Harry Potter and the Power of the White Phoenix
Disclaimer/Plot/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Recommended Reads: The Focus of a Healer by OfficeSloth, The Potter Alliance by SpitKill, The Legacy by storytellerSpW, Saviour of Magic by Colt01, When Harry Met Neville by SlutPuppy, The Journey Begins by JayColin and Harry Potter and the Rune Stone Path by Temporal Knight
Key Pairing: Harry/Neville
Other Pairings: To be determined
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
'Mental Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Winged Seer Wolf: Amen, brother: also, I hope you like how I'm slowly, but surely, developing Harry and Neville's relationship without going too far just yet;
"I don't know who's behind this, I don't know who they are, I don't know what they want and I don't know why they did it, but I can…I do promise you both this much: if they think they're safe, they're sadly mistaken. You see, being me, I have a very particular set of skills; skills I've acquired over a long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like them: if they'd had a just reason, I'd have let them go and that would be the end of it. However, because this is a cruel, unprovoked and merciless assault, then rest assured, boys, if it's the last thing I do, I will track them down, I will find them and, if necessary, for what they've done, I will kill them."
"Yeah…he's always like that…"
Chapter 4: Skywalker Syndrome
It was nearly an hour later – during which Neville managed to change his clothes and brew a mug of hot chocolate to help fight off the after-effects of the Dementors' presence – before Harry awoke, a look of exhaustion and hidden fire showing through the almost glazed look in his green eyes.
As Neville saw his boyfriend open his eyes, he smiled softly before handing Harry a still-hot mug of his own as he told him, "Hey there; here, I had Uncle put a charm on it to keep it warm. After you told me about Remus' habit of giving you chocolate, it seemed appropriate."
"Thanks," sighed Harry, taking the mug, but as he did so, his fingers twitched and he dropped it again.
If it hadn't been for Neville's quick response, they'd have both wound up with hot chocolate all over them.
Thankfully, the Longbottom Heir managed to grab the mug and, steadying his boyfriend as Harry sat upright, he slowly held the mug to Harry's lips, much to Harry's embarrassment. "Sorry…I couldn't…"
"Don't apologise, H," replied Neville, slowly feeding the hot, sweet mix into Harry's mouth while he spoke with his mate, "Uncle said you'd feel weak after what happened, but I'm glad you were able to recover so quickly too."
'As am I, little one,' added a familiar voice, earning smiles from both boys as Polaris flew from where she'd been perched atop the large wardrobe in Harry and Neville's bedroom, her bright, white feathers shining in the low light that filled the room while her soft head brushed against Harry's hand in an affectionate, but relieved gesture.
"Thank you for saving us, girl," whispered Harry, taking another drink with Neville's help before, swallowing the drink, he looked back to Polaris as he continued in a soft voice, "I…I remember you being there, but after that, I guess I must have blacked out…I just felt so weak, so scared…why were they there?"
"My guess is someone at the Ministry being responsible," said Neville, a note of hatred evident in his words as he explained, "Since you blacked out, I'll fill in the blanks: once we were back home, thanks to Polaris, a Howler turned up from the Ministry, which, in a nutshell, said that you were expelled for using a Patronus. I know you didn't and so does Uncle…"
He quickly added the last part when Harry's eyes widened and his nostrils flared in enraged disbelief, but with Neville's explanation, he soon became calm again, which meant Neville could go on. "It's why he's gone to speak to his colleagues about using any possible ways to help clear your name before things get too bad."
As Harry's strength started to come back from the drink and the strength of the care, love and warmth from his mate and his familiar, his eyes cleared enough to be able to notice Neville's worried look.
As he saw the look, Harry frowned as he asked, "Something tells me that they already have gotten too bad, am I right?"
"Barely three minutes after Uncle left," said Neville, noticing Harry take the mug from him, showing he was strong enough to keep going on his own while Neville continued his explanations. "More owls turned up: one came from some unknown messenger, saying Dumbledore was at the Ministry dealing with it. It then warned you not to use any more magic and that things would be all right, but then, not long after that one arrived, a third owl turned up from the Ministry saying you'd be put on trial in two weeks in front of the entire Wizengamot."
"At least I am getting a trial," scoffed Harry, looking to his boyfriend before he asked, "Do you still have the second letter?"
"Yup," answered Neville, reaching behind his boyfriend to the small table next to their bed where he retrieved a parchment that he handed to Harry, who eyed it curiously before Neville asked, "Do you recognise the handwriting?"
"I should," replied Harry, the air of discomfort and disbelief in his words suggesting that he was being sarcastic, but he was also displeased with the fact that he recognised it. "After all, they've only been helping me get through classes year-in and year-out for the past four years!"
As surprised as Neville was, he managed to maintain his calm apathy as his boyfriend filled in the blank, "It's from Hermione, although I'm surprised she could send this to me since no-one else has sent anything all summer, not even today."
