Disclaimer; Not mine blah blah blah
A/N: WARNING there is very graphic and quite disturbing violence at the end of this chp don't read if you get upset easily it WILL scare you it IS worse then the other scenes in the previous chpts. For the cliffnotes important bits there is an AN at the bottom so if you don't want to read it skip the flashback bit!
Chapter 44
Harry followed Outkast out of the room a few moments later while Sirius was busy being greeted by other members of the Order and the like. Harry wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged her for a long time before breaking away to speak.
"I don't think that I will ever be able to thank you, I don't even know what I can say that will come close" Outkast smiled at him, and kissed his forehead.
"You can live. If you want to thank me, then all you have to do is live and be happy" she said before walking back into the living room, the others had started handing out presents, this didn't really include Sirius as no one thought he would be there, so he was sitting in a stunned silence trying to take in that not only had he got his life back, but he was a free man. At that moment Remus Lupin walked into the room, he was quiet trying not to bring attention to himself. He failed when he dropped the box of presents he had been carrying and stood staring at Sirius.
"This can't be real" Remus whispered not taking his eyes off Sirius, Sirius met his gaze
"I'm as real as you are" he said but was somewhat distant, he wanted to greet his old friend warmly but couldn't forget what had happened to Harry. Remus moved to stand next to Sirius; he had the intention of giving him a hug but the look on Sirius' face stopped him. Harry choose that moment to reappear, he glanced at the new pile of presents before looking at Sirius, when he spotted Remus his grin slipped from his face. Those who were looking (that being the entire room) could literally see his defences go up, Harry wrapped his arms around his chest.
"Merry Christmas Remus" He said meekly before going over to the pile of gifts that had been stacking up that week and retrieving a small rectangle covered in gold paper. He offered it to Remus at arms length, his hand trembling slightly. Remus reached for the present as he took it Harry let go quickly as though he had been burnt. Three sets of eyes were watching the exchange carefully, Sirius was seething with anger but didn't know who to be angry with, Severus who was one step away from hexing the werewolf to heel and beyond, and Outkast who had quietly come back into the room and was watching the exchange whilst picking Severus pocket and removing his wand without him noticing. Remus unwrapped the gift; inside was a ornate golden frame with a picture that had been taken two summers ago. The pictures showed Harry, Ron and Hermione climbing over him and Sirius trying to retrieve the chocolate frogs that the Marauders had taken, everyone was smiling in it, especially when he'd managed to pin Harry on his lap whilst Sirius tickled him mercilessly. He smiled at the memory
"Thank you" He said quietly, wishing he could go back in time. Harry nodded but was back on the other side of the room standing between Outkast and Severus. Outkast bent down to whisper in his ear;
"You know he would appreciate a hug more" she said barely loud enough for Harry to hear. Harry froze but then forced himself to take a calming breath Come on he thought
to himself you're in a crowed room, you're safe besides Remus wouldn't hurt you he wasn't in control that day. After the mental bashing he gave himself Harry slowly walked over to his Godfather and Remus, he shakily put his arms around the werewolf, who responded immediately, pulling Harry closer. Harry froze again, when Remus felt the boy tense up he loosened his grip. Harry dropped his arms so Remus followed suit not wanting to scare him any more
"Thank you" he said with more emotion this time, he realised that he had been forgiven even if Harry couldn't forget.
As he saw Harry freeze Severus reached for his wand only to find it missing he looked up to see Outkast twirling it round her fingers she gave him a look that undoubtedly said leave it alone. He glared at her but she was most definitely immune and just glared back. As Harry broke away he was relieved to see that Remus had let him go, but as pained as he was to admit it he was also glad that Sirius had also drawn a wand, although it wasn't pointing at the werewolf the threat was clear. Remus saw it too and he was hurt that his long time would think something bad of him. He guessed he needed to make it up to more then just Harry. At that moment the fireplace roared into action, making everyone jump. The new arrival had everyone on their feet and pointing their wands. Lucius Malfoy appeared, his normal pristine condition forgotten, he was shirtless and carrying a bundle of blankets. He looked at the welcoming party for a somewhat not hostile face; he came to rest on Harry and Severus.
"Help him" he gasped before passing out. Harry and Sev went over to the fallen death eater, Harry gasped when he saw what was in the blankets, Draco's face poked out he was unconscious and the tell tale signs of torture were beginning to show.
sssss
Harry and Severus looked at each other and then around the room, most people still have their wands out looking stunned
"How'd he get here?" Ron asked looking pale
"I think that's something to ask the secret keeper don't you?" Severus snarled at he began to check Lucius over. He conjured two stretchers and hovered the unconscious bodies onto them; Harry never took his eyes from Draco and walked out of the room with him. Everyone watched him confused, so much so that no one saw the look of realisation on Hermione's face nor did they see that look turn to shock.
