I've fixed a few minor things in this story and toned Harry's power down a bit. Hopefully now that I think I have things figured out it won't give me as many problems. This story will also be leaning towards light slash later on.

ShadeDancer

Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own Harry Potter, I just like to write my own version of it.

Chapter 5: S'mores, Wishes, and Letters

Dumbledore burst into the room along with McGonagall and Snape just in time to see and hear the charmed letter go off. The old man shook his head sadly.

"I am sorry Harry but the wards never stood a chance without the blood magic being reinforced by your return to the house. Order members are securing the area now; as the last living member of the household you will be required to go to number 4 Privet Drive to give statements and see if anything is salvageable, though I fear it will not be much. Your cover story is that you were staying at Mrs. Figg's and caring for her while she was ill but that you were woken by the sound of sirens and came to see what was going on."

A burning feather appearing out of nowhere in the air spurred everyone into action. Moving faster than an old man should be capable of Dumbledore snatched the feather out of the air and pressed it into Harry's hand before he could protest, McGonagall and Snape grabbing on at the last second in order to hitch a ride. It took a lot of Harry's willpower not to change the magical structure of the portkey to make the whirling ride smoother and more agreeable to his stomach. He hated portkeys, mainly because they could force you to go where you did not wish and the whole journey was rough and faintly nauseating. Yet familiarity with this form of travel enabled Harry to land with a stumbling grace, just managing not to fall as he had the first few times he had been jerked around by the hook-like sensation behind his navel that took him from one place to another.

They had landed outside of Mrs. Figg's house and even from that distance they could see the leaping flames as the acrid smell of fire filled Harry's mouth, nose, and lungs with hotly burning ash. For a moment guilt threatened to rush up, not because the Dursley's were dead due to the fact that Voldemort was targeting him, but because he was glad they were. Morbid curiosity spurred him on then and he ran towards the house he had reluctantly stayed at as a child, Professor Snape hurrying to follow him on Dumbledore's command while the Headmaster and McGonagall stayed to talk to some of the gathered Order members.

Harry was abruptly stopped at the edge of a police barricade where he was told he couldn't go any further.

"They're my relatives" Harry had injected a wild note that encroached on panic into his voice "I live here."

The officer turned away to call to his superior and then let Harry through the barricade with a terse "I'm to let you in since we will need to talk to you later, but don't get too close to the fire kid."

Harry slipped through and went to stand upon the front lawn near the end of the driveway, the heat of the flames rushing across his flesh with a tingling burn. He could see the darkened bodies of his relatives lying out in the grass; it had been too late for rescue personnel to save their lives, but they had managed to preserve the charred remains. Firefighters were spraying water on the burning house, but the blaze did not want to seem to abate as the flames continued to dance upon the breeze that wafted the scent of burned flesh towards the bystanders. The whole atmosphere reminded him of the time when he was little and had slightly burnt the roast that was to be his relatives dinner. Uncle Vernon had been so mad and had beaten him severely before locking him in his cupboard.

"I know you didn't like them and they treated you horribly, but I'm sorry."

Professor Snape was at his side now, a comforting hand resting on his shoulder. It wasn't a gesture many would think of synonymously with Snape, but they had come to understand each other over this summer and were perhaps close to becoming friends. The Professor had also dared address some of the memories he had extracted from Harry's mind from the ill-fated Occlumency lessons during fifth year. He had told Harry that he had been wrong to ignore them at the time and had come to admit that Harry's childhood hadn't been the pampered existence he had expected, a fact that had eradicated any remaining dislike Snape might have held for Harry no matter how deeply suppressed it might have been. Harry had seen no point of telling his professor that he had allowed his mental defenses to seem weak so that those memories would get through during their lessons, such an admission could have perhaps ruined the understanding they had worked so hard to gain.

Harry's tone was devoid of all emotions as he softly spoke into the night, some perverse demon inside prodding the words free.

"Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust. The Dursley's are burning and s'mores are a must."

Snape's hand tightened on Harry's shoulder at the words, perhaps he knew what s'mores were or thought it to be some muggle prayer, and the house collapsed upon itself in a pleasing shower of sparks. Only then did Harry reached out with his mind to remove the enchantments the Death Eaters had put on the fire to keep it burning strong, allowing the firefighters to finally begin to subdue the raging blaze. The main magical signature had belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange. At least it hadn't been Lucius who had been forced to carry out this task. Not that Lucius wouldn't mind torturing the Dursley's after the way they had treated him, but killing them in such a manner as this would have been another matter entirely. He did not wish for Lucius to have more deaths upon his conscious.

