Please Note: This fic's rating has been upgraded to M/R. It's SLASH of course. Review Responses and Disclaimer are below.
""snaketalk"" Parseltongue
Author's Note: This is a first. Never before has a chapter come out so fast. I did restrain myself and refrain from using the phrase, Beauty in Perfection. (It was hard. Uh hummm…) Anyway, hope you enjoy this segment as it comes fresh to you from my nefarious muse who is also a fiend. That's one for you Kit Kitsune : ) ...
"Shut Up & Kiss Me"
by; imLittleLily
14 August 12th—Again
Harry stood before the familiar door, pausing before knocking, unsure of what awaited him on the other side.
""Harry."" Draco, in his pocket, tried to be reassuring.
Harry sighed. ""Yeah,"" he whispered as he raised his hand and knocked.
"Come in."
Harry rested his fingers around the cool brass of the doorknob and turned it.
"Come in, Harry. It's good to see you." Headmistress McGonagall gave him a bit of a smile as she indicated a chair. "Please sit down. Albus is down in the third floor corridor. He will be back shortly."
Harry's breath caught in his throat. His eyes went to the portrait of Albus Dumbledore. It was empty. He tried to swallow, and then returned his attention back to Professor McGonagall. She's Headmistress, Potter. He shivered as a lightening bolt went down his spine. "Good morning, Professor. You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, Harry." Professor McGonagall leaned over to the side of her chair and picked up a package. After she placed it on her desk, she met Harry's gaze. "Albus wanted you to have this. Ah…here he is now."
Albus Dumbledore returned to his portrait, a smile as big as the crescent moon on his face. "Harry, my boy, how good to see you. You are well, I presume?"
Harry, still surprised at the whole situation, despite years in the wizarding world, nodded speechless.
"Very good. Very good." Professor Dumbledore sat in his comfortable looking chintz chair, crossed his legs and popped a lemon drop into his mouth. He then proceeded to talk around it. "I wanted this meeting today because we naturally did not finish your lessons. Minerva has agreed to assist us." He leaned forward. "You don't mind, do you, Harry? You are looking a bit peaked. Perhaps a biscuit or lemon drop would help?"
Harry shook his head in slow motion even as his brain was rushing forward at breakneck speed. More lessons—maybe we can—bloody hell… "No thank you, Professor…" Harry swallowed, this time succeeding. "I thought…"
Albus smiled and indicated Professor McGonagall. "I understand that you did not divulge anything to Minerva. The situation has obviously changed, Harry. Now that she is Headmistress, she knows what you and I have been doing and of course wishes to assist."
"All right then, sir. But…" He hesitated, glancing between them. "I can't today, have a lesson, I mean…because, I have to appear at the Ministry for a hearing about my inheritance. You do know, sir, that Uncle Vernon is contesting my majority?"
Dumbledore's forehead puckered, the horizontal lines marring his face in the portrait. "Yes, Minerva has told me. I understand you are unable to commence lessons today. I wanted you to come and take my Pensive home to study it. I also wanted to request that you install a miniature portrait at 12 Grimmauld Place so that I may journey back and forth between here and there."
"Er…sir, I'm not at Grimmauld Place. I've moved—"
"I told you, Albus." Phineas Negellus spoke from his portrait. "The boy has not been there for days."
Albus Dumbledore frowned. "Harry, why would you move?"
Harry pulled his resolve in to bolster his Gryffindor courage. "Well, sir, I decided to move back to Godric's Hollow. I feel that I am at my best there. You know, where it all began…"
Dumbledore studied him silently.
"Sir…"
"You've worked on the wards to insure to your safety?"
"Yes, sir. We changed them so that Wormtail can't find us."
""No sense in telling him we have nefarious Death Eaters next door,"" Draco quipped from his pocket.
Dumbledore nodded although his face still expressed concern.
"Harrumph," came across the Headmistress' desk.