"Well, I think we both know that, if anyone's going to believe Dumbledore's the answer, it's her, especially with all the trouble you've had to deal with surrounding Tom's return," added Neville, earning a slow nod from Harry before he asked, "But, what I don't quite understand is why would he be so quick as to act in your stead and how would he know you'd been cautioned, if not targeted by the Ministry?"
A troubled look crossed Harry's face as Neville asked his question.
As Neville watched, the look became edged with a familiar glint of hate before, as he looked back to his mate, Harry hissed out his response.
"Unless he was the one to send them after me."
"Would he do that?"
Scoffing in response, Harry looked back to the letter as he explained, "Given the stuff I already know he's done without my knowledge, I don't know what he'd be willing to do to keep me from the truth, which reminds me: did Algernon say anything about what really destroyed the Dementors?"
"Oh yes," said Neville, a note of amusement showing through his own emotions as he laughed, "He says you actually managed to tap into the real power of White Magic, Harry: you used it without meaning to, but you used it."
Although he was shocked by the explanation, despite the fact that there was a small part of him that had wondered whether or not it was that at the time, Harry still smiled as he reached over and took Neville's hand in his, "I couldn't lose my boyfriend, Neville, not after the amazing day and the wonderful moment we'd just had atop the Tower. Then, when you add in how they were there because of the way he keeps fuelling the fire while I've only said it once and that they were basically hunting me without care for anything else and I just saw red…figuratively-speaking."
"You definitely made your feelings known," agreed Neville, tightening his hand around Harry's while he explained, "When the magic hit me, it didn't hurt me like it did the Dementors: it felt as though I was being protected and filled with this…this wave that kept me safe and helped me break away from what they were doing to me."
Here, his expression darkened slightly as he looked into Harry's eyes, "But when you used the magic to vanquish the Dementors, it was also like you couldn't control it: your eyes turned white and your magic started to increase in force. It was only when I managed to hold you and speak to you, assuring you I was all right, before you calmed down enough to ease up on the magic."
"But why would I lose control?" asked Harry, earning a shrug from Neville before he sighed as he added, "Ah well…thanks for helping, Nev."
"I'm your boyfriend, Harry," Neville reminded him, moving a little closer before, to Harry's delight, Neville brushed his lips gently against his mate's, though not before sneaking a lick at the chocolate stains on Harry's lips.
As Harry laughed, returning the gesture with some soft, teasing licks of his own – which, judging by the content moan from Neville, Harry guessed was a feeling his boyfriend enjoyed – the two boys seemed to become content to abandon their worries for their passion as their soft kisses turned into a full-blown make-out session, which Neville seemed willing to let Harry take the lead with, as he quickly moved the mugs aside before, lying down next to his boyfriend, he let Harry kiss him for all he was worth.
Through their wrestling tongues, as well as the moans of one another as they held each other close, practically feeding on their love and emotional support for one another, both boys also tasted the warmth of their drinks, as well as the strength of their love for one another as they made out.
As Harry happily wrestled Neville's lips for dominance, he also smiled as he pulled up before he whispered, "You taste nice, Nev…"
"You too, but that…that's the point that I…I'm trying to…to make," said Neville breathlessly, a small part of him hoping that Harry didn't notice how hungry he felt in certain areas, whilst licking his lips as Harry moved off of Neville, allowing the other boy to retrieve their drinks, which also gave him the chance to try and hide his arousal while he went on. "I…I'm your boyfriend…which means I'm yours, Harry James Potter, as you are mine. I'm your boyfriend, your love and your equal in all things: the purity in your light, remember? If anything happened to you, especially after how far we've come since Uncle told us about the Sentinel Protocol, it'd really hurt me and, after you'd given me your first kiss, I couldn't let that happen."
Despite the warm passion of their making out, Harry still felt a lone tear roll down his cheek, though not before Neville lifted his free hand and brushed it away as he said, "I know Hermione's said this to you before, but I'll say it now, just for you to know it's all real."
Reaching out, Neville held his boyfriend's cheek in one hand before, bringing him closer to his face, Neville pressed his forehead to Harry's as he whispered, "No matter what lies ahead, there's one thing I can believe in and that's how you are destined to be a great wizard, Harry James Potter. A real force of light in this world on whatever path you choose. And it won't be because you're smart or the top-ranked student in class, although after this summer, I think that will change…"
Harry laughed softly while Neville smiled, sneaking another kiss from his boyfriend as he explained, "It's because you have a power inside of you, something even your White Magic can't empower or use as a force. You have a power that makes you strong enough to fight the darkness and your own personal demons and emerge as something else…as someone else."
"You mean like a…" Harry began, before he laughed as he indicated Polaris, "A White Phoenix…rising from the ashes of its burning day?"
