Embracing His True Self

Chapter 65

A full meeting meant that nearly every single Death Eater had answered the call, at least those who were marked, those that hadn't obviously wouldn't be attending along with a few who were excused, such as Severus Snape, who was in a delicate phase of brewing and could not leave his cauldron without risking an entire day's worth of brewing.

They all watched Harry, who was up on the dais, reading a book, feet propped up on the table. All of them wary of his presence, but not for the most obvious reason, thinking he's a spy, no, it was his…place in the ranks. While their Lord hadn't specifically said anything, he'd made it clear that the boy was his.

They got why, with the Potter and Black genes he was not only apparently very smart, but he was good looking they had to admit. He had an almost elfin grace about him, and his eyes…they were mesmerising and dark and so very seductive. The fact he was from two prominent lines made him very, very desirable within wizarding society. Then there was the fact he was no longer considered the light side's weapon and persona non grata with the dark side…yes, it was a shame that the Dark Lord had scooped him up.

Although there were many that believed it was a temporary thing, that it was a mutually beneficially arrangement that was no way permanent. Some crudely thought they'd have a chance at Harry once the Dark Lord was finished with him, unaware of the fact the Dark Lord had never taken on a partner before, let alone publicly claimed one.

Those 'mesmerising' green eyes watched with clear amusement as they bowed before their chosen lord. Greeting him as he dramatically made his entrance, with Nagini wrapped around his neck.

"Hello Nagini," Harry crooned, watching the Dark Lord grunt a little and almost stumbling as his snake immediately rounded on the only other snake speaker there.

"I am going to kill you," Voldemort threatened, annoyed beyond reason that Harry not only managed to get him to lose focus but actually stumble in front of his Death Eaters. He easily let Nagini down and made it look purposeful, not easily embarrassed but Harry had come closer than anyone had since he was eleven-years-old. It did not help that he felt inordinately proud of Harry at the same time. If it had been anyone else, the pride would have been the primary emotion.

Harry just blinked innocently at him, "What do you mean?" actually managing to sound completely sweet and innocent, and it would have worked if not for the gleam of wickedness he could see in Harry's eye.

Voldemort didn't design to reply, merely watched as Nagini approached Harry and wrapped herself around him in the manner she usually only did with him. The traitor that she was, Voldemort actually felt jealous, not of his familiars actions but rather the fact she was getting to wrap herself around Harry whereas he could not. Perhaps he should have just continued their…session instead of calling a meeting, as important as it was. No, the cause came first, Harry knew this, understood that, and he seemed to have his own plans on the go.

Voldemort turned back to the Death Eaters, only to find them clearly perturbed by the conversation they couldn't – but he could he thought with undeniable smugness – understand at all. Why they were nervous he did not know, it was well known that Harry could speak to snakes now.

"Stop goading my snake into terrifying my minions," Voldemort hissed in annoyance as he watched Nagini sliver off Harry and begin to go around the room, a hissing laugh leaving her lips.

"So you admit they're minions," Harry's look transferred into a grin, clearly enjoying himself and the reactions he was getting.

Voldemort pursed his lips, not admitting that Harry was rubbing off on him. He would never have used that term otherwise, they were his followers and that is all he ever referred to them as. "Updates, immediately,"

"Everything within the Ministry is going as predicted, My Lord," Lucius as always was one of the first to speak, with almost a simper in his voice as he cosied up to the Dark Lord.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Kiss-ass," he'd never liked Lucius and probably never would. It had nothing to do with Draco either, Lucius had tried to kill him and sue him he held grudges like nobodies business. Sure, Voldemort had too, but he'd sort of paid for it and well, he wouldn't give up this freedom for anything.

"And Dumbledore?" Voldemort asked, narrowing his eyes on Lucius.

"Will remain in Azkaban until his court date, I've managed to get the Minister to put twice as many Aurors on Dumbledore during that day, guard him a little better due to his…penchant for escaping and potential Order trouble. With our own in place I'm sure he wont have a chance to start anything."

"Uh-huh, you're all forgetting about Fawkes aren't you?" Harry said lazily, stroking Nagini who had returned to him after scaring the Death Eaters like Harry had asked. She was very fast when she wanted to be, and it was awesome.