Harry felt the corners of his mouth rise. She and Hermione had so much in common. "It's all right, ma'am. We are all safe there. Remus stops in and checks up on us. If you don't mind, I'd like to take the smaller portrait there. In fact, I'd be honored to have it."
Dumbledore's worried frown melted away, his smile returned. "That is excellent, Harry. Now, I know you must be on your way to London. Please take the Pensive. Its contents are packaged to insure safe transit. Before I died, I made sure to save some very important memories within it. Shrink it to fit in your pocket and be off with you." He looked over his moon-shaped spectacles and winked. "You have much to do at the Ministry. Good luck."
Harry nodded and waved his wand over the package containing the small portrait and Pensive. Once shrunk to size, he put it inside his robes. "I guess…" Harry paused and looked up at Professor Dumbledore. "I'll see you later, sir."
Albus Dumbledore smiled, nodding in farewell.
Headmistress McGonagall led Harry to the door. "I will walk down with you, Harry. I have to stop in and see Filch. He is in a fowl mood because he found some of the twins' products stashed in a suit of armor on the second floor. She quirked her brow as if to inquire whether the said villainous items belonged to him.
Harry laughed, its energy coming up unrestrained. "Ooh, he can't escape them even during summer break."
Amusement washed over her face and to Harry's surprise, she winked at him. "Those boys will forever be present at Hogwarts, long after they have gone to meet their maker—whoever that may be."
Harry enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the grounds of Hogwarts. He didn't want anyone to see him vanish from the grounds within the anti-apparition wards; therefore, he walked to the front gates. He would leave from there. ""It's strange being here. You know, Draco?""
""Yeah,"" Draco answered from his pocket. ""Are you okay? I mean you seemed a little off in Dumbledore's office.""
Harry sighed. ""I'm fine. It's like I said, it's just strange, is all. I guess I should've realized that I'd talk to him—it's just different.""
""I guess…"" Draco squirmed and then silence resonated from Harry's pocket.
Harry passed through the gates, and then turned to survey the landscape before him. The walls of Hogwarts rose proud and strong. The Astronomy Tower wore black drapes swaying in the summer breeze—a reminder of that horrible night. However, Harry felt only a sense of closure with an unexpected door opening onto a new future. He spun around and landed in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place to the sound of an exasperated Remus.
"Harry, some warning would be good."
Harry grinned and raised his hand. The doorbell sounded.
"Funny—very funny." Remus straightened his robes and motioned to the fireplace.
"Do we have to Floo, Moony?" Harry hoped the use of his nickname would soften Remus' resolve.
"Yes," Remus said firmly. "I don't like wind-riding. Besides, you want to keep that a secret. You need to arrive at the Ministry in the usual way."
Harry snorted at the sound of Remus saying 'the usual way.' It brought back memories of Uncle Vernon and the Weasleys. "Fine. Boring, but fine. We better go. This glamour charm better work…" He faced the door as Hermione and Tonks entered the kitchen.
Tonks grinned, showing off a gold tooth, at his look of utter shock. "Wotcher, Harry. Like my new look?" She spun, showing off her rotund figure, impressive dignified robes and closely trimmed red hair and goatee.
Harry laughed. "Tonks, maybe you should be the next Minister. You look very official—officially stuffed."
"Well, pfft…" She laughed, threw some Floo powder in the fire and said with hurt dignity, "I never…Ministry of Magic." Just before she vanished, she winked at Harry.
Harry tucked his elbows in and cursed under his breath. He didn't like the spinning of Floo and he didn't like the squeezing of Apparition. Why on earth don't more wizards just wind-ride? He landed in the Atrium of the Ministry with an annoyed grunt.
Draco gagged in his pocket.
""Oh no you don't,"" he hissed low, grabbing at his pocket. To Remus, he said, "Excuse me." In a rush, he went through the men's bathroom door, sealed it and pulled Draco out. Transfiguring Draco as he threw up was no fun. "UGH! I told you before; don't throw up in my pocket."
