Harry never knew he could feel so angry and sad at the same time, but with Draco's comfort and support; Harry felt better the day after he had revealed to Dumbledore the abuse he took living at the Dursley home. The man had the nerve to say Harry was safest there, that is what ticked Harry off. Everything else is what made him upset and Harry did talk to Madam Strout during Saturday's session about everything; she understood and told Harry it was normal to feel angry and upset about how the encounter went with Dumbledore. Blood wards were useless to protect him if he was being hurt inside the home too and for no reason. Such things were endangering and neglectful, the healer also said that Harry could go to the ministry and report Dumbledore for what he did; they would investigate and Dumbledore might even face time for during it repeatedly after Harry revealed that he had reason to not want to go back. Albus claimed that he never knew of the abuse, but Harry had told him the Dursley's were mean and hated him. At the same time, even if Harry didn't speak of the actual abuse, Albus absolutely told Harry that even if he'd known; he wouldn't have changed his decision. That was something that even Madam Strout became upset about. Never the less, Harry and Miriam continued their session on whatever else they left off on from the week before. Harry, thus far, hadn't really spoken to Albus since the 30th, and it had been nearly a week as today was June 5th, and it was Draco's 17th birthday.
Harry woke up early and used the bathroom first, then slipped into his boyfriend's bed to hold him. Of course, it woke Draco and he quickly looked to see Harry there. Draco smiled and wrapped his arms around Harry, kissing the scar on his forehead.
"Good morning," Draco whispered.
"Hi," Harry smiled.
"What brings you into my bed?" Draco asked. "Nightmare?"
Harry shook his head, staring at his boyfriend of now six months. It was six months together on June 1st, just four days ago. Harry and Draco celebrated the event with dinner and some intimate fun later on in Harry's bed. "Happy seventeenth birthday, Draco," Harry told him.
"Aw, thanks, love," Draco hugged him. "I didn't even realize it was the 5th already." Draco lifted Harry's chin and gave him a gentle, but passionate kiss.
"I have a gift for you, but it won't be here until dinner." Harry informed afterward.
"Just having you is enough, Harry." Draco stated. "But thank you. Would you like to have dinner with me tonight, in Sev's office?"
"I'd love to," Harry nodded.
"Can't wait. Now…Let me up so I can use the restroom." Draco chuckled.
Harry untangled himself from his boyfriend as Draco got up and went off to use the bathroom while Harry laid there, very happy about where his life was right now and never imagined back at the end of fourth year when Voldemort returned to life that this is where he could end up. With Draco and his friends at his side; he wasn't worried about the dark lord at all. The prophecy said he was the only one who could destroy Voldemort, so he definitely would with the power the dark lord doesn't know about. Apparently, Harry didn't know either, but he must obviously have it and would use it. Draco finally returned to the bed, wrapping himself up with Harry and kissing him again. The two ended up making out for fifteen minutes and getting a little touchy-feely.
/Lemon Start/
It was still early on in the morning, about 6 am. Harry and Draco had already silenced around Draco's bed while they made out feverishly. Normally, Draco would push Harry down first and give him a blowjob. Harry had only done it once for Draco when they first started out with their messing around. Draco liked taking control and Harry willingly relinquished his to Draco. It was safe to say that while they kept things mostly even between them, Draco was top and Harry was fine with that. This time though, because it was Draco's birthday; Harry wanted to take charge and pleasure his lover. As soon as Draco had crawled over his boyfriend, Harry locked his legs around Draco's legs and flipped his lover down, taking Draco by surprise.
"That was kind'a hot," Draco breathed out.
"It's your birthday…And I'm going to let you lay back and be pleasured," Harry told him before recapturing his lips and going back into making out.
Harry easily slid down and hooked his fingers on Draco's sleep pants and the blonde lifted his hips for Harry to pull the clothing out of the way. Harry ran his hands up his boyfriend's pale legs, and one of his hands took hold of Draco's manhood, beginning to stroke it up and down. Draco moaned as he got harder at Harry's touch, and Harry soon lowered his mouth over the appendage. Harry bobbed his head up and down, careful of his teeth and after feeling Draco's hand weave into his hair; Harry began to move his hand in time with the sucking and licking.
