Deny Thy Father And Refuse Thy Name Chapter 8: Lost And Found, a harry potter fanfic

~~~~Deny Thy Father And Refuse Thy Name....~~~~

Disclaimer: Standard :sigh: JKR is a goddess and anything canon belongs to her. Anything else however heh belongs to me! :grins:

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~~~~Chapter Eight: Lost And Found~~~~

*Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off ---*

*Not Harry! Not Harry! Please --- I'll do anything ---*

*Stand aside, you silly girl...stand aside, now...*

*Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead ---*

*Stand aside, stand aside girl!*

*Not Harry! Please...have mercy...have mercy...*

"Mum...no...come back...don't leave me alone! Please come back! I need you...don't leave me!" Harry screamed out in agony as he woke briefly from a deep sleep, oblivious to where he was or what was going on round him.

"It's all right...you're safe...it's only a dream..." said a soft voice next to his ear, a voice that lulled him back towards sleep with comfort and gentleness. In the moments before he nodded back off Harry felt a cool, soothing hand lovingly caresses his cheek, and then a warmth pressed up next to him as he shivered slightly. As he drifted back off to sleep his mind never even registered who's voice it had been, yet somehow a stirring within him knew it was someone he knew. Someone whom he knew shouldn't be there, wherever 'there' was.

"Sleep Harry...I'll protect you...I'll always protect you...I promise..." the soft voice said now as warm arms wrapped themselves round Harry's body. Those arms made him feel so safe, so content that he snuggled tightly into the embrace, thought he wondered if this was all part of some dream rather than reality. The voice was so familiar but at that point Harry's fuzzy mind knew no more as sleep overtook him, and thankfully this time there were no more dreams.

The next time Harry woke up it was to a dry mouth and a splitting headache. He groaned and tried to get up, only to find himself unable to move his head more than half an inch off whatever it was he was lying on. He tried to open his eyes, but even the small amount of light that assaulted his vision made him nearly choke in pain. Shutting his eyes quickly his head began to swim with pain, and he whimpered wondering what was going on.

The same soft voice came to him almost like a dream than saying, "Lie still Harry...you're ill...you need rest. Go back to sleep..."

Even though the voice was gentle and kind Harry squeezed his eyes tightly, the voice grated his ears and head like giant drums. "P-p-pain...." he managed to rasp out, tears forming as he said that one simple word.

"Where?" the voice said softly, a tinge of worry clearly audible. Again the cool hand was on his skin, though this time on his forehead. "Oh Merlin...you're burning up badly..."

Harry had to keep from gasping out in agony as the words came to him. It hurt so badly...firebrands in his head and body is what it felt like. "E-e-every...where..." was all he managed to choke out as another wave of fire sailed through him.

Moments later he felt something on his forehead, along with a few muttered words too low for him to hear. The pain began to ease up oddly enough, and he began to feel sleepy again. Then he heard the voice speak again, and this time it didn't sound loud or grating. "There, that will help. Now rest Harry, you need it," the soft voice said soothingly.

The pain was easing up, and sleep was beginning to overtake him again. As he began to nod off he shivered, then yet again he felt the warmth of a body pressed against him, holding him in a tight embrace. As before he felt safe in those arms and snuggled himself against the warmth. Right as his sleep-filled mind was finally relaxed enough to rest he wondered again why the voice was so familiar, and why he felt so much comfort from it.

As he drifted off to another round of slumber he could have sworn that the voice said something along the lines of "You'll be all right Harry...I'll take care of you I promise. I'm so sorry I couldn't stop this in time...I didn't know 'till now, but I swear to you Harry I will never betray you...I'll make him pay for this because...because I need you...because I love you..." And with those words in his mind darkness once again claimed him, and he knew no more.

*****

"Look Poppy, we know he's ill and we promise not to wake him for Merlin's sake. What is the problem with you? I just want to see my godson!" a voice said angrily causing Harry to wake with a start.

"The boy needs rest Sirius, and you and everyone else hovering over him is not conducive to that. He's only been here a few hours, and though I know you mean well, I will not have my patient becoming a peep show," Madam Poppy Pomfrey, head mediwitch of Hogwarts, said glaring at the men standing before her.

"Poppy what harm would it do if we just pop our heads in and take a quick peek at him? I swear on my honour we'll behave and leave in short time," a second voice chimed in quietly.

"I know better than to expect a quick 'pop in, pop out' from the three of you Remus J. Lupin, you can't fool me. I will let you see him when I'm ready to let you see him, and not a moment sooner. Now all of you clear out!" Poppy said authoritatively, giving each of the three men a stern 'don't-you-dare-mess-with-me' look.

