Disclaimer: Not Mine.
Author's Note: It was pointed out to me that the most blood anyone can lose and still survive is around 2 liters, and I was also told that someone I know lost 6 ½ pints so just imagine that our boys lost an amount slightly less than that.
Warning for this chapter: Serious Sibling Fluffiness. So if that's not your thing you might want to stop now.
New Possibilities
Valissa sat in a chair in the Hospital Wing between two occupied beds. She had refused to take the sleeping draught that Madame Pomfrey had attempted to give her. It wasn't that she was intentionally trying to be unreasonable. She just was hoping to be awake when either of them woke up. It had been two days of waiting and watching. She had fallen asleep several times in the chair falling out, which had caused Madame Pomfrey to order that she sleep in one of the beds. Which she reluctantly obeyed. But she had woken an hour before and was at her place of vigil once again. She had taken to staring out the window that was between the hospital bed headboards. She now thought she could name a hundred shapes that the clouds formed outside. It was as exciting as watching paint dry.
"Your thoughts must be very deep to have such a look of concentration on your face." A voice called from the bed to her left.
"Just trying to decide whether that cloud looks like a frog or a bunny." She answered before she realized who had spoken.
As her mind registered the voice she had heard she looked quickly to the bed. "Draco." She called out plunging toward the bed landing nearly on top of him.
"Whoa. Take it easy on me, okay. I feel like hell." Draco said trying to scoot over so she could sit beside him.
"I can imagine. You lost a lot of blood." Val said reaching out smoothing a lock of hair away from his eyes.
"Are you okay, Val?" He asked looking her over. He could see no injuries present.
"I'm fine. You and Harry were the ones that took the brunt of the damage." She answered glancing over to Harry's bed. He was still sleeping. His torso was covered in bandages. They were using a potion to attempt to remove the scars caused by Lucius' torture. She hoped he wouldn't be scared for life. He had enough scars.
Draco also looked to Harry. A flash of memory slipped into his mind of the young man pleading with Lucius to tell him the Sectumsempra counter curse. He had never expected Harry to fight so hard for his life. He looked around the room again and noticed someone missing. "Where's Snape?"
"He refused to let Madame Pomfrey treat him. He wouldn't tell any of us what happened to him but his wounds didn't look very nice." Val answered. "He's locked himself in his private quarters. I think Dumbledore is very worried about him."
"That's strange. But I guess we won't know what's going on until he comes out." Draco said looking skeptical. Then he looked away as he wondered if he should dare ask the next question. He sighed heavily. "And my father?"
Val didn't know how to tell him what she had learned. But she must try. "No one really knows, Draco." He looked at her quickly with a confused look, but did not speak. "By the time the Aurors removed the wards and were able to enter the house it was deserted. He was gone."
"Just gone." Draco said shaking his head in disbelief. "If he was dead, why would they take the body?" He wondered.
"We just don't know." Val answered feeling as if she was letting him down by not having the answer he needed. "I'm sorry."
Draco looked at Val and just nodded. There was a moment of tense silence between them. Neither knew how to express their feelings properly now that the danger was gone.
Val broke the silence first. "Draco.." She began but paused. There were so many things she wanted to say, but she was unsure how to do so.
Draco reached out taking her hand. "Val, do we really need words?" He asked shaking his head. "No matter how much we learn to the contrary, you are and will always be my sister. I don't ever want to forget that again." He whispered.
Val could not hold back the tears that started to course down her cheeks. She looked away from him not wanting him to see her tears. She felt she was getting too old to cry at every emotional turn in her life. But Draco would not allow her to hide her face. He reached out pulling her chin around so he could see her eyes. "I'm sorry, Draco. I keep trying to be strong, but the emotions get in the way."
He nodded at her words but the look on his face turned into a wry smile. "You are very strong, Sis. Don't ever doubt that. You were strong for me, when I could not be. But I want you to promise me one thing. Don't ever hide your tears from me, and I promise I won't ever keep secrets from you again."
Val nodded. "I promise." Draco pulled her to him then wrapping his arms around her, feeling for the first time in months like things would be finally be okay.
Val did not ever want to let go of her brother again. She had seen how easy it would be to lose him in just a few seconds, and never wanted to live through that again.
After a few moments they heard someone clearing their throat very near by. Val looked up and saw that Harry was awake and watching them. "Harry."
"I'm assuming you two are all right." He said looking at the pair who had not let go of each other yet.
Val looked to Draco and Harry could see him nod. He wasn't sure what it was about but he got the feeling that Draco was giving his approval for something and was proven right when Val stood and moved over to sit beside Harry wrapping her arms around him in a loose hug so as not to press against his chest. Harry could see Draco over Val's shoulder and he could see the slight sneer cross his face as he looked away. This made Harry smile all the more as he hugged Val harder. Things were getting back to normal.
