Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognisably Harry Potter-ish
Note: Draconis is the property of one May El-Diablo aka Lady Mandara Snake (go read her stuff it's good!)
Chapter 15
By the time they made it to the great hall they had consumed at least four bottles of wine and Severus was half dragging a rather drunk and giggling Harry they got to the door and Severus tried to get Harry to stand on his own two feet, it was a bit like balancing a puppet with no strings
"Harry you have to stand up"
"Why?"
"Because there are a lot of responsible adults in there who won't take kindly to your state as it is" Harry nodded then frowned
"How come your not drunk" he slurred Severus rolled his eyes
"I am, but not as drunk as you"
"Oh shoo I lost shen?"
"Yes you lost now stand up" Harry did try and with a great deal of effort stood up on
his own.
"Good now walk" Harry and Severus entered the great hall to a cheer of
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!" Molly Weasley had seem to put the mornings events behind her and had bought the entire family, Hermione was there as well as all the staff that were on site, and most of the Order, Harry looked at his father
"It'sh my birthday?"
"Yesh now act sober" Harry giggled
"you shaid yesh" Severus rolled his eyes. Hermione ran over and hugged Harry, Harry lost his balanced and they landed in a heap on the floor, Tonks giggled she was closest and had over heard Harry's and Severus's conversation" Hermione crawled off Harry
"I'm sorry are you alright" Harry rolled onto his front and tried to get to his knees, Severus sighed and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to his feet, Harry was still giggling
"Yes Hermione I am fine. How are you?" most of the room were now crowed round Severus and the Harry puppet, Minerva peered closely into Harry's eyes
"Have you been drinking"
"No" he said unconvincingly, he then lost his balance again and pulled Severus down with him. He looked but at Professor McGonagall
"Shaybe a little" Severus rolled his eyes and stood up
"The boy had a glash of wine with me early, he cant hold his drink" Harry giggled
"You said glash" Severus tried and failed to keep a smirk from his lips, Minerva moved to him
"How much have you two had"
"One or two…" Severus said Harry giggled
"Maybe three or four" Harry coughed managing with the help of the twins to stand.
"Three of four what?" Severus looked at Harry and felt the need to giggle
"Do you want to tell her?" His son shook his head and then wished he hadn't, he lost his balance, he would have gone over again if it weren't for the twins
"You chan" Severus looked back at Minerva
"Four bottles" her mouth hit the floor
"Four bottles FOUR BOTTLES you drank FOUR BOTTLES of wine with a student!!!" Severus couldn't help it he began to laugh, reactions in the hall ranged from horrified (Minerva and Molly) to outright hysterical laughing (most of the Weasley's and the order with the exception of Remus). Dumbledore calmed things down
"Now Minerva if Severus and Harry want to have a drink they are both of age and may do so"
"Besides it's his birthday" Fred announced, irritation ticked at McGonagall's jaw once more before she too started laughing
"Well we better get the birthday boy a seat"
"That would be mushed appreciated" Harry said as they moved into the hall. Harry sat at a space on the Gryffindor table Tonks came over to him;
"Hey Harry love the shirt it brings out your eyes…." She looked like she was going to say more but tripped over the bench and landed on the floor making everyone laugh
"And I'm supposed to be the drunk one" Harry said. Severus sat down by Harry
"You are drunk, she's just clumsy" most of the group sat on the Gryffindor table as there were too many to fit round the staff table, Hermione and the younger Weasley's looked a bit uncomfortable that Severus had taken the seat next to Harry but didn't say anything. Dumbledore clapped his hands and food appeared all long the table, he had an odd twinkle in his eye hey raised his glass
"Well it has been a difficult year for this young man, but I truly hope next will be better to Harry" every joined in the toast and raised their glasses. It was then that everyone realised what the old man had done, instead of containing pumpkin juice all the goblet were filled with a rich red wine
"Albus Dumbledore what do you think you are doing?" Minerva chastised in mock anger. Molly looked livid, but couldn't bring herself to stop her children from drinking and resigned herself to a house full of cranky teenagers in the morning. Harry enjoyed the feast, he'd never had a birthday party before and this had got to be one of the best. He sensed that there was some irony that by the end of the night he was more sober then the start while most people were more drunk, everyone was in small groups talking, Harry had taken up residence in the corner of the room just content to be on his own when Remus came over
"Harry can I have a quick word?" Harry nodded
"In private" Harry shrugged, he followed Remus outside the hall and into the nearest class room. Remus cast a silencing and locking spell on the door, Harry didn't like that, he tried to maintain a good distance from Remus. Remus looked at him,
"Harry I wanted to apologise for this morning, it was not my place do that" Harry nodded
"It's ok I know you thought you were doing the right thing, but honestly you didn't see me I was going to really get hurt if I was left" Remus nodded
"I know, I talked to Albus" Harry rolled his eyes "I know I know but I needed to be sure that was all. Friends?" Harry nodded. Remus smiled;
"Good" He went over to Harry and gave him a hug, Harry smiled in relief. Harry let go of Remus, but Remus just held him closer he ran his hand through Harry's hair
"You're very similar to James you know?" Harry swallowed heavily
"Yeah I've been told, look we better get before we're missed"
"Yes you're right" he said, but he didn't let go, he lowered his head and kissed the top of Harry's. Harry was more the a little worried
"Let go of me"
"Harry it's ok I'm going to hurt you" Harry struggled but couldn't get free he was panicking
"Please let me go!"
