Please Note: This fic's rating has been upgraded to M/R. ANs and Disclaimer are below.
""snaketalk"" Parseltongue
"Shut Up & Kiss Me"
by: imLittleLily
They spent the next two weeks working diligently on a formula for new wards at Privet Drive. Harry was becoming antsy because it seemed to be taking forever to formulate the perfect combination of charms, placement and the issue of whether to use a blood-ward or not.
Remus finally decided to combine one of Lily's wards with aspects of a newer one, created since her death, would create an ultimate performance ward.
"Remus, why can't we do this now, why wait?"
Remus shook his head. "Harry, it's because we still need these ingredients and one more artifact." He motioned to the list before him. "We'll need to communicate with your aunt at least one more time. Besides, your birthday is coming soon. I don't think we should risk you performing such powerful magic before then."
Harry growled under his breath as he ran his fingers through his hair ending with a pull. Pacing in front of the fireplace, he paused to look at the dent that was a blaring reminder of Kreacher. He hissed through his teeth, and raised his hand, running his fingers over the indentation. It vanished.
Remus' brow rose. "Harry, have you been practicing your wandless magic?"
He nodded. "It may come in handy, Remus. You never know when or if I could lose my wand. I've actually been thinking of getting another one."
Remus shook his head, biting his lip thoughtfully.
"Remus…"
"You misunderstand, Harry," Remus said. "I was actually remembering that James' wand should be in the Potter vault. Lily's was destroyed. I believe Albus took James' to the vault along with other personal items left in the cottage at Godric's Hollow. It may be an excellent backup wand for you, you know, a blood connection with him."
"I've never been to the family vault." Harry said, shaking his head. "The only vault I've visited is the trust mum and dad set up for me. What do you mean by a blood connection? Neville used his dad's wand and he did horribly with it." Harry stopped mid-stride in his pacing. "That's what we should do, anyway. Let's go tomorrow, okay?" He eyed Remus who was frowning and still chewing on his lip. This action was very unusual behavior for the normally very composed former professor. "Remus?"
Remus sighed. "Harry," he said very quietly, "your father…" he hesitated once more, studying him closely.
"Remus, what is it? You look as though you're facing your worst fear."
"I guess it's alright to tell you. The idea of the blood ward your mum created actually came from James." Remus inhaled deeply, and continued, "James' wand was treated with a drop of his and Lily's blood. After you were born—he added yours. That should make the wand compatible with your magical essence."
Silence filled the drawing room. The grandfather clock in the foyer ticked away the seconds.
Harry sat down on the sofa, breathing deeply. "Will that make it stronger, Remus?"
"Perhaps."
"You do know that my wand is the brother to Voldemort's, right?"
Remus nodded.
Harry hissed through his teeth. "We are going to Gringotts in the morning."
Remus nodded once more in agreement. He looked back at the formula lying on the desk for the ward they had decided on. "I'll have Tonks take a message to the delivery service tomorrow afternoon. We'll put Lily's wedding band in with it so that we'll have an arrival point.
"That sounds good. Do you need funds for the delivery?"
"No, we've got it covered. I don't want any possibility of the transaction being traced back to you. That's why Tonks is so good for this. No one will know who she is.
"Yeah," Harry said quietly as he pulled Draco out of his pocket. "Remus," Harry asked as he settled Draco on his leg, "have we heard from the attorneys yet?"
Remus smiled, reaching for a packet on the desk. "Yes, Harry, this just came a little while ago. It seems your Uncle Vernon tried to freeze your assets. He failed, of course. Robert Woodard, the youngest of the brothers, pointed out to the Wizengamot that such an action would be unprecedented and would pose a burden on his client." Remus finished off with a Marauder style smirk as he handed the parchments to Harry.
Harry snickered as he looked over the parchments. "Remus, what is this about Woodard not disclosing my location?"
"Attorney/client privilege, Harry. He actually doesn't know where you are." Remus shrugged. "It works to your advantage because Dursley cannot compel your presence at Number 4. I believe that's why Petunia warned you, recommending that you leave."
He nodded and yawned. "I'm going to go to bed, Remus. Goodnight." Harry stood, draping Draco over his shoulder; he gave a half smile to Remus and went up to his bedchamber.
Harry woke in the morning to Remus knocking on his door. With a soft hiss to Draco, he transfigured him into FireEater and then he whispered, "Evanesco," cleansing the air before answering the door. The weight of the heavy oak door swung away from the frame easily. Harry found himself looking into Remus' concerned eyes. Rubbing his own, he asked huskily, "What's wrong, Remus. You look like a mixture between anxious worry and subtle amusement."
