Hi, everyone! Life just keeps socking it to me! The last few months have been crazy. Lots of family things and work obligations but I also caught covid again. I'm just getting over it now and hoping to get back on track with the fic as soon as possible. Stick with me!
Lori94
Chapter 35
The elves served tea while Bill told everyone about Arthur's concussion and other various injuries. "Oh, and, guys? When I was coming back with Mum's tea this afternoon, I heard her and Dad talking. They're going to insist that you all move in with Harry." Bill told his brothers grimly, pausing to give them an opportunity to protest before waving them down. "Charlie and I have talked about it and we understand that you all have reasons to dislike this idea-"
"Really, we do understand!" Charlie broke in as Ginny began to nibble on a biscuit.
"But I don't think you should argue when they tell you about it." Bill went on, ignoring the plate he'd just been given. "They're our parents and they are rightfully concerned for all of us and I don't think they should have to worry any more than necessary."
"Bill and I are moving home until the danger is over as well." Charlie looked sternly at his siblings until they agreed. "Percy?"
"What?" Percy asked defensively. "I already live at home and Audrey and I are on a break so when I don't spend the night at the Burrow, I'm at Hogwarts in Lord P- Harry's guest room."
"Actually, to address this, Sirius and I were planning to ask Bill about an emergency portkey that would take you to Potter Grove." Harry confessed quietly. "It would be a Christmas gift to our assistant."
"Alright." Percy sighed. "Make it a watch or briefcase or something inconspicuous."
Harry nodded and brought the conversation to his firecall with Neville.
"Who would want to prevent the preservation of endangered and extinct plants?" Ron asked.
"The Ravenclaw bullies?" Ginny hazarded a guess.
"It could be... but what about Umbrage?" Draco suggested. "If her vendetta is against Harry, she would want to destroy anything he cares about and he's been pretty vocal about the plants."
"I suppose it's possible." Harry nodded thoughtfully. "She wouldn't even have to leave her office to do it. She has access to the wards from there as Headmistress."
"I'll write to Mother about it. She'll have some ideas for saving the project." Draco told them as he stood to leave.
"Before you go..." Harry stopped him. "I'd like your input about the situation with Neville."
"What about it?" Ron asked as he loaded a dish with goodies to go with his tea.
"What little confidence he had has taken a hit." Harry told them. "Now that his grandmother got him a new wand - one that chose him - it should help but we have to figure out who put him on that ledge a few months back and get him involved with unifying the houses. Anything that you can think of that might boost his confidence."
"I might know some people who'd be able to partner him in classes." Draco offered. "Who is his potions partner? Has anyone noticed?"
"I'm pretty sure it's the older Greengrass sister." Ron commented. "The one in our year."
"Daphne." Draco murmured. "She's perfect. I can ask her to discreetly help him out and try to bolster his ego a bit while she's at it."
Harry wasn't sure about that idea and grimaced.
Draco counted on his fingers, stating his reasons. "She's happily betrothed to Adrian Pucey so she won't get in the way of any relationship arrangements Longbottom might have or make with Abbott. She's got a pleasant disposition so unless he ticks her off, she'll be nice to him. She's smart but isn't a know-it-all so she won't be intimidating."
Harry shrugged, chagrined. "If you say so."
"And here's the kicker - her sister needs help in herbology." Draco smirked. "She can make it a quid pro quo for her help in potions without making him uncomfortable."
Harry couldn't argue with that so he just nodded thoughtfully. "Ok. It's worth a shot."
Draco looked smug as he left to write his letters.
"Ziva, please visit Hermione in case she has anything to add." Harry asked. "Remember to wait until she's alone. We don't want her caught."
Ziva popped away leaving her master to get back to his holiday celebration.
Narcissa smiled as she read her son's letter, so glad she'd implemented a safeguard as co-head of SSSHEEP. She quickly wrote out a meeting notice to the founding members and experts, telling them that a plan was in place and not to worry but she also warned them not to tell anyone they weren't worried just in case the saboteur caught on. Then she wrote a letter directly to Harry to let him in on the secret, wondering what he would think.
"Dainty?" She called. "See that this gets to my future son in law, won't you?"
"What's that about?" Lucius asked as he entered the bedroom.
"Just writing to Harry about the plants, dear." Narcissa explained. "I never told him about the safety measures I put into play and something has happened that he needs to know."
He grunted his agreement and changed the subject.
Neville sighed sadly as he looked at the half- frozen clippings on his dresser.
He was happy Professor Sprout had allowed him to keep the pot but was disheartened by the stalling of the project. Since the plants were all back in stasis, he'd opted to go home and spend time with his family as Harry had. Tea was being served shortly in his grandmother's parlour so his stood and inspected his robes.
Just as he opened the door to leave his room, Augusta Longbottom rushed in. "Oh, Neville, I've just had word from Lady Malfoy! You'll be so happy to hear this!"
"What? What is it, Gran?" Neville asked, starting to get excited.
"All is not lost, Neville, my darling boy!" She announced. "In her position as co-head of the charity, she planned for this contingency and she's called a meeting to tell us the details but she says it's only a minor setback."