Draco retched into the toilet but somehow managed to say, "—uck you, Potter." Finally finished with disposing his breakfast, Draco leaned against the stall partition. "Bloody hell, I'm tired of this." He raised his hand and exploded the soap dispenser.
"Draco…"
Draco rolled his eyes and pulled his hair. "You try riding around in somebody's pocket and see how you like it, Potter."
Harry eyed him and approached cautiously. "I thought you liked to ride…" He leaned in.
"Potter, I just threw up. Let me get cleaned up before you assault my tongue."
Knock…knock.
Draco moaned, splashed cool water on his face, and then rinsed his mouth.
The knock sounded again, this time more insistent. "James…"
Harry groaned, that was the code word for get your arse out here, Harry. "Just a minute, Remus," Harry called through the door.
Remus growled on the other side.
Harry had been worried about reactions to him showing up in the Atrium of the Ministry—even in disguise. He needn't have given it a second thought. Reporters swarmed around the wizardwatch's desk. Not because of Harry.
Uncle Vernon stood before Eric Munch, the wizard watchman on duty. He was puffed up and puce faced. "I'm here to see the wizard judge," Uncle Vernon insisted, voice resounding with self-importance.
Reporters shoved to get closer, flashes from cameras illuminated the heightened color on Uncle Vernon's face. His attorneys, a middle-aged man and a young woman, attempted to block cameras and reporters.
Remus nudged Harry and the four of them, Hermione and Tonks included, slipped past the melee unnoticed. Once in the elevator, Harry released a sigh of relief. "At least we aren't going to be down in Courtroom 10," he whispered under his breath so that Remus could hear. "But what is it about August 12th and making me come then?"
"First day back from break, James." Remus adjusted his sleeve and tucked a leather satchel containing important estate parchments tighter under his arm.
Harry growled, not necessarily pleased with that answer. "Do you suppose they'll let Uncle Vernon up here or do you think—" Harry stopped speaking as the doors slid open revealing a sign Wizengamot Administration Services, barely visible over huddled heads.
More reporters crowded the corridor outside the elevator. Once they ascertained that Harry wasn't who they were waiting for, they turned away, disappointment evident on their faces.
Harry bit the inside of his cheek in amusement and followed Remus into conference room number three with Hermione and Tonks as rear guard. Coming disguised as Robert Woodard's law clerk was a stroke of genius. He nodded when Robert Woodard stretched his hand to shake. "Good morning, sir," Harry said as he finally allowed his face to break into a grin. "Worked like a charm."
Robert Woodard, a tall white haired wizard of indeterminate age, grinned back at him. He stepped back and eyed Harry with a friendly incline of his head. "You do make a great copy of Shannon. He should be along shortly. In the meantime, have a seat." He indicated a comfortable looking chair on the right side of the long conference table. "They are purposely holding your Uncle up in the check-in process. I thought it would give you an opportunity to slip by unnoticed. Glad to hear it worked."
Mathilda Ogden, Wizengamot Elder, entered wearing the signature plum-colored robes of her station. Harry only knew her name because of the sign-card in front of her seat. He folded his hands under the table, clenching his fingers tightly.
Remus leaned in close. "It'll be fine, Harry."
Harry gave one quick nod of his head as Draco squirmed in his pocket. ""We're all here for you, Potter,"" Draco hissed.
Harry loosened his gripping hands and patted his pocket. "Thanks," he murmured.
Chaos erupted at the door. Harry looked up to see an Auror escorting Uncle Vernon. Uncle Vernon looked fit to burst as he pushed his way into the room. "Well—bout time…" He looked around. Apparently recognizing Remus, he insisted, "Where's Potter. I know you crept in the back way to avoid those—those people."
Mathilda Ogden cleared her throat. "Please take a seat, Mr. Dursley. We need to get started."
The door opened once more and James Michael Shannon stepped in, blocking the entrance of several zealous reporters. "All present and accounted for, ma'am," he said, trying to catch his breath.
"Thank you, Mr. Shannon. Take your seat please. You will act as scribe today." In an action like a graceful swan, Mathilda Ogden rose from her seat, waved her wand and sealed the door by completely vanishing it.
