout." With that explanation Shacklebolt stepped back but didn't exit the ring.
Draco felt his mouth dry out. He couldn't tear his eyes away.
Potter and his father charged for each other. Potter swung out a left hook which Lucius avoided deftly and moved closer for his own jab. Potter blocked it.
Lucius was angry and seemed to be putting his own strength behind every attempt to knock Potter down. Potter was slim and wiry and fast. Perfect for a Seeker and apparently more than enough to hold his own against Lucius' superior strength. Potter had his muscles of his own, but his build was smaller than Lucius'.
Draco truly didn't know which way this fight would go, but he obviously wanted his father to win.
Before he could blink, Shacklebolt rang a bell and it took a few seconds for Potter and Lucius to realise the end of the first round. The beginning of the first round had been fast and furious but had quickly calmed down. Already the two opponents were covered in sweat. Potter had been knocked down twice but both times he'd got back up before Shacklebolt counted the full ten seconds.
Weasley and Longbottom conjured water for their respective opponents and Shacklebolt rang the bell for the next round.
This time, perhaps out of tiredness, Potter and Lucius didn't attack each other immediately as they had before. They slowly circled each other, looking for the opportunity, Draco guessed.
Surprising Lucius, Potter let out a volley of jabs and crosses. His father blocked them all, but wasn't fast enough for to block the uppercut. Lucius was knocked clean off his feet and onto his back. There was no anger in Lucius' face now as there had been at the beginning.
His father rolled onto his front lifted himself to his hands and knees but didn't get back to his feet.
"Come on, Dad. Get up," Draco muttered. He was literally on the edge of his seat.
"I don't blame you, Harry," he heard his father say in a low voice.
Draco was surprised to see a look of pain flash across Potter's face.
"Maybe you should," Potter replied.
Draco was confused.
"Get up, Dad!" Draco wasn't aware he'd said the words out loud until Lucius slanted a look towards him.
Lucius heaved himself to his feet.
"I don't blame you, Harry," Lucius repeated. He held up his gloves to protect his face but made no move to punch Potter.
"Come on, Lucius," Potter taunted. "Don't give up now."
Potter began another volley of jabs and punches, but Lucius did not retaliate by throwing any of his own.
It was a tactic, Draco told himself, not entirely understanding. His father was letting Potter tire himself out and then when Potter was appropriately fatigued then his father would deliver the final punch. The knockout punch. That was the plan, Draco assured himself.
It was odd how 3 minutes could feel like they last for hours.
There was only 10 seconds left on the clock and neither opponent was backing down, though Lucius stuck with defending himself rather than making any moves to knock Potter down.
"It wasn't your fault, Harry," Lucius called out between defending from Potter's punches.
"Yes, it was!" Something in Potter snapped.
Draco didn't think it was possible but Potter seemed to be going even faster than before. The buzzer went off signalling time, but Potter didn't stop.
Draco stood up. Why wasn't anyone stopping them? Black stood up as well, lifting Adelaide higher and more securely. She'd fallen asleep again. Why wasn't his father hitting back?
What did this mean?
His father didn't knock Potter out, nor did Potter knock out Lucius. There was no clear winner. No clear loser! What did this mean for Draco? Potter's first condition wasn't met so they couldn't move onto the second.
Potter aimed a hook at Lucius. His father hooked his arm around Potters, spun around and placed his other arm around Potter's neck. The round was over. This was technically an illegal move but it didn't seem to matter. No one moved to stop his father or help Potter. They just stared.
Lucius held fast whilst Potter struggled. They both ended on the floor, the hold turned into a loose hug.
Draco was taken aback by the tears that sprung to Potter's eyes.
"I tried, Lucius. I tried to save her," Potter cried.
"I know, Harry. I know," Lucius assured him, looking pained.
"She was already dead. I tried to revive her. I tried. I had to bring her back. I brought her back to you."
"I don't blame you, Harry," Lucius told him. "It's not your fault."
Potter twisted in Lucius' arms.
"I'm sorry, Lucius. I'm so sorry," Potter sobbed.