He let out a huge sigh of relief. "That's amazing, Gran!"
"I've asked the elves to serve tea here, dear. Let's sit and speculate on Lady Malfoy's plan, shall we?" She asked lightly.
"Draco?" Harry called as he entered the room he was sharing with the blond.
Listening for his boyfriend's answer, he heard the shower going so he peeked inside. What looked like a true waterfall was flowing from the ceiling into a pool where Draco stood in his swimsuit, covered to his hips in water. The pale skin of his betrothed's stomach glistened and Harry smiled as he watched Draco rinse his hair under it. That's when he noticed that Draco's wrist was bare.
He pouted internally even as he greeted his boyfriend. "Hello."
Draco whirled to see who was speaking. "Oh, it's you. Hello!"
"Can I join you?" Harry asked, remaining respectfully at the door.
Draco considered this. He and Harry had yet to see each other naked so he felt a little nervous but, since he had his trunks on, he thought it would be alright so he nodded.
"You took it off..." Harry said as he started to undress.
"Took what off?" Draco frowned, wondering how much Harry was about to reveal of himself.
"Your bracelet." Harry replied, running his thumbs under the waistband of his drawers. Noting that the gesture made Draco's eyes widen, he grinned and stopped to walk into the pool.
Draco slowly drew a deep breath. He'd been so sure Harry was about to show the full monty that he needed to calm his heart. "I didn't want the water to ruin it."
"I see. You didn't pay attention..." Harry advanced on the blond. "It's enchanted to be waterproof."
Draco's eyes widened again and he became breathless as Harry got closer and leaned into his personal space. "I must've missed that tidbit."
Harry smiled. "I like seeing it on you. It made me sad for a moment that it was missing."
"I'll put it back on as soon as I'm dry." Draco whispered as Harry got impossibly closer and became mesmerised by the green eyes as Harry's lips descended on his. His heart pounded as Harry kissed him deeply. He moaned as he allowed himself to submit slightly but soon he was wrapping his arms around the lightly tanned and toned body of the young lord.
Harry was happy to let Draco push him back so he was almost leaning against the side of the pool. "If we had all night or we were alone, I might suggest we do more than this. Dinner is coming, though...and fast."
Draco sighed and willed his arousal to drain away but it wasn't working. "I need more." He whined.
"Do you trust me?" Harry asked softly with half-lidded eyes.
Draco swallowed, nodding slowly as Harry pulled him into a new position. He could feel Harry's hard length pressing against his bottom and Harry's arms surrounded him just before a warm hand wrapped mostly around his clothed cock. His head involuntarily fell backward to rest on Harry's shoulder.
Harry felt many things at that moment; among them was the heady feeling of being in control of the situation which almost made him dizzy before he reigned it in. "I want to bring you off with my hand, Draco. Is that ok?"
"Please, Harry, yes!" Draco moaned and blinked as he caught his breath. "Wait! What about you?"
"I'll take care of us both." Harry whispered into his ear as he moved against Draco's body while slowly moving his hand over Draco's cock.
Realising what Harry was planning, Draco bucked his hips and attempted to participate as much as possible. Soon, the blond shuddered and cried out but Harry wasn't far behind. Together, they moved under the waterfall to rinse off and cool down, but as the young men continued to get ready for the evening meal, they couldn't keep their eyes off of each other.
Finally, Harry placed Draco's bracelet on his wrist and they walked through the halls hand in hand until they reached the decorated patio. Even though they were surrounded by the rest of Harry's family and carrying on separate conversations they only had eyes for each other until Dainty popped in right next to Harry and handed him an envelope.
"Thank you, Dainty. What's this?" Harry asked.
"Lady Malfoy sends it." The elf shrugged and popped off to continue her duties from earlier in the day.
Harry looked over at Draco who was already crossing the space between them.
"That's Mother's handwriting." Draco confirmed encouragingly so Harry opened it and began to read.
"Lady Malfoy says the project is safe and that she took precautions against this possibility. She's calling a meeting in a few days so we can discuss the future of SSSHEEP." Harry grinned up at his boyfriend as he handed over the letter. "It seems that she kept some important details from the rest of us!"
"Like what?" Ginny wanted to know.
"Well, some of the plants had been saved in duplicate so she kept the second plant in stasis in the new Gringotts vault that's reserved for the charity while the experts and volunteers worked on the other one!" Harry explained. "Then she took some of the first successful cuttings from the singular plants and put them in the vault as well."
"Mother has always been an advocate for preparedness." Draco smirked.
Luna nodded her agreement and dragged Ginny off to explore more of the storage rooms with Dudley.
"Oi, Malfoy?" Ron called as the group began to break up. "When is Blaise coming?"
"Tomorrow morning. Just before lunch." Draco answered. "His mother has guests until then and she likes Blaise to help her see them off before he goes visiting."
"Why don't you play some chess?" George suggested.
"Chess?" Draco echoed, his interest becoming piqued.
Fred grinned as he seconded the idea. "With good ole Charlie!"