"This is utterly ridiculous. Come, let's go see Albus, at least he won't throw us out," Severus said with a scowl at Poppy. He turned on his heel and headed out the hospital wing in a huff, Sirius and Remus following him promptly.

"Honestly, what is it with woman eh? Are they all just put on earth to torture us into submission or what?" Sirius grumbled as they headed towards Albus's office.

"I think that would be an understatement at the moment Black. That a woman gave me life I am grateful, but had there been any other alternatives I would have chosen them gladly," Severus said darkly.

"Well it's doing us no good to start balking at Poppy's administrations now you two. Personally I'd have been highly surprised if she had let us in to see him. I should let you know however that Harry had woken up whilst we were there, so that's a good sign," Remus said thoughtfully.

Severus and Sirius stopped short and looked at Remus in shock. "He was awake? Why in the bloody hell name of Merlin didn't you tell us?" Sirius said scowling deeply at Remus now.

Remus shook his head and rolled his eyes, a tiny smirk on his face. "And what would you have done? Charged in past Poppy and have her hex you into next Tuesday?" Remus said mockingly.

"Err...well...that is...oh never mind," Sirius stammered, fully aware that he probably would have done just that. "You're sure he was awake?"

"The full moon's tonight Siri, my senses are picking up everything," Remus said with a scowl. "I could hear the shift in his breathing patterns after you started yelling at Poppy. After all these years I think I know the difference between someone who's sleeping and someone who's not."

"I'll have to give Poppy some Curación Potion then if he's waking up," Severus said thoughtfully and made a mental note to brew up another batch later on that night just in case. "That reminds me Lupin, you did take the Wolfsbane I left for you on the side dresser this morning I hope?"

Remus turned to Severus and nodded, a frown on his face at the remembrance of the potion in question. "Of course, thank you. You're mind wasn't in it this time was it though, it tasted even worse than usual," he said with another grimace.

Severus was startled at that and frowned himself. "I hope I didn't forget to add something then, or make it too strong for you," he said worriedly and gave Remus an odd glance.

"Snape you can make that potion in your sleep. If you forgot to add in some ingredient or something I think I'll eat the sorting hat," Sirius said with a snort.

"Very funny Black, even if that is a praise from you," Severus said glaring at Sirius for a moment. Turning back to Remus he sighed slightly and in a softer tone added, "Well let's just hope I haven't. You're right however, my mind isn't quite on things I'm afraid."

Remus nodded his head in understanding and put his hand on Severus's arm. "It's okay Severus, I'm sure you didn't forget anything. It's probably just me, I'm always more sensitive on the day of the moon. You have every reason to be fretful at the moment," he said softly.

"Let's go see Albus already and find out what the bloody hell happened out there. It's killing me not to know anything," Sirius groaned adding in a frustrated sigh. Nodding in agreement they all headed back towards Albus's offices again.

"Jelly Babies" Remus said politely to the gargoyle, and moments later all three were in Albus's office seated comfortably, questions in their eyes amongst other emotions.

"All right Albus, what's the deal? What happened out there? Where's he been the last 4 days and why is he so ill?" Sirius almost demanded now.

"Now Sirius, I realize the situation is a bit out of the normal, but now is not the time to be angry. First of all I don't know exactly what happened, nor where he's been. As to why he is so ill...well..." Albus began, the normal blue-eyed twinkle was nowhere to be seen.

"Well?" Severus said in a deep, rough voice.

"From what Poppy and I have managed to discover...it seems our young Harry was...poisoned," Albus said quietly with a deep sigh.

"Poisoned? Are you joking? What kind of poison?" Severus snapped in horror, his face paling to even more shades lighter than normal.

"It seems to be a modified version of the Veritrum Poison, only this one had components of aconite, digitalis and barbital as well," Albus grimaced.

"Bloody hell, do realize what that combination can do to a person? The Veritrum alone can kill, and the others in single fashion can do 'bout that...combined though...it's not even imaginable thinking!" Remus said with a shiver. "How on earth did he get hold of something that deadly is what I want to know."

"I only wish I knew Remus," Albus sighed. "From what Poppy and I were able to gather, the potion has not been given in large doses. In fact from the traces we've found the reason why till now it hasn't manifested itself is because it seemed to be administered in an extremely small dose over the last few weeks. Obviously someone decided to 'step up' the process and give him more than he'd been receiving causing it finally come to a head so to speak."

Sirius sat there unseeing as Albus was speaking until finally in a thick voice he said, "Malfoy."