Only when the blaze was finally put out did someone approach Harry and begin to question him. Harry was asked to establish his relationship with the members of the household and his whereabouts during the evening when the fire had started. When hearing that he had been staying with the 'sick' Mrs. Figg who lived a few streets over an officer was immediately dispatched over; he reported back that the woman was indeed ill and Harry had been staying there for the past few days in order to take care of her. The questions seemed endless but Harry answered them all as honestly as he could, it was tempting though to answer that he was enrolled at St. Brutus' Center for Incurably Criminal Boys when the officer asked him where he went to school at. Unfortunately he knew it would make him a suspect and he wasn't about to give his relatives any sort of post-humus satisfaction so he answered that he attended Hogwarts School for Gifted Teens. It was the cover story for all the muggleborns who went to Hogwarts and Harry figured it was the best one for him to use. Then Harry was shown to the bodies and asked to identify them before being left alone with them to say his good-byes. As he bent over the charred remains, only distinguishable by size, he could hear his interrogating officer being obliviated behind him and knew it was Snape. But that didn't seem to matter to him as his attention had been caught by a sparkling pendant around his aunt's neck, a pendant the fire had not touched. He had never seen her wear it before and highly doubted she would have ever owned a pendant that was a serpent wrapped around a sword clasped in a phoenix's talons. He reached forward and at his touch the necklace unclasped itself and fell into his hand.

"That was Lily's" professor Snape spoke from behind him "it must have been what Albus used as a focus for the warding. It's time for us to go; I'm to apparate with you back to Hogwarts. Double apparition feels awful but the Headmaster insists that this will be more discreet than making an illegal portkey without the wards of Hogwarts to hide the magic. Focus on me or the gates of Hogwarts."

The rushing sound of air filled Harry's ears as he focused his consciousness fully on the professor who he was currently pressed tightly against to minimize the chance of splinching. There was a moment of wrenching blackness during which Harry felt like he was going to puke up his guts and then he found himself staring at the gates of Hogwarts, Severus still holding onto him to steady him as dawn approached. It was a new day in which Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived, was an orphan. He had no living relatives and no legal guardian, yet he knew he would not be allowed to emancipate himself as most in his position would. A guardian would be found for him and a great amount of the wizarding world would be clamoring to fill the role once they found out about his situation. Harry couldn't wait to see the headlines in the Daily Prophet for he had no doubt that his plight was already known.

… … … … …

Indeed the Daily Prophet was having a field day the next morning when Harry received his copy of the paper. The headlines shouted 'Murdered: Relatives of Boy-Who-Lived!' They rehashed the whole story of his life in the article, or at least what was publicly known about it, and in the picture the Dark Mark hovered over a burning house. It was the first open move that Voldemort had made since making his presence known in the Department of Mysteries and people were going to be frightened. By lunch time the owls were pouring in with some going to Dumbledore and some to Harry. Many were offers of adoption or guardianship while others expressed their joy that he was still alive. A few were even nasty saying that he should have done the decent thing and died with his relatives in the fire. After that his letters were being screen by the professor's for hints of dark magic. With all the confusion the teachers were too busy to screen Harry's outgoing mail and he managed to sit down and write a letter of his own, sending it off with one of the more decrepit school owls that no one would miss if it did not return.

Naturally the Weasley's arrived en masses with Hermione in tow just to compound the situation when all Harry had wanted to do was return to his room and see what his friends were writing to him in the communications book. Instead he was being crushed in a motherly hug by Mrs. Weasley before being swept away by the twins who pumped his arm jovially. Percy thankfully was absent and Mr. Weasley only nodded a greeting before turning to talk to Dumbledore with his wife. Bill and Charlie pulled Harry into a brotherly hug, leaving Ron to pat his arm awkwardly. Then before he could prepare himself he was dealing with the two over emotional girls who were sobbing about how they had been so worried about him when they heard the news, and they kept asking him over and over again if he was alright. Harry finally disentangled himself from them just as an owl dropped off yet another letter for him while Mrs. Weasley could be heard saying that they wanted to adopt Harry and that he had been a part of their family for years. But Harry wasn't paying any attention to this; he had turned his head sharply to the doors of the Great Hall that had just swung open. The letter in his hand simply read:

Put on your Slytherin colors, your wish has been granted.