Mr. Shannon took his seat next to Robert Woodard and began pulling out supplies: parchment, ink and a quick-quill to catch every word of the meeting.
Uncle Vernon panicked at the disappearance of the door. "What is the meaning of this?" He stood, glaring around the room even giving his anger over to his own attorneys.
"Mr. Dursley, take your seat!" All the authority behind her station resonated behind the command.
Uncle Vernon sat, giving new meaning to the color purple. His chin wagged nervously as he stared at Mathilda Ogden, Wizengamot Elder.
"Mr. Dursley," she said, sitting up with dignity. "You will hold yourself within accepted decorum while in my presence. Is that understood?"
Uncle Vernon growled.
Two white brows arched high over blue eyes; put Harry into mind of a female Albus Dumbledore. Harry cleared his throat. That is just so wrong, he thought.
Still hitting Uncle Vernon with a stiff glare, Ms. Ogden said, "Mr. Potter, please show yourself. No one can breach the door."
"Yes, ma'am." Harry stood and turned once. When he faced the room again, he was his usual messy black haired young man wearing wizard robes and a very apparent lightening bolt scar. He sat down, eyes locked on Uncle Vernon's stunned countenance.
"Without further adieu, let us begin. I trust your attorneys have informed you of procedure, Mr. Dursley?" Her gimlet eyes focused on him once more. Vernon Dursley swallowed audibly and nodded. "Very good, then." She shuffled some parchments, opened a blue folder and pulled moon-shaped spectacles from her leather briefcase.
Harry bit his lip. Bloody hell she looks just like…
Glasses on the bridge of her nose, she began. "The matter before us today is the contestation of one Mr. Harry James Potter's majority by Mr. Vernon Dursley, Muggle." Her gaze moved from the parchments before her to Uncle Vernon. "Mr. Dursley, you are aware, are you not, that within Wizard Law, seventeen is the legal age of adulthood?"
Uncle Vernon froze under the intensity of her scrutiny. His attorneys took the floor. Mr. On-the-Right of Uncle Vernon, leaned forward after giving Harry a raking stare. "Yes, ma'am. We are aware that is the case for the um…average…um wizards…"
Harry fought the urge to jinx him or even kick him under the table. Maybe a visit from a friendly snake…naw… Instead, he returned his own glare. "Excuse me, Your Honor, may I speak?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter?"
"I'd like to know just what he means by average wizard? Maybe one who doesn't have an excess of 50 million galleons at stake? Or would it be someone who isn't Harry Potter?" The sneer Harry placed on his face couldn't begin to express the distain he felt. He knew it and didn't care. His emotions roiled within causing his fingertips to tingle with unexpressed energy. This whole situation rated as being worse than his entire fifth year at Hogwarts. "So, which is it?"
The attorney glared at Harry. "You grew up in what they call the Muggle world—that makes you a Muggle by our standard of law. You aren't 18 yet, therefore," he paused to curl his lip up in a sneer. "You are still a child."
Harry's hand came up.
Remus stopped him in mid-action. "Harry…"
Harry pulled his arm away from Remus and leaned on the table. "You won't get anything out of this—you're wasting your time. Why don't you take your nefarious ass—"
Uncle Vernon's fat finger came into the fray. He shook it vehemently at Harry. "You always pull that magic crap—"
Mathilda Ogden banged a gavel. "That will be all, Mr. Dursley."
His ire stirred up, Uncle Vernon stood, finger still pointing. "You saw him. Changes the way he looks, no one knows what else he's done since he disappeared—maybe even murder—"
Draco sissed in Harry's pocket and began to move up and out.
Harry squirmed, trying to keep his snake undercover.
Several things happened at once…
Remus stood to face Uncle Vernon down while Mathilda Ogden banged her gavel to unresponsive results.
Harry stood because Draco's head popped out of his pocket. He jiggled his leg and reached for Draco only to draw attention to the situation.