"I like chess." Draco commented but nobody seemed to hear him.
"Chess with Charlie sounds like it'll give us-" George broke in.
Fred continued. "Some time to update our Lord and Saviour-"
"On the plans for our shop!" George finished.
Harry bit the inside of his lip, unsure how Ron would react to this overt reference to the very thing that had caused their earlier rift. They'd been doing well since Umbrage's takeover but they hadn't really discussed the twins' joke shop.
The redhead in question sighed heavily. "Oh, don't look at me like that, Harry! I'm not a dungbomb that's ready to explode."
"Actually that's exactly what comes to mind." Harry mumbled. "But if you're ok with it...?"
"Yeah." Ron nodded. "I've come to terms with it. They showed me the contract and how exactly it's working. They have most of the control and your requests aren't completely unreasonable. I'm..."
Harry held his breath for a moment.
Ron sighed again. "I'm sorry I made such a big deal. I should've known you'd do right by them."
Harry felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Ron stood up. "C'mon, Malfoy. We'll get Charlie and maybe, if Bill is still here, he'll play too - like a tournament."
Draco perked up but shrugged, happy that someone had heard him but reluctant to show his true feelings. Ron may not be his ideal person to spend time with but he was rumoured to be an excellent chess player and, as one of the closest people to his betrothed, he was sure to have some insight toward the brunet.
Sirius and Remus joined Harry as Draco and Ron went off to find other chess players.
The twins showed their investors the plans for decorating the store along with several new products. When they'd finished with the business meeting, Sirius sent Remus to watch the others play chess and pulled Harry aside. "How's everything going, kiddo?"
Harry took a deep breath. "Well, Draco and I are doing great and Ron seems to have gotten over our disagreement. Dudley's got a new project and Luna's got a new trunk, sort of ...and Ginny's happy. The twins seem to be taking the business world by storm... so as long as Arthur recovers and Molly stays safe and happy all we have to worry about are Percy, Charlie, and Bill."
"Bill said he can make an emergency portkey for Percy by this weekend." Sirius confided. "I got him a quality leather briefcase from Turtell's. The handle will be perfect for the portkey."
"I love that idea." Harry grinned. "Charlie is thrilled just to know Draco is a Dragonlord and to meet him. He was so happy with that knowledge he promised to escort us through his reserve this summer. That's Draco's last Christmas gift."
"He's going to love that!" Sirius grinned.
"What did you get for Moony?" Harry whispered because Remus was looking at them suspiciously.
"What are you two talking about?" Remus called.
"Nothing!" Harry and Sirius sang together and laughed as they turned away to wander the garden paths.
"I got him a few things." Sirius told him quietly. "Some fun items and some I just think he needed."
"Fun things?" Harry asked, intrigued.
"Fun adult things, Harry." Sirius told him sternly.
Harry put on a pout to see what his godfather would do.
"I'll tell you when you're married." Sirius glared playfully. "Speaking of which... one of the things I got him... it's something I want to talk to you about."
Harry stopped and turned to face his godfather. "What is it?"
"Bonding rings." Sirius replied softly. "See... I've been thinking of asking Remus to marry me."
Harry grinned. "That's amazing! He'll be so happy!"
"Ya think?" Sirius asked nervously. "Some days I think it's the best idea I've ever had but some days I don't know if I deserve to have that kind of life."
"Are you kidding? After the twelve years of hell you endured?" Harry asked, fighting the sadness he still felt whenever he thought about his godfather's time in Azkaban. "You deserve to be happy, Siri! Ask him!"
Sirius frowned and dragged Harry into the nearby shed. "What if he says no?"
Harry chuckled and glared playfully at the older man. "He loves you, Sirius. You've been back together since your escape from Hogwarts at the end of my third year. You've been through so much together... he won't say no."
"Who won't say no to what?" Remus asked as he walked into the shed behind Sirius. "If it's something illegal, I'm not making any promises!"
Harry pulled both of his uncles out into the garden and pushed Sirius toward Remus and the scenic opening of the cave where they'd be able to have some privacy. Draco's approach went unnoticed until Harry saw his godfather drop to one knee and the blond gasped softly beside him. "Who won?" Harry smiled at his betrothed, reaching out an arm to bring him closer.
"It was a draw." Draco smirked. "Charlie wants to play me tomorrow."
That's when they saw Remus nod and Sirius stand up, immediately hugging the other man.
Draco sighed quietly as the two older men strolled back toward them.
"Have you ever thought about that... your proposal?" Harry asked softly.
"Once upon a time, I considered the way I would ask someone... before my Dragonlord abilities manifested..." Draco shrugged. "I don't know. So much has happened since then that I now have no idea."
"I've been considering the method I'll use. So many ideas seem great but none of them are perfect." Harry said quietly.
"You've already been thinking about it?" The blond was surprised.
Harry just nodded as his uncles joined them with happiness shining in their eyes. "Allow me to be the first to congratulate you both."
"Thank you, Harry." Remus hugged Harry tightly. "I don't know what I'd do without the two of you."