"Are you all going to stand there or is someone going to call the man who pretends to know what's going on?" Outkast said sharply not too happy with the two important men in her life wondering off with death eaters- albeit helpless ones. Remus shook himself from his stupor and placed the fire call to Hogwarts.
ssss
Upstairs Severus was barking orders at Harry, while the young Gryffindor did his best to provide his father with the potions that had been requested, both Draco and Lucius were in a bad way. Lucius seemed to be in shock from prolonged exposure to a variety of curse predominately the Cruciatus, whereas Draco was covered in welts, bruises and gashes as well as being unconscious. After half an hour they had stabilised the condition of both Malfoy's, Poppy had arrived and had tried to relieve Harry but he just issued her with a glare and sat beside Draco, if anyone thought it was odd they didn't mention it. An hour after their impromptu arrival Lucius regained consciousness; he gave a moan that alerted the other members of the room to his condition. Severus and Poppy sat him up and got him to drink something whilst Harry went to get the others.
"Where's Draco" was the first thing the injured Slytherin croaked Severus indicated to a bed behind him
"He's right there, and stable he's going to be a bit sore for a while but he'll live. Can you kindly inform us what happened and how the hell did you find your way here" the Malfoy smirk can back full force
"In reverse order dear Severus I know about this place because I am probably one of the least known members of the Order and secondly, what happened was his Royal Highness the king of Snakedom found out" Severus was about to ask more when Harry and the rest of the household traipsed in. Lucius who had just taken a sip of water chocked in a spectacular style when he saw Sirius. Sirius looked at Remus and then to Harry
"I seem to be having that effect a lot" he commented dryly Harry nodded, but didn't respond whilst Severus smirked at this undignified act form the normally gracefully man. At that moment Albus made his presence known
"Ah Lucius, I'm glad to see you recovering you were found out I take it? Tell me where is you wife?" Lucius paled
"She's dead, so is Selina" he said, grief now apparent, the twinkle in the old man's eye died
"I'm so sorry my poor boy. Can you tell us what happened" Lucius sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He nodded slowly
Flashback
"Thank you dad it's brilliant" Draco smiled as he looked over his new broom, an Ice-Breaker supposedly faster then the Firebolt of his rival slash boyfriend. Lucius inclined his head and smiled over the top of his whiskey glass at his son. Draco was beaming, he had a feeling that this was the happiest he'd seen his son for a long time. He would like to put it down to the family all together for once, but he had a feeling that was more to it then that.
"WOW Dray, you must have looked everywhere for this!" Selina squealed in an undignified fashion, before pouncing on Draco and knocking him to the floor in a bear hug. Narcissa walked in and laughed a the antics of her kids before settling onto her husband's lap
"We're lucky with them. I love days like this" she kissed his cheek Lucius smiled he
looked from his children to his wife, maybe for one day we can forget that we are on opposite sides in this war. Almost as soon as the thought had crossed his mind the alarm sounded. The family blinked in surprise. There was only one person who had the audacity to encroach on a Malfoy Christmas. Suddenly the door burst open; he stormed in like a whirlwind, his cloak casting a huge sail behind him. He snarled at the family
"Well if it isn't my most loyal family" he snarled, he pulled his wand before they had a chance to react and pointed it a Narcissa
"Avada Kedavra!" she didn't have time to react, before falling dead on her husband. It took a mere moment for the survivors to recover and draw their wands but it was too late, the Dark Lord cast another spell and their wands were ripped from them. He snarled at them, Draco tried not to show the grief he so obviously felt or his mother. He uttered a charm and both Selina and Lucius found themselves chained to the wall. Voldemort turned to the youngest Malfoy
"Well Draco either your father or you sssssissssster is a traitor, which one isssss it?" Draco remained silent, and was rewarded by a Cruciatus he bit his lip to stop himself from screaming. The Dark Lord laughed. Lucius was sickened but owning up would only sign all their death warrents, he had to think of a way to get his children out of here, he had his emergency portkey but had no idea how to get it to both Selina and Draco. The Dark Lord let Draco up. To his credit he had not made a sound and just glared angrily at the snake-like beast with red eyes. The man advanced on the young Slytherin but Draco held his ground, he didn't even whimper as the blow caught him across his face
"LEAVE HIM ALONE" Selina screamed from her bounds "He's just a boy" she had tears running down her face, Voldemort just laughed and continued to kick and punch the now unconscious Draco. She made up her mind no matter what he believed it was still her little brother getting beaten to death. In a final act of humiliation Voldemort used a spell to divulge Draco of his clothing before conjuring a whip. He bought it down again and again in the blondes back causing a slight flinch, indicating that Draco was awake, but the Dark Lord hadn't notice. Selina glanced at her father, knowing he was the cause of this but her eyes held no malice, she mouthed 'I love you' at him and before he could stop her she addressed Voldemort
"It was me you snake faced git, betcha didn't see that coming, honestly 'all seeing' my ass I know tapeworms with a better perspective" Selina had that cocky look in her eye, she may be going down but in the process she hoped to save her beloved brother. Voldermort stalked over to her snarling
"You little bitch, I'll teach you for betraying the greatesssst wizard of all time" Selina rolled her eyes
"Yeah so great he can't even kill a little boy" she spat in his face, causing he to scream in rage
"Discerpere" a blue shot from his wand engulfed the lithe form, she screamed as her limbs were ripped off her body, Lucius shut his eyes he couldn't bare to watch as his little girl was torn apart, and then is was over. Selina's arms still hung from the walls, he legs from the manacles but her body was on the floor. Lucius chocked on his sob but it was enough to draw the wrath of the psychotic. Voldemort grinned at him
"Avada…. No I have a better plan dear Luciussss I will leave you to watch your son bleed to death, without knowing who he issssss I forgot the joyssssss of prolonged Cruciatussssss for far too long now" He smirked evilly.