Uncle Vernon's female attorney, sitting on his uncle's left—screamed, nearly bursting her lungs and Harry's eardrums.
Draco plopped to the table and slithered straight for Uncle Vernon who jumped back bellowing.
Tonks reached forward and grabbed Draco's undulating body, holding him aloft while Harry jinxed the other opposing attorney by turning his hair purple.
Finally, the sound of angry hammering broke through everyone's consciousness.
"Harry James Potter!"
Harry froze, his wand now pointed at the screaming female attorney. "Yes, ma'am?"
Mathilda Ogden cleared her throat. "While it may be true that I was inordinately fond of your mother, I will not hesitate to hold you in contempt if you choose to exercise your right to use magic at this time. Understood?"
Harry remained still, as if frozen in time, even after Tonks placed Draco on the table. ""Harry…""
Draco slithered over to him. Harry dropped his wand in slow motion and replaced it in the holster on his arm, and then he picked Draco up. "What? Don't you like snakes?" he asked the still hysterical attorney across the table.
She shook her head vigorously and leaned as far back as her chair would allow.
Harry gave her a brilliant smile and raised Draco to look him in the eye. ""Ah, she doesn't like you, Draco,"" he hissed in Parseltongue. Several gasps erupted and Remus hit him on the shoulder. "Sit, Harry."
"A touch of James, Mr. Potter?" Mathilda Ogden arched her brow at Harry expecting an answer.
"Well, yes, ma'am. He was my father after all."
"Sit down, Harry. You may un-jinx Mr. Jackson's hair."
Harry glared at the attorney across from him and then snapped his fingers. The man's hair returned to normal, well almost. Harry was sure he could still see purple highlights in the candle-glow of the room. Oh well…damn prat…
"Your Honor," Robert Woodard chose this moment to speak up, his voice tinged with amusement. "I would like to present this sworn deposition signed and sealed by several witnesses to the dire straights in which Mr. Potter was expected to live while he resided at the Dursley household." He paused in his longwinded statement to breathe. "That is if we may proceed, ma'am."
"Of course." She raised her wand and levitated the sealed parchments to her.
Harry sat stroking Draco while Ms. Ogden opened and began reading the contents of the packet. She made disgruntled noises in her throat and compared the new documents with others she already had. Harry completely ignored the whispers going on across the table between Uncle Vernon and his attorneys. ""Fat old ass,"" he muttered.
Draco snickered and Hermione nudged him under the table. He shrugged and pulled Draco up and around his shoulders while wearing a sarcastic smirk on his face. ""This one's for you, Draco. The famous Malfoy smirk on a Potter face.""
Draco laughed.
"Harry," Hermione hissed at him under her breath.
Harry allowed a laugh to escape while winking at the still scared female lawyer across the table.
"Mr. Potter," Ms. Ogden said, voice edged with anger. "It says here that you slept in a cupboard under the stairs. Is this true?"
"Yes, ma'am. Until I was eleven."
It was apparent that Ms. Ogden was furious. She returned her gimlet-eyed stare to Uncle Vernon. "It also says here that he was expected to live with a delinquent appearance due to lack of proper clothing." Her hand came up and removed her spectacles in a blatant move of anger. "Is this true, Mr. Dursley?"
"That boy tried to eat us outta house and home—" Uncle Vernon sputtered, eyes wide and angry in his own expression. The vein on his neck pulsed, threatening to pop as his fat fingers twitched.
After a brief meeting lasting little more than twenty-five minutes, Mathilda Ogden said, "I've seen enough. I'm ready to make my ruling."
Uncle Vernon's attorney On-the-Right, Mr. Jackson, growled, "Now, wait just a minute—"
The gavel hit with forceful power, resounding back at them from the walls. "Silence!"
The attorney stiffened, red faced.