His father didn't hesitate to hug Potter again. Draco could feel his jealousy bubbling up again but pushed it away.
"I'm here, Harry. I'm right here, Harry."
"You're my brother. Don't push me away," Potter begged, holding Lucius tighter.
"Silly boy," Lucius said in a gruff voice.
Draco couldn't seem move his feet, but no one else had the same problem. They all walked closer to the crying duo.
"I'm always here for you," Lucius told Potter, then making eye contact with Lovegood and Longbottom and then Draco he continued, "All of you."
Draco felt a constriction in his chest.
Before anyone could say anything further, the room seemed to shudder and there was a crack of apparition and a house-elf appeared. Potter and his father heaved themselves to their feet. Everyone looked towards the house-elf who immediately headed for Potter.
"The Headmaster, Master Potter sir. You is needed in the Hospital Wing. The Headmaster is needing help. Headmaster sir is dying," the house-elf wailed.
Potter snapped out, "Go to him, Corey. We're right behind you."
"What's-" Hermione began to ask but Potter and the others were focused. Lovegood and Longbottom took out their wands and strode out of the gym. Lucius and Potter stepped out of the ring between the ropes, rapidly unravelling the straps of their gloves and throwing them off as they also brought out their own wands. Draco knew his father had a wand holster under an invisibility charm on his wrist. Potter's eyes were dry now and blazing eerily. Draco saw no worry for the Headmaster, oddly, but instead they all looked ready to do battle.
His father didn't even pause to get dressed again. Still barefoot, he was just a step behind Potter, who was following Lovegood and Longbottom and they all raced away without a backward glance. The rest of them looked at each before they too ran out. Black had Adelaide in his arms still and Draco wondered briefly if he should take her back, but honestly knowing his luck he knew he would end up tripping and didn't want to hurt her. He'd take her back as soon as they were in the Hospital Wing. He noticed from the corner of his eye that Granger and Weaslette had picked up his father's clothes and shoes.
They ran out of the gym together. His father and the others were already up two whole floors. Draco was panting when he burst through the Infirmary doors, just behind Weasley and Shacklebolt, both of whom were tall with never ending legs.
Draco expected Dumbledore to be bed-ridden and feeble. However, the elder wizard was on his feet and waving his wand belligerently. His face was pale and sweating and he definitely looked like he should be in bed, but it was all Madam Pomfrey and Severus could do to dodge his spells and try to calm him down.
"Oh, Harry," Madam Pomfrey yelled, as she waved her wand to block another spell from the Headmaster. "Albus was asking after you, but then he became delirious."
Potter and the others stepped forward. Draco felt a hand on his shoulder as Black pulled him back and handed Adelaide over to him.
"Stand back, and protect your sister," Black said in a dark voice. "Ron, Ginny, Hermione – come here – all of you stay back don't let any stray spells hit Adelaide. Shields up."
Glad to be given something to do, they stepped back from the fray, but as they hadn't been told to leave the Infirmary, stayed huddled near the door. Draco wasn't even able to fathom how they followed the instructions of Black so closely. Black, Granger and both Weasleys stood directly in front of him and Adelaide, shields up, ready to block any stray spells.
They were only doing it for Adelaide, Draco knew, and he couldn't repress a feeling of regret that they weren't including him because they wanted to, rather than because they were told that they had to.
For the first time, he was truly beginning to understand what his parents were trying to say to him about Potter and his friends. He thought he'd been brave and determined when Aunt Bellatrix had tortured him to tell her about where his parents were hiding. He'd ignored the fact that Potter and Longbottom had been tortured worse than him. He'd been solely focused on his own pain even then he hadn't fully grasped that Potter and Longbottom almost didn't survive Aunt Bella's curses. Pansy had sacrificed herself for him as well and her death had upset him. She'd been his best friend since childhood, after all. But now, looking around, he saw that everyone was willing to help everyone else. Whilst he'd kept his world small, his parents and his sister were all he was concerned about. Yet, Black never hesitated to offer his home to Narcissa and Draco when they needed it. Aunt Andromeda was overjoyed to have her sister back.