'Actually, for your information, I do not have a burning day, little one,' Polaris reminded him, a note of disdain in her words while both boys looked to her with matching smiles as she asked, 'Honestly, Harry-chick: how many times must I ask you to stop comparing my magic and my race to that other phoenix? He is there as a figurehead, a symbol for others to appreciate the strength of the old one whereas I am a living symbol of the great magic within you, my Harry.'
"I know you are, Polaris," agreed Harry, stroking his phoenix's feathers as he smiled before he added, "I was just using phoenixes as a way to say how I'd be changing like Neville says I will."
"And it's appropriate," added Neville, earning a trill of agreement from Polaris before he looked back to Harry, "You are like a phoenix, Harry: maybe not one like Polaris, but you are a phoenix…in your own way. I mean, your burning day was the day He came back and everything that's happened since then is the new you rising from the ashes of the old you dying out in a blaze of glory and darkness: from the truth of your magic to Polaris' true form and us becoming boyfriends: everything is the new and definitely improved version of you."
Harry smiled in response, finishing his drink before, heaving a sigh, he looked to his boyfriend before he asked, "Has Algernon come back yet? I'd like to ask a little more about the White Magic I used and how it ties to my real powers?"
"Unfortunately, he's still at the Cortex," replied Neville, earning a troubled look from Harry as he explained, "He's been there ever since the first owl arrived, but if there's one thing we've learned about him, it's that he only goes there for a good reason. In this case, given it's you, I daresay he's got the most-important reason ever to go there and, if necessary, spend as long as he needs to looking around there."
Harry shrugged in response, but that didn't mean he agreed with Neville's suggestion.
White
As they'd learned during the lessons with Algernon, the Cortex was the name given to the main headquarters, as well as the source of intelligence and resources that were used by the UNA – Unspeakable Allied Forces – when they became necessary.
Its location was known only to those who'd been sworn in and, even then, security was taken so strongly that the location and secrets therein were sworn under a magical oath of secrecy that would severely punish – but, unlike the Unbreakable Vow, not kill – any foolish enough to betray those secrets for personal gain or other reasons.
Because they were only new recruits going through their training, Harry and Neville didn't know anything about the Cortex other than the fact that it was the name of the HQ and that they would, one day, go there themselves when the time came for Neville to take Algernon's place as the new Zero – with Harry as his equal and right-hand, of course.
But it was still enough to know how serious some things were, especially if, like now, Algernon had to go there.
So, it was with good reason that Harry felt uneasy about the fact that his recent act of magic had been enough for Algernon to go there.
One part of Harry hoped Algernon managed to find said answers; however, another part of him hoped he didn't find the answers to the questions because, if he did, then thanks to the reputation of his kind, he knew that nothing would ever be the same again.
For Harry or any of his friends, allies and those who stood with him…
Well, except for Neville, anyway.
White
After taking some time to clean himself up, Harry sat down to a light meal with Neville, both of them eating in silence while their troubled, but also hopeful expressions spoke volumes about the dilemmas that went through the minds of the White Mage and his mate.
Once their plates were empty and their bellies were full, Harry took a moment to watch while his boyfriend washed up.
As he'd also learned during his stay, despite their pure-blood lineage, the Longbottoms didn't own House Elves as a rule set down by a former lord.
White
As he watched Neville, Harry smiled to himself as he remembered his first kiss with the boy.
How strong, personal and yet perfect it had felt to finally get the chance to kiss his boyfriend; he remembered everything they'd talked about before the kiss and how Harry had admitted he'd gotten everything he thought he'd need to keep going, even though, not too long ago, Harry had openly declared his desire to be alone in the world.
What a stupid mistake that was.
But then again, he'd been in a dark place back there.
With Cedric's death, the magic of Priori Incantatem showing him the spirits of his parents and, of course, Voldemort's return, Harry had felt so lost, alone and, as he'd previously noted, he'd felt dead inside.
But not anymore.
Now he felt truly alive, whole and willing to set foot on a path that he would choose and then, getting to build on that kiss, emphasising how much he willingly accepted what he had and what he shared with Neville, was perfection.
If Neville's kisses were as warm as that, and they made Harry feel as good as he did inside at that moment, the emerald-eyed teen was determined to take every advantage of his boyfriend's love and kiss, hold, love and, when they were both ready, even screw one another's brains out to their hearts' mutual content.
In the meantime, if the Call really did come and he and Neville were called into the spotlight, Harry knew he'd fight with Neville and bring things to a head…and then…he didn't know what was coming next.
Well, to be honest, that wasn't strictly true.
Harry had a basic idea of what he wanted to do, but what about Neville?
White
As he thought about it, Harry's eyes narrowed as he asked, "Hey Nev?"
Drying his hands, having finished washing while Harry was focused on his thoughts, Neville looked to his boyfriend as he asked, "Yeah, H?"
"I…" Harry began, pausing for a moment as he wondered how he was going to say it.