"Dumbledore's pet bird," Voldemort sneered, ignoring the peels of laughter coming from Harry, "You're quite correct that could cause a problem." He'd forgotten about it to be fair.

"You said the exact same thing to me when you were what? Sixteen? Seventeen?" Harry hissed out, green eyes alight with amusement, "You've not really changed much have you?" perpetually old before his time.

Voldemort narrowed his eyes, not liking being reminded about the loss of his diary. The urge to curse Malfoy, despite having already paid very heavily for it, was very strong. He did throw Malfoy a glare anyway and watched him pale, the lump in his throat visibly moving showing that he was afraid. Good he should be.

"Is there any way to stop a phoenix?" Harry asked curiously, easily able to switch from one language to the next nowadays. He'd used to have to find at least an image of a snake to enable him to speak. "What better way to get out than use a strong symbol of light that's a phoenix in order to ensure everyone trusts him despite his reputation? In one of the most pivotal moments possible? He does like dramatic entrances and exits," giving Voldemort a knowing look, someone else who liked dramatic entrance.

"That's exactly how it would go down," Voldemort grudgingly admitted, impressed with the teens shewed knowledge on Dumbledore. It always did impress him, just how closely had Harry watched Dumbledore right back? Watched Dumbledore watch him, and doing so right back without detection? It was remarkable.

"So you're saying he'll bust out just as they get to the Ministry of magic?" Flint mused, his teeth flashing in a feral way.

Harry shook his head, "No, not on the way,"

"After, directly after his sentencing he'll give a speech, not as long as he'd like it, short but dramatic." Voldemort added to Harry's statement. It's exactly what he would do, perhaps he and Dumbledore were more alike than he wanted to admit. It made him sick to think about it, truly, he loathed Dumbledore with everything he was.

"Yup," Harry stressed the 'p' without fanfare, giving a nod, understanding how serious this situation was.

"There's nothing that stops phoenix's that I've heard, and the Malfoy library is immensely large." Lucius said, somehow turning the situation into bragging rights.

"Maybe you should be tasked with catching it, you're familiar with all sorts of birds aren't you?" Harry told him, watching him gulp silently, it was the only visible sign that he had gotten to the blonde. "Mostly Peacocks right? I'm sure you'll be fine dealing with Fawkes?"

Marcus Flint and many of the others who had gone to school at the same time as Harry found themselves trying very hard to maintain their composure and not snigger or laugh out loud. They wouldn't dare to, not with the Dark Lord standing in the middle of the room commanding respect. Plus, they weren't suicidal enough to antagonise Lucius Malfoy of all people, he was too high in the ranks for many others to risk it.

Nonetheless nearly everyone held their breath to see or rather hear what would happen next.

"Peacocks aren't magical animals," Lucius rasped out, cursing the boy in a dozen different languages, he was just intolerable. He wished he'd never met the boy, oh he knew why he did this, he was far from stupid. He honestly couldn't blame him either, for he would be reacting the very same way if roles were reversed, it was just such a Slytherin move to make. Undermining, taunting, and just down right trying to make your life a misery. He'd lost his composure and tried to kill the boy after all, over a damn House-elf of all things. What a way to end up in Azkaban prison, because he got angry over a House-elf, yes he was ashamed of himself and his outburst, but nevertheless it did not matter now. "Capable of firewalling wherever they please," which was the term for what Fawkes did, firewalling.

Harry made a mental note to remember that, he'd never really wondered what the name of what Fawkes did, just grateful that he did it.

"Fire…would spraying him with water have any affect on preventing his firewalling?" Harry mused, "Too bad we don't have a phoenix on our side," he added wryly, solely speaking to Voldemort.

"Why not add it to the list?" Voldemort said wryly, a frown marring his features as he strode over and sat down on the only other available seat. In fact his seat was the only one meant to be in here, Harry evidently conjured or summoned one, cheeky brat. "I do believe I have a book on phoenix's that might be useful." Almost forgetting that he was in a meeting and not just having a conversation with Harry regarding planning, which they did a great deal of the time.

"We can't focus completely on that, he might be relying on you thinking that's the way it will go down." Harry pointed out, "His backup plans have backup plans."