Draco hadn't quite believed he and Narcissa weren't protected out of duty, but it was only now he was truly beginning to understand how compassionate this group was. Potter genuinely wanted to protect his mother and sister. They weren't duty to him. He'd wanted to do that. Potter wanted to protect them because that's simply how he was. But he only protected Draco because of his promise to Narcissa and his relationship with Lucius. Suddenly, Draco realised, he didn't want to be protected out of duty, because he was an obligation. He wanted to be Potter's friend. He wanted to be part of Potter's group. Wanted to be trusted, wanted to be his family. The same way Narcissa and Adelaide were accepted as part of the family. Like the Weasleys and Longbottom was his family. He knew what he had to do, he realised, as he took a step back and lifted his sister more securely to his chest.
Harry nodded to Neville and Lucius. They both worked with Snape to distract Dumbledore with harmless spells that kept Dumbledore on the defensive. Madam Pomfrey stepped backwards out of the fray, letting the others subdue the Headmaster as she waited by the bed she wanted Dumbledore lead to, healing spells ready.
Dumbledore was not looking good. It was obvious his spells were taking a lot out of him. Luna aimed a spell at Dumbledore's robes, binding them to his legs. Snape was closest and managed to bind one of Dumbledore's hand with a whip spell and Lucius shot another spell forcing Dumbledore to get a shield up. A split second after Neville shot his own spell to get Dumbledore to drop his shield, Harry shot out his own Disarming Curse.
Without missing a trick, Lucius and Neville and Shacklebolt descended on the Headmaster, and with the help of Snape, physically lifted the rapidly weakening wizard onto the bed Madam Pomfrey was standing next to and help him down firmly as she began her stream of diagnostics. Despite the fact that Dumbledore was no longer fighting fiercely, no one let go of him. Harry shoved Dumbledore's wand into his holster, usually reserved for his holly wand, without thinking and kept his own out.
"There's Dark Magic interfering," Pomfrey gasped. "Severus, I need your help."
Snape, who was holding down Dumbledore's legs, let go instantly and Harry took his legs. Dumbledore tried a feeble kick.
"Harry," the wizened wizard gasped.
Harry and Lucius did a quick shuffle and swapped so Lucius held Dumbledore's legs and Harry laid a gentle arm on his chest.
"Take it," he croaked. "Take it."
Harry was confused.
"Headmaster?"
His struggles renewed as he flailed his injured arm towards Harry. Dumbledore moaned in pain. "Harry!" he cried.
Dumbledore was paler than ever and was sweating profusely.
Snape managed to carefully grab the Headmaster's arm.
"It is some sort of Withering curse," Snape grimaced.
Lucius swore softly and exchanged a look with Neville.
"He's trying to give me the ring," Harry told them as he realised that was what Dumbledore wanted him to have. Harry knew that Dumbledore had been out on a lead for one of Voldemort's horcruxes. The ring must have been a horcrux. It was clearly the reason why Dumbledore was so insistent that Harry take possession of it. "Don't touch it with your hands."
Harry's warning came just in time as Madam Pomfrey seemed about to do just that.
Deftly, the Mediwitch reached for the tattered sleeves of the Headmaster's robes and ripped off the whole sleeve and painstakingly removed the ring from the blackened hand that Snape was keeping still and wrapped it up as she handed it carefully over to Harry.
"I have it, Headmaster," Harry said soothingly. "I have it right here. I'll take care of it, sir, okay?"
Harry gingerly kept a hold of the wrapped-up ring. He needed to get the Sword of Gryffindor as soon as he knew the Headmaster was treated of whatever was cursing him.
Dumbledore relaxed, even giving Harry a brief smile, despite the pain contorting his face.
"Has the Withering Curse reached his heart?" Lucius asked.
With his free hand Harry grasped the middle of Dumbledore's robes and Neville did the same on the other side. At the same time, they pulled the fabric apart, ripping the bright blue robes to reveal Dumbledore's naked white-haired chest. The Withering Curse was slowly inching its way towards enfeebled wizard's heart. Skin turning a sickening black as it crawled slowly to its target.