"Hey! What's going on over here?" Fred asked as the Weasley twins approached.
George looked at the older men suspiciously until Sirius ruffled his hair and confessed.
"Only the most important question in my life getting answered!" He said happily. "Remus has agreed to marry me!"
Charlie joined them, then, and called for Ziva to bring champagne with the dessert course.
"Yes! Champagne for everyone!" Sirius shouted. "But don't tell Molly!"
"What exactly aren't they telling me?" Molly asked loudly with her hands on her hips as she stood next to Bill who was pushing a wheelchair-bound Arthur.
"Well you see, Molly..." Harry sheepishly stepped forward but Sirius put a hand on Harry's shoulder and shook his head.
Then he told her about his proposal and Remus' acceptance and how he wanted to celebrate with champagne. "I know not all of them are of age but it's a special occasion and I..."
She held up a hand to cut him off and walked up to him sternly wagging a finger. "Sirius Orion Black! I am absolutely thrilled to hear that you're getting married to Remus and if you think we're not going to celebrate your engagement with champagne, you are sadly mistaken!"
Harry grinned as Sirius blinked in surprise. "I- wait - really?"
Molly, Arthur, and Bill all started laughing as Sirius rushed forward to hug her.
"Wait! What happened, Arthur?" Harry asked while the Weasleys greeted their father. "I thought you were supposed to be in hospital until tomorrow!"
"The healers released me early so we could all get home to our families." Arthur explained as Ziva came around with the glasses.
"They told him to take it easy for a few more days, though." Molly reminded him.
"Yes, dear." Arthur smiled but they could all see how tired he looked.
"Have you eaten?" Harry fussed. "Ziva, please bring them plates."
The elves flew into action serving dinner and dessert as Sirius stood and toasted family and love.
The next morning, Arthur and Molly were among the first to rise and the elves let Molly help them with breakfast. Everyone came together to celebrate, not only the holiday, but the fact that Arthur had survived his attack. During the meal, Ron pestered Harry and Draco for news of Blaise's arrival. In response, they recruited Ginny and Luna to help distract him with homework which worked for a couple of hours because Bill volunteered to help Ginny and Luna with their defence essays and then Charlie offered to answer any questions about Care of Magical Creatures. With everyone busy, Sirius sat with Remus and Percy while Dudley read some more of the letters they'd found.
Just as they were dispersing to prepare for lunch, Draco received an owl from Blaise saying that he was ready to join the party, so the young Dragonlord dispatched his elf to retrieve him and Ron, Harry, and Draco met him on the patio. After showing him a portion of the gardens, they brought him to the room next to Ron's and let them have a little time alone before meeting everyone else to give gifts. Over the next few hours, Harry observed Blaise with Ron, his family, and also with Draco. In doing so, he realised they weren't so different. Perhaps Harry had more money, elemental power, and a title but Blaise had just as much intelligence and passion for his friends as Harry had.
Zack joined them just before dinner and spent the meal discussing Edith's letters with Dudley and Luna. Those with brooms began to debate the size of the cavern and whether they could arrange a pick up game of quidditch for the next day.
At bedtime, Harry was witness to Draco giving his friend the armband and Merlin's magic awed them all again as the band sank into Blaise's skin, taking on the appearance of a tattoo.
The next few days went by in a blur of homework, pickup quidditch, and old fashioned board games that they found in a trunk in one of the rooms of the surface house but Harry enjoyed every minute.
The meeting with Lady Malfoy was upon them before anyone realised it and when Harry spoke with her and the other founding members of SSSHEEP, they came up with a plan.
"So what did you decide?" Dudley asked, rushing up as Harry and Draco came in through the patio doors.
Harry smiled at his cousin as Draco and Blaise went off to talk. "It's unfortunate but the SSSHEEP project has to be isolated from the public. Lady Malfoy's idea helped quite a lot but it's not going to be enough if we allow it to be so open. I suggested that the plants need a hidden greenhouse for the bulk of the efforts."
"But what about the student helpers?" Dudley asked, disappointed for them to miss out.
"Unfortunately, the students will only be able to work with clippings and seedlings until the summer holidays unless we take out the threat ...and we don't know who the saboteur is so that's unlikely to change." Harry sighed. "I've contacted Headmistress Prewitt to see if your school might be able to help us with some of the building we'll need to do."
"Building?" Dudley frowned.
"Yes. If you agree...I'd like the surface house to become SSSHEEP Headquarters." Harry asserted.
"You're asking me?" Dudley whispered in shock.
Sighing, Harry looked at him sadly. "I've stopped calling you 'Dud', haven't I? So I'd like you to try to stop acting so surprised when I treat you equally when it comes to our Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw inheritance."
Dudley took a deep breath and nodded slowly. Harry had been unfailingly kind in the face of the crimes he and his parents had committed against the young lord. He'd split the entire inheritance down the middle, after all. It was far more generous than Dudley himself might've been in his cousin's place.
"Now, I really do want to know what you think of the idea." Harry said encouragingly.