"Agreed," Voldemort stated seriously, he wouldn't put it past Dumbledore to think for a second that he might take the chance to kill Dumbledore while he was vulnerable. Dumbledore knew he had control of a few people within the Ministry, even he probably didn't realize just how many. "He might attempt a full scale assault, it's the one scenario I actually believe he wouldn't risk…forgetting of course, that he has nothing left to lose." He added dramatically.

"You're probably right," Harry said quietly after a few minutes, "Blame it all on a frame up if he wins, and people would be too happy celebrating to really care. They'll just be glad the hypothetical war was over again. Die he will have people still willing to martyr themselves for him." he knew how persuasive Dumbledore was, he'd been under his thumb long enough.

"He's been doing it for decades, very few ever survived to tell the tale." Lestrange Senior stated his voice sounding grim in the silent room.

"We come up with a plan closer to the time," Voldemort insisted, his voice strong and firm, sure in his ability to come up with a few plans that would screw up with anything Dumbledore had up his sleeve.

Harry remained silent for the rest of the hour and a half meeting, listening intently to every piece of information the Death Eaters had scrapped together. Debating on whether it was genuine or if it had been 'dropped' on purpose to mislead them. Dumbledore might not be running things but Moody was just as damn clever. Listening to Voldemort give them confidence without even trying, they were all so eager to please him that it amused and amazed Harry immensely.

What was it about Voldemort that drew everyone in? Even when his rituals and magic he used caused semi-permanent disfigurement, not that it was a problem anymore, the Horcruxes that Voldemort had consumed had turned him into a very, very attractive man he used to be. It wasn't his looks, although that probably didn't hurt.

"What's been said that has you so deep in thought?" Voldemort asked, staring at Harry in query. The room had emptied and Harry hadn't even so much as twitched or even glared at any one.

"What makes them listen to you?" Harry asked, surprise flicking through his green eyes as he observed the empty room. He rarely zoned out, especially in front of people. That did catch him a little off guard. "I just don't get it, between you and Dumbledore you convince people to your side and willing to give their lives for it."

"Most of humanity needs a leader…" Voldemort begun to explain slightly amused with the lost look on Harry's face. "They need purpose, so that they feel like their lives mean something. There aren't many people who are sure and independent with leader qualities like yourself. Fortunately for all of us, Dumbledore made that mistake once again."

Harry arched a brow in surprise by that statement, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Abuse tends to make the recipients of it cautious, distrusting and wholly wishing for independence. While it can, depending on the severity, cause those who were 'rescued' to trust their rescuer without reservation. It causes more distrust when it doesn't work out. Your actions caused Dumbledore to believe completely that you trusted him. I'm still not sure how you succeeded in duping him, and I commend you on it. Everything you've been through…you will never follow anyone, Severus himself is much like that." Voldemort revealed, reclaiming his seat.

"He followed you," Harry pointed out, slightly bemused. Then Dumbledore now Voldemort again.

"That he did, because he genuinely believed in the cause, but while he believed in it he was conflicted with…everyone else' belief over the Muggle-borns in our world. He unlike the others didn't think that Muggle-borns didn't have their places in our world. He kept quiet, I think when he returned after you switched sides he was more content with the way this side was with their ideals and I do not believe he would ever betray me again." Voldemort stated, and if he did…Severus would not survive to live and breathe. The vow he'd made would make that impossible to betray him as long as Harry was on his side.

"Malfoy doesn't seem like he…" Harry begun before pausing, "You know what, never mind." remembering Lucius simpering from both the grave yard and every single meeting he'd seen thus far and how Lucius would brownnose Voldemort to get what he wanted.

Voldemort chuckled dryly, "Yes, you'd think he was independent and out of all my followers, he is not. He however, is most likely to betray me, he is the ultimate family man. If his family was ever threatened he'd do whatever it took to correct it." well aware of the ups and downs of each and every single one of his men enough to know how to push them and how they may be pushed in turn. People wondered why he was constantly paranoid?

"Most would," Harry shrugged, as if it was something that was a given. Family first, it's probably one of the first things parents ingrained into their offspring, that was pureblood's for you. He still didn't have any greater understanding in what drew everyone to Voldemort and Dumbledore, sure they were convincing but putting your life on the line constantly? So many people? It baffled him.