Given what might happen if the worst came down to it, there was probably no right or wrong answer, but since they were at that age, it was still a question to be asked, wasn't it?
Clearing his throat, Harry licked his lips nervously before he looked up to his boyfriend, "I…I was just wondering…I mean, I know we have this thing with the Unspeakables ahead of us and everything, but I was wondering, outside of that, what would you like to do after Hogwarts?"
"What? You mean as a job?" asked Neville, earning a nod from Harry before the other boy frowned as he added, "Well, to be honest, I haven't really been thinking about it, but I guess that, with us entering OWL year, it might help to have some idea…"
"That's what I was thinking," said Harry, watching as Neville joined him, his eyes filled with a look of contemplation while he also seemed to feel just as calm, yet considerate, of his thoughts as Harry felt. "Well?"
"Well," answered Neville, biting his lower lip in a way that Harry thought made his mate look adorable, "I guess I'd like to become a different kind of successor: as you know, I've got a knack for Herbology as Mood…I mean Crouch said to me last year, you remember?"
Harry nodded, although he was a little uneasy about the spiteful, hate-fuelled way that his boyfriend spoke of the impostor professor from the year before, but unlike others, Harry knew why Neville felt the way that he did, but he didn't say it out loud.
"Well that's what I'd like to do," admitted Neville, shrugging at Harry's questioning look as he explained, "I'd like to either go on to be a professional Magical Botanist or learn to teach the craft like Professor Sprout does, but maybe with some different elements included, like spells and other things that could be used for Herbology…maybe even look into Elemental Magic and stuff like that."
"Wow," whispered Harry, although he smiled as he asked, "And that's what you wish you could do if not for this protocol?"
"Yup," answered Neville, looking into his boyfriend's green eyes as he asked, "What about you?"
"I knew mine as soon as Polaris gave me some insight to the true nature of my kind," answered Harry, walking alongside Neville as they headed for the lounge of the Manor, both of them wanting nothing more than to feel relaxed and able to rest, putting the trials and traumas of the day behind them and, instead, focusing on the positives of the day, including the fact that their bond with one another was now official.
"What do you mean?" asked Neville.
As Harry sat down on one of the leather sofas, he smiled softly as he explained, "I want to be able to use my knowledge and learnings with White Magic to pursue a career in Healing: maybe that makes me someone like Madam Pomfrey, the Healers at St Mungo's or maybe it'll make me into something…someone that puts their abilities to shame. And that might not sound fair, but I don't care."
Here, Harry clenched his hands as he stared deeply into the hearth of the fireplace in front of the sofa, the flickering flames reflected in the light of his green eyes.
Next to him, Neville looked on in worry as he noticed a few trace white sparks dancing in Harry's green eyes while his boyfriend seemed to tense up, his breath shaking slightly as he looked into the flames. "I…I've always lost people…for too long now, for one reason or another, I've lost people to the darkness, to pain and to destruction and why? Because I was too weak to appreciate who I really was and what I could do."
"But that wasn't your fault, H," Neville told him, putting a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder while he moved closer to his boyfriend as he admitted, "I know that as much as you do: it wasn't your fault you'd been kept in the dark about what you could do. Even if you could know about it, sometimes there are things that no-one can fix: You…you weren't strong enough…you're not all-powerful, Harry…"
"But I should be!" snapped Harry suddenly, his voice laced with venom.
As he did so, Neville saw the flames waver as though they were caught in a non-existent breeze while, at the same time, a familiar air of protective, but powerful energy filled the room as Harry told Neville, "The things I've done…the things I can still do…I should be able to use my power to do anything I want. I survived Death itself, vanquished a sorcerer with ten times the power of my own when I was barely eighteen months old, so why shouldn't I be all-powerful by now?"
Neville's eyes widened as Harry's gaze locked onto the flames, his green-eyed colouring becoming more and more white as he hissed, "I should be one of…one of the most-powerful wizards in the country, if not the world, by now! My magic, my parents' powers and my gifts…they saved me from dying, so why couldn't I do the same for others?"
"You mean Cedric?" asked Neville, again sharing his boyfriend's pain while he did what he could to try and weather the storm.
"I mean everyone," snarled Harry, the white in his eyes showing itself in force as he exclaimed, "I should be the one with that power, Neville: to be able to stop people…to save them from dying because…because of monsters like Tom and the bias of freaks like the Ministry and, one day, even if it goes against everything they think they know about me, one day I will have that power!"
"How?" asked Neville, a hint of fear in his words as he asked, "How do you expect to do that, Harry? You don't even know what the power is in you other than the fact that it's White Magic?"
"And White is the colour of life, isn't it?" asked Harry, looking to Neville with a look that made him seem on the edge of obsession, if not crazy ideas while he asked, "If it can vanquish the darkness and overpower those who threaten life, doesn't that make it a source of Life itself? I mean, why else would I feel so weak after using it for the first time? And you, as my purity, what sort of purity are you going to be if not the purity of life itself? Why should I fear it, Neville when, all the while, I could master it?"