"It's nice up top." Dudley replied quietly. "Lots of room for people to work with the plants and lots of rooms for the experts to live while they do their thing."
"The grounds have enough room for us to build a couple of greenhouses.'' Harry nodded and smiled hesitantly. "The house has many rooms - enough for several expert herbologists to visit and work for days at a time as well as rooms enough to house selected students during the summer. I would keep this area separate with wards."
Dudley nodded again - this time a little more confident. "I think that your idea would probably make Madam - erm, Lady Hufflepuff happy."
"We're her descendants, Dudley." Harry chuckled. "I don't think she'd mind us calling her Helga."
"You might be right." Dudley smirked. "Now what say we think about this in more detail?"
Harry grinned and pulled his cousin off to a table in the library.
"Do you think it'll work?" Blaise asked as they entered the master suite.
"It's bold." Draco sighed and, as he laid back on the bed he shared with Harry, he noticed that the covers still smelled like him. "It's cunning. It retains the pursuit of knowledge and the spirit of generosity with which he started the venture ... It'll work, but it needs something."
Blaise frowned, plopping down on the couch. "Like what?"
"Us." Draco smirked at the ceiling. "We have to work behind the scenes to help. Our families have connections and they can help us figure out who really sabotaged the project. If it was Umbrage this, along with a few other things, might get her removed from her undeserved post."
They both fell silent for a moment.
"So..." Blaise began; hesitation obvious in his tone. "Merlin's book belongs to you... that's big."
"It is." Draco sat straight up to look at his friend. "It's... huge."
"Have you looked in it?" Blaise asked awkwardly. "I mean...is that what you do? Or do you talk to it?"
"I think it'll be weird either way." Draco chuckled. "I mean that thing attacked my father!"
Blaise laughed. "I wish I could have seen that!"
"Oh gods! Ha, Harry!" Draco shook his head and grinned. "Do you know? Harry wanted to bust a gut. He restrained himself but I could tell it was an effort."
Blaise's smirk sharpened. "I'll bet."
Draco sighed. "What's going on, Blaise?"
"Nothing. Why? What do you mean?" Blaise fumbled awkwardly.
Draco bit his lip. "Blaise, please tell me you're not jealous?"
"A little..." Blaise sighed heavily. "But not the way you mean."
"What way then?" Draco asked quietly.
"You spend more time with him than me or Pansy and even when you are with us, you're thinking about him." Blaise pointed out quietly and when the blond's expression changed he cut him off. "Don't even try to deny it, Draco!"
"Give me an example." Draco frowned.
"Alright." Blaise considered this as he eyed his friend. "When we walked in here just now ... you laid on the bed and you had this far off look."
Draco sniffed in protest. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean!"
"Oh, you spoke well enough to disguise your distraction..." Blaise assured him. "But when you leaned into the blankets and took a deep breath, I could tell you were barely thinking about my presence."
Draco pouted internally. "Was it that obvious?"
Blaise sighed again. He hadn't intended to hurt his friend's feelings. "I'm certain it would only be obvious to someone who knows you well, Draco...but the point remains that even when he's not physically in your presence, he's in your thoughts and I'm jealous that he has your attention when he's not even in the bloody room!"
Draco nodded understandingly. "I see what you mean."
"And...?" Blaise asked quietly.
"I can only promise to work on it." Draco answered sadly. "It might be a mate issue."
Blaise nodded, calm but disappointed, and for the first time, wished his friend's life was less complicated.
"Can you try to like him?" Draco asked carefully.
A knock came to the door just then, and Ron stood on the other side.
Blaise looked back at his friend. "I don't really think that's what's going on here, Draco."
"What are we talking about?" Ron asked, leaning into the room.
"Draco thinks I dislike Harry." Blaise shrugged.
"I don't think that's it." Ron huffed as he followed him in. "I think it's like my tiff with Harry during the summer."
"What do you mean?" Draco asked.
"Harry didn't tell you about that?" Ron asked, surprised when they shook their heads. "Right, so Harry's life was thrown into chaos this summer and, well, the way he chose to deal with it was to make lots of changes - mostly good ones - but all of them were just so different from what I was used to him doing. So, what I did was..."
Draco smirked. "Blow up until he yelled at you?"
"Well, yeah..." Ron slumped. "I guess, but then I backed off for a while and - even though it took some time - I realised that life can't always stay the same as when we're eleven. I don't know what I would do in his place and Merlin knows if I was the first one to get a love-life then Harry might've been the one feeling left out."
Blaise blinked. "That's it..."
"What's it?" Draco frowned. "Is Weasley making sense to you?"
"Yes. See, as with Ron and Harry, we will always have a familial sort of relationship but even brothers don't get as close as a romantic partner would." Blaise explained slowly. "I'm perfectly fine with Potter as a person and even as your boyfriend, though the Dragonlord's 'brother at arms' is prone to be protective. The point is, Draco... changes are happening in our lives and they're happening faster than I can keep up with."
"Don't tell me you need to 'take some time' too!" Draco protested.
