Chapter Thirteen ~ Lily's Love
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James Potter stepped up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leant back into him and smiled contentedly as she stared down at her son asleep in his cradle.
"Isn't he beautiful?" she said blissfully.
James smiled proudly as he pressed a kiss on her temple. "He's the most beautiful boy ever born."
"Thank you," Lily said as she turned around to face her husband.
"What for?" James asked, concerned as he noticed tears forming in her eyes. He gently brushed a solitary tear from her cheek.
"For giving me such a wonderful family," she explained. "For making me so happy. I love you and Harry so much…sometimes it all seems like some kind of wonderful dream."
James hugged her to him, "I know what you mean and thank you for marrying me and giving me a son."
They clung to each other for a few minutes as baby Harry slept on through the emotional scene.
"Awww," cooed Sirius as he entered the room. He'd been standing just outside the door listening to the entire conversation. James and Lily pulled apart and smiled at one of their best friends.
"Sirius, we were just going to call you," Lily said warmly.
"Yes, we were wondering if you would be Harry's godfather?" James asked with a hopeful smile.
Sirius's grin widened. "Really? You want me to be Harry's godfather?"
They nodded, grinning back at him.
"I promise to pass on my vast knowledge of pranks and mischief to your son," he said solemnly and then started laughing. "This is great. So who have you asked to be his godmother?"
"Arabella," Lily replied.
"Perfect. She was top of our year at Hogwarts, wasn't she? She can take care of the academic side and I'll concentrate on the rest," Sirius said.
"Let's go get a drink to celebrate," James suggested and the three of them walked downstairs, laughing about the various things Sirius would teach Harry as he was growing up.
Seventeen-year-old Harry stared after them. He was standing on the opposite side of baby Harry's cradle. He had seen Sirius hovering outside the door and was grateful that he had been eavesdropping. If his godfather hadn't been present, Harry would never have seen the touching memory he had just witnessed.
He had once again entered Sirius's memories in the Pensieve and once again it was just as intensely poignant. The whole thing felt slightly surreal as he stared down at himself lying in the cradle and then looked around the room. The baby was obviously only a few weeks old and already the room was decorated beautifully and filled with new toys and clothes. It was vastly different to what Harry remembered growing up with – hand me down clothes and discarded broken toys.
How different his life would have been had his parents lived! Harry didn't usually let himself become so morose, but this memory really made it clear just how much he had missed out on by living with people who didn't care about him.
"I should have died with them," he muttered.
"Don't ever say that!" a horrified voice replied. Harry spun around.
"Drac, what are you doing here?" he said, startled to see the blonde boy standing there.
"It's dinner time," Draco replied simply.
He didn't add that it had been obvious that Harry was troubled and that lately, when Harry was feeling low, he would seek comfort in the memories Sirius had put into the Pensieve. It was quite handy actually because Draco always knew where to find him.
"Oh," Harry sighed, his eyes downcast.
Draco said nothing, just walked closer and pulled Harry into his arms. He held the dark haired Gryffindor tightly and rubbed his back comfortingly. Harry slipped his arms around Draco's waist and sighed again.
"You know I love you more than life itself, don't you?" Draco whispered in Harry's ear, still concerned by Harry's comment that he should have died with his parents.
"I know. I love you too, more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone. I just wish it hadn't taken 16 years for someone to love me," Harry said quietly.
I could kill those relatives of Harry's, Draco thought darkly. How could they treat a child so badly that he grows up thinking he would be better off dead?
Draco pulled back so he could kiss Harry – a kiss so full of adoration, tenderness and passion that Harry was left in no doubt that he was loved.
They ignored baby Harry as he started crying but they could not ignore Lily as she swept into the room to soothe the wailing child.
Harry and Draco's heads turned to watch Lily as she picked up baby Harry and rocked him gently, placing a kiss on his forehead. They still had their arms around each other and it was strange to watch Harry's mother, knowing that she couldn't see her grown up son in the arms of another boy.
"Shh, Harry darling. It's okay, sweetheart. Let's go down to see Daddy and Sirius," she said softly.
Lily turned and carried the now quiet baby out of the room, downstairs to James and Sirius.
"Let's get out of here," Draco whispered, kissing Harry quickly. Harry nodded and they left the Pensieve.
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Meanwhile, at the Burrow, Ron was explaining to his mother about the Order of the Phoenix meeting in which Hermione suggested that they look into methods of divination to see if they could predict the next attack from You Know Who. Actually Molly had already read the meetings minutes Arthur had been sent (since he missed the meeting) but she didn't want to interrupt her son once he had started talking.