"That will not be necessary Molly Weasley for Mr. Potter has already been adopted."

Lucius' silky voice cut across the hall and drew everyone's attention to where he stood proudly with Narcissa and Draco. Dumbledore moved out in front so that he was facing the Malfoy's clearly.

"I think you need to explain yourself Lucius" Dumbledore's voice was calm and collected.

"It's not that hard of a concept Albus" Lucius was clearly enjoying himself "Mr. Potter has already been adopted so the Weasley's request will not be necessary. I have brought the paperwork by."

The two men met each other in the middle and Dumbledore began to read through the lengthy paperwork. It was an upset Molly who finally broke the silence that had only been punctuated before that by the rustle of parchment.

"Who adopted Harry?"

"Patience Molly" Albus said holding up a hand "I have not yet gotten that far. If you would give me a moment?"

"No need Albus" Lucius broke in again, his eyes fixed on Harry who had remained where he was throughout the whole exchange with his green eyes dancing in veiled happiness "I can inform them of who had adopted Mr. Potter. My wife and I have."

If wizards were in possession of muggle bombs someone would have said a bombshell had just been dropped in the Great Hall. Gasps were heard as well as vehement protests from the many red-headed children and Molly Weasley. Harry though said nothing and Dumbledore's only visible reaction was the tightening of his hands around the adoption documents.

"It can't be" Ron burst out into the silence that had once again fallen over everyone after the initial protests "no one could be stupid enough to let the Malfoy's adopt Harry. They're Death Eaters, they'll hand him over to you-know-who the first chance they get. I bet the only reason Malfoy isn't in Azkaban right now is because of his money."

Now it was Draco's turn to take offense.

"Be quiet Weasley. We do not support Voldemort and anyone with half a brain will realize that Harry being adopted by the Malfoy family is for the best. It's not like your family could decently support him and take care of his needs."

Further argument was forestalled by Dumbledore.

"You are aware that according to the law if a witch or wizard is of the age of thirteen or older than they must give their consent to an adoption in the case that there is no living relative or legal guardian available to sign for them. I think it is time that we allow Harry to speak for himself."

The old man looked smug, the twinkle back in his eyes now that he thought that he had won and Harry snorted at the thought of how if anyone Dumbledore approved of tried to adopt him then he wouldn't have been given a choice. The look told him everything, Dumbledore did not think that Harry would accept the Malfoy's offer of adoption and he could once again go back to controlling the life of the boy-who-lived. Harry walked towards the group consisting of the Malfoy's and the Headmaster, all the while anticipating the uproar that was going to sweep through the hall.

"My wish has been granted."

"You can't be serious mate" Ron cried out futilely once the implications of the phrase had sunk in, but Harry didn't care because Narcissa had forgotten all of the pureblooded propriety she had been raised to observe and had swept him up in a gentle hug.

When Harry turned around there was surprise written on every face and a few even held looks of betrayal, but Harry stood firm with the family he had long considered his own and could now openly be a part of.

"Why?"

It was a simple yet convoluted question that Dumbledore wished answered and Harry knew that his response would tell whether those in the Hall at that moment in time would still consider him a friend and ally, or if he would become someone who wasn't to be trusted and had to be watched. Draco had moved to stand beside him and Lucius and Narcissa rested loving hands on his shoulder as they stood behind him, supporting him as a family should. Harry bowed his head briefly, as memories overtook him.

Flashback

"Get in your cupboard you little freak" Vernon Dursley hollered, delivering yet another blow to the small child.

Barely able to see through the blood coating his face Harry stumbled blindly towards the cupboard just as a resounding boom sounded behind him. Unable to see what that sound had been Harry curled himself into a ball, flinching as hands reached out to touch him.