Remus, Severus and Albus turned to Sirius questioningly. "Malfoy? What do you mean Sirius?" Remus asked confused.

Sirius blinked as he realised he was being spoken too and leaned forwards, a dark look on his face. "That Malfoy brat...he's still missing right? I bet he left on his own because he's the cause of this. He knew he was guilty, and that note probably told him to run for it. He's probably living it up back at daddy's manor having the time of his life whilst waiting for reports of Harry's death," Sirius said in a strangled, pain-filled voice.

"Sirius you cannot accuse young Mr. Malfoy of something we aren't sure of by any means. Draco might not be exactly the easiest of children to attend to, but I don't think he would do something in this vein," Albus said slowly.

"It's got to be him Albus, I just know it! That boy has been nothing but trouble for Harry since the day they met. He's known for how much he hates Harry, and would love to follow in his daddy's shoes, killing him off for his so-called 'master'. I'll bet you odds that brat had something to do with this!" Sirius practically screamed.

"Black enough! Albus is right, we don't know that for sure. You of all people should know better than to make assumptions and accusations when there is no foundation what so ever. Or have you forgotten 12 years in Azkaban because of something you didn't do," Severus scowled, glaring darkly at Sirius.

"Severus is right Siri, it's not our judgement to make. And if you want my opinion, I don't think Draco would hurt Harry, in fact...that's a bet I'm willing to wager," Remus said thoughtfully.

"Have you gone daft Remus? Malfoy would love nothing more than to get rid of Harry, like father like son," Sirius grumbled darkly.

"Don't be to sure on that Sirius. I am curious though what makes you say that Remus?" Albus asked.

Remus thought for a moment, debating over what he was going to say considering he knew that his 'opinion wasn't going to be taken lightly. "Well...if you must know...I don't think Draco is anything like Lucius. In fact I think he's quite the opposite lately. He is certainly not the young man I first met four years back."

"Now I know you've gone daft Moony. Draco Malfoy is nothing short of his father, just as evil, just as stupid, and just as tainted," Sirius said in a huff.

"For Salazar's sake, down boy before I take a rolled up newspaper and smack you on the nose with it," Severus scowled completely irritated, though he earned a heck of a glare from Sirius for his words. Ignoring him however he continued, "and I also think Lupin is right. I too have noticed a few differences in Draco this term, though I didn't really think more on it until now."

"So you've both seen the changes too, not surprising considering," Albus said quietly.

"Seen what? What are all of you rambling on 'bout?" Sirius questioned.

"It's actually simple Sirius. I'm surprised I didn't see it clearer before now actually," Severus said thoughtfully. Suddenly he turned to Albus saying, "Tell me, when Harry was returned to the school, was there anything on him? Any papers or notes perhaps?"

Albus looked at Severus strangely, then thought for a moment. "I don't really know honestly. Hagrid hadn't said if he found anything when he found Harry, and I never thought to check with Poppy either. Hmm...let's see now..." Albus said and got up from his desk to walk over to his fireplace. Taking a pinch of Floo Powder he threw it into the flames and called out, "Poppy? A word please?"

Seconds later Poppy's head was in the fireplace. "What is it Albus? Something wrong?" she asked worriedly.

"No no, nothing's wrong. I just want to know...you still have the cloak there that Harry was found in?" Albus asked.

Poppy was surprised and curious as to his words, but taking a glance back at something turned back her head and nodded slowly. "Yes I do oddly enough. The house-elves haven't come to collect it for cleaning and darning yet. It's a right proper mess those robes though, not sure even worth fixing up really," she said.

"Yes, well right now we need that cloak. Can you hand it through the fire please?" Albus asked.

Poppy nodded and went to retrieve Harry's school cloak, the one that Severus, Remus and Sirius had see him wearing when they had last seen him four days back. Using a pair of tongs the cloak was transferred to Albus's office, and all of them saw that Poppy was indeed right. Harry's cloak was a mess, a sleeve was torn off, the hemming was pulled out, and there were twigs and leaves still stuck all over it. "Here you go, I did tell you it wasn't a pretty thing to look at. Even the crest's been torn off," she said shaking her head and clicking her tongue in sympathy.

"Thank you Poppy, much appreciated. How's our young Harry doing by the by?" Albus said as Severus took the cloak from his hands.

"Well I've given him a few different antidotes, and so far thankfully they seem to be helping. His fever's down a lot now, though not near normal. Oh and Severus, I will need a phial of Curación Potion if you haven't all ready thought of it, that stuff works wonders beyond a simple Pepper-Up Potion. And if you can manage it, I could also use a few phials of Dreamless Sleeping Potion. I gave you the last one I had on hand a few nights ago when you...." she began to say but was cut off by Severus.