"Harry…" Draco pleaded, obviously desperate for relief. Harry kept on what he was doing, moving faster as Draco bucked his hips lightly. "Merlin…" One of Draco's hands gripped his bed. In all this Harry was positioned just right to grab hold of himself and stroke in time with what he was doing to Draco. He'd never touched himself before now, but if he was pleasuring Draco, they'd be done and have to clean up afterward. It was too risky to do anything when the others woke up. It was risky, even now, but Harry wasn't about to not have some fun with Draco that morning. Harry felt the pleasure building, but not as good as when Draco touched him. After ten minutes, Draco gripped a fistful of Harry's hair, breathing hard. "I'm going to-,"
"Do it…" Harry said, only stopping his mouth's ministrations for a moment.
Draco finally came with a moan as Harry stayed in place to take in everything and swallow with a smile; he'd cum as well and it was on himself and dripping down. Harry cast a wandless and non-verbal Scourgify to clean himself and then he licked around Draco's cock to clean him off. Harry finally pulled back and smiled at his boyfriend.
/Lemon End/
"That was amazing, babe," Draco sat up to capture Harry's lips.
The two relaxed after Draco fixed his pants and then finally around 7 am, Harry snuck back over to his bed and they made it look like they were waking up with the others. It was going to be a good day.
. . .
When dinner time came around, Harry was preparing to head to the dungeon to enjoy the birthday dinner with Draco when Albus stopped Harry in the halls.
"Harry, my boy…" Albus stated.
"Yes, Headmaster." Harry replied.
"I wanted to speak with you about last week," Albus informed.
"Harry, ready for dinner?" Draco came up to him while next to Severus.
"Yeah, just a second…" Harry told his boyfriend. "There's nothing left to say about last week, sir. You asked about my past, I told you what happened, and you told me that it wouldn't have made a difference if you knew all those years of abuse I suffered because you'd have still left me with them. In their care when there was no care, not even any love at all. So if you don't mind, Professor…I'd like to go to dinner with my boyfriend to celebrate his birthday and being of age in the wizarding world."
"I do mind because this needs to be said, Harry. Please, I only ask that you listen…" Albus hoped. Harry sighed and faced him fully as the invite to continue. "I wanted to apologize for last week," Albus said lightly, his eyes showing regret. "You were right, what I did was dangerous and neglectful to you. I should have checked in more, or spoken to them at least. I felt something was off when you kept begging me not to return there. Those muggles were awful to you…I was so caught up in ensuring your safety with the blood wards that I didn't pay mind to anything being wrong inside the home. For that…I am truly sorry, my boy." He said softly.
Harry sighed and relaxed some. "I know you were trying to protect me, Professor Dumbledore…I just wish you would have taken a moment to see that everything wasn't alright, that I had a good reason for not wanting to keep going back." He informed. "I'd have rather lived outside the wards and deal with the possibility of dealing with Voldemort rather than get abused and starved by the people who were supposed to be family and protect me." Harry told the man. "I'd have rather stayed with Remus, like I am now, and only dealing with his werewolf transformations once a month over the Dursley's. I'd have even taken living with Professor Snape, even though he despised me for being similar to my father. Regardless…I'd have been safe with either. After all, Professor Snape has protected me ever since I came to Hogwarts. So maybe it wouldn't have been perfect and I assume a strict upbringing…But I know he'd never have laid a hand on me and ensured I ate three meals a day. It would have been vastly different if you'd just checked in, even once…"
"I understand, Harry and I am sorry." Albus told him. "I cannot take back what I've done, only ensure I do not make the same mistakes again."