Severus Snape sat silently in his personal quarters with all the lights off. He had bandaged his own wounds and donned a black turtleneck hating to even look at the wounds himself. When he had first arrived in his quarters he had been angry. He had thrown anything he could get a hold of demolishing many of his private possessions. He knew what kind of life he had in store for himself now. It wasn't something he would wish on his worst enemy. But the anger had faded as he sat silently staring into the darkness, his mind working desperately trying to grasp a way to change things. No one had ever discovered a cure for being a werewolf. He knew that fact. But he himself had never attempted the task. Maybe, just maybe.
He was startled by a knock on his door. "Go away." He called out, in his normal annoyed voice.
The knock sounded again. "I said, go away." He yelled louder.
But for a third time the knock sounded. Severus sprung to his feet stalking to the doorway and yanking it open as he grumbled. "I don't care if you are deaf, it won't save you from being hexed."
There leaning against the doorframe was a figure that Severus had not expected and cared not if he ever saw again.
"Aren't you going to invite me in, Severus." The man asked smiling deeply.
"Lupin. My isn't this a pleasant surprise." Severus' voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Come now, Severus. You didn't think Albus wouldn't guess, did you?" Remus said pushing past the Potions Master, then gave his wand a flick causing all the candles to light in the room.
"Won't you come in and make yourself at home." Severus said slamming the door behind him and then swinging around leaning against the door in casual silence.
"So are we feeling sorry for ourselves now?" Remus asked sitting on one of the comfortable couches adorning the sitting room.
"You might be. I have nothing to feel sorry for." Severus sneered at Remus.
"Remind me to ask you that same question after the next full moon." Remus said his voice holding a small amount of pity.
"Go on, get it over with." Snape spat out in rage as he whirled away from Remus so his emotions would not shine through his eyes. "You are just dying to rub it in. After all of the things I said to you. After I got you canned from teaching here, you just can't wait to rub it in. So do it, and get out."
Remus stared at Severus for a few moments and then shook his head slightly. "I can't do that, Severus."
Severus was standing with his fists pressed against the door wanting desperately to become angry again and break something. "Why not? I would." He hissed.
"Severus, you and I have never been friends, and at times I might have even called us enemies, but what good would it do? Whether we like it or not, we are on the same side now, and if you are going to survive what's happening to you, you're going to need my help." Remus explained.
Severus threw his head back and laughed bitterly at the irony of the position he was in. "Who says I want to survive it?"
"You do." Remus said in a knowing tone.
Severus spun around staring at him. "What would make you say that?"
Remus shook his head thinking of the irony of his position. "Look at what you have done in your life. You worked your way through Hogwarts with one of the smartest minds it has seen, even though you were ostracized throughout it all. Yes you fell in with the wrong people after that, but you redeemed yourself to further the Order's cause, and in doing so have suffered through a great deal of pain at the hands of your former friends. And you took on the responsibility of another's life with the boy. You were already injured when you went to save him. What difference would it make to save him if you wanted to die anyway? If you had let him die, you would have also. I think no matter what you might say, that you want to live."
Severus stood silently going over what the other man was saying in his mind. It was true. If he truly wanted to end this he could have just let Draco die. The vow would have done him in without ever having to go through becoming one of those things. He still could not even think the word without shuddering. "So where do I go from here?"
"Well from here you learn what it is to be a werewolf. Just remember one thing, Severus. You're not alone in this." Remus said wanting the man to be perfectly clear that he would help him all the way.
Severus heard the words but felt the old suspicion creeping back in. "Why do you want to help me?"
"Oh, Severus. Someday maybe you'll learn to trust others." Remus laughed, but then his face turned serious. "Then again, maybe you won't. But that doesn't matter. I'm helping you because… well because I had three friends who helped me when I needed it most. No one should face this alone."
Another day had gone by and Harry and Draco would be allowed to leave the Hospital Wing soon. They had received many visitors in that time. Hermione and Ron had visited often, and they had even spoken to Draco a couple of times. Draco was back to his sarcastic remarks, but none of them were completely offensive as they had been in the past. On a couple of occasions Val had given him dirty looks when she thought he might go to far and this had served to reign his tongue in. But then they received an unexpected visitor.
The doors flew open and Severus Snape strode through them with his black robes billowing behind him. He walked slowly up to the beds that Draco and Harry were sitting on. He turned to Draco first. "Almost recovered I see."
"And you?" Draco asked quietly.
"I am fine, as usual." Severus said sneering at the look of concern that Val was sending towards him. She quickly looked away. He then turned to the doors leading into the wing and whispered the Mufliato curse.