"Yes yes woman I remember," he scowled not wanting her to go further into that train of thought. "I'll bring you the phials in a little while. That will be all," he said huffily and doused out the floo flames quickly, returning them back to their normal colour.

"Severus?" Remus asked quietly as Poppy's last words sunk in, and turned to give him an odd look.

"No Lupin. Right now is not the time to discuss that," Severus said in a strange tone of voice.

"I thought you were over using that stuff?" Sirius asked curiously himself now.

"I said I don't want to discuss it," Severus grumbled, and turning away from the two of them began to search through the cloak. Moments later he was rewarded when he pulled a small scrap of parchment from the inner pocket of the cloak. Apparently it wasn't meant to be found quickly, if at all since it had been obviously hidden inside the cloak rather than in an outside pocket where it would have been found faster.

"Now this is what I was looking for, and if I'm right..." Severus began then pulled another piece of parchment from his own cloak, one that was well worn and well read by now. Taking the two pieces of parchment he lied them flat on Albus's desk, scrutinising them both carefully. Nodding his head slightly he said in a hushed tone, "They're the same hand."

Remus got up from his chair and walked over to the desk, examining the parchments himself. Pointing to one of them he said, "This is the first one you got at the supper table right?" he asked of Severus.

Severus nodded. "Correct. That's the one that came the day Harry and Draco disappeared."

"The handwriting's definitely been altered. Looks like a Scripturus Charm if you ask me," Remus said thoughtfully.

"A Scripturus Charm? That's a highly complex charm Lupin, someone's taking great pains not to be found out obviously," Severus said frowning.

"Well there is a way we can find out," Albus said with the twinkle back in his eyes as he looked from Remus to Severus. "Of course I will make no note of either of you using the particular unweaving spells to do this."

Remus chuckled and shook his head, Severus doing nearly the same thing. "You'd have made a good Slytherin I think sometimes Albus. You certainly have the devious nature," Severus grinned causing Albus to chuckle himself. Turning to Remus he said, "All right then, let's get to work."

Remus and Severus each picked up one of the parchments and began to do some incantations whilst Sirius and Albus looked on. "So what exactly is it they're doing?" Sirius asked curiously.

"They're re-weaving the charms placed on the parchments to reveal the true nature of the handwriting. It's not as easy at it looks, and requires a fair amount of dark arts knowledge to unweave a complex spell such as the Scripturus Charm. I believe in the muggle world they would akin it to crytptology or rather de-encoding." Albus said.

"Oh...so...it's something like those err...komputters that Harry talks 'bout?" Sirius asked.

"That's computers you dolt, even I know what they are," Severus scowled at Sirius. "anyway this will be just another moment...and...aha, yes...it's done!" he said triumphantly.

"Mine as well," Remus said, then glancing down at the newly revealed handwriting gasped in surprise. "Well well well, do you see what I see Severus?"

Severus looked down at his parchment now and slightly gasped himself then nodded slowly. "It seems we were right than about him after all eh?" he said giving Remus an odd look.

"Why do I always feel so left out with you two, honestly! I'm not stupid you know," Sirius muttered. "So what was it you were right 'bout anyway?"

"Well, in a nutshell m'dear Padfoot, we were right 'bout Draco. He's the one who wrote these letters," Remus said thoughtfully and handed his piece of parchment to Sirius, Severus doing the same.

Sirius looked at both pieces of parchment and indeed recognised the writing. He'd seen it enough times on papers that both Remus and Severus would sometimes still be grading at night. What startled him the most though was what was written on the parchments, since he hadn't actually seen the first one, only was told about it from Remus and Severus. In a shaky voice he said, "What...what does it mean?"

"It means that we're not out of the woods yet with Harry. We've got to find Draco, and find him quickly. His life is in as much danger as Harry's right now if he should be found out for what he feels, and who he is. His life is worth nothing if he's caught," Severus said shivering slightly at the very thought.

"May I?" Albus asked Sirius, holding his hand out for the parchments. "Forgive me but since I have read neither of these I am a bit curious as to what is going on myself."

"Oh sorry Albus didn't realize. Here you go," Sirius said handing him over the parchments.

The first note Albus read over and it pained him how much young Draco was obviously hurting at Harry's distresses. The second note however almost made his blood run cold.

~~To anyone who finds this...~~

I've done all I could to prevent the poison from spreading further, hopefully it was enough. For the past four days I have used every means I could to protect Harry...but I know I can't any longer. Lucius (for I no longer will call him father) will come for me at the school within the week he said, and I cannot be there when he gets there or my life I'm sure would be over. I don't care what you tell him...tell him I'm dead...whatever you want...

