False Sense Of Security
July 31, 2001—Oceanside, Georgia, United States
Harry rushed around the condo, collecting the things he needed to take to the party. He gathered them near the front door then smiled ruefully at the large pile. He had no idea how he was going to get it all, plus himself and Dria, down to the beach without making at least three trips. As he tried to pare the pile down, the doorbell rang.
"Daddy, ding."
Harry caught his daughter up in his arms as she toddled past him toward the door. "Shall we see who it is, baby?" Dria wriggled excitedly as they opened the door to find Robin and a man who had to be her brother, they looked so much alike.
"Your work force has arrived!" Robin giggled when she spotted the stack near the door. She turned to the unknown man and said, "See, I told you he would need help. He always packs way too much junk."
"Thanks sooo much for embarrassing me, Robin, especially in front of…" Harry raised his eyebrow at his friend, pointedly looking at the man beside her.
"Oops, sorry Harry. Harry Potter, I would like you to meet my big brother, Joshua. Josh, this is Harry."
"So, you're the famous Harry Potter," Joshua smiled as he extended his hand. He laughed at Harry's shocked expression and continued, "Robbie has talked of little else since I got home. She tells me you're an up and coming young artist."
Harry relaxed when he realized the exact meaning of Joshua's words. For a moment, he had flashed back to his youth, growing up under the constant attention of the wizarding world. He beamed up at the other man, eyeing him appreciatively.
Joshua Davenport stood well over six feet tall, towering over Harry by a half a head, at least. He had tousled blond hair and vivid blue eyes, which were presently returning the young wizard's interested look. He moved gracefully into the condo and looked about the living room. "Nice place." Turning back to the couple standing near the door, he smiled at Dria, who was peeking up at him from under her eyelashes. "And you must be Dria. Nice to meet you, pretty girl." He tweaked her chin and laughed when she buried her head into Harry's neck.
Robin smugly watched as the two men interacted. She had been certain they would hit it off immediately—she loved her brother and thought he could do no better than Harry. Reaching out for the baby, she said, "Here, let me take her. You two can carry down everything else."
"Bossy little thing, aren't you?" joked Harry as he grabbed the beach chairs, Dria's diaper bag and the portable playpen. Joshua slung a bag over his shoulder and picked up the cooler, then the two men meekly followed the ladies down to the beach.
"Harry, Dria and I are going to paddle around in the waves for a bit. Why don't you and Josh get to know each other?" Robin slathered the toddler's fair skin with sunscreen and carried her to the water's edge.
Joshua and Harry smirked at each other—the blonde woman couldn't have been more obvious in her matchmaking. Harry took a beer from the cooler and held it up, silently offering one to the young American. At Joshua's nod, he removed a second bottle and handed it to him. The men gravitated toward an empty picnic table near the edge of the pavilion.
"So Harry Potter, tell me something. How did the Boy-Who-Lived end up living as a muggle next door to my sister and her fiancé?" Joshua took a swig of his drink as he watched the green-eyed man's reaction.
Harry choked on his beer and barely managed to answer, "I… ah… I haven't the slightest idea what you mean." A frisson of dread shot up Harry's spine as he gazed wide-eyed at the other man.
Joshua leaned closer and stated sotto voce, "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." When Harry remained still, he sighed and continued, "I believe Robin told you I've been in Europe the past year? What she doesn't know is I was serving as our government's liaison to the British wizarding world. There's no way she would believe that. Anyway, I heard many tales about the Boy-Who-Lived."
He glanced at Harry, who was still looking nervous and added, "Everyone's worried about you, you know. I take it no one knows where you are?"
Harry stared down at his half-empty beer bottle and softly answered, "No. Things were… well, let's just say getting out of England was uppermost in my mind at the time—I didn't tell anyone where I was going at the time and… I never corrected the situation."
"What happened? Someone threaten you?"
Snorting derisively, Harry replied, "No, I could have handled that." He paused then looked up into Joshua's questioning eyes, "My fleeing Hogwarts and my life there was merely the reaction of a young boy who had his heart broken by the one person he trusted most in this world."
"Ah, relationship problems." Joshua nodded understandingly. "We've all been through those. My tragic romance was during college. Matthew and I dated from our freshman year—I thought we were going to be together forever. Well, forever lasted until he got a job offer in California. He packed up and was gone within a week, leaving me devastated. It took me a long time to get over him—to be able to look at someone else with anything else in mind except friendship."
Harry asked, "How long?"
Joshua chewed on his lower lip as he thought then answered, "The better part of two years. Oh, the pain lessened quicker than that, but… I just didn't trust anyone anymore."
Harry smiled ruefully, "I can understand that. It's been just over a year and a half for me—I'm starting to put it behind me, but it's hard, especially since I have Dria." He peeked over at Joshua as he inquired, "Umm, how much do you know about the wizarding world?"
"Probably not enough—most of my dealings were on a diplomatic level. Why?"
"Did you know it's possible for a wizard to get pregnant?" Harry laughed at Joshua's shocked expression. "It has to do with our magical powers. If we want it enough, our magic makes it happen."
"So, Dria really is your daughter, in every sense of the word. She's beautiful. What about the other father? Does he have anything to do with her?"
Harry shook his head vehemently, "No, he doesn't even know she exists. I left him when I was three months pregnant—I was planning on telling him the night… the night…" His voice choked and the words slowly halted.