Snape did not hesitate to begin a rapid onslaught of counter curses, his sallow face straining with effort. Pomfrey dabbed away the sweat on Dumbledore's head.
Dumbledore's breathing harshened, but otherwise stayed awake throughout the whole time. It took Snape almost a full hour to make the Withering Curse recede backwards. It was like watching sludge rewind. The headmaster's previously black skin turned red first, then a pasty white colour as it retreated back down towards the shoulder first, then slowly down his bicep and then elbow. It took even longer before it was forced downwards towards his hand where the curse originated. Dumbledore gritted his teeth and they all pressed down to hold him as he tried to thrash again.
Harry realised that the curse hadn't moved from the wrist for ten minutes and Snape began some sort of binding spell.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked sharply. "You haven't removed the curse yet."
"I can't remove it, Harry," Snape grimaced, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his wand tighter. "It's too strong. The best I can do is bind it, so it stays in his hand. It will buy him some time."
"How much time?" Harry asked.
"Months. Maybe a year. I cannot remove it completely. If I don't bind it to his hand, the curse will make his way back to his heart and he will die instantly."
Snape continued his binding spell.
"Stop!" Harry said harshly.
Before he could continue, Dumbledore rasped, "Harry, you must continue without me. Let Severus bind the spell."
"No," Harry told him. "We can defeat the curse, Headmaster. The next adventure isn't yours to take yet."
"Harry," Snape protested.
"Let us take over," Harry said, ignoring Snape's words, but looking directly at the Potions Master.
Severus, who was pushed firmly away from Albus, expected Lucius to be the one to take over. So, he was firmly surprised when his position was taken over by Longbottom and Lovegood. He had poured a lot of magic into trying to save Albus Dumbledore. It had taken a lot of effort and all his knowledge to push the Withering Curse back down as far it could.
A part of him knew that Longbottom and Lovegood were part of the Founders' chosen, but the bigger part of him scoffed as he still simply knew them both as his students. Forgetful, bumbling Neville Longbottom and peculiar Luna Lovegood; what could they possibly do that he could not.
To his astonishment, together they undid his binding spell and Longbottom began to chant an old spell, with Lovegood keeping her wand pointed at the withered finger where the spell originated. The last time he had seen such concentration from them was… with a start he realised it was when he had knocked Harry over the banister last year. Both Lovegood and Longbottom had performed some sort of status spell to stop the blood flow until Poppy could get there.
He had been too shocked with his own behaviour at the time to truly taken in their actions. To see them working in tandem, to truly do the impossible and defeat the Dark Lord's curse was nigh unbelievable.
It took another twenty minutes for them to work the counter curse. The Withering Curse receded even further until Albus ended up with just the blackened finger where the curse had originated on his index finger.
Albus groaned and bucked under Harry and Lucius and Shacklebolt's arms as they continued to apply their pressure to keep him still. Albus was soaked in sweat and his face contorted in in pain. Lovegood prodded the ring mark on Albus' finger and an insidious black mist rose from the appendage, seemingly never ending it hovered over Albus' hand.
Fascinated, Severus knelt back down next to a still concentrating Longbottom and reached out to touch it.
"No, don't," came Harry's voice.
His fingers touched the mist and he was blasted backwards.
"Idiot!" came someone's voice, as he landed on the other side of the bed.
Poppy came rushing to his side.
He let out a confused groan, he kept his eyes closed as Poppy helped him up. There was a flash of red that he saw even through his closed lids. He blearily opened them and saw that Albus' hand had returned to normal, if slightly paler, tone. He'd lost consciousness, finally.
"Well done," Lucius said proudly. Looking from Lovegood to Longbottom and Severus.
Severus couldn't believe that Longbottom and Lovegood had managed to do what he couldn't. He couldn't help but see them both in a different light.
He truly looked at Longbottom as if he was seeing him for the first time. The boy had become a formidable wizard. When had that happened?
That was the last thought he had before he lost consciousness himself.
