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Note: Oh my goodness! Another chapter! Yay! I'm really going to try to work harder on my stories this year. The end of last year was not the easiest for me for many reasons. I'm determined this year will be better despite what the assholes of the world want instead. I can't guarantee another chapter any time soon but am very glad to post this for you, my wonderful readers! Thanks for sticking with me!
Chapter 6
The night before everyone was to leave for the holidays the secret trio met up in the Room of Requirement once more. This time, the topic of conversation was about Dumbledore. Harry was upset that the Headmaster was making him go back to the Dursleys for the holidays and he really, really didn't want to go. He hadn't shared with anyone what his life was like there until he and Draco had talked months before. Only then had he shared the abuse he suffered at their hands and that no one ever did anything about it. It had horrified Hermione and shocked Draco to hear of Harry's treatment and that no adult looked into it. Although, Hermione said that it made sense now that she knew. Harry had always shown up underweight after their breaks and more wary of those around him, now she understood why and it broke her heart for him.
When Harry complained, again, about having to spend the holidays with his relatives, he got confused over Draco's smirk. When questioned, the Slytherin informed Harry that since he was now the Head of House for the Black line, he couldn't be made to go anywhere he didn't want to go. Harry could invoke his right as Head to stay where he wanted, despite what the Headmaster may prefer. When Harry brought up about the blood wards and how that had been Dumbledore's excuse so far, to renew them with his presence, Draco waved him off saying that wherever Harry was, the wards would protect. Be it with the Weasleys or with his relatives, it wouldn't matter. The wards were set in a house that he hadn't been in since he was a child so why would staying at his relatives matter? It was just another house; it was Harry that the wards protected not the dwelling.
After Draco explained this, Harry's expression darkened. "You mean to tell me that I could have lived anywhere and the wards would have continued to shield me from dark forces?"
"Yes." Draco answered, feeling sorry for his former rival. No one should have to grow up as Harry had. His life wasn't peaches but at least he had his mother trying to protect him.
"Harry, Dumbledore never checked in on you? Not even once?" Hermione asked, not liking the thought at all.
"No one checked on me, 'Mione. And to think I believed the old man! I can't believe…why?! Why would he make me live like that?! What was his reasoning?" Harry exclaimed.
Draco stared at a spot on the wall for a few minutes before answering, "To mold you, of course."
"Mold me? Like I'm some sort of living play dough or something?! Again, why?! What about living in an abusive house would mold me? What possible result could come from that? Mold me for what?" Harry seethed.
Hermione sighed sadly when she realized what their Headmaster's reasoning probably was, "Harry, remember what we discovered about your scar?" When he slowly nodded his head, she continued, "I'm afraid that Dumbledore may have wanted to make it so you would trust him implicitly so he could "groom" you to be the sacrificial lamb, literally."
"Wait, you mean that old…manipulator purposely allowed for Harry to be abused so he wouldn't question going to his death when the time came?" Draco asked disbelievingly. Thinking that Harry had been molded was one thing but to hear Hermione confirm it, it blew Draco's mind. He had admired their Headmaster until now. If this was the reasoning behind Harry's living conditions then Draco would wash his hands of the old man.
"I'm afraid so, yes." Hermione replied. "It would seem we're all just pawns to him for his "Greater Good". I can't say for sure but the evidence seems to speak for itself. Dumbledore never told Harry about his right as Head of House to stay where he wanted or that the wards would follow Harry himself. He made it out to only work on the home instead. And then to never check up on him? Well, that's plausible deniability if ever there was such a thing!" Hermione finished angrily.
"As much as I hate to admit it, I think your right 'Mione. I think Dumbledore had manipulated all of us since the beginning. I'm not saying he set everything up but he also hasn't stepped in when he should have or done things more 'securely' either." Harry said, giving Hermione a pointed look.
"You're talking about all the "adventures" the three of you have had since starting school, aren't you?" Draco questioned. He had been told summaries of what had happened each year. Now so much made sense. Why else would the all-knowing Headmaster keep such a dangerous artifact in a school full of children? Why else would he not take proper precautions when the basilisk was loose? Then there was not setting alarms to alert to unregistered animagi on school grounds knowing that Sirius was one; then allowing the Triwizard Tournament to happen and for Harry to be made to participate in it. Something that could have gotten the brunette killed! Draco had no doubt that Dumbledore could have put a stop to it but had chosen not to.
"Merlin's trousers! That old man is willing to sacrifice all of us for his "Greater Good" agenda!" Draco exclaimed.
"So it would seem, Draco." Hermione concurred sadly.
"Well, I will be bursting the old man's bubble!" Harry stated as the other two stared at him. "I will NOT be going back to the Dursleys…ever!"
"Where will you stay? Do you plan on staying at the Burrow or Grimmauld Place?" Hermione asked, glad her best friend was finally standing up for himself.
"At the Burrow for the holidays then I think I'll tackle Grimmauld Place. Although I wish I could unstick Mrs. Black from the wall. She drives me barmy with her yelling and spouting utter bullshite!" Harry explained.