I swear on the lives of the founders to whoever reads this that I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, had nothing to do with Harry's poisoning. Professor Lupin, if you read this...the note I received during your detention was from my mother, and the person who brought it was my cousin Viridian Malfoy. He's part veela like myself, but mostly vampire on his mother's side, and you won't have recognised him because he goes to a school somewhere in Russia. His vampiric side however has the ability to hypnotize, and I'm afraid since it was imperative he wasn't to be seen...he did that to you Professor to forget him. Please forgive us but it was necessary at the time.

Getting back to things...for nearly a year my mother has known my true feelings regarding one Harry James Potter. During Yule holidays last year my mother found on accident my appointment book with all my hidden secrets, and came to me about it. She isn't really the cold, cruel, heartless woman she appears on the surface, at least not to me. Lucius controls her, but when he's not there she has a bit more freedom, and we have had our good times. She oddly enough was sympathetic to my feelings, and though sad that I am the way I am she still loved me anyway, and we grew I think a bit closer this past year because of it.

It was her who decided to keep an eye on Lucius and his 'activities' since she found out the truth of what was really going on. With Voldemort's return everyone thinks all Malfoys are the evil gits only too happy to rejoin him. I, my mother, and my cousin Viridian are not however. We are against that farce of an heir, and will do what we can to prevent him from turning this world into nothing more than his death ground. And the only hope we have is in Harry.

My mother found out too late however the horrible plot on Harry, which is what has him in the state he is now. I didn't know it, but somehow Lucius sent one of his own house-elves to the castle, and it was through the house-elf that the poison was being given to Harry. The house-elf was under orders to bring Harry a glass of warm milk nightly which Harry accepted apparently, and that's how he got hold of it. Until a few days ago it was only in small doses from what the house-elf told me, but Lucius somehow told him it wasn't working fast enough, and the house-elf put in a much higher dose.

The night of our detention was the night Harry got the bigger dose, and I don't know why but it was the fates that must have sent Harry to the Quidditch Pitch at that exact moment in the night. I was getting ready to leave the school to meet up with Viridian so we could go into hiding, and I should explain why. You see...I had no choice but I killed Lucius's house-elf. I couldn't let it live after I found out what it had been doing to Harry, and so I used the Avada Kedavra on it, then Viridian and I buried it in the Forbidden Forest. I know that should the truth come out I will go to Azkaban for it, which is why I had to go into hiding with Viridian.

When Harry appeared on the pitch though I could see the poison was taking it's toll, and so we took Harry with us to our first hiding place. I wanted to help him...to save him...but in the end Viridian told me that it was hopeless to think I could. He needed more help than the two of us could give him, and so whilst I am now going to move again to prevent being seen, Viridian will bring Harry back to Hogwarts. Hopefully he will be found quickly, I told Viridian exactly where he should place Harry so that Hagrid will most likely find him.

I beg of you to help him...please...please...don't let him die. Professor Dumbledore, no doubt you will probably be reading this as well if it's found, and please know that we do not wish to be found. We will stay in hiding until either Lucius or Voldemort...or hopefully both are dead. Or at least until it's safe for us, whichever comes first. I know that they say Hogwarts is the safest place on earth, but if Lucius can infiltrate there with house-elves, then I know I'm no longer safe. Not even my mother will know where Viridian and I will be, and we have casted Delocation Charms on us, so owling us would be futile.

I have only one more last and final word...and though I know it will be difficult to hear this it is the truth. I love Harry, I have for a while now, and I would never have harmed him. I do ask...beg even again...not to tell him the truth. It's easier if he says good riddance to me and hopefully he won't even remember any of his ordeal. Never tell him the truth of how I feel, I don't think I could bear his rejections since I know he has no liking for boys. Least of all a Malfoy.

Good luck, and I pray that Viridian and I were in time to save him.

Draco L. Malfoy

PS. Professor Snape you shouldn't be so hard on yourself, and you're very lucky to be able to know the love you have from Professor Lupin and Sirius Black. You'd be a fool if you throw that love away again. I will never be able to love anyone but Harry...and I would gladly die for him. Don't make the mistake I am Professor Snape...don't run away from love...because it's a very lonely, painful thing to do as I'm sure you already know. And please...tell Harry the truth of who you are. How I know I can't tell you...but I do know, and I think Harry will come round to accepting it if you let him. It's the way he is...and I know he needs you as much as all three of you need him. Take care of him for me since I can't do it for myself...I know with all of you Harry is in safe hands...and I trust you all...~~~

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