Severus came to several hours later. His head hurt and the tip of finger blazed where he'd touched the curse felt like it was burning. He'd been divested of his outer robes and shoes already and a blanket had been pulled up over him. Severus raised himself on his elbows and looked around. Apart from Albus there was no one else in the Infirmary. Albus was awake and sat up. He was looked bemusedly between his wand and his newly uncursed hand.
Severus cleared his throat, "How are you feeling now, Headmaster?"
Albus didn't reply for several moments as he continued to examine his hand and his wand.
"I am very well, thank you, Severus. How are you? You took an awful fall," Albus said in a mild voice without looking up from his inspection.
Severus was puzzled. The words were pure Albus, but the Headmaster usually gave more attention when enquiring after someone's health. Not that Severus was desperate was for Albus' attention. It was out of character, was all.
Severus pushed back the blankets and sat up carefully. It was odd how a burn on the tip of his finger affected his balance. He swayed as he stood up and slowly made his way over to the Headmaster, still barefoot.
Albus finally turned to look at him as he approached. He lowered his pale, healed hand and waved his wand with a flourish and conjured a purple squashy chair only Albus would conjure. Albus studied the chair with keen interest, as if he'd found the thirteenth use of dragon blood.
"Headmaster?" Severus asked, studying the headmaster in concern.
Albus was startled out of his examination and waved Severus into the seat.
Severus lowered himself into the chair.
"How are you feeling, Severus? I haven't seen you unconscious in the Hospital Wing since your Kiss Coma. At least this time you have woken up within hours, rather than days."
Severus ignored the words with only a grimace to show their effect on him. He cursed Killian for the millionth time.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that same question, Albus?"
Albus smiled gently. He stared at his wand again with the same expression as before.
"What happened, Albus?"
"That is a good question, Headmaster," a voice came from the entrance to the Hospital Wing.
Harry was followed by Longbottom and Lovegood. They all looked long enough in Severus' direction long enough to acknowledge his presence, but otherwise ignored him. Lovegood was a little more polite about it and even went as far as asking, "How's your finger, Professor Snape?"
Severus was, truthfully, a little surprised to be acknowledged at all given his rocky relationship with the trio. He'd never actually been ignored like this before. Even his father liked to call attention to him for being a wizard. The Marauders certainly like calling attention to him. Severus had no doubt that the hell he was in was of his own making. He'd been the one to set the precedent of their relationship; antagonised Harry for no good reason other than that he could, because he had the power.
Severus held up the reddened finger in question.
"I'm sure I'll survive," Severus said dryly.
"Is there something you'd like to tell us, Headmaster?"
"Indeed, Harry. But before I tell my story, I do have to ask, who disarmed me?"
"I did, sir," Harry said, settling on the edge of his bed, his back slightly to Severus.
Albus smiled widely.
Severus felt a foreboding go down his spine.
Severus allowed Draco to settle him in his quarters. Lucius and Draco had arrived within minutes. Severus knew he was not welcome to this meeting, and though he was hurt it was not unexpected. In a rather petty way, however, he was also glad when Draco too had been ejected from the Hospital Wing. Severus had been examined once more by Poppy and Lovegood and had been told the reaction had been due to the dark magic from his Dark Mark and as such the after-effects would wear off soon. Truthfully, Severus didn't need Draco to escort him from the Infirmary, but Draco clearly wanted to speak to him about something and so Severus allowed it.
"Who is looking after Adelaide?" Severus queried as they walked to the dungeons. Lucius barely let his daughter out of his sight.
"Black and Granger," Draco said without any of the sullenness that usually accompanied his tone when speaking about either of Harry's friends.
Severus realised that Draco too was finding his feelings evolving. Severus found himself hoping Draco was more successful in his attempts to make amends that Severus was. Severus had left it too late. He prayed Draco hadn't.
Draco was unable to hold back any longer once they entered his private rooms.
"What do you think they're talking about up there?"
Severus didn't truly think Draco cared. He was miffed for the sake of being miffed. There might be some curiosity, but Severus suspected that wasn't the real reason for the talk.