"Don't be ridiculous. I grew up differently than Ron." Blaise shook his head fondly at his pouting boyfriend. "I can get my head around this while maintaining our friendship - in fact that's what will get me there faster."
"What?" Draco asked.
"Seeing how happy the changes are making you." Blaise smirked. "Roger didn't make you this happy. What you had with him was much different than Harry."
"As it should be. They are very different people." Draco found himself nodding slowly. "And I will be affected differently by them as well."
"Exactly." Blaise leaned against Ron's shoulder as he recognised a familiar look in the blond's eye. "I think we should give Draco some time to think about things. Harry will be back soon."
"Actually..." Draco said softly. "If you see him, ask him to give me a little while."
"Ok." Ron shrugged and looked over at his boyfriend. "Wanna play chess?"
Blaise agreed and followed his boyfriend towards the parlour without another word.
Draco watched the door close and instantly became hesitant. He was about to try interacting with Merlin's book for the first time without anyone around but he didn't know how to start.
I sense hesitation, Dragonlord.
Draco sighed. "I'm not used to speaking to a book and vice versa. How does this work?"
You can just speak to me if I'm in the room with you.
"Alright, I guess that makes sense but your form is that of a book. Do you contain any actual information?" The young Dragonlord asked with a frown.
Of course. In my pages you will find all sorts of information. Is there anything in particular you wish to know?
Draco took a deep breath to give voice to one of the many questions burning in his mind when it suddenly went blank. Could it be that just because he didn't know which to ask first, they flew out of his mind entirely. "This is so strange. Since I turned eleven I've been thinking of things to ask about if I ever had the chance but every single one has done a runner. You answered a few of them when I last spoke with you - like why you never spoke to me before and such. Do you have any suggestions?"
Well, I contain recipes for Merlin's favourite spells and potions. You know, he invented a fair few but he also gathered quite a lot from far away places. In addition, I hold written accounts of significant interactions between Merlin and certain dignitaries of his time along with personal interactions between Merlin and his wife, such as the discovery of their son's illness, and later, their decision to transmute Merlin's blood.
"Wow. That's intensely personal. Why would he include those?" Draco shook his head. "Can you tell me about the cubi?"
Ah! Demons! Yes, young Dragonlord, I have such information.
"They're not just demons, you know. I'm part succubus." Draco muttered. "What about the founders and their elemental powers? Harry freezes water and makes candles flare and the wind whip faster!"
Has he connected with the Earth element yet?
"Yes." Draco grimaced. "Well, sort of. The ground rumbles when he's angry."
Oh, dear.
"Indeed." Draco sighed. "The elements are currently responding to his emotions. There are no living elemental wizards to teach him."
I see. I may have some information that can help.
"Oh?" Draco didn't have to feign interest and when Harry joined him a little while later, he was happy to pass the knowledge along.
"This is..." Harry paused, speechless. "This is so helpful, Draco!"
They were lying on the bed in their room after the evening meal and Draco had just finished telling the young lord about his conversation with the book of his ancestor.
"We should really tell the others." Harry went on. "The fact that you can all help me master the elements is amazing considering I'm on my own without any instructors!"
"I know. I was feeling a bit useless but now that I know I can help - even just a little - I'm all for it!" Draco smiled gently as he cuddled into his boyfriend's embrace. "Let's tell them tomorrow. There's something else I haven't told you yet! Remember the satchel?"
Harry nodded. "Wasn't there something in it that you were going to look at later?"
"The item inside the satchel was a Druid amulet but that's not really important. The satchel itself is special!" Draco nodded with a smirk. "The book told me that it's connected by spells to the chest in the vault. The pieces I gave to you, Blaise, and my parents were the only ones that single out and label specific people to the dragons. All the other ones can technically go to anyone I want and it lets the dragons know that the person is a friend of mine."
"That's pretty handy." Harry chuckled. "Let's rest for now. There are only a few more days before we go back to Hogwarts."
When they'd arrived at the Manor, Draco met with his father to put Merlin's book back in its place while Harry and Luna went to find Tom and update him on several subjects.
"So to summarise - The Weasleys are going to help me with the fire element, Zack is onboard for earth..." Harry trailed off.
"I'm helping Harry too, Uncle Tom!" Luna beamed at her uncle.
"I assume that Draco will be assisting you with the water element." Tom sniffed in dismissive haughtiness.
Harry smirked innocently. "Yes, he's more than amenable to helping me but I'm sure you might have some insights on the matter as well."
"I..." The older man blinked. "I'm certain I could find something to say."
"That's precisely what I was hoping for, Tom." Harry kept his smile soft so his older cousin wouldn't feel mocked.
"I'm a very busy man, though." Tom blustered. "So don't make it a habit."
Harry suppressed a chuckle. "I quite understand. I'll be sure to seek you out for only very important issues... shall I?"
"Indeed." Tom nodded imperiously. "Nagini, however... as well as your own snakes will also be invaluable sources on the subject. So don't forget them."
Draco entered the sitting room and sighed as he sank into the couch next to Harry. "Did you get to everything?"