When the pounding echo subsided, Ms. Ogden said, "That's better." Her gaze traveled around the room finally stopping on Harry. "I knew both of your parents, Mr. Potter. I'm sure you've heard it before, they were very fine people. Their deaths marked a great sadness for those who knew them well. I was one such person. Your mother was an excellent student, willing to give her all to those who needed help. Your father, although a prankster, was of noble and courageous bearing. It saddens me to the extreme to discover that their son has suffered so extensively." She stopped speaking and held up a photo of seven-year-old Harry at Mrs. Figg's, sitting on the couch surrounded by cats and photo albums. The dark circles beneath his eyes only highlighted his sallow wraith-like cheeks.
Harry blushed and ducked his head. He had forgotten about that photo.
""Bloody hell. Let me at him…"" Draco began his journey down Harry's arm to the table with malevolent intent toward Uncle Vernon.
Harry's hand stayed him. ""No, Draco,"" he said sadly.
The photo went back into the folder, face down. Ms. Ogden sent her angry glance to Uncle Vernon. "What you are attempting to do is despicable. You should be brought before our court on charges of child abuse. However, I'm sure that since I am willing to dismiss the possibility of such charges being levied, you will take yourself and your attorneys and leave this young man alone. If, however I hear of continued threats and harassment to his well-being, I will indeed levy charges and strongly advise Mr. Potter to sue for punitive damages. Do I make myself clear?"
Uncle Vernon stood, swelling like a hot air balloon. "Now just a minute! You can't—"
"Actually, Mr. Dursley, I can. I consider this case to be dismissed." She banged her gavel hard and began pulling her belongings together and returning them to her leather briefcase. With a curt nod to Robert Woodard and a quick shake of Harry's hand, she exited through the returned door in a graceful flow of her plum-colored robes, completely ignoring Vernon Dursley's tirade.
"You, boy. You're not going to get away with this—" Uncle Vernon stepped through the door and turned with an angry sneer. "Watch this, Potter…" The last, he said loud enough that the lurking reporters swooped down on them with questions flying.
""Fuck.""
Remus, having heard Harry say that word enough in Parseltongue knew what it was. "Harry, come on, the back way—"
Harry dumped Draco unceremoniously into his pocket and charged straight into the crowd ignoring Remus' and Hermione's yells of protest. Tonks stayed close by his side. Once surrounded, Harry put both hands straight up in the air. Silence fell in the corridor. Harry locked eyes with his Uncle and spoke in a clear tone. "I have won. The Honorable Ms. Mathilda Ogden has decided that since I grew up depraved of basic childhood needs such as clothing and food, my Muggle relatives have no claim on my inheritance. She has said that if they do not…" Harry allowed his voice to trail off with deliberate intention.
"If they do not—what, Potter?"
Harry remained silent, glaring at his uncle.
Several voices collided in the air. "What?"
"Mr. Dursley, what has Ogden said?"
Uncle Vernon sneered and attempted to push his way through the crowd to the elevator.
A reporter at the back of the crowd yelled, "Potter!"
Harry lifted the corner of his mouth in a smirk. "Cease harassment…charges will be levied…"
The uproarious questions intensified. Uncle Vernon found himself deluged with both camera flashes and accusatory voices.
Remus grabbed Harry from behind and pulled. The action had the added benefit of a portkey's grab behind the navel. They landed in the drawing room of 12 Grimmauld Place.
Harry's hands slid down the sides of the ornate frame as he adjusted it in the library of his home in Godric's Hollow. He gave Albus Dumbledore a smile and flicked a particle of packaging lint away.
Albus Dumbledore took a moment to get his bearings in his new environment and then settled into his chintz chair comfortably. "So the hearing went well. Tell me was Mathilda well?"
Harry couldn't hide his amusement. Shaking with laughter, he asked, "Are you related, sir?"
Dumbledore's blue eyes sparkled. "Second cousin on my mum's side."
Harry huffed at the idea of such close family resemblance. "She said she knew my mum and dad."
"Yes, she did. She was Arithmancy professor during their school years."
Dumbledore popped a lemon drop into his mouth even as Harry wondered if he would ever run out. "Sir…" Harry felt hesitation. He and Draco had discussed the next thing Harry would talk about—still he paused, worried about the outcome of this impromptu conversation.