Voldemort just gave Harry an amused look, it seemed the boy was unaware of his own potential to gather followers. Luna Lovegood was just one of the many potentials out there ripe for the picking. He doubted Harry even realized it, and he would tell him, but Harry would just ignore his advice. He had no desire to play people, unless they were Dumbledore, and his Death Eaters of course.

"Don't underestimate Dumbledore," Harry said eventually, as he stood up, book in hand. "He's extremely unpredictable when things don't go his way. My disappearance begun the decline, albeit if he doesn't already know about me…he does have spies everywhere. And if he does know…it might make him even more a threat than either of us can anticipate."

"Noted," Voldemort agreed, his voice grave, he understood just how dangerous Dumbledore was. for the longest time he'd been the only one to see him for what he was, nobody else survived to tell the tales. All people saw was the gentle façade that he loved hiding behind. He was just as bad as Grindelwald, just easier at hiding it. Did enough good deeds to pass as the next Merlin, it was sickening.

Harry nodded, and begun to walk out of the room, pausing when Voldemort spoke again. "And to be clear, I never have." Even at eleven Voldemort had recognized a fellow predator. Dumbledore was just as cold, calculating and as manipulative as he accused him of being.

"I know," Harry replied without turning around, before walking off. "Rabastan, hold up!" finding the wizard still there conversing with Luna, Rodolphus and their father.

Voldemort stared at the door, wondering if Harry even realized he was worrying because he cared. More so than he'd done in the past. One might say he was emotionally compromised, but that wasn't the case at all. He was being cautious to that they both survived this. It was the only reason he'd be constantly bringing up the danger Dumbledore posed. He doubted Harry was worried about himself, which left only him and Luna and because of Luna, Rabastan that he truly worried about. Perhaps even Severus is on that list, but he couldn't say for sure.

Dumbledore, regardless of Harry's worries, was a danger. A danger that was soon going to be transferred from Azkaban to the Ministry where there was guaranteed to be an escape attempt or a rescue attempt by the Order. Without Severus, they didn't know everything, only what Black could find out for them. Moody wasn't as stupid as Dumbledore, didn't have conversations that could be overheard by the entire Black family – all dead except Sirius but all as dark as they come – portraits which was extremely handy. Not only that but Moody moved around, the Black family townhouse wasn't used all that much and they didn't hear much from the Headmistresses office other than the normal day to day running's of the school, McGonagall didn't have Order meetings at the school.

Harry had even contemplated mass extermination of the Order members in a strategic move with various groups of his followers spread out to deal with the threat simultaneously. It was something he had admittedly thought about at great length.

Leaving Harry to discuss Tonks with Rabastan – which he had no doubt was the conversation they were currently having in the library – he left for his office, deciding to draw up some plans, for various strategic moves.

The war was nearing its end, and Voldemort could scarcely wait. He'd waited decades for this after all.

Rabastan frowned when he heard Harry calling out to him, wondering if he'd meant to call for his brother. It wouldn't be the first time it had happened either, he and his brother were often joint at the hip. Yet, Harry hadn't done that before, so he had to assume it was him he was shouting for.

Rabastan and Rodolphus' father stopped talking, staring at Harry with a questioning look on his face. He could feel the determination radiating from the teen.

"Yes?" Rabastan asked smoothly, as Harry approached, clearly within hearing distance.

"I'd like to speak to you, privately," Harry said firmly, "Please excuse us," he said politely to Lord Lestrange, but making it clear it wasn't a suggestion, although Harry wasn't thinking of it quite like that.

The Lestranges didn't feel like they could deny Harry what he wished, even if they were adverse to the idea of Rabastan going off alone with him. He was the Dark Lord's consort, someone higher up the hierarchy than themselves, even Lucius would bend himself to Harry's wishes if he knew what was good for him. It certainly wouldn't be easy for the blonde, who seemed to be on the receiving end of Harry's sharp wit and tongue more often than not.

"Of course," Rabastan murmured, more curious than worried, he had no reason to be worried. Out of them all actually, he'd wanted to know Harry the most, after all Harry was related to them and he couldn't help the desires to know him better. He just didn't know how, not only had they been on different sides – or so he thought – but any social interactions would be stilted, he wasn't caught up on what was going on in society due to the decade and more he'd spent in Azkaban. So, he did not even try, choose instead to wait for the most opportune moment.