"I think so." Harry said as he picked up Draco's hand and interlaced it with his own.
"So he's going to help?" Draco asked.
"Yes, nephew. I will help him." Tom stood proudly and began to stroll aimlessly around the room only to glance backward. "Now, run along... unless you have a question for me?"
"Merlin's book said I should start with the first element I connected with." Harry told him. "In my room at the London townhouse, I felt a rush of air assist me in opening a door and I tried to use it to retrieve a book from a shelf across the room."
"Oh? Only tried?" Tom sounded curious. "What happened?"
"The whole shelf of books dumped on the floor instead of one book floating over to me on the bed." Harry frowned.
"I see." The older man's eyebrows rose. "So air is...Luna."
"Air affects the other elements too, Harry. I'll have to think of how to start." Luna hummed to herself.
"Allow me to make my first suggestion...?" Tom paused for Harry's consenting nod. "The elements are cyclical. Think about what feeds each element and what each element feeds."
"Alright." Harry frowned. "Air feeds all of the elements in some way, but what feeds air?"
"Earth?" Draco suggested. "I mean, plants fall under the Earth element and they process the air for us to breathe."
"Ok, air feeds fire but how does it feed water and earth?" Harry muttered to himself.
"I think we're thinking of it wrong." Luna sighed. "Air isn't just... there. Most of the time it moves. Think about it - breezes and wind."
"Air raises the clouds that bring the rain - which is water." Draco put forth. "Water feeds the earth which then feeds the air...but where does fire come in?"
"Fire consumes both objects and air... but water kills it." Tom offered. "Mark my words... This is going to be a very philosophical journey for you, Harry."
"Hang on a minute..." Harry frowned. "Fire does more than consume things! I read a book once that talked about farming and how farmers sometimes burn one of their fields while using another because what's left over will enrich the soil."
"Interesting." Tom nodded slowly. "That sounds like the philosophy of trial by fire where a subject is tested with hardships to see if they get weaker or if it strengthens them."
"Now, just a minute - not all fires are killed by water." Draco drew their attention. "Some fires are made worse by fighting them with water - like grease fires and Fiendfyre."
"True, but Fiendfyre is magical fire and it can only be put out by removing the spell or killing the caster." Tom informed them. "Grease fires are, at their core, made of oil - which is basically fuel - and must be fought by removing that first. Earth can help with that. Sand will smother the fire if administered correctly or you could just open a hole in the ground and swallow it."
Harry agreed. "Luna? I have another question for you."
"Oh? I can't wait to hear it!" She giggled.
"Okay, so, air doesn't just feed the other elements." Harry suggested. "It enables them and even changes them, right?"
"Yes, that's true." She replied carefully. "Air can chill water for example."
"So it should be possible to combine my control over them and make other things happen... right?" Harry asked.
Draco said softly. "If air combines with fire it will heat the water."
Luna looked thoughtful as she nodded. "I suppose, for example, if you were in a battle and your opponent was above you, you could combine water and earth powers to summon a mudslide."
"What about lightning?" Harry asked.
"It's possible, Harry." Luna bit her lip. "Let's make it your unofficial homework to think about how that might be done. I think the first step would be to learn the individual elements before attempting to combine them."
"Thanks, Luna." Harry sighed but nodded his agreement before thanking Tom. "We go back to school tomorrow, Draco. I think we need to talk about some things before going back into that building while she's still in charge."
"Shall we adjourn to my room or yours?" Draco smirked.
"Blaise is with Ron and the others at Potter Grove. I think we should include everyone who's going back...so the parlour at my house?" Harry suggested.
Draco nodded but they were intercepted by Lucius as they walked toward the floo.
"Potter, I've received a letter from Langford's father." Lucius said.
"Oh, good." Harry nodded grimly. "I wasn't sure my letter was convincing enough."
"Well, it was." Lucius held out the parchment he was holding. "He has sent me pictures and a report from St. Mungo's. The boy will not be returning to Hogwarts unless Umbrage is taken down."
"One complaint probably isn't enough to get her kicked to the curb but if we can find evidence of other crimes...?" Harry suggested.
Lucius nodded. "I'll bring this to the rest of the school governors at the end of your first week back. If you find anything more to add, I'll be sure to bring it up as well."
Harry nodded and let Draco lead the way to the fireplace.
Dudley met them in the floo room at Potter Grove with the journal he shared with his mother. "I guess you were right, Harry." He said. "Mum just told me. They were potioned... but it didn't do much."
"What do you mean?" Draco asked because he could see Harry wasn't sure what to make of this.
"Well, it made them worse than they normally would've been to you but only a little. They would've let you share my room until we were old enough to have our own and you would still have gotten the smaller room but you wouldn't have lived in the cupboard all those years, Harry." Dudley confessed as he showed him the writing in the book. "Dad wouldn't have gotten physical - grabbing your arm and such. They would've clothed you properly instead of only giving you hand me downs. They would still have kept the knowledge of magic from you and locked away your books every summer."
Harry's expression darkened. "So the potions made their existing behaviour worse but it didn't create those behaviours."