"Harry, you have a strange look about you. What is wrong, my boy."
"Well…er…" Harry ran his hand through his hair, chewed his lower lip and finally leaned his arse back on the round library table. Nothing seemed to ease his qualms.
"Harry, whatever it is, you can tell me."
Harry pulled his hands down his face, looking over his fingers at his mentor. Sighing in exasperation at himself, he said, "It's about wind-riding and…er—Draco Malfoy." He finished off quickly and then faced the fireplace gnawing on his lip again.
Draco squirmed in his pocket. ""Harry.""
"Harry, what is it you are trying to say? Have you learned to wind-ride? If you have, I would like you to tell me about it. I have never known a wizard who chose that mode of transportation. And…what does it have to do with Draco Malfoy. Surely you are not still—" Dumbledore stopped speaking, surprise on his face as Harry drew a snake out of his pocket. Voice riddled with confusion, he asked, "You have a new pet?"
"Yes, sir. I mean—yes, I've learned to wind-ride. No, sir, I don't have a new pet. Well…not exactly." Harry stroked Draco and set him gently on the Burmese rug. "To be," he whispered, and then stepped back as Draco transformed before them.
Albus Dumbledore sat up straight. "Well hello, Draco."
"Hello, sir. We couldn't figure out how to tell you. Harry decided that showing would be better."
"I can certainly understand why he would." Blue eyes flashing, he looked at Harry. "I'm glad to see you've come around to a better understanding of young Mister Malfoy, Harry."
Harry could have sworn he was teasing him. He bit the inside of his cheek to stop a retort and shook his messy hair. "We need you to not tell anyone, sir. Did Professor McGonagall tell you that Voldemort and Bella Lestrange killed Snape?"
Dumbledore nodded sadly. "Even in death you cannot give him the title he worked so hard to earn, Harry?"
Draco coughed behind his hand.
Harry sighed, shoved his hand through his fringe to get it out of his face all the while shaking his head. "I understand his sacrifice. I even understand that you told him to kill you so that Draco wouldn't have to. Please understand, sir, that despite all of that—there are…things between him and me that…"
"All right, Harry. I suppose time heals all wounds."
Harry nodded even as sadness welled up within. "We've all been wind-riding, sir. Even Hermione and Ron. Ron turns it into a game and Hermione, well…you know her…everything has to be about equations and logic. She does enjoy it though. It helps us to travel through wards…" Harry cleared his throat. "We've even gone through the wards at Hogwarts. Did you know that could be done, sir?"
Dumbledore smoothed his white beard out with his hand as his face wore a contemplative expression. Finally after long moments, in which Harry began to pace, he answered, "No. I did not realize that wind-riding could breach the wards at Hogwarts. As I said, I have never known a wizard who traveled that way. Wind-riding went out of fashion after apparition was discovered—hasn't been around for centuries. Where'd you learn it?"
Harry chewed his sore lip and locked eyes with Draco. Draco nodded. Harry reciprocated and then focused on Dumbledore. "We learned it from a Dark Elf by the name of Ghillie Dhu."
"My, my, you have been busy, Harry…"
Harry plopped back on the bed and linked his fingers together behind his head. After several hours of telling Professor Dumbledore everything that had been happening—including the visit from Sirius in his dream, Harry felt exhausted. "Well, that went well."
"Yeah." Draco sighed and joined him. "Do you think he knows? Dumbledore, I mean. About us."
Harry snorted. "Well, yeah. I do. He probably knew all along, Draco. Think about…"
Draco smiled, leaning forward; he flicked his pointed tongue over Harry's pulse point.
Harry savored the shiver that went through him and pulled Draco down for a long overdue tongue wrestling session. Heart pace and breathing picked up in intensity. Harry moaned, arching into Draco's exploring hand. "Drac—" he murmured against tasty lips. "Gotta…shower…" He let out a startled yell when they landed in the shower, cascading water on his back. He growled and pulled Draco under the caressing stream, tonguing delectable desire into heated flames.