"So Hermione, Harry, Draco and I went to the library to do some research and Harry found a book that described a form of divination but he said it was inherited so he discarded it. I read the chapter he was talking about and, well, since it is inherited, I guess that's why we haven't studied it in Divination. Anyway, I read the chapter and…."
Ron stopped talking, not really sure how to go on. Percy, by this time, had brought in the tea and for once, was sitting quietly on the sidelines, sipping his tea and listening intently. He had matured in the two years since he had worked for Mr Crouch and no longer felt the need to prove himself.
"I think I know what you're getting at Ron and I have been meaning to talk to you about this but I never really knew how to tell you," Molly said calmly.
Ron did not act so calmly as his mother confirmed what he suspected. He shot out of his seat, nearly upsetting his cup of tea on the table beside him, and started pacing around the room.
"How long have you known?" he asked bluntly.
"Since you were born," she replied apologetically.
"What?" Ron nearly exploded, his blue eyes flashing wildly.
"I'm sorry, honey. We tried to tell you, but then you started Divination at Hogwarts and you were so negative about it that we thought it would be best if we waited a couple of years until you were more open minded about it," Molly tried to explain.
"Ron," Percy started, "it's really not that bad. It's a gift."
"You know?" Ron asked furiously as he whirled around to face his older brother. "You've known all this time and you didn't tell me either. Well, that's just great. Do you have any idea what I've been through this past year or so? I honestly thought I was going mad! And do you think I could tell anyone? No! What would people think if I told them I was seeing things? They'd throw me in St. Mungo's."
"What have you seen?" Molly asked seriously. Percy also looked concerned at Ron's announcement of visions.
"……the dark mark hovering over houses, burning buildings, dead bodies….." Ron listed flatly.
"Apocalypse," Percy breathed.
"I thought I was just going through a violent stage or something. I didn't think it was real until I read that book. Now that I know……I don't know if I can live with this….this gift," Ron said, spitting out the word gift like it was a dirty word.
"You can do a lot of good with this gift, honey," Molly said, getting up to put her arm around his shoulders. "You can help people by letting Dumbledore's people know where the attacks will take place so that more people don't die."
"I DIDN'T JUST SEE ANY OLD DEAD BODIES, I SAW….." Ron choked. "I saw Hermione."
Molly gasped in shock. She pulled her son into her arms and held him as only a mother can. Percy got up to find some parchment and a quill.
"Ron, I'm sorry to make you do this, but you have to tell me everything you can remember about this vision. If we are to save Hermione, I need to know every little detail," he said as gently as he could.
Ron glared at him but knew he was right. "It was at Easter. Dumbledore had finally allowed students to visit their families and Hermione had gone home to see her parents. A few hours after she arrived home the dark mark was hovering over her house and she and her parents were dead."
Ron sat back down in his armchair and slumped forward with his head in his hands.
"Easter, that's not much time," Percy commented, glancing at his mother. Molly looked worried and on the verge of tears.
"You need to go straight back to Hogwart's and tell Dumbledore about this. He needs to know so he can work to protect Hermione's family," Molly said, sounding calmer than she looked. "I'll tell your father about this when he gets home."
Ron and Percy hugged their mother, said their goodbyes and returned to the Order of the Phoenix room.
Neither of them was surprised to see Dumbledore standing there, as if he was waiting for them. He probably was, Percy thought.
"Sit down, boys. I think you have something to tell me," Dumbledore said.
The three of them sat down and Ron filled the headmaster in on what he had been seeing and what he had read in the library.
Dumbledore listened in silence, occasionally nodding. He made Ron describe in detail each of his visions and charmed his quill to transcribe Ron's words.
"Thank you Ron. I know that wasn't easy for you. We will have a meeting tonight after dinner and I'll inform the other members of the Order of the Phoenix," Dumbledore said gravely as he stood up to leave.
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Draco watched Harry push his food around his plate, pretending to eat. He had fooled everyone else into believing that he was fine, but Draco knew better. It was his eyes. They gave him away every time but most people didn't stop to look closely enough. Draco did. He made it his job to make sure Harry was happy and right now he knew he was failing at that job. Harry's words an hour earlier came back to haunt him.
I should have died with them
Draco suppressed a shudder. Life without Harry was unthinkable but Harry didn't honestly believe that he should have died with his parents……did he?
I should have died with themDraco had just popped into the memory when Harry had spoken those chilling words. The look on his face had troubled Draco. He had that look you very rarely find - the haunting hunted kind*.
I should have died with them
Draco pushed the words aside and concentrated on Harry. He definitely wasn't eating properly.
"Let's go for a walk," Draco suggested to Harry, pushing his plate aside.