"The library?" Harry gestured towards the door, it was the closest place to sit and talk. Rabastan and Rodolphus hadn't recovered fully from Azkaban, and standing for long periods of time was still a little painful on their limbs. Rodolphus worse off than Rabastan who had adhered to Grant's regimen fully, Rodolphus however, had not only Bellatrix to deal with but also her taking his potions as well. instead of saying anything the idiot had just let it go to 'keep the peace' and put his own recovery in jeopardy too many times.

Shrugging his shoulders at his brother and father, he then disappeared into the library with Harry and closed the door becoming more curious now.

Lord Lestrange also became curious when he saw the Dark Lord venturing out of the meeting room and going to what he soon realized was his office, clearly he wasn't going to be taking part in this little conversation. What on earth did Harry Potter want with his youngest son?

"What is going on?" Rabastan asked taking a seat watching Harry shrewdly. "Why do you need to talk to me?" he was the 'spare' he wasn't as important as Rodolphus, he knew that and was completely fine with it. although, it had hurt when he was just a child, eleven-years-old before he realized the meaning of 'heir and a spare' his brother and father had never once made him feel like he was there just in case anything happened to Rodolphus so he learned to guard his heart from people's twisted ways.

"Did you want a marriage contract when your brother got one?" Harry asked his tone pensive not at all probing.

Rabastan blinked, "It wasn't important for me to get one," which was true enough.

"That didn't exactly answer my question…did you want to get married?" Harry asked, green eyes boring into Rabastan's.

Rabastan frowned, "No, I felt rather lucky that I avoided that particular hole, especially when it became apparent just who the hell Bellatrix really was. Plus, no woman would have endured the time I had to spend with my brother and Bellatrix…it took both of us to keep her from going off the rails and embarrassing the Lestrange name." which he and his brother would just not allow.

"And now?" Harry asked giving Rabastan a smile, showing him there was no underhand ulterior motive for him asking, that he wasn't going to shout out his business to everyone.

"Well before you annulled the marriage between Rod and Bellatrix I assumed I was going to be served up on a platter in order to save the Lestrange name when I was healthy. With Rod and Lovegood…Luna, it's not a high concern right now." Rabastan explained, relaxing back farther into the seat. He knew Harry was up to something but it was clear he wasn't going to be nasty about it.

"And women are your preferred preference?" Harry asked, cocking his head to the side.

Rabastan stiffened utterly at that, the boy had hit the nail on its head.

"Oh," Harry said quietly, "You would have gone along with it regardless, in order to preserve the Lestrange name." he found himself suitably impressed and awed by how much Rabastan loved his name enough to end up in a marriage he'd never find sexually satisfying.

"I'd have only needed to produce at least two children, my life would have been my own afterwards." Rabastan stated sharply, his chin jutted out defensively.

"But not for your wife," Harry said softly with reprimand, "It's no way to live your life, Rabastan…"

Swallowing thickly, he conceded that with a nod of his head, but the family name was more important than his own wants and desires let alone his would-be-spouse.

"Has anyone caught your eye?" Harry teased, letting it go seeing as he'd gotten his point across without going into a long winded conversation.

"No," too quickly and too defensively, forgetting completely he was in a room with a damn Slytherin masquerading as a Gryffindor of all things.

"Definitely a man, huh," Harry said grinning wickedly, he'd need to keep an eye out on anyone Rabastan was paying close attention to. Wizards could get pregnant so he didn't see the need to marry a woman. He would need to speak to his father if he even heard whispers of him trying to force Rabastan to marry a woman. There was just no need for it.

"Why are you asking?" Rabastan asked, desperate for a change in conversation.

"I was going to suggest trying to get Tonks on our side by marrying her to you, I am the Head of the Black family and technically she falls under my jurisdiction." Harry shrugged, watching Rabastan pale at the words, Merlin, help him, the magical would was diabolical. "But considering you're attracted to men, and Tonks is a woman, it wont happen, nobody need know this conversation happened."

The library door opening surprised both men, as they swung around to see who it was. Harry caught the sight of wariness and caution on Severus' face and also noticed the way Rabastan relaxed. Narrowing his eyes further…no way, he wouldn't have missed that surely?

"Is everything alright?" Severus asked Harry facing him, but his eyes barely left Rabastan.