"Champion business, I suspect," Severus said, though not without envy. He'd been the last to be in the know about the Founders, along with Draco. Draco still whined about the fact occasionally. He lowered himself in his favourite armchair. Calling for a kitchen elf he asked for tea and snacks, knowing Draco would make himself comfortable as well.
This wasn't the first time Draco had visited Severus' private rooms. Draco had made liberal use of their relationship from the moment he'd become a student at Hogwarts. Severus had let Draco visit (within reason) whenever he wanted and let him do his homework and helped him with Potions. Draco had expressed an interest in becoming a Potions Master once he was graduated. Severus knew Draco was good at Potions, and it was one of the few classes that Draco truly excelled at and enjoyed. However, Draco also had a short attention span so Severus truly wondered how dedicated Draco was to this.
"They didn't hesitate to step in front of me and Ade when Black asked them to," Draco said abruptly, plonking himself in the chair across from Severus. "Potter's friends. Black was worried that there might be stray spells flying around and told Potter's friends to protect us. They did it straight away. They didn't question him, they didn't argue."
Severus listened silently as he watched Draco help himself to the biscuits once they appeared. Severus never played host to Draco. The boy knew Severus wasn't his nursemaid and refused to pour his tea. Draco was always served his own tea in Severus' rooms.
"They only did it because of Ade," Draco mumbled from behind his biscuit. "If it was just me they wouldn't have bothered."
"You are not a baby," Severus said mildly. Though you do act like one sometimes, Severus thought as he eyed his godson.
Draco's cheeks had unflattering red splotches as if he had heard Severus speak the words out loud. Severus had always wondered what had possessed Lucius to make him Draco's godfather. Severus hadn't even begun teaching when Draco was born. At that time, he had not thought about children at all. Though he'd heard of course that Lily was pregnant with Potter's child. By then he'd already passed on the prophecy to the Dark Lord and still not given a damn about who the targets were. None of the other Death Eaters knew who had given the Dark Lord the prophecy. Severus kept that piece of information to himself, as had the Dark Lord.
He remembered well the disgust of Dumbledore's face when he'd been more concerned with Lily than her child, who was the more innocent being in the whole disaster and Severus still hadn't cared, despite being named godfather in his own right by that point. He'd admired Lucius as a brother of sorts, in a distant sort of way. Knew Lucius had trusted Severus with Draco. Remembered thinking what a fool Lucius was to do so, wondered if he could keep Draco from following the same path as Severus and Lucius.
It was Severus who was the fool in the end. It was Lucius who played his part well. Severus never suspected that Lucius was on the side of light after all. Draco, too bizarrely had played a part but Severus knew that Draco's act of spoiled child was not actually an act; he truly was spoiled. Draco expressed his bitterness at being kept in the dark for so long by both his parents, Severus at least understood that giving him that secret was more a burden than the child could really bear. Thinking back on the trust that Lucius had in Severus, he was now more humbled and gratified that Lucius trusted him with his daughter Adelaide. Though he would still say that he still didn't like children, he would be a better godfather to Adelaide then he was to Draco.
Underneath all his bluster Draco had the marks of becoming how much better wizard than Severus ever was.
"I want," began Draco "to be trusted by them."
"Trust and forgiveness have to be earned Draco," Severus said quietly.
"You tried to ask for forgiveness but they didn't forgive you well. At least, Potter hasn't forgiven you. What chance do I have?"
Severus, who had settled back into his chair shut up sharply as he realised the truth of Draco's words. Harry had been the only one who he'd asked for forgiveness from. Then as his mind meandered he thought about Harry's words about the damage he had done to other people and he realised Harry was referring to Longbottom and others like Longbottom. He had bullied them relentlessly over the years for no other reason that he could because he had power over them and enjoyed making them feel small. He had become like those who had made him feel small, another realization hit him like a Stinging hex from a wand. He had become like his father, the marauders and all those other people who had power over him in some way or another and made him feel like he was nothing. And he didn't realise it fully until recently that he had become like that.