Remus gave a vague shrug, his robe coming open slightly at the miniscule move. "I was just wondering if you were missing." With special emphasis on missing, he handed Harry the early edition of the Daily Prophet.
Still a bit groggy, Harry studied his former professor before dropping his gaze to the paper in his hand. Instantly, he was wide-awake. There he was, pictured in his Gryffindor Quidditch robes, clutching the golden snitch. Below the picture was large print.
Headline News!
Boy-Who-Lived Vanishes!
byline by: Pandora S. Attestar
Confidential sources have revealed to this reporter and seeker of truth, that the famous Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, has vanished without a trace. Friends and family of young Mr. Potter are in an unprecedented uproar over his disappearance.
Mr. Potter's uncle, Vernon Dursley, Muggle, filed a missing persons report two weeks ago according to the Surrey Reporter and London Times. How this fact has escaped the Ministry's Head of the Dept. of Magical Law Enforcement is anyone's guess.
"He just disappeared from our home." Mr. Dursley was quoted in the Muggle Surrey Reporter. "There has been no ransom demand or even any hints as to his whereabouts from friends who claim they have heard nothing since the gruesome appearance of the now famous images of Professor Severus Shape, Potions Master and former professor of the now closed Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. Those images were displayed throughout Diagon and Knockturn Alleys. (For an update on Professor Severus Snape's memorial and famous quotes, turn to page 17. Information regarding the closing of Hogwarts may be found on page 10.)
Attorneys for young Mr. Potter remain silent in regards to his location as they are faced with a monumental defense in Mr. Potter's name against the same uncle who has reported him missing. It seems that Mr. Vernon Dursley claims that since Mr. Potter was raised as a Muggle, Muggle law should apply to Mr. Potter's majority. Mr. Potter will become of legal wizard age on July 31, 1997.
Has Mr. Potter gone into hiding after the death of his venerated professor? Is the claim to two of the wealthiest wizard estates in the UK up for grabs? The Wizengamot remains just as silent on this issue as Woodard Bros., Esq., trustees of the Black and Potter estates, valued at an combined estimated value of 50,000,000 galleons. (See page 21 for more details on the hearing scheduled Aug. 12th.)
Harry stood in his bedroom doorway shaking his head, reading the article aloud.
Draco drawled when Harry finished, ""And yet again, the infamous Harry Potter makes the front page, early edition of the Daily Prophet.""
He made a derisive noise in his throat as contemptible annoyance flashed through him. "Remus, where do they get this information? Not only am I not missing, I've communicated quite regularly with Ron and the twins in the last two weeks. Anyone who really knows me would go to them for information."
"Harry," Remus said calmly. "You've experienced this before. They don't want to print the truth. Come down to breakfast and then we will go to Diagon Alley." Studying Harry closely, he added, "I believe a glamour charm is called for."
"Alright, Remus," Harry said. "I'll be down after I get dressed."
Remus took the newspaper from Harry with a vague nod. Turning, he walked down the hall to the stairs seeking breakfast.
Harry watched Remus as his head disappeared to the lower foyer. Once the hall was empty and quiet, he closed the door. A short incantation later, he turned to Draco who was stretched out on the bed watching him.
"Does this really surprise you?" Draco asked as he stretched languidly, eyeing Harry with a trace of lust in his silver eyes.
Harry pulled clean jeans out of his wardrobe. "No, I guess not. I was just hoping that I could face my summer and the things I need to do in relative obscurity. Maybe, I should take Remus' idea of a glamour charm further and really become missing." Harry pulled a tee shirt over his head frowning. "Tell me," he asked, popping his head through the neck of his green tee, "why has there been nothing about you on the front page?"
"Mother probably hasn't told anyone." Draco's sterling eyes seemed mesmerized by Harry's hands smoothing his tee shirt down. As if hypnotized, he continued, "She would see silence as a means of protecting me. She isn't as cold as some people think. She would do practically anything to see me safe. She made Sev swear an oath to protect me."
Harry tucked his tee shirt in, amused by Draco's attention until he said the last statement. Harry froze. "What do you mean?"
"Sev was bound by the Unbreakable Vow to my mother," Draco answered. "She made him swear upon death that he would protect me. That was why Bella was the first to start the cutting curse, leading to his death. She was their bonder." Draco's voice changed from one of sadness to determination. He was resolute—his aunt must die.
Harry felt as though his mind was on a spiraling vortex of anger. "That's why he did it then," he whispered.
"That and Dumbledore ordered it."
"What!"