"The fact that Voldemort wasn't even really a problem until fourth year, sir…I would have been safe. The death eaters didn't rise until that night of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, knowing their lord was back. All the danger I've faced, Headmaster…Has been here, in these walls. On these grounds. I was never threatened once in Surrey, except before fifth year with the dementor attack on me, Draco, and Dudley…And I was able to protect myself, sir," Harry revealed. "First year was Quirrell. Second was a young Tom Riddle preserved in his own diary possession Ginny Weasley and a Basilisk. Third year was dementors. Fourth year was Voldemort's resurrection. Fifth year was Umbridge. This year…Who knows. But I fully expect something to go wrong to hurt me…"
"Yes, I remember your speech to Umbridge about the percentages of you being attacked. Quite comical, if I do say so," Albus replied. "Never the less, you are right, my boy. I cannot turn back the clock to right those wrongs…I can only ask your forgiveness."
"I forgave you for the years of being at the Dursley's when you gave me a choice in where I lived after Sirius died." Harry told him. "Just promise me that from now on, when a student comes to you asking not to go home…You'll listen and look into things to ensure they're safe? Do that, and we're good."
"I promise on my life, Harry." Albus bowed his head.
"Thank you." Harry smiled.
"You're welcome." Albus told him. "Also, that mission I told you we'd go on…" Harry nodded. "We leave from the Astronomy Tower on June 30th at 8:00 pm."
"Yes, sir. I'll be ready." Harry replied.
"Excellent. With this, we're one step closer to defeating Voldemort." Albus said before he walked away.
"Well, at least he apologized," Severus scoffed.
"Yeah…" Harry held Draco's hand. "Come on you. Time for your birthday dinner." He smiled.
"Can't wait." Draco grinned.
"Tonight it'll have to be a triple dinner, boys. I have work to do with the end of year assignments and testing." Severus informed.
"That's fine," Draco chuckled.
"We love having you around, Severus," Harry added.
"How lucky am I to have you two in my life," Severus drawled out. "Let's go you two."
With that, Severus, Harry, and Draco all began walking towards the dungeons to enjoy their dinner together.
. . .
"So what mission was Dumbledore talking about?" Severus inquired while Draco and Harry were sitting together at a small table with their food and Severus was at his desk.
"The one to find a horcrux," Harry informed. "Remember I told you about them last time we spoke after the attack?"
"I do. So this would make three then? Found, but only two destroyed?" Draco asked.
"Yes. We're not sure where the others are, but Dumbledore said we'd work together over the summer to locate them so that when the battle takes place…We can just get rid of Voldemort." Harry stated.
"What object does Dumbledore intend to find on this mission at the end of the month?" Severus questioned.
"He hasn't said what object it is containing the soul piece, only that he thinks he found it. When we first learned about the diary and the ring…I had touched the ring and it reacted. I saw flashes of something I couldn't make out. Dumbledore mentioned that dark magic leaves traces; so I'm assuming he used whatever trace on the ring to narrow down the next thing." Harry explained.
"And you said you believe Voldemort's snake is a horcrux too?" Draco asked Harry.
"He's far to protective over it. Pet snake sure, but snake containing part of your soul? I'm sure it never leaves his side." Harry remarked. "That snake will be the hardest of the horcruxes to destroy. It's not a stationary object; it's very real…And very deadly. It can fight back." He added. "The rest should be easy once found and we find something to safely destroy them with."
"I'll do some research, see if we can't find something to aid your quest." Severus offered.
We appreciate that, Severus," Draco smiled. "Soon, the world be free of that dark wizard. And we'll get revenge for our parents."
"Yes, we will." Harry nodded.
Severus looked at the two; if only he could tell them the truth. But Dumbledore was clear about not revealing things yet. The bonds the three of them formed together would be severed after that mission Harry and Dumbledore went on; there would be hurt and pain for both of them. But they'd lean on each other until the truth was revealed.
"Promise me you'll both be careful and stick together though the battle?" Severus asked.
"You know we will, Uncle Sev." Draco agreed.
"Absolutely." Harry told him. "We're stronger together."
"Good. Good…" Severus went back to his work.
"So tell me something, Harry…" Draco chuckled.