He had to question whether he wanted to become like that or whether he was forced to become like that. He enjoyed power. He knew that. He had resented his mother for letting a mere muggle make them both feel like they were powerless and so he gave witches and wizards the power. He thought muggles were beneath them because his father made him feel like muggles were like this. And now even though Lily had been his light, he never thought of her muggle background, had ignored her muggle sister but then didn't hesitate to lash out at her and use her muggle background as an insult to her because he was angry.
Severus had accepted that he'd been unfair to Harry from the moment he stepped into Hogwarts. But now at Draco's words, he realised he had been unfair to a lot more people and he was doing it again. He was becoming blinkered to one person, to Harry just like he had become blinkered to Lily. Harry would do anything for his friends and family. Several years ago Severus had scoffed at this dedication that Harry had to his friends because it was the same dedication that the marauders seemingly had to each other. And because Severus had lost that dedication from Lily he'd belittled that emotion in anyone else because he didn't have it himself, didn't have it for himself. He'd lost the value of family and friendship.
By calling Lily that horrible name, he'd lost his chance to ever feel like he was part of something else. Dumbledore had always made him feel like he might have been a son, but Severus never really believed him because he'd always felt like he was an afterthought. He never felt like Dumbledore would ever put him first and if he was truly honest, he felt that would ever be the case. Even as an 11-year-old Harry Potter had somehow inspired Dumbledore to love him because he was open and he was truly a person who thought with his heart and Severus had lost his heart so long ago that he didn't know how to find it again. And maybe if he hadn't kept his mind poisoned with his own past he might have opened himself up to the idea that maybe Harry was more than Lily's child, more than James Potter's son. All Severus had wanted was Lily and if he was honest he'd never even thought of having children with her. He was, he started to realise, a truly selfish person who would have resented anyone else taking Lily's attention away from him. Even his own children. And he realised he wouldn't have protected his child the way he would have protected Lily and didn't that make him feel worse than a flobberworm.
All of a sudden Severus felt disgusted for himself. Harry was right. He didn't deserve forgiveness. He hadn't earned it.
"Harry isn't the only who you have done wrong to, Draco," Severus said in an uncharacteristically gentle voice.
Draco nodded, and Severus felt for the first time that this wasn't Draco's usually dismissive nod. This time he was truly listening.
"They had 3 conditions. They said Dad had to win the fight for me to do the second condition. They said I'll never get to the third condition so they didn't even bother telling me what it is."
Severus nodded as he helped himself to a cup of tea.
"How's your finger?" Draco asked belatedly, though Severus heard the smirk in the question. "It's fine," Severus answered tersely. He couldn't believe he had been idiotic enough to touch that dark magic. So powerful had that magic been, even after it had been removed it had knocked Severus out. His finger had returned to its normal colour. Whereas the Headmaster's hand still looked like he'd held in water for too long. More pale and wrinkled than what would have been natural even given his advanced age. Longbottom had said that Albus' would have full use of his hand in no time, but the colour may remain the same shade permanently. But the curse had definitely been lifted.
Just like the horrible Kiss Coma, Severus now had one more embarrassing incident to his name. The horror was never-ending. At least on this occasion there had been less witnesses. Though, he suspected Black would find great delight in taunting him.
"So, you're saying your wand is now mine?" Harry asked, slightly disbelieving.
Harry had cast his mind back through his many lives. In this life, Harry had not yet heard the Tales of Beedle the Bard. But from previous lives those stories were well known to each of them. Despite, all of them having seen many feats of magic, the story of the Hallows were never really something any of them paid much attention as something real. Of course, the Hallows (the stories and apparently the objects) had been created after their first lives. There had been nothing of the sort in the Founders' times, but they had all seen extraordinary things throughout their many lives.
"Harry is now the Master of Death?" Neville asked with a little more incredulity.
"I borrowed your father's cloak when I first realised what it was. Of course, you realise normal Invisibility Cloaks lose their magic over time, and they are notoriously expensive. Even the richest of wizards would find them difficult to replace, as Demi-guises are endangered creatures and the hunting of them would culminate in strict consequences from the Ministry. James told me his family had held the Cloak for generations, his father had handed to him and his father before that and so on and so forth. There have been times when I do think that had I not borrowed the cloak then maybe James might have made use of it and…" Dumbledore trailed off as they all silently pondered that.