"Harry, Dumbledore was dying," Draco said gently. "He didn't want me to be responsible for his death. I thought you had figured that out."
"I figured out that Dumbledore wanted Snape to kill him. I also figured out that Dumbledore was dying. I didn't realize he ordered Snape to do it. I even understand that he offered you protection from Voldemort—he always protected me, you know."
Draco studied Harry as he said, "I was always told it was because you were the Golden Boy. You know, famous because you took the Dark Lord down. I think I have come to realize that Dumbledore protected you because he saw it as probably one of the most important things he could do in his life. My father always told me that Dumbledore was a fool." Draco sighed. "I have really re-evaluated my father's opinions in the last year." Draco stared down at the Dark Mark that scarred his otherwise perfect skin.
He noticed, but didn't say anything; instead, he sat on the bed to put his shoes on. "I know what you mean," he replied. "That is, I really had to take in a lot of new things this past year myself. Even though I had come to terms with the fact that I'll one day have to kill Voldemort, finding the other Horcruxes makes it killing more than once. It is a soul—even if its part of an evil one."
"There's a book on Horcruxes in the Malfoy library. Too bad we can't get to it. It might even have something important in it. Didn't you say something about one of the Horcruxes being something of Slytherin's?"
"Yeah, I did," he replied. "We better go down now, Draco." Harry started to transfigure Draco, only to have him rise up from the bed and give him a thorough kiss. Their tongues danced in reunion as Harry moaned into his mouth. Pulling back, Harry whispered heatedly, "I can't go down looking snogged."
Draco smirked and passed his fingers over his swollen lips, he drawled, "Evanesco."
Harry felt a thrill go up his spine. In response, he pulled Draco's index finger into his mouth, sucking hard.
"Keep that up and you'll never make it to breakfast," Draco said as he inserted another finger for Harry to enjoy.
Moaning, Harry bit down playfully, and then pulled back with a moan of longing. ""Serpensortia. Fuck, Draco—I had to do it.""
""I know. Let's go.""
After much debate over breakfast about whether to use a glamour charm or not, Harry finally convinced Remus that a notice-me-not charm would be much better than going to Diagon Alley disguised as Tonks. Now, they were standing at the entrance to Diagon Alley, staring at a poster over the trash containers that graced the back alley behind the Leaky Cauldron—the portal to London's magical world.
Remus shook his head. "Looks like the work of the twins."
Harry snorted as he reached up and pulled the parchment from the wall. Written across the blue died parchment was words combined with flashing stars and lightening bolts. Shaking his head, Harry read with amusement….
Have You Seen This Young Man?
Desperately Seeking Harry Potter,
Aka: The Boy-Who-Lived
Where, oh where are you?
Harry, my boy….
Harry snorted once more when an image drawn to look like him, skulked across the page, ducking behind a friendly hippogriff. He folded the parchment and put it into his back pocket.
Remus arched a brow at him.
Grinning, Harry said, "Well, I may as well keep it for a souvenir."
Remus shook his head with a smile and tapped the bricks to open the brick wall.
Harry watched the bricks move and morph into the archway. Stepping through, he whispered, ""We're in.""
""What were you talking about saving for a souvenir?""
""Later."" He turned to Remus. "We're going to Gringott's first, right?"
Remus nodded as they passed by Eeylops Owl Emporium. "That's right." Remus left off Harry's name to be sure that no one would pick up on who he was speaking to. Several people gave him a strange looks.
Harry smirked. Passing Flourish & Blott's, he whispered, "Remus, we need to get some parchment on the way back. Another thing, how will the goblins know I am with you?"
Remus wagged his brows.
"Remus?"
""What?"" Draco wanted to know.
Remus paused to look into a shop window. Watching where Harry should have been reflected, he said, "Tonks tweaked the spell, Harry. The goblins will not be affected by the notice-me-not charm."
Harry's brows rose as he hissed, "Kewl."
"Harry?"
"It's just slang, Remus. A new internet thing. I saw an instant message that D. got once. He's the one who told me what kewl is. I thought it was interesting because of the inflection when I say it—kewl."
By now, they had arrived at the front doors of Gringotts. Remus opened the door, entering with Harry close behind him.
Harry and Remus approached a goblin on the left side of the bank. The witch in front of them, turned, gasped at the sight of Remus, and fled.
The goblin on the other side of the counter arched his brows, and then gazed at Harry. "Good afternoon. May I help you?"
Harry handed his key to the goblin. "Yes, thank you. I'd like to see the Potter vault today."