"Wait, a portrait of the Black matriarch is stuck on a wall?" Draco asked.
"Yep and Sirius tried everything to remove it and failed. Have any ideas?" Harry implored. He really wanted that blasted portrait gone!
"I do actually. I hate to say this, but the reason your godfather failed was due to not learning the family magic, dark though it may be, it has its uses." Draco told him. Then he went on to explain what Harry would need to do. He would need to take true ownership of the house, which Sirius never did, and that would give him control over the wards and any house elves the Blacks may have. The key ingredient to taking over ownership and the wards would be Harry's blood. He would need to focus his magic, recite a simple chant as he sliced his palm and then slammed his hand down on the mantle above the fireplace; then and only then would he be able to silence or even remove the portrait. He would also be more secure as well. The house wards would respond to his magic and his alone now that he was Head of House.
Harry could have hugged the blond for the information he shared, instead he asked Hermione to do it for him and laughed when she promptly pounced the Slytherin. Draco also inquired if Harry had been to Gringotts yet to claim his inheritance and ring. When he said no with a confused look, Draco told him to do this first, to ensure compliance. When asked if the wards would reject him otherwise, Draco explained that they wouldn't but Harry would have absolute control over the Black line, something Draco told Harry he should have.
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The Christmas Hols found the secret trio going their separate ways. Harry went to the Burrow; Hermione went home to spend her holidays with her parents and Draco to the Manor. Each had their own agendas to accomplish during their break. Harry would be claiming his rightful place in the wizarding world and not as someone's meek little lamb. Hermione would be figuring out how best to find and destroy the Horcruxes while Draco would find out how to go about getting the soul shard out of Harry.
Each had their own hurdles in their endeavors.
Harry had indeed gone to Gringotts to claim his Head of House ring and to learn of his inheritance. When he learned that he actually was Head of House for two wizarding lines, he was floored. He hadn't even thought of the Potter line. Come to find out, he had two rings to claim and quite a few properties to inspect. He also had several vaults to go through. He spent his first few days of Christmas Hols at the Bank. He had a lot of paperwork to go through and items to wade through. When he asked his vaults manager, Copperhead, about other Black vaults he was informed that he final say over them, all of them. Harry then told Copperhead about his suspicion of dark objects being held within them, which earned him a snarl. Harry quickly told the goblin he had his permission to go through the vaults and dispose of any they came across. He wanted those cleansed that could be and those that could not, to be destroyed by any means necessary. As it turned out, there were quite a few objects taken out of the vaults of Narcissa and Bellatrix, one of them the cup of Helga Hufflepuff. Copperhead informed Harry that since he was the one to bring the items to their attention as soon as he claimed headship then he wouldn't be penalized however, the witches would which Harry gave his blessing to. He also took the time while he was out to stop at Grimmauld Place to take ownership before anyone could find out what he was doing and try to stop him…like a certain Headmaster. Harry also checked over the books in the library and sent Hermione those he thought might help her with a warning that she check for any curses or hexes on them before handling them. He remembered his godfather saying something about half the library being cursed for any other than a Black to handle.
Hermione had it the easiest of the three but she still had a tough time hiding the books she was reading from her parents, there were so many. Draco had sent her quite a few from his own library, shrunk down of course so the owl could carry them, as had Harry from Grimmauld Place. Her parents had decided that she needed to spend more time with them during this holiday. They had even reduced their workload to only emergency cases while she was home. She loved her parents, she really did and any other holiday it would have been great but now she had to charm the books to look innocuous, which was easy enough but then her parents would ask her questions about what she was reading. It was nothing new but quite inconvenient for her considering the books were about dark magic and rituals. She managed to recall what the books she disguised them to look like were about and answered without raising too many eyebrows. She couldn't help it if she had to take a moment to remember. It's not like she was reading them! The trickiest part was hiding the notes she had to make. She knew she wouldn't remember everything that caught her eye by the time school restarted so she had to also charm her parchments to look like something else entirely. That was a bit difficult to do but thanks to all the research she had done up to then, she was able to combine several spells and have the words look like what she was "reading". Fortunately, Hermione had a well-organized mind and was able to do just that.
Draco had the hardest time of all of them. He had to outsmart the DeathEaters (not too hard), the Dark Lord (easiest due to him having other things to do than truly watch a teenager) and his parents (the hardest, his mother especially). It wasn't easy in any form. He had managed to collect the books from the Manor's library to send to his witch without any one realizing what he was up to. He knew the books wouldn't be missed, so no fear of anyone "grabbing" one to read. So he charmed the space to appear as if the book was still there. It took him a few days but he was able to send all he had to Hermione. Then he had to find a reason to go to Gringotts so he could inquire about getting the Horcrux out of Harry. It amazed Draco how much his life had changed. He was willing to put his life on the line for two people he never thought he would; the Chosen One and his bookworm sidekick. Then there was dating Hermione. He never dreamed he would ever be able to make that statement. Even though it was in secret, it still was happening. Thank goodness Harry was in a mindset that Hermione could let him in on their relationship. Draco shuddered to think what it would have been like with Harry constantly checking that blasted map, which Draco had learned of when he and Harry had had their long talk. Draco had managed to come up with a feasible excuse to go to Hogsmeade. Once he was there he did go to Quidditch Supplies and bought a few things but he also made a stop at the bank. Once he was in a warded room, Draco asked the family vault manager about extracting a soul shard from a host and leaving the host intact and alive. He found out it was possible and if the host happened to be a customer, a high ranking customer like the Head of House of a prominent line, then the Bank would charge a small fee but would execute the ritual with no questions asked.