"Just marrying Rabastan off to Tonks," Harry said with bluntness, watching their reactions, damn, this was serious, how long had they been together? He hadn't even realized Severus was Bi, he'd just assumed he was straight as an arrow, he'd loved his mother Lily after all. Could they have become that close since he was released from Azkaban or had there been something going on before Rabastan was carted off to Azkaban? "I mean talking about it," He corrected himself as if he hadn't meant to word it like that just to see their reactions. It was nothing glaringly obvious of course, but he knew Severus well enough to read the minute traces in his expressions.

"Why?" Severus asked with a tightly constrained expression. He knew Lestrange Senior would jump at it, the Black family was an old and pure one, anyone would be more than happy to have her in it even with her 'diluted' blood as the accepting ones had taken to calling it. He'd destroyed his eldest sons life by how eager he was, in the past, he couldn't think past making sure the Lestrange name continued.

"It was just an idea I had," Harry said softly, his gaze becoming understanding, "I'm pleased that you've found someone, Sev," and not still hung up on someone he'd never be able to have. She had been dead for over a decade after all, died for her son, for him.

"Excuse me?" Severus drawled, almost succeeding in making Harry think he'd imagined it all.

"Wont work," Harry said bluntly, he wasn't going to pretend none of this happened. They had nothing to be ashamed of. "I just don't understand why you're keeping it a secret. There is a potion that can give men the ability to have children…so what's the problem?"

Severus sighed resignedly, "Its proper for wizards names to be combined upon marriage, Rabastan's father wouldn't stand for a Muggle name to be added to the Lestrange one." Lestrange-Snape or Snape-Lestrange no, he'd never go for it.

"But you're a Prince, you can legally take that name since there are no other heirs, even if the estate is empty the name itself would garner you a lot of respect…wouldn't it?" Harry pointed out.

"Not exactly, I cannot claim the Prince name, I'm a half-blood," Severus admitted grudgingly. He'd claimed the Prince estate, yes, but that was it.

"But any kid you have wouldn't be right? With the Prince and Lestrange names it can be despite your fathers' blood be considered a pureblood?" Harry mused, remembering everything he'd read. Two names such as theirs they'd be legitimately considered purebloods, "All you'd need to do is have a godfather who is a pureblood…" the information he'd read still confused him to hell and back but there you have it, the laws were old.

"Neither of us are capable of carrying a child," Severus refuted that statement, he had thought of everything thank you very much.

"You're thinking like the pureblood's again, Severus," Harry said wryly, "The Muggle world has made it possible for someone to have three parents…a child to have three parents. With magic it would be even more simple…a triad bonding ceremony, would ensure any child you have wouldn't be a bastard child." Something the wizarding world abhorred, it was ridiculous really.

"Wait seriously?" Rabastan gaped, not sure whether he should feel appalled or amazed. His jaw snapped shut when he realized what he was doing. Embarrassment flooded his system, he shouldn't have lost his composure like that.

Harry nodded once, "It's a simple procedure, I'm pretty sure given enough time I could replicate the results in a potion… with help of course," giving Severus a grin, knowing he wouldn't be able to resist now that the seed had been planted.

But first he'd need to understand how they did it, which meant another trip to the Muggle world. "I wonder if Barty would like to come to Muggle London with me again," Harry mused out loud, he was constantly buying books from libraries, muggle science had him fascinated too.

"The Prince…Black and Lestrange names together, even your father wouldn't be able to say no to that." Harry said, feeling a little smug, his lips curling at the ends as he stood, "Well, looks like I have a trip to Muggle London to plan, too late tonight to do anything else. Goodnight guys."

"Harry…" Severus said as Harry's hand reached for the door.

"Yeah?" Harry asked turning back, green eyes bright.

"I did love your mother," Severus said quietly, as if he suspected that Harry thought for a second he'd been lying.

"I know," Harry said seriously, you didn't just vow for someone you loves safety if there was no feelings there. "But she's gone, you can't just continue your life mourning her, its no way to live. I am happy for you…and I like to think she is too, even though we both know she was…prejudice against anything remotely dark, blame Hogwarts." Harry said wryly, giving a shrug-ish smile. Blame Dumbledore for turning everyone he could anti-dark, it was ridiculous. He sometimes wondered if her love for him would have outweighed her belief in the light side.