The goblin nodded and turned to another goblin whose back was to Harry. "Griphook, take this gentleman to vault number nine." He handed Harry's key to Griphook.
Griphook looked at Harry closely. "Follow me," he said with a nasally voice.
Harry nodded after giving Remus a look. "Come on, Remus. You're coming down with me."
Draco spoke up from Harry's pocket, ""Did he say vault number nine? That's one of the oldest vaults in Gringotts."" Draco didn't seem to really expect an answer since they were in the presence of goblins.
Harry whispered softly, ""Ssshhh."" He pulled the sound out in an effort to make it seem as though he was simply breathing out between his teeth.
Griphook either ignored him, or thought nothing of the strange noise coming from him.
"Harry," Remus said hesitantly, "are you sure you want me to come with you?"
Harry rolled his eyes at Remus. "Come on, Remus. I can't believe you would even ask me that."
The journey down through the tunnels was just as exciting as his previous trips. This trip however, took them deeper than he had ever been. Finally, they arrived before massive wooden double doors carved with phoenixes and flames. Harry pulled in a deep breath as he stepped from the cart. The flames of the four torches around them flickered, giving the impression that the carvings were moving. Watching the effect of glimmering light, Harry let his breath out slowly.
Griphook nodded at him as he approached the door with Harry's key. "We will use the key," he said. "However, there is also a password." He turned to Harry, arching his goblin brow in inquiry.
Harry inhaled sharply, the scent of torch oil burned his senses—he had no idea what the password could possibly be. A deep frown furrowed his brow like a tight band as he approached the large doors. Scanning the carving, his heart paused in its beat when he realized the largest phoenix held a book in its talons. In slow motion, he raised his fingers, tracing the shape of the book. A soft smile graced his features as he whispered softly, ""Mum.""
Griphook craned his neck trying to see Harry's face. "Mr. Potter?"
Harry nodded, and then stepped back from the door. "May the light shine forth—through the flames of the phoenix." The doors swung open. The other side was dark. Harry frowned. Glancing at Remus, he paused before entering.
Remus shrugged and indicated that Harry should enter. "Go on, Harry."
He nodded silently and moved into the vault. The moment his foot stepped on the floor, light erupted—traveling from one torch to another, red and gold flames journeyed to the back of the very large chamber. The flame's dancing brilliance exposed the back wall—Harry froze. Many sections divided the chamber. Some areas contained rows upon rows of library styled bookcases packed full of tomes in all sizes. Some of the partitioned areas held furnishings for the home. Weapons dominated two other sections standing sentinel on either side of the vault doors. Then there was the gold. Harry stared at the shining brilliance, breathing in its essence. "Remus," he whispered.
"I know, Harry. I've been here before with James."
Harry nodded as he approached the center of the chamber. The center boasted domination over all the other treasures by the presence of a large phoenix statue. Harry reached his hand up, touching the wing with awe. "It almost looks like Fawkes," he whispered. Across the base of the statute was a sign.
For the Young Phoenix
Harry reached out and took the box that rested next to the small sign. Opening it, he found several things. Harry pulled out a thick packet of folded parchments, his father's wand and his mother's wedding band. Harry frowned. "Remus, didn't dad have a wedding band?"
"Yes, he did." Remus studied Harry closely. "Look at your father's wand, Harry."
Harry looked down. Turning his father's wand in his fingers, Harry realized there was a gold spiral encircling the wooden wand. He inhaled as he realized that the gold had most likely come from a wedding band. The fact that its engraving of a filigree pattern matched the one on his mum's ring served as confirmation. "Why would dad do that, Remus?"
Remus smiled with a touch of sadness. "As I mentioned before, Harry, your father tweaked his wand in an effort to strengthen it. The gold encircling it was his wedding band." Remus hesitated as he studied Harry once more. There was more, however, he wasn't sure if Harry was ready for the next bit of news.
"Remus? Haven't you figured out yet that I need to know these things?"
"Yes, I have, Harry. Your father added the gold band to his wand at the same time he added your blood. He did it with the intention of one day passing it on to you." The corners of Remus' mouth lifted almost as in releasing a little more mourning, and then he continued, "Perhaps even when you went to Hogwarts. Of course, we all know that that never happened."
He sighed and nodded glancing around once more. "Okay, Remus. I think we should go now."
Remus nodded, giving Harry a sad pat on the shoulder, he turned, leading the way back to the cart.
Thanks goes out to those who took the time to review—you are priceless.
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Blanket Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Co. and all other characters within Potter World do not belong to me. No infringement is intended. I am making no money here; just having fun. Kudos and blessings to the literary genius JKR.