Harry looked grateful that he didn't have to pretend anymore and agreed. They left the Great Hall with Hermione calling after them to remind them of the meeting.
They wandered through the halls, hand in hand, in silence for a while before Draco decided the time was right.
"Harry?" he asked, stopping by a portrait of Gary the Gorgeous, a knight who had been very popular with the ladies.
"Hmmm," Harry replied distractedly.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked softly.
"What? Nothing," Harry replied unconvincingly as he looked everywhere but Draco's eyes.
"I'm worried about you. Ever since you've been in Sirius's memories you've been listless and melancholy. It isn't like you. So talk to me. That's what I'm here for," Draco coaxed.
"That's not what I thought you were here for," Harry replied with a grin and showed Draco just exactly what he was there for by kissing him forcefully, pressing him up against the portrait. Gary jumped back and looked appalled by this display of disrespect.
Draco allowed himself to be distracted for a moment and then realised that that was what Harry wanted and he forced himself to push Harry away.
"No. There's something more going on here and until you tell me, you're not going to touch me," Draco said firmly.
Harry laughed, "You really think you can stop having sex with me?"
"Yes," Draco replied, sounding less confident than he had before.
"That sounds like a bet to me," Harry replied, with a wicked glint in his eye.
Draco started to get annoyed. Harry was so certain that he was so irresistible that Draco would crumble before the night was through. Well, I'll show him, Draco thought defensively.
"You're on. What are the terms?" Draco replied.
Harry smiled. "If I win, you have to be at my beck and call….my slave….for an entire week."
Draco rolled his eyes. How very clichéd!
"And when I win, you have to tell me everything that is bothering you. I'll use Veritaserum if I have to," Draco replied. "How long for?"
"A week," Harry replied as they shook hands. The deal was set.
A week! Draco thought with a trace of alarm. How am I going to keep my hands off him for a whole miserable week? Dear god, what have I gotten myself into?
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Later that evening, in the Order of the Phoenix room, Dumbledore called the meeting to order.
"Hermione, you will be pleased to hear that we have made considerable progress on the divination issue since we last met. In front of you, in the blue folders, you will find detailed descriptions of visions seen by, frankly, the most remarkable seer of our time," Dumbledore said candidly.
Ron brightened at Dumbledore's words. The members of the Order were scanning the contents of the folders and didn't notice.
"So who is this seer?" Hermione asked curiously. Dumbledore glanced at Ron, who nodded slightly.
"Ron Weasley," Dumbledore announced evenly.
Ron started to blush almost immediately as the people who knew him well gasped and stared at him in shock.
"This is amazing," Sirius commented as he read Ron's visions. He smiled supportively up at Ron, "great work, Ron."
Ron smiled gratefully back as Hermione glared at him, obviously annoyed that he hadn't thought to inform his girlfriend of his capabilities.
Harry grinned at his best friend, "Always knew you had it in you, mate. Draco always believed in you too." As he said this, Harry slipped his arm around Draco's shoulders and pulled him closer until the blonde boy's body was pressed tightly against his own. He felt Draco shiver against him and his grin widened. Winning the bet was going to be easier than he thought.
Draco concealed a groan and smiled weakly at Ron. He felt himself melt against Harry and cursed his weakness. It was really important to him that he win this bet. He wanted to know what was bothering Harry and he wasn't sure that Harry would ever tell him. Especially if Harry thought he was 'helping' Draco by not telling him.
"Oh my god!" Remus exclaimed, staring in shock down at the blue folder and then up at Hermione.
"What?" she asked him, flicking through the pages to find whatever it was that had shocked him.
"Page nineteen," Remus said quietly.
There was a rustling of paper as everyone found the page and started reading. Ron moved closer to Hermione and put his arm around her. Tears were starting to streak down both their faces as Hermione read Ron's vision of her death.
"Oh," Hermione finally said, "it must have been awful for you to have to 'see' that."
"What?" Ron cried incredulously. It was just like Hermione to be more worried about him than about herself. "Aren't you scared that you could die?"
Hermione's hand gently brushed away Ron's tears as she smiled softly and shook her head. "I know that you and everyone else here will protect me."
Ron leaned forward and kissed Hermione tenderly.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, "Back to business, what are we going to do now?"
Unfortunately Ron had not had a vision about Voldemort yet, just the Death Eaters carrying out his orders by killing the muggle born witches and wizards. So all they could do for now was protect the people they knew were being targeted.
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Harry and Draco crept into their Gryffindor dorm room so as not to wake up Seamus, Dean and Neville. Ron and Hermione were right behind them and quickly scrambled into Ron's bed, closed the curtains and cast a silencing spell.