"If you have trouble convincing your father after all that, let me know," Harry added before he closed the library door, cutting off any and all sound that might have been made.

Families man, they were so complicated, the expectations continued even into adulthood. He wasn't sure whether that made him extra lucky he didn't have anyone trying to push him into something with the threat of disownment or if that was just his way of dealing with the fact he was parentless.

He suddenly found himself desiring to spend time with Tom…oddly enough. Perhaps even more…his stomach clenched in anticipation just thinking about it. The feelings that Tom could elicit from him with just a few touches…was new, terrifying and exhilarating. He wanted more.

And so Harry decided to go with his desires, and find him through the bond.

"So that just happened," Severus murmured, dazed as he claimed the seat Harry had vacated moments prior. "What the hell did I miss?" how did they get talking about Tonks and marriages of all things? Or had it been said merely to get a reaction out of him? He wasn't sure, Rabastan certainly acted like it had been a possibility.

Rabastan still reeling himself, along with the hope brewing in his breastbone, quietly told Severus everything he and Harry had discussed, every single world, up until the moment he had walked through the door.

Severus chuckled, "You gave yourself away?" finding it hilarious.

Rabastan sniffed haughtily, "I did not," he'd deny it till his dying breath.

"Harry has a way of getting to everyone," Severus reassured him, "He's very astute and has the power to back up his plays, so of course, it's no surprise." Inordinately proud of Harry and his accomplishments. "I myself have only managed to fluster Harry twice in reality, during his first ever potions class and a private conversation we had," making sure it was something Harry wanted, a relationship with the Dark Lord. Any other time had been purely for his benefit Harry had told him during one of their conversations, he'd gone to the extreme's playing the part of the golden boy. So it was hardly surprising when he had the chance to be himself he'd taken it with both hands and refused to give it up.

"He's a sneaky fucker," Rabastan groused, "He's definitely related to Slytherin." Who was well known for his sneaky and downright sarcastic dry wit even after all these years. Well, that wasn't all he was known for, but he didn't care about what the light side thought of Salazar Slytherin.

"What did I miss?" Severus relaxed back, his potion didn't require anything for a few more hours now, he'd left it to simmer. So of course, he'd automatically came looking for Rabastan. He'd been worried when he heard Harry had asked to talk in private. Even he hadn't thought it was anything like marriage to Tonks though. Harry was beginning to become Lord Potter-Black the more he learned. Trying to preserve the dying bloodlines, and they all were, Black-Potter and Slytherin. He wasn't alone either, a lot of the lines were perishing but hopefully once the war was over…they'd have the ability to flourish and move on.

And so Rabastan relaxed back, head resting against Severus' shoulder and begun to reveal everything that had happened in the meeting. Including how much they'd spoken about Dumbledore and the threat he posed to society, it was glaringly obvious that the time for his trial was upon them. For if it hadn't been, well, Dumbledore would just be a background buzz.

This trial was going to be the biggest thing that had ever happened to the magical world since the Dark Lord's downfall over a decade prior. Everyone was going to try and attend, and if they weren't attending they would be in the atrium and outside just waiting to hear the verdict. It made security a coming nightmare, even the Ministry was probably worrying about it.

A/N – you know it's been that long that I don't even remember Dumbledore being arrested OR what he was even arrested for LMAO! How bad is that? I guess it goes with the territory of having more than one story but it won't take long to figure out what happened 😉 so triad bond with Tonks/Rab/Severus? Or will they use someone else to have their child and pay them handsomely for it? Hmm, the younger generation is a bit too young for Tonks I think they wouldn't be able to keep an eye on her hence why I thought someone from the Sev generation would be best! Since Remus/Tonks wont happen…will we have Tonks/Remus/Sirius together in order to have a kid? Teddy being born? Or will Tonks just be sent off to the other side of the world with the Longbottom's and having a Tonks/Longbottom kid in the future? So many options but considering we have like maybe 20 more chapters to go before it's finished primarily focused on Voldemort/Harry and maybe the background characters she won't be mentioned an awful lot anyway :D Will any of the Weasley's survive in order to thrive? Giving into the new regime? I suppose I should write about the other side too huh? Will Moody make the mistake of returning to the Black property - illegally at that – and the whole lot of them that is there dealt with? Preventing any break out attempts? R&R please