"CRUCIO!" he shouted, gleefully watching the elder Malfoy twisting and straining to get away from the searing pain, he laughed as he begun to scream, the noise was bloodcurdling but in his glee the Dark Lord did not see the youngest member of the household get up shakily, Draco limped over to where there wands had been cast aside and turned his wand of the greatest present evil
"Petrificus Totalus" he yelled. The wizard hit the floor his eyes looking wild as he fought the spell. Draco knew he didn't have long; the spell would be broken soon. He got to his father and pulled his shirt apart in his desperate search for the portkey pendent he heard the shuffling behind him, telling him that the ark Lord was almost free, his fingers clasped the pendent, and he broke the chain and pressed the dragon pendent between his father's palm and his own.
"Pheonix" Lucius gasped just as the dark Lord broke free, Draco felt the tug on his navel just as he heard the killing curse being screamed. They arrived in the abandon Malfoy Mansion in Devon. Draco collapsed on the floor, Lucius scrambled to wrap him in blankets and find a piece of parchment.
"Draco you can't sleep yet please you must read this" he thrusted the parchment in front of his son, Draco recognised his Headmaster's scrawl and made a concerted effort to read it. He nodded when he had before falling unconscious. Lucius scooped him up and stumbled into the fire place, then only thing driving him was the thought of keeping his remaining child safe.
"12 Grimmauld Place" he shouted without ever turning back, he left all possession the only thing that matter was his son.
End Flashback
Shocked faces stared at Lucius as he finished his story Outkast had been listening but wasn't all that convinced, although she had just realised it was not Lucuis' magical signature she had detected on Remus that day, by a process of elimination she had decided it to be Selina's but this man had tortured and killed, a small voice in the back of her head reminded her that Sev had too, but as always she hit that voice until it was quiet again. It was that moment that Draco decided to return to the land of the living, he groaned loudly. Harry rushed to his side; Draco blinked a couple of times before focusing.
"Harry? I guess we made then" He whispered he reached for Harry's hand. Harry took is and brushed the blond locks with the other
"Shhh now you need rest" he said quietly completely forgetting about the large audience. Harry bent down and kissed Draco lightly once, Draco smiled weakly
"Stay with me?" Harry nodded
"Always" Draco's eyes fluttered shut. Severus coughed, gaining his son's attention. Harry spun round and gulped Severus raised an eyebrow, Sirius was doing an impression of a fish and the rest of the room was stunned, with the exception of Hermione who looked like she had just received proof of a theory and was satisfied
"Harry I think you might have forgotten to tell us something" Severus drawled. Harry swallowed hard.
"Err yeah. Err maybe, well you seei'mgay" he said in a rush
"You don't say" was the only reply.
sssss
AN; ok the only things you need to know about the flashback; Voldemort stormed in on the Malfoy Christmas after discovering there was a Malfoy spy and killed Narcissa, Selina died to protect Draco, who managed to activate a portkey and get him and his father to safety.
AN; thanks for all the reviews and as for the squeal…. Well I may scrap the idea as I'm bored with this story (you see I know what happens!) or I might well write three alternates and you can choose which one you want, although I can't guarantee they will be any good. It depends on if I have time
Thanks again you guys rock sorry it's so short I had writer's block for agggges!
Oh and
Discerpere Dismember! (nice!)