"Master what?" asked Neville.
Harry's eyes shone so brightly with the new white colouring that he looked divine in nature while his smile became almost-deranged as he hissed.
"Death…"
As Neville felt his heart turn cold and warm with the way that Harry spoke, the determined, but scary sorcerer smiled again, "Why shouldn't I seek to become the Master of Death itself with my power over Life and Purity?"
"Harry…" Neville whispered, but as he said it, the two of them snapped their heads around as they heard what sounded like someone tripping over a loose item in the main hallway.
If there was one mercy about the distraction, it was that hearing the noise seemed to break Harry's train of thought as Neville noticed his boyfriend's green eyes return to their normal colouring, but his expression remained firm as he asked, "It's not like your Uncle to be so clumsy, is it?"
"Not in all the years I've known him," answered Neville, rising from his seat before he asked, "What I want to know is how they got in here without triggering the wards, whoever they are?"
"Death Eaters?" asked Harry, clenching his fists while, at the same time, he looked to Neville as he asked, "Could someone have let them in?"
"That's the only other explanation," agreed Neville, scowling as he added, "Even if this is a magical household, I daren't risk the Ministry given how bad things are for you, Harry, but…"
Whatever else he might have said was cut off when Harry's eyes widened as a familiar voice broke through the tense silence of the moment, the source of the voice very familiar to Harry and with one good reason.
"It's all right, cub: you don't have to be scared. It's just us."
"Remus?" asked both boys, Neville's eyes narrowing as he saw a small group of figures move through the door into the lounge.
One of them was their former professor and the once-friend of Harry's Father, but he wasn't alone; with him was another familiar figure that looked like another former professor as well as a young, somewhat-attractive woman with pink hair and smooth features who looked apologetically at the boys while she gave a sly, almost-flirtatious wink in Harry's direction.
"Wotcher, Harry," said the young woman, gesturing to the spot between the three newcomers as she added, "Someone wants to say hiya to you."
"Who…how…what…" Harry began, but he got his answer when, just a few seconds later, the bodies of those who looked like Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody parted to reveal a very familiar shaggy-furred body, the sight of which made Harry's eyes widen, but not with suspicion or fear. Now, he had a look of abject surprise, delight and disbelief, which only grew more-pronounced when said figure moved towards them, shifting out of canine form and into that of a grizzled-looking man with grey eyes that shone like glowing mists and a smile that could have lit up Shanghai.
"Harry Potter," whispered Sirius Black, smiling proudly as he looked from his godson to Neville, giving him a wink as he let out a laugh. "I never did thank Frank and Alice for keying Remus and I into the wards when we had the wedding party here all those years ago."
Before Neville could ask any questions, however, his suspicion turned into a sense of mild warmth as he saw Harry run to Sirius, embracing him warmly while Sirius and Remus laughed in mutual admiration and respect, both of them showing the very thing Neville had once been afraid of, but, thanks to the past few weeks, he now knew to be a truth that was stronger than any other he'd heard.
Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, would never harm so much as a hair on Harry's head and, if he was here, then things were going to be all right.
Even so, Neville had to ask the question that he was thinking as he looked at Sirius before he asked, "What are you doing here?"
"We're here for Harry," replied Remus, his words cutting through the warmth of the moment like the Sword of Gryffindor through the Basilisk's skull as he added, "After what happened with the Ministry and the Dementors, Dumbledore has asked…"
Little did he realise that, with those three words, he lost any and all credibility with the two young men in the room.
As quickly as he'd embraced his godfather, Harry backed away, moving back to his spot next to his boyfriend before, looking from Sirius to Remus, he shook his head slowly. "No."
"Pup?" asked Sirius, but to his surprise, Harry continued to show a completely-opposite air to the one he'd shown moments ago.
"No," repeated Harry, looking into his godfather's eyes as he told him, "If you're here because of him or anything he's said or done, then you can show yourselves out."
"Harry, be reasonable…" Remus began, but as soon as he said it, someone else cut off all arguments as Remus felt a wand press into his neck before a familiar stern, strong voice finished the arguments.
"I think he's being as reasonable as anyone else would after all he's been through," said Algernon, his eyes filled with warning as he looked at the four wizards in the room – well…three and one witch – before he added, "And since you said you're here on his orders, Lupin, you and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix can kindly get the fuck out of my house."
While Remus and the pink-haired woman looked shocked by the knowledge held by the older man, it was Harry who broke the silence as he looked from the newcomers to the man who'd become a friend, a mentor and a guardian with everything he'd done that summer.
"The what of the who?"
As Harry stared dumbly at the group of witches and wizards standing in the doorway, only two of whom he trusted right now to have anything to do with him, he felt Neville's hand slide into his before the young boy addressed the group. "I want you all to leave now! This house, and everyone who lives here will have nothing to do with anyone in the Order of the Overcooked Fried Chickens ever again!"