"I came to tell you that Professor Dumbledore has requested that for our own protection, you and I along with your sister should retire to the headquarters of the Order of the Pheonix, at the end of the school year." He explained in a hushed tone even though no one outside of the room could hear him.
Draco and Val both looked at him wide eyed. Neither of them had thought much past the end of the year, which was only two week away.
Severus then looked towards Harry. "That is if you have no objections, Mr. Potter."
This also caused both Draco and Val to look confused. Why would Severus need to ask Harry if it was okay? Harry saw the looks they were giving him. "I own the house that the Order is headquartered in. Or I guess I do. Come to think of it, you might actually be considered the owner, Val."
"I'm sorry." Val said in complete confusion.
Harry looked uncomfortable explaining this part. "Val, your father left the Black family Manor to me in his will, and that is where he's speaking of."
"I see." Val said and she did understand. She had completely gotten over her jealous feelings concerning her father and Harry. "Well, Harry, it is still your decision."
Harry knew he trusted Val, but to bring Draco to his home, to the headquarters of The Order. "If Dumbledore thinks it is for the best, then it is fine with me."
Snape nodded and began to leave but turned back as he seemed to remember something. "By the way, Mr. Potter. You, I do believe, are in the possession of one of my belongings. I would like it back."
Harry gave the Professor a confused look. He really had no idea what the man was speaking of. "I'm sorry, Sir. I have no idea what you are speaking of."
"A book, Mr. Potter. An Advanced Potions Textbook. I believe you know the one I am speaking of. It belongs to me, and I would like it back, before the spells and potions in it are used on any other unsuspecting students." Snape said crossing his arms.
Harry's mouth gaped at his words. "You are the Half Blood Prince."
"The textbook, Mr. Potter." Severus said impatiently.
"It's at the Manor." Harry said still staring at Snape.
"I will recover it when we return there." Severus said swinging around and leaving the room as quickly as he had arrived.
Val and Draco both stared at Harry in confusion. "I'll explain later."
Harry and Val had said their tearful goodbyes to Ron and Hermione who would be taking the Hogwarts Express back home that summer, but they were taking a different more direct route to the Black Family Manor.
It would be a turning point for Harry, Ron and Hermione. This had been their last year at Hogwarts, but Val had one more year. Hermione had decided to become a teacher and would be going on to a graduate school, and to Ron's utter delight he had been contacted by the Chudley Cannons, his favorite Quidditch team, and had been offered a position on the team. He had jumped at the chance. Harry had not changed his goal of becoming an Auror. He had been accepted into their elite training program the week before and he would continue to work with Dumbledore attempting to find the remaining Horcrux.
Harry, Val, Draco, Remus, Severus, and Dumbledore were standing in the Room of Requirement in front of the oak cabinet.
"Remus and I have been studying this link to the Headquarters and have added an extra precautionary ward to it." Dumbledore began to explain. "We have fashioned the magic around it so that only those who are truly loyal to the Order may use it to travel to the Headquarters."
Harry was pleased to hear this. He had been worried about other's using it. "What happens if someone tries to use it that is not loyal?"
Dumbledore gave Remus a small smile and Remus answered the question. "Well let's just say that we are not exactly sure where someone who is untrue will end up, but I'd hate to find out for myself."
Draco looked skeptically to the cabinet. "Exactly how loyal must someone be for this thing to work?"
"Very loyal, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said motioning to the cabinet. "Would you and your sister care to go first?"
Draco began to shake his head but Val moved forward pulling him with her. "Come on, Draco."
Remus went next with Severus following him leaving Harry and Dumbledore alone. Harry stood staring at the cabinet but hesitated.
"What is it, Harry?" Albus asked seeing the young man's hesitation.
Harry looked around the room imagining the school all around him. "I have spent the best times of my life at this school."
"Harry, just because you are starting on the new pages of your life, it doesn't mean that you have to close the chapters of your past forever. They are there for you to visit when ever they are needed, just as Hogwarts will always be here if ever you need it." The wizard said motioning to the room around him.
Harry nodded and then turned back to the cabinet and a wry smile crossed his lips just as he stepped in. "I wonder where Draco ended up?" He called over his shoulder. He looked back to Dumbledore's smiling face with a mischievous grin of his own.
"I'm afraid you might just be underestimating our Mr. Malfoy's capacity for loyalty." Dumbledore said with that knowing smile on his face.
Harry nodded and closed the cabinet door and then opened the other side. He stepped out into the matching room in the Black Family Manor and was not surprised to see four people there waiting for him.
Draco smirked at Harry knowing that he probably did not expect to see him there. "So, Potter. Do we get the fifty cent tour?"
The End For Now