Dudley nodded sadly. "You don't want to ever see them again, do you?"
"No." Harry said.
He remained quiet through tea and let Draco take charge of the meeting with his cousins while he brooded in the corner. When Sirius and Remus asked what was wrong, he told them to ask Dudley and retreated further, going so far as to hide in his room.
When the meeting was over, Draco silently let himself into Harry's room by way of the hidden passage. "How are you feeling?"
"Did Dudley tell my godfather?" Harry muttered.
"Yes." Draco nodded carefully.
"I truly hoped it was the potions." Harry sighed. "The fact that it wasn't just means I wasn't wanted. I don't really know if that makes it better or worse."
"You know, Harry, they may be your relatives but now you have a real family." Draco said softly.
Harry smiled slightly but it didn't show in his eyes. "What happened after I left?"
"We decided on a few things." Draco sighed, allowing his boyfriend to change the subject. "First, the elves will take our luggage directly to the suite so we don't have to deal with it, and second, the group will travel to the platform in three segments, lessening the danger slightly. Bill has promised to help his parents get home safely but he'll go over the plan before we all leave in the morning."
Harry nodded and opened his arms slightly to see what Draco would do.
The blond stepped into them and kissed his cheek. "The muggles might not want you, Harry, but we do..."
"We?" Harry murmured. "Which group are you talking about, Draco? Magicals... Malfoys ...Men?"
"Yes, yes, and yes..." Draco told him with a slightly amused wink. "But mostly, I just mean me... I want you."
Harry sighed softly, letting some of the tension drain away. "You do?"
Draco nodded. "I do."
"Okay." Harry relaxed into the soft bedding resolving to hold Draco as long as the blond would stay. Their cuddle session lasted for several hours before they took a break to eat dinner with the others.
The next morning went like clockwork. The luggage was packed and transported to Hogwarts before the elves even served breakfast. Dobby reported back that the suite had redesigned itself in their absence which slightly worried Harry but he decided to put off speculation until they arrived at the castle.
Bill stood at the end of the table once everyone had finished eating. "So, Remus will lead Zack and the twins through the Leaky Cauldron's floo and onto the platform."
"Lady Malfoy has hired a car to take my group," Charlie stepped up beside his brother. "That's Harry, Draco, Ron and Blaise, from the Potter townhouse to King's Cross Station."
"What about Ginny and Luna?" Harry wanted to know.
"Sirius and Percy will be apparating us directly to the station." Luna smiled serenely.
"And we'll meet up with Fred, George and Zack to secure a carriage." Ginny completed the plan.
"Use the mirror as soon as you're safely at the castle." Sirius told Harry, giving him a stern look. When he nodded, Sirius looked at the others. "We need to get moving."
They separated into their groups and began the journey.
"The other groups have fairly straightforward methods of travel. We are going to be stealthy." Charlie said as he led his group to the floo-room. "For instance, the car is actually meeting us at the Malfoy townhouse, not the Potter's. It's closer to the station and in the opposite direction so nobody should be expecting it."
Draco took the lead as they exited the Malfoy townhouse and met the car out front.
When they arrived at King's Cross, the driver got out first and looked around before signalling to Charlie, who exited the other side of the car and led the others into the station through the front doors.
The platform was crowded and Remus' group converged with Charlie's just inside the barrier between the muggle and magical platforms. Ron waved Neville over but when he started walking toward them, so did several other people.
Harry scanned the crowd as they started mingling and noticed several familiar faces in his line of sight but none of them seemed hostile so he dismissed them. That's when he noticed that Draco was no longer holding his hand. He froze and turned in a tight circle to look for him.
The scene seemed to play out in slow motion - Zack was still speaking with Remus. Fred and George had been flagged down by some of their fellow Gryffindor quidditch players.
Blaise and Ron were boarding the carriage where Ginny was waving through the window, but Luna's worried expression as she faced the end of the train caused Harry to call Draco's name and attempt to reach that spot as quickly as possible.
Sirius grabbed his godson and held him back. "No, Harry, he's fine! Charlie has him! Get on the train!"
Draco looked around as the crowd closed in on them. His hand slipped out of Harry's hold just as someone cut in front of him and suddenly his arm was snagged by a meaty hand that pulled him to the side. A flash of blue light obscured his vision before a new set of hands hit his shoulder blades, turning him around and jostling him into an oncoming group of students. He heard Harry yell his name as he fell against the train, hitting his head and barely catching the railing in time to hold himself above the rails. He fought the new hands that grabbed him until he heard Charlie's voice in his ear.
"Draco! Draco, it's me." The older man hurried to reassure him as he pulled the Malfoy heir out of harm's way. "I've got you!"
Draco shook as he felt the ground become stable beneath his feet. "I can't see!"
"I'll ride with you to Hogsmeade and try to fix that." Charlie told him quietly. "Let's get you on board. Harry's frantic."
"Ok... but don't carry me." Draco knew he couldn't show weakness but the worry in his betrothed's voice comforted him as much as his embrace when he was carefully led into the carriage.