Draco undressed quickly and crawled into bed. He lay on his side, facing away from Harry. Watching Harry undress was definitely a bad idea right now.
A smile briefly passed Harry's lips as he took note of Draco's tense body. He knew Draco would crack within twenty-four hours and it would be fun teasing him until then.
When Harry was naked he slipped into bed, cast a silencing spell and snuggled up beside Draco. He ran his hands over Draco's body as he pressed hot kisses on his neck and shoulder.
Draco moaned. Harry had been teasing him ever since they made that bet and Draco felt like he was about to explode. Fuck one week, he'd be lucky to last one day.
Harry's hands wandered south and he felt Draco's boxers. "Did you honestly think this was going to stop me?" he murmured sounding amused as he slipped a hand under the thin material.
As soon as Harry's hand reached its target Draco shot out of bed. He stood shivering in his boxers as Harry stared up at him, openly amused.
"That's not fair," Draco complained sulkily, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Why not?" Harry pouted. "I want you. I need you. Surely you aren't going to deny me?"
Draco wavered. He had yet to deny Harry anything but this was more than just a bet. This was a matter of principles. Harry obviously thought he was a pushover. Well, I'll show him, he thought as he pulled open a drawer and took out his pyjamas.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked, sitting up on the bed. The blankets fell down to his waist and left the expanse of Harry's smooth chest bare.
Draco caught his breath and turned his back on Harry to pull on his pyjamas. He turned around and picked up his pillow and a blanket.
Harry stared in shock at Draco's back as the blonde boy walked out of the dorm room. He was going to sleep in the common room! Harry started laughing. Draco was really taking this bet seriously. Harry was starting to regret making this last a whole week. Could he really not have sex for a whole week? Wasn't that dangerous? Don't be silly, he chided himself, you can make Draco crack. He'll be gagging for it this time tomorrow night.
Down in the common room Draco was lying on a sofa near an empty fireplace, shivering under the thin blanket. He cursed his stupidity for not bringing his wand so he could light a fire but he didn't dare go up and get it. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought. How on earth was he going to hold out for a whole entire week? Wasn't that dangerous? Don't be silly, he chided himself, you can resist Harry. This is for his own good. He fell asleep, still shivering slightly.
Early the next morning, Harry was surprised to wake up alone. He thought that when Draco had finished making his point he would have come back up to bed. Harry hurriedly got dressed and ran down to the common room. He stopped short when he noticed his boyfriend sleeping on the sofa. Draco was still shivering. The thin blanket must have slipped off him during the night.
Harry rushed over to Draco's side and grasped one of his hands. It was freezing cold. Harry started to feel incredibly guilty. If he hadn't pushed Draco last night, he would never have been down here in the first place. Actually if Harry hadn't made that bet as a way to distract Draco from the real issue then Draco would have been upstairs in the warmth of Harry's arms all night.
"Draco," Harry called as he scooped the blonde boy into his arms. God, he's like ice. "Wake up, honey."
Harry held Draco against him with one arm as he pulled out his wand and cast a spell to make Draco lighter. He picked Draco up and carried him up the stairs. Halfway up the stairs Draco started to wake up. He gazed blearily up at Harry's face.
"What are you doing?" he asked, increasingly confused as he realised that Harry was carrying him.
"I'm taking you back up to bed," Harry said determinedly, his jaw set.
"No, Harry," he wailed and started struggling against Harry, who reacted by tightening his grip on Draco. "Harry, no, I can't. You're too much."
Harry smiled at Draco's admission that he wouldn't be able to resist him but continued into the dorm room. He gently lay Draco down on the bed, tucked the blankets around Draco up to his chin and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I'm not going to try to seduce you," Harry said softly with a ghost of a smile. "I'm sorry I made that stupid bet. You're so cold. You need to stay in bed until you warm up or you'll get sick."
"But we've got Potions first thing this morning," Draco protested.
"Let me deal with Snape. You just stay in bed until I tell you that you can get up……Oh Draco, I'm so sorry about last night. If you get sick it will be all my fault," Harry said sorrowfully.
"No, Harry, it's not your fault. I was just as much a part of that bet," Draco said firmly.
"Yeah, but I suggested it. I just didn't want to talk about….." Harry's voice trailed off.
"You know you can tell me anything," Draco reminded him gently.
"I know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this earlier. I suppose I just wanted to pretend it wasn't happening," Harry said vaguely.
Draco stayed silent in the hope that Harry would continue and eventually start to make sense.
"Anyway, I'd better go down to breakfast and let you get some sleep," Harry said, standing up. He left the dorm room before Draco could react.
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~to be continued~
* This line is from Jesus Christ Superstar.