Where Neville had his hand gripped in Harry's, the White Mage was surprised to feel Neville's hand trembling while, at the same time, Harry was aware of a familiar protective urge rising up inside him, but this time, the urge grew into something more than just a mystical aura.
It seemed to turn into a force that drilled its way into the deepest recesses of his heart.
As he felt the urge take root, it evolved into a force of strength that drove Harry's will, keeping him and his boyfriend safe in each other's embrace.
With this strength fuelling him, Harry looked back to the group as he told them, "Well? Have you all gone deaf? You said you're here for me and, from the looks of things, it seems Algernon, Neville and I don't want you here. In fact, right now, the only one I would let stay here is Sirius, and not just because of the Ministry's incompetence!"
As Remus' eyes widened, the fourth member of the newcomers, a man who looked like Alastor Moody, cleared his throat before he asked, "And what are you doing here anyway, Potter? All reports say…"
"You don't have to answer that," Algernon assured Harry, his hazel eyes filled with the same security and desire for protection towards Harry that had been there since the first day while he directed his next words at the Order members as he told them, "In fact, now that you have your answer, lady and gentlemen, I'd very much like to ask you to leave."
"Algernon, think about this," Alastor began, but Algernon cut him off with a raised hand and a reminder that he was armed as he pointed the wand at Moody, his eyes filled with warning as he glared at the ex-Auror.
"Given the fact that the last man to come anywhere near my family was responsible for their current states, I don't think you have any right to tell me what to do about the right thing, Alastor," insisted the elder Longbottom, his voice edged by the same note of warning that Neville had heard when he'd told the boy what he would do to those who were responsible for what had happened to Harry and Neville.
While Moody smirked thinly, recognising the man's vigilance as well as he would his own, Algernon went on, "Now, I won't ask nicely a second time: if I have to ask again, you will be ejected from the premises and all rights to the house will be revoked…yes, this includes you, Sirius, unless Harry's right about you, in which case, get your furry ass over there and stand with him and my nephew."
To Harry's relief and Neville's amusement and relief, Sirius didn't need telling twice as he made his way over to the boys, keeping his hands up as he approached Harry before he stood behind his godson, his eyes on Algernon and his former companions.
At the sight of the defiance from Sirius and his defection from the group, Remus' eyes widened while the pink-haired woman smiled and nodded, as though she knew that would happen.
Before anyone else could say anything, however, Harry looked back to Remus as he said, "And for the record, I don't know you from Adam, former Professor Lupin: so if you were actually hoping to try and take Dad's place in telling me what to do or thinking you can dictate anything to me, then I wish you the best of luck."
As Remus blanched, a flash of sudden anger seemed to cross his face, even as Harry pressed on, "But in the meantime, until hell freezes over and I choose to let anyone think they can take the place of people who will never be able to do the same, therefore I answer to no-one and nothing, but me, myself and I, I highly recommend you do as they said and get the fuck out of this house!"
"Not without you," Remus argued, his voice laced with a hint of desperation as well as something that actually made Harry wonder if he was right on the money about Remus' intentions, even when he taught Harry in third year. "It's not safe here: you're not staying…"
"Correction," retorted Harry, drawing himself to his full height while his green eyes shone like the Killing Curse as he snapped, "You're not staying!"
"We're not leaving without you, Harry James Potter!" insisted Remus, unaware of the warning look Sirius was giving him as he snapped, "Now stop being such a petulant child and…"
"Polaris!"
Before Remus, the pink-haired woman – whom Harry later learned to be named Nymphadora Tonks – or Moody could say anything, all three of them found themselves blinded by a flash of white light. One that, seconds later, faded away to reveal the familiar surroundings of Diagon Alley instead of the calm, homey designs of Longbottom Estate.
As Remus tried to Apparate back, however, intent on doing his leash-bearer's bidding and reclaiming Harry, he let out a cry that sounded more like his wolf side was yowling in pain as his arm was slashed in the attempt, the source of the slash presumably coming from a Splinching as a result of a failed apparition.
The truth of it, however, was very different…
White
"Good girl, although you didn't really have to scar him."
'No,' agreed Polaris, preening her feathers while she enjoyed the touch of her human as he was calmed by the presence of his mate and his true family, 'But this way, he knows he can't get back to you without going through me.'
"And me," chorused Neville and Algernon, the latter giving Harry a soft smile while he looked to Sirius, who nodded in agreement, although he was just as surprised as the others had been at the sight of the beautiful white phoenix protecting Harry so intensely. Not to mention the way his best friend actually thought he had the right to try and replace Lily or James, just because Dumbledore said it was for the best that Harry was taken somewhere safe.
Even a blind man could see Harry was safe where he was, especially with the Chief of the Unspeakables watching his back.