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Once the holidays were over and the three were on the train headed back to Hogwarts, Hermione managed to sneak away to join Draco in their own compartment. They had conversed once by owl to set it up but risked no other communication during their leave. Once in the compartment and it was warded to the hilt, Draco pulled Hermione into a bone crushing hug. He had missed her terribly and just needed a moment to feel her in his arms and breathe in her scent. When he relaxed his hold a bit, Hermione rose up on her tiptoes to kiss her boyfriend. The kiss started slow and sweet but soon moved to passionate when reality hit. They hadn't seen each other in over two weeks and had missed the other very much. When the pair finally broke apart, their breathing was ragged with their faces flushed. Draco stepped away from Hermione and sat down, letting his robes hang loosely in front of him, not wanting her to feel the effect she and her kiss had on him. Hermione just smirked at him and sat beside him on the bench. They had just started talking about their holidays, Hermione sad to hear how dreadful his was and Draco happy to hear how loving and wonderful hers was when they heard a knock on the door, Draco did the same spell he had done the year before to see who was there.
"Wait, you knew it was me before you even opened the door last year!" Hermione smiled at her Slytherin.
"Of course I did. I wasn't in the mood for just any company. When I saw it was the witch I had been thinking about, I hoped it was a sign." Draco answered with a smirk.
"A sign, huh? Well, thank goodness for you following your heart." Hermione remarked as she kissed his cheek. "Now, let poor Harry in before he becomes too anxious."
"As you wish, my witch." Draco smiled at her.
After opening the door, Harry made a quick look around and stepped in.
"Took you long enough." He smirked at the couple, causing Hermione to blush before she hugged Harry tightly.
"'Mione, can't breathe." Harry gasped out.
"Sorry, it's just so good to see you so healthy Harry! You look good!" Hermione gushed, so happy to see her best friend how he should look, happy and healthy.
"Yeah, well, it's good to feel good. So how was your holidays?" Harry asked.
After Draco and Hermione shared what all had gone on during their breaks, Harry shared his. Grimmauld Place was his now and, no, Order meetings would not be held there any longer. He also explained about the vaults before Draco told him what the goblin had told him about extracting a soul shard. Over the train ride, the three figured out what they were going to do. Harry would go to Gringotts the first Hogsmeade weekend and have the goblins perform the ritual. Draco told him to use his owl to send the message so it wouldn't be intercepted by anyone. Harry thanked him and then said he was looking forward to no longer having a connection to a psycho. He also shared the visit the Headmaster had made to the Burrow to try to convince Harry to go back to the Dursleys.
"Harry, my boy, you need to go back to your relatives so the wards will be recharged. You can't stay at the Burrow the entire Holiday." Dumbledore told Harry.
"I beg to differ, headmaster. It's not the house that has the wards but me." Harry countered.
"I am afraid you have been misinformed, my boy. And what of the Dursleys? If you do not return to charge the wards then their lives would be in grave danger." The Headmaster replied. He really needed to get Harry to return to his relatives so he would be under their thumb again.
"I don't think so, headmaster. My source is impeccable. I know the wards are on me and not a house. If it was the house then I would have had to stay at my parents' house, wouldn't I? As for my relatives…they can rot in Hades for all they've done to me! And I'm not your boy any longer." Harry argued.
"Who is this source, young Harry? I may need to speak with them to verify their information." Dumbledore tried.
"Nice try, but my source is mine own, not yours. I will not tell you and you can stop trying to convince me to go back to the Dursleys. I will never return there. Also, Headmaster, I have claimed Head of House for the Black line as well as the Potter's." Harry told his former mentor.
"I see. Well, I guess there is nothing else to discuss. I apologize for taking up your time, Lord Potter-Black." Dumbledore said as he stood to leave and Harry noticed the twinkle gone from his eyes.
Harry then went on to let them know that what Draco had told him about taking ownership and the wards as well as the portrait had worked out. He had thanked the blond for his help and if Draco ever needed anything, to let Harry know and he would do his best to help him. Draco nodded to the offer and thanks, not knowing how to take gratitude, true gratitude. Hermione hugged her wizard and kissed his cheek. The rest of the ride was spent enjoying the feeling of accomplishment and taking control of their lives instead of being victims to two megalomaniacs.
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