"What?" Harry looked at his boyfriend.
"Back in second year…Crabbe and Goyle came to me in the common room and started asking about the heir of Slytherin. They were acting strange and had run off afterward…What did you have to do with it?" Draco inquired.
"Nothing," Harry smiled.
"Harry…" Draco stared at him.
"I didn't do anything to Crabbe and Goyle that night, honest…" Harry told him.
"Alright, which of your friends did it then? Granger or Weasley?" Draco pushed.
"As Professor Snape so eloquently put it in dueling club, Ron's wand causes devastation with the simplest of spells. If Ron had done anything to Crabbe and Goyle, they'd have been in worse shape." Harry informed.
"Then it was Granger?" Draco questioned. "What did she do to them? Why were they acting not themselves that night?"
"She knocked them out with a simple sleeping draft hidden away in two cupcakes." Harry admitted. "They didn't act themselves because that wasn't Crabbe and Goyle in your common room that night," Now, Severus looked at Harry. "It was Ron and I, taken the form of Crabbe and Goyle under Polyjuice potion."
Severus and Draco stared at Harry. "The two I talked to that night were you and Weasley?!" Draco questioned.
"Where was Miss. Granger?" Severus asked.
"She was supposed to be Millicent Bulstrode, but got the wrong hair. She turned into a cat…" Harry said.
"You three brewed Polyjuice potion at twelve?" Severus pushed.
"Well, Hermione did." Harry mentioned.
"Where did you ever manage to do that and not get caught?" Draco inquired.
Harry coughed. "Second floor girl's bathroom…" Harry mumbled.
"What was that?" Severus asked again.
"Second floor girl's bathroom." Harry repeated. "Moaning Myrtle's. No one ever used it so we were safe from anyone finding us in there. She was a fantastic help in figuring things out that year, between her and Aragog."
"Aragog?" Severus arched a brow.
"Giant spider that Hagrid's been taken care of since it was a baby." Draco said. "It's dead now, isn't it?" He looked at Harry.
"Yes, just over April." Harry nodded. "It was an Acromantula, Severus, if you're trying to figure out what species the spider was for me to call it giant." He added. "A lot of people helped in figuring out where the chamber was, and also what was inside. Hermione figured out the petrifying was because the Basilisk moved through the school's pipe system. Hagrid led us to getting some answers from Aragog, in the forbidden forest. Myrtle helped Ron and I find the chamber after the tale was told of how she died."
"How did she die, if you wouldn't mind sharing the details?" Severus asked.
"When I first came in possession of Riddle's diary; he took me back fifty years prior to a memory of his. A girl's body was being carried from the school as Tom, at sixteen, talked to Dumbledore. Tom went and blamed Hagrid, getting his wand snapped and him expelled. Tom blamed Aragog on the attacks, but it was only to make himself not suspicious. When Ron and I asked how Myrtle died, she told us that she'd been in the bathroom minding her own, but upset over something a boy in her year did. She said all she remembered was seeing a big pair of yellow eyes by a certain sink and then she died. Yes, Myrtle is the girl who got killed by the Basilisk that Tom set loose in the school." Harry explained.
"And why did Riddle take the Weasley girl into the chamber?" Draco asked.
"Tom was draining her to come back to life. His first attempt at resurrection, assumingly. He'd preserved his sixteen-year-old self in the diary, waiting for a chance to come back and complete Salazar Slytherin's noble work…Or so he claimed. That's how I learned Tom was a half-blood. He said Riddle was his filthy muggle father's name." Harry shrugged.
"Voldemort…The dark lord…Is a half-blood?" Severus questioned.
"Yep. Muggle father, pure-blood mother." Harry nodded.
"Learn something new every day." Severus sat back, a smile forming.
"Indeed." Harry laughed.
Harry loved nights like these. Peaceful and fun. If only it could last, but it wouldn't. It never did. Something would soon happen to hurt him, probably by Voldemort himself as it always went. Harry knew the final battle would be coming and he would be ready to take Voldemort out of this world for good.