"Now to make sure of that," added Algernon, leaving the room for a few minutes.
While he was gone, Harry turned to Sirius before he asked, "Now, back to what I wanted to know before Remus decided to disgrace Dad's memory more than he already has done: what is the Order of the Phoenix and, while we're in the category of questions not-answered, tell me, Sirius: why does it take a freaking Dementor attack for anyone in my so-called friends' camp to get in touch with me?"
As Sirius opened his mouth to respond, however, he was suddenly cut off as Neville added, "And be warned, Black: I'm only trusting you because Harry trusts you, but if you even think of saying Dumbledore's name in some sort of play to get Harry to leave, we'll have Polaris take you back to Azkaban faster than you can say Quidditch!"
While Sirius was surprised at the fire in the young boy, he also noticed Harry didn't look like he was offended or worried by the threat.
Instead, as he caught Sirius' look, Harry shook his head as he told him, "No, Sirius, I'm sorry, but Neville's right to threaten you and I'm willing to let him. Just like I'm willing to do whatever I have to do to keep his damn chains from being locked around my neck again."
"What…what do you mean?" asked Sirius, noticing Harry's eyes darken even as he answered his godfather.
"I've been burned too many times already by that old fool and his so-called Greater Good with me: people have lied, abused my trust, betrayed my good nature and believed they needed me in the dark, weaker than a newborn kitten and without a care except to do what my puppet-master wants me to do…but no longer, do you hear me? I won't let myself get burned again, so, like Neville said, choose your words carefully!"
Hearing the fire, the determination and the hurt, but also rage in his godson's voice, Sirius swallowed hard before, looking to Neville, he asked, "Can I just say? I know why you distrust the Order so much, Neville, but I knew Frank and Alice well enough to know they'd be proud of the young man you're becoming."
"So, you say, but unless they recover from the vegetative states of their minds, we'll never know," argued Neville, his eyes filled with a level of hurt that made Harry feel the protective urge rise up again.
As it did so, however, it was replaced by something else; something that reminded Harry of his chosen path post-Hogwarts and what he hoped to achieve in learning to use his White Magic to help and heal and not just cause trouble.
Well, what better way to prove its power than to restore the family he could never have for the sake of the one he loved?
Smiling thinly as he thought about how he would achieve this, Harry moved back to the chairs in the lounge while Sirius cleared his throat before he began his explanations on the Order, including everything that had happened already that summer.
During his talk, he was aware of Algernon coming back into the room, a smug, even victorious look on his face that told him that they wouldn't have to worry about the Order, let alone anyone else while they were here.
And if they did, then Sirius had a sneaking suspicion that this group of hardened warrior-wizards had a Plan C in mind.
He just hoped he didn't wind up finding himself on the receiving end of it.
White
By the time the talking was over, including a wary, but detailed description of how much time Harry had spent with the Longbottoms and what his relationship with Neville had grown into – although they left out the part about them being trained at Unspeakable Level, the Zero mantle and the Sentinel Protocol, mostly because they didn't know too much yet about it while they were training – it was getting late and, after everything they'd gone through, it was safe to say Harry and Neville were tired.
While Algernon set up a temporary bedsit for Sirius in the lounge, with a stern warning about not looking where his eyes weren't welcome, the boys made their way up to their bedroom accompanied by Polaris.
Once there, Harry stripped out of his clothes until, wearing nothing but his boxers, he flopped down onto his bed, leaving Neville smiling as he too stripped down before he joined his boyfriend on the bed, both of them lying side by side while Neville also snatched glances with his boyfriend's improved physique and the troubled state of his expressions.
"Knut for your thoughts?" asked Neville, earning another groan from Harry while, realising the effect that the unexpected encounter had held on his boyfriend, Neville reached out and gently massaged Harry's neck.
The massage seemed to help as Harry sighed contentedly before he turned his head in Neville's direction, smiling softly as he asked, "Do you really think the Order's as obsessed as Sirius said? About finding this thing Riddle wants and getting me involved with it?"
"Yes, and double-yes," answered Neville, propping himself up on one arm while he continued to stroke his fingers against Harry's soft skin, earning an occasional wince from the emerald-eyed mage as he touched a ticklish spot. Not to mention the way Harry's boxers suddenly suggested that said youth might be hiding a snake down the front of his underwear, with how slowly, tauntingly and arousingly a certain part of his anatomy reacted to Neville's pleasurable touches.
Making a note of this sweet spot for later – in case he ever needed to banish his lover's darkness and replace it with that warm, delicious smile and attractive laugh of his – Neville sighed before he told him, "The Order, as Sirius said, used to involve both our parents in their plans, Harry. And we both know that bond grew from the friendship they'd had when they were teens. Then, while Dad also stood up with Sirius at your parents' wedding, soon afterwards, when they learned they were going to be parents, Mum became your godmother as did Aunt Lily with me. And…and then later, when everything started to go to hell in a hand basket, both sides fought to try and stick together. Your Dad even offered to share the protections of the Family Mansion for us to share, but three guesses who wisely overruled it?"