Draco pulled away, laughing. "I've wanted to do that for…" He sent his hands over Harry, divesting him of his now soaked clothing.
"Could've let us get undressed…" Harry's hands joined in, not wanting to be left out of the action.
"Naw, what's the fun it that?"
Harry growled, and then threw Draco's shirt over his head. It landed with a heavy splat on the other side of the shower door. Bored with the conventional methods of clothing removal, Harry whispered an incantation. Draco's delectable body was free of encumbrances before him. He gasped. Realization dawning on him, he stared enthralled. "Merlin," he breathed. "You are beautiful…perfect…"
Draco, blond silk plastered against his forehead, tilted his head to the side, eyeing Harry in response.
Harry's breath hitched when sterling eyes locked with his. The passion and want in Draco's pools pulled him forward like a nefarious fiend. He roared and pushed Draco against the tiles, devouring him like never before. Wet skin against his lips and tongue burned his blood. Titillation beneath his fingertips sent him soaring. Harry only knew the feel of sensations washing over him—compelling him to consume Draco wholly. Nips puckered…Draco's groan—urging him on…heartbeats in tandem… He thrust his tongue into Draco's navel, spiraled and then bit, clutching his cock and squeezing.
Draco cried out, thrusting forward and burying his fingers in Harry's wet hair.
Harry pulled away and looked up, losing himself within Draco's soulfilled eyes. He sent his tongue out, teasing.
Draco's cock jumped at the attention, wanting more…
Harry squeezed.
Draco's head went back, banging the tiles. "Harry…please…"
The feel of Draco's frenulum on his tongue sent ecstasy through him. Harry flicked and then swirled around; he opened and hugged tight skin with his lips.
"Fuck!" Draco thrust.
Harry pushed him hard against the tiles again and assaulted Draco. He consumed his seed with voracious hunger, took him in lusty ferociousness on the floor of the shower and turned Draco into a melted body of sated clean satisfaction…
Reviews are like Chocolate Frogs . . .
there is a surprise card in each package.
Let me know what you think. Thank You . . . Blessings. LL
Hi Everyone. Thanks for taking the time to review. I hope I don't get into trouble with FF, but I find I don't like not responding here to my wonderful reviewers. So here goes...
As always, review responses are in the order received. LL
Mis-HD: Whoo…Mis-HD doesn't like Narcissa. That's okay (grin) We shall see where the story takes us in her thread. As to Wormtail, I like the idea of him being a rock for a while. (cackling) Hope you like this next chapter; it flew out of my fiendish muse's head faster than anything else so far. I'm working on my scenes between Draco and Harry so this one is slightly different than anything I've done before. I did restrain myself, however. Thanks for letting me know you are still enjoying. Blessings. LL
Natasha Aka: Tash: Hi Tash. You wrote: "The world can be annoying, tedious place but reading fanfiction likes yours, makes my world seem a bit brighter. I thank you for that." You are awesome and the one who deserves thanks. Thanks for all of your encouragement and kind words. Like I said in the last chapter review responses, a Gold Metal is what you should have. You've read it all, through all of my struggles with learning and changing writing style. Truth is, one place I find my inspiration is simply from acceptance given freely on your part. I enjoy the opportunity to share my words and your responses help the story to blossom. Blessings Always…You are Precious. LL
Katsu Kitsune: (giggles on this side of the computer screen) You wrote: "don't spose you could get 'nefarious' into the next chapter? (grins)" Is FOUR times enough? Okay, the funny thing is…drumroll…I'd already used it once when I received your review in my inbox. (hehehe) So just especially for you, I added a couple of more. (I couldn't resist) Hope you enjoy this next chapter…Thanks so much for the inspiration. Blessings. LL
MikaPotter: Hi, you like a lot of sex and other action? Well, we agree on something…not to mention a fanatic interest in Harry/Draco. Thanks for your kind words and taking the time to review. Blessings. LL
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.