"Alas, dwelling on what ifs was no use. Your parents had passed, I had the Cloak that was rightfully yours and returned it as soon as I saw fit. But it was never the Cloak I sought. It was the one Hallow I felt was no use to me. I fought Gellert Grindlewald and earned the Wand of Destiny and have held it ever since. I never saw the need to advertise the fact which is why I have been unchallenged so for so long. And the stone was out of reach until I started to collect the memories to determine Voldemort's horcruxes. I was tempted by the Stone, Harry. I hid that from you, from everyone. I realised when we viewed the memory of the Gaunt shack that you did not recognise the Stone at all, but I knew it for what it was straight away. I had spent so long in my youth looking for it, after all. Had spent many years researching it. And to have it practically fall into my hand. The temptation was too much, it had overridden any caution I may have exercised. As soon as I realised I had fallen into a trap I apparated straight back. I was delirious by the time help reached me. Even though I knew you would not realise what the Stone was, I knew you would recognise the horcrux and destroy it as it should be destroyed."
"Do you think Voldemort realised what it was?" Harry asked, staring at the Stone in his hand. He had already removed the horcrux from it whilst the Headmaster was recovering.
"No," Dumbledore said with confidence. "Tom never had any time for children's stories. And as he had not grown up with wizarding bedtime stories, I firmly believe that this was beneath his notice."
They all stared at Harry as he looked thoughtfully at the Stone. Harry understood Dumbledore's temptation. He had an almost unbearable urge to summon his parents. To talk to them, but the effect of the Stone was not that dissimilar to that of the Mirror of Erised. With the Mirror Harry had seen his parents, but they were not really there. With the Stone he could call them forth and speak to them as he couldn't with the Mirror, but really at the end of it all, they would not truly be by his side as they would had they still been alive. He had the beginnings of an audacious plan in mind and the Stone would come in useful. He had only one question for his parents and he wasn't really ready to ask it yet if he was honest.
He looked up at them as they studied him. He knew Neville would understand. He stood up and held the Stone out so that Lucius, Luna and Dumbledore could reach for it. If they wanted.
"I know who I would seek, but right now I'm not ready to speak to my parents. But each of you have a reason to use the Stone. I'll not think little of you for deciding to use it."
Dumbledore had someone he wanted to speak to. Harry didn't know who that was and the Headmaster had been shamefully reticent about it. Harry understood that and didn't begrudge the elder wizard from holding back. Lucius had two witches who had crossed over, he'd loved them both and he could speak to them if he chose to use the Stone. Luna could speak to her mother.
Lucius was the first to speak, but Harry could see how difficult it was for him to decline.
"If I'm to focus on my family now, Harry," Lucius said softly, "then I can't let my past distract me. Narcissa is gone and speaking to her now would be counterproductive. I need to protect my family and if I tried to speak to those who are lost then I'd lose myself. This is too much temptation for me but I appreciate what you are trying to do for me."
Lucius gently nudged the Stone away from himself.
"I'm sure Mummy will tell me lots of stories and give lots of advice she would have given me if she was still here, Harry. I'm not ready to lift the Veil. I know she loved me and I don't need the Stone for her to tell me that." Luna too pushed away Hallow from herself.
Dumbledore had tears in his eyes.
"If I ever had any doubts as to why each of you were chosen by the Founders, this would clear any reservations. There is clear wisdom in your decisions that I'm not sure I would be able to make. Even in my delirium, Harry, I knew that I could trust you with the Stone. I have lived for so long without the answers, that I can continue down that path. Sometimes, finding the answer can be no less disappointing." Pushing the Stone firmly away from him, Dumbledore said, "The Stone and the Wand are now yours, Harry. I know you will use them well."
Harry nodded.
"If I take your wand, Headmaster, what will you use?"
"I still have my original wand, Harry. Kept safely stored away, should I ever lose the Wand of Destiny. Whether you use it or not, that is up to you. You have a wise head on your shoulders. I trust you completely."