Severus was talking to Albus and Moody when he felt the ring get warm he look at it, it was dark grey,
"Excuse me" he said and stalked out the room in his normal fashion. Dumbledore and Moody followed him. In the corridor Severus followed the direction on the ring, he came to classroom, he broke the wards and barged in. Remus let go of Harry as he heard the door open, Harry stumbled to other side of the room before tripping over a chair and falling down, he was glaring at Lupin, Severus snarled and aimed his wand at Remus
"That will do Severus" Albus was behind him with Moody
"He's right, besides I think Harry might need you more" Severus looked at Harry for the first time since entering the room; he was in a ball in the corner not looking at anyone. Severus lowered his wand and went over to Harry.
"You ok?" Harry nodded,
"Can I go back to my room for a bit, I need some space" Severus nodded,
"Do you want someone to go with you?" Harry shoock his head
"Ok the passwords alchemy" Harry nodded, got up and left. He kept his face to the ground, not wanting Dumbledore or Moody to see him crying. He turned the corner and broke into a run. Severus looked over at Lupin
"Would you like to tell me what the hell you thought you were doing?"
"I just hugged him, he over reacted"
"Really? Why doesn't he when anyone else does then?" Severus snarled
"Severus, until you hear Harry's side of it, I suggest you give Remus the benefit of the doubt. I also think we should go back to the hall before our absence is noticed. From now on though Remus you are not to be alone with Harry at any time. Is that clear?"
"Yes Albus"
"Good. Shall we?" Begrudgingly Severus and Remus followed Albus and Moody back to the main hall. They entered to find things much as they left them, mush to their relief.
Harry didn't stop running until he came to the door of his father's quarters
"Alchemy" He gasped and the door swung open, he went straight to his room, Dranconis was still on his bed, he shed his robe and shirt and pulled the dagger from its sheath, he bought it down across his bicep he did it again and again, he switched hands and did the same to the other arm. He went into the bathroom taking off the rest of his clothes, he got into the shower turned the water full, he sat under the spray with his back on the wall and fought to control his breathing. The pain helped the water ran red as it spiralled down the drain, he watched it in wonder loving the colour, after all he was a Gryffindor, he was supposed to like red. Fifteen minuets later he shook himself out of it, he turned the shower of and got out he wrapped a towel around his waist. He went into his trunk and pulled out a roll bloody bandages, he made a note to clean them when term started and he could use magic. He wrapped them tightly around the fresh cuts before he got dressed. He pulled his clothes back on and looked at the bed, Draconis was also covered in blood, he quickly washed it off in the sink and dried it on a towel, he put it back in it's sheath and left the room.
"Excuse me sir, but do you know what happened to Harry?" Hermione had been nominated to ask as she was more likely to get an answer the headmaster looked at her
"Harry was a little tired and went to have a short nap, he'll be back soon" Hermione nodded and went back over to Ron, Ginny, Fred and George
"He said he was sleeping and will be back soon"
"Yeah right, by the way the barrelled out of here there's something up" Ron siad
"Something's up with whom?" Harry said as he joined them
"Never mind, we just asked what happened to you"
"Oh I was in my room" they nodded.
"So what have you guys been up to?" he continued
"Worrying about you idiot" George said as though it was obvious
"Oh right" Harry said turning red
"Harry, are you alright, I mean who took you? And where? And how did Snape find you? and where did you get that bruise on your face?" Ginny giggled
"Umm Hermione what was the first question again?" Hermione went red
"Sorry we were just worried" Harry took a deep breath
"I was taken by a death eater to a mansion they were going to hand me to Voldermort (collective shudder) but Snape found me because one of them came down and hit me and he followed, and he apparated to the Leaky cauldron" he looked at the faces staring him at shock and grinned.
"Could you say that again?" Fred said, "you're as bad as she is" Hermione glared
"Well that would explain the picture on the Prophet of you, Tonks, Kingsely, and Professors Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall" she said, Harry nodded
"I'm going to get some more food" he said and then headed over the Gryffindor table that was still laden in food; Moody came and stood next to him.
"You didn't have those when you left" he said in a low voice
"Have what?" Harry said not really paying attention, Moody growled
"Don't play dumb boy I can see everything" Harry sighed but kept his eyes on the food;
"Yeah well, no offence but it's not your concern"
"You're mutilating yourself; I think I should have a word with the professors don't
you?"
"No" Harry said calmly "they would just worry and there's no need, its not dangerous I know what I'm doing"
"If that was true you wouldn't be doing it" Harry sighed and decided he didn't care
"You know what go and tell them if you want it won't stop me I'll just get creative, at the moment they aren't anywhere dangerous" and with that he left and went back to his friends.
Ok Poll time: do you think Moody should tell anyone or not? Answer on an email the address on my profile! I'm interested in what you guys think! Oh and thanks for the great reviews!!!!!