End Flashback

"When you placed me with the Dursley's you did so in hopes that I would be shielded until it was time to come to Hogwarts, but there were many determined to find me and some actually had the means to do so. The Malfoy's found me first and, contrary to popular belief, they are not a family of Death Eaters. If not for them coming one day to meet me I would be dead by now. They took me home with them and healed me. Draco and I became friends, brothers, and Lucius and Narcissa were the parents I no longer had. I was at Malfoy Manor more often then my relatives as I grew up. Then we came to Hogwarts and I had to pretend to loathe Draco and the other Slytherins because by dint of a Sorting they had been labeled evil and I was a beacon of hope in the wizarding world. Yet they were there for me when others weren't and they love me for myself, not for being the boy-who-lived. Draco and some of the other Slytherins came to visit me when my own best friends wouldn't. I know how hard Mrs. Weasley tried to get me every summer, but Ron and Hermione would only write, they wouldn't even try and visit me. They couldn't understand. I don't wish to hurt anyone here, but I've been wishing for the Malfoy's to adopt me for years; they've wanted to but have only been able to now that the Dursley's are gone."

Harry's words lay heavily on everyone's minds and the only one that still felt truly betrayed at the end of the speech was Ron, but the red-head could only glower at Harry thanks to his twin brothers having silenced him a few minutes ago. Dumbledore looked to have aged greatly as well.

"I am sorry my boy. I didn't realize. I had never thought that your relatives would not accept you and when the blood magic took hold—there is no excuse for what happened and if this is what you want I will not contest the adoption."

"I think this calls for a celebration" Professor Flitwick announced in his excitable voice and surprisingly Professor Snape concurred.

… … … … …

Meanwhile a skeletal figure sat brooding on a stark throne in an echoing, bloodstained hall of dark marble. Shuddering from the chill of the room, or more likely cringing in fear, was Wormtail cowering on the floor in his place at his master's feet. He did not like the look on the Dark Lord's face, it did not bode well for anyone and currently he was the only one around for the master to vent his rage on. They had attacked the home of Harry Potter's relatives that day, hoping to give the boy his birthday present in person, but had found only the muggle's there. In a fit of rage the Dark Lord had turned the muggles over to Bellatrix, instructing her to kill them and destroy everything before he had apparated away. Unable to find the boy to kill him Voldemort had decided to send the hero of the wizarding world a letter informing Harry of his relatives demise, but even this slightly vindictive action had not satisfied Voldemort's need to hurt the Potter boy. Therefore Wormtail could not help but tense when his master, the Dark Lord Voldemort, screamed out the killing curse in a high pitched shriek. But death did not claim him and Wormtail looked up just in time to see a ragged owl falling as if in slow motion to the blood-crusted stone floor, losing it's grip on the letter it bore as it died nearly instantly.

"Wormtail" the cruelly impatient voice snapped "fetch the letter and bring it to me!"

Nearly pissing himself, Wormtail scurried to carry out his master's bidding and offered the letter up with shaking hands. Yet the ever paranoid Voldemort did not take the letter until after he had cast numerous spells on the folded parchment to make sure it hadn't been hexed or cursed. Finally satisfied Voldemort cracked open the unknown seal, hoping it was a missive from some fool hoping to form an alliance with him and join the ranks of the Death Eaters, only to be sorely disappointed. Rage entered the blood red eyes as they scanned the neatly penned letter:

Dear Tommy-boy,

I would like to thank you for my birthday present and would like to add that I could not have asked for a better sweet sixteen gift. You have saved me the trouble of killing them myself and allowed me to keep my light-oriented reputation intact. You cannot imagine how pleased I am, though I do wish you had told me there was to be a fire so I could have brought marshmallows along. S'mores would have tasted so good at the time. Thank you again for the birthday present, you must let me know when yours is so I can return the favor.

Harry James Potter, the boy-who-still-lives-to-annoy-you

P.S. Don't bother to send the owl back as I am sure you have already killed it in your paranoia, it was about to die anyhow and Hogwarts will not miss one old owl.

"Aaaarrrrggggghhhhhhh!" A scream of disbelief and unnatural rage ripped itself free from the throat of Voldemort and Wormtail whimpered, not even having a chance to realize his mistake in uttering a sound before the scream became something much worse.

"CRUCIO!" Voldemort shouted right after hitting the rat with a cutting curse, taking insane pleasure in watching Wormtail writhe in the pool of his own blood that was rapidly spilling across the floor in a grim parody of paint.

Repost: April 13, 2005