"Dumbledore," said Harry, letting out a groan of frustration while, in his ire, he threw himself onto his back, startling Neville in the process as he asked, "Merlin's beard, why does that senile old fool's name always crop up when shit hits the fan? I get he's trying to control me, but what does he hope to achieve in extending that to you too?"
"I don't know and, as much as I want to argue otherwise, and you might too, I don't want to know," answered Neville, looking down at his boyfriend before he smiled as he asked, "Do you think they'll try again? To get their hands on you, I mean?"
"If not sooner, then definitely at the Ministry," said Harry, pulling himself up before Neville's expression turned worrisome as he saw Harry pull his legs up to his chest, a look of troubled pain on his face as he said, "If Algernon's plans don't work out, I could wind up in even more trouble because he can't get to me. I mean, I don't want to think it, but now we know about his group of vigilantes, who's to say that the old bastard's not responsible for the attack?"
"If he is, we know what we have to do, love," Neville remarked, moving closer before he placed a soft kiss on Harry's cheek as he added, "We have to stop him…and we will…together."
"And if we lose?" asked Harry, earning a small smile from Neville before he shook his head.
"Then we'll do that together too."
Rolling his eyes, Harry sagged back onto his pillows while Neville looked at his boyfriend with a curious air.
As he did so, he smiled softly before he asked, "Hey, can I propose something to you, H?"
"Nice idea, but I'm not the marrying type," drawled Harry, throwing an arm over his eyes while he seemed content to listen, judging by the smirk that played on his face as he said it.
Giving his boyfriend a playful slap against his arm, Neville scoffed, "Jerk."
"Bitch," retorted Harry, peering from beneath his arm as he asked, "Go on, what did you want to say?"
"I was just thinking," said Neville, lying next to Harry, his head resting on his boyfriend's chest, which Harry seemed to accept as he lowered his arm to hold Neville, now tracing his fingers along Neville's skin in a soothing manner – earning a low groan from Neville as, like when he had been toying with Harry, he now felt his other wand rising in his own boxers from Harry's touches – while the Longbottom Scion continued in a soft voice. "I said we'd do this together and, in the end, we may be called to lead a faction of our own."
"So?"
"So why don't we?" asked Neville, earning a raised eyebrow from Harry as he asked, "What I mean is…why don't we build an Order of our own? Not quite like the backwards idea of the so-called Order of the Phoenix, but one that can be willing to do whatever it takes and discover their own individual greatness at the same time. Not quite heroes of the world, but...something else…something like…"
"Avengers?" asked Harry, earning a shrug from Neville while Harry added, "I remember it from an old comic of Dudley's: heroes who don't play by the rules and yet always manage to get the job done…eventually."
"Sounds good," agreed Neville, linking his hand with Harry's as he added, "Of course, they're going to need a leader: someone who knows what it means to do what must be done, even when it hurts. And we'd need someone who could stand up to people like the old git, the corrupt bastard, the snake-faced freak of nature and anyone else who tries to stop us…and not blink."
"Not anymore, anyway, but I get the hint," said Harry, looking down at his boyfriend as he asked, "You want me to lead?"
"I know Uncle hints that's going to be my role one day," replied Neville, but he also nodded as he added, "But, to be honest, I'd be just as happy saluting or even bending the knee to you, Harry. You've gone through so much shit that you're more an expert in such things than half the teachers we have, with the possible exception of Snape or even the real Moody…but if you ever tell the lesser I said that, I'll deny it and have you scrubbing his cauldrons for a month…without magic!"
Sniggering in response, Harry kissed his lover's forehead before he sighed deeply as he asked, "And, if I accepted, would you give up being the leader, but still be my second?"
"Always," sighed Neville, earning a small smile from Harry before he added, "We can work out the details after your so-called trial: for now, let's just get some rest and get ready, because even if Uncle's got a plan, you can bet one thing."
"What's that?"
With a snort, Neville took a deep breath and, as he closed his eyes, he whispered his final thought for the day.
"Whoever's trying to screw you over, they won't let us go without a fight."
Chapter 4 and it looks like our heroes aren't just getting closer as lovers; they're also getting closer as heroes in charge of their own fates, but with those willing to do whatever it takes to stop that waiting in the wings, will Harry and Neville be able to stand against the raging tide and endure the shit-storm that's still to come?
Also, will Harry be able to become as powerful as he wishes to, if only powerful enough to be able to do whatever he's planning for the sake of his boyfriend?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: The trial at the Ministry brings suspicions, surprises and a real twist in the tale as far as canon goes – one that I already have a very bad feeling about, but…well…you know what I suggest you do if you don't like this story, right? Well, I think the next chapter is seriously going to test people's liking for this idea;
Please Read and Review