Joshua reached over and gently took the younger man's hand, whispering, "Do you want to talk about it? Sometimes it helps."
Nodding slightly, Harry stared out at the beach, where his daughter and friend were playing. The words began pouring from his lips as he reached into his memories for one of the darkest periods of his young life.
"I was feeling off—you know, like when you're getting the flu or a cold. I went to St. Mungos and saw one of the mediwitches there. She ran several tests, finally figuring out I was expecting a baby. Let me tell you—I was stunned, to say the least. I was raised by muggles, and had no idea a man could get pregnant. The mediwitch gave me some pamphlets to read and sent me off with a warning. The first three months of a male's term of pregnancy is fraught with risks, so I decided not to tell my husband about it until the danger was past." He looked down at his hand, surprised to see Joshua was still holding it and rubbing his thumb across Harry's palm in a comforting pattern. He glanced up and continued at Joshua's look of encouragement.
"Our one year wedding anniversary also marked the end of the waiting period—I had this whole romantic scenario planned. I arranged for a nice dinner, candles, flowers, soft music—everything I could think of. I took several days off from work and appararated to our cottage a day before our anniversary." He took a swig of his beer for courage and continued, "I was going to set everything up, then firecall my husband. However, when I walked into the cottage, I could tell something was wrong. I could hear voices, coming from the bedroom."
Harry's grip on the bottle in his hand tightened as he recalled what happened next, "I crossed the sitting room to the bedroom door and… and I saw… my husband, there, in bed—in our bed—with another man. To make matter worse—if that were possible—it was one of my worst enemies, a man who has hated me since I was a child. I stood there, unable to move or even breathe, just watching and listening. They were lying there, talking. The asshole was telling my so-called spouse about his plans to capture me and turn me over to Voldemort."
"Shit, Harry. What happened?"
Harry gave a bitter laugh and drank some more of his beer, "I quietly put the anniversary present I had brought onto the table and walked out of the cottage. I made it about ten steps past the door before I fell to my knees and puked my guts out. I apparated to the Leaky Cauldron then, where I spent the night. The next morning, I went to Gringotts and cleaned out my accounts, then purchased a plane ticket to New York. The rest, as they say, is history."
The two men sat in silence for a while, each lost in his own thoughts. Eventually Joshua stirred and asked hesitantly, "Harry, have you ever contacted a wizarding lawyer about child custody?"
"No, I never saw any need. Se… my husband is unaware of Dria's existence, so why cause myself unnecessary headaches?" Harry gazed down at the beach as his giggling daughter ran away from a small wave, Robin close behind her.
Joshua had a very serious expression on his handsome face as he stated, "Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but… Part of my duties as liaison was to provide legal advice in international custody cases. One of the last ones I worked on involved an American muggleborn witch and a British pureblood wizard. That case is actually very similar to your own situation. Mrs. Oakthorn left her husband and returned to America, where she gave birth to twin boys. Mr. Oakthorn was unaware of her pregnancy and was never notified about his sons' existence. Several years passed before he found out."
"And?"
"It was nasty, Harry. The court battle lasted for months, and… well, the wizarding laws supported Mr. Oakthorn. The fact that Mrs. Oakthorn was aware of her pregnancy when she left and never told him was a major strike against her." The blond man gave Harry an apologetic look as he continued, "Mr. Oakthorn's attorney alleged that he had been deprived of the experience of seeing his sons' birth and the joy of watching them mature. He was granted full custody, with Mrs. Oakthorn getting very limited visitation rights. She will regain some of her rights after five years, the same amount of time Mr. Oakthorn was unaware of the boys' existence."
"So you're saying my husband could sue me and possibly take Dria away from me? Fuck!" Harry raked his fingers through his already-messy hair then shook his head, "No—he might be a bastard, but he would never do something like that. Besides, I don't think he would even care about her—I don't think he likes children very much."
"Be that as it may, you would be better off forewarned, so to speak. I really think you need to get some advice from a family law attorney. I would hate to see you lose that precious little girl."
Harry nodded thoughtfully, "Yes, you're probably right. I'll contact someone tomorrow. Thanks, Joshua."
"No problem. Now, let's move on to a more pleasant topic. What are you doing on Friday evening?"
"Umm, nothing. Why?"
"How about having dinner with me? I know this great Greek place we could try, and afterward we could catch a movie or go out dancing. What do you say?"
Harry contemplated the other man's question for a minute. If he was ever to move on with his life, he needed to put Severus firmly in the past and consider the possibility of a relationship with someone else. He slowly nodded, "Sounds good, provided I can find a sitter for Dria. Why don't you come by around seven?"
Joshua beamed as he stood up, "Great. I'll be there. How about we go down and rescue Dria from my sister's clutches?" He peeled off his tee shirt and jeans, revealing his swimsuit underneath. Harry laughed and took off his shirt as well. His shorts would do as a suit. The two men wandered down to the beach and began a rousing game of chase with Harry's small daughter.
July 31, 2001—Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Severus walked up to the statue guarding the entrance to Albus Dumbledore's office and gave the password. As he entered the cluttered room, he looked around, surprised to find the Headmaster missing. The potions master had sent a message earlier, stating the need for a meeting.
As he stood there, undecided on whether he should leave or not, he heard a rustling from near one of the bookcases. The shelving slowly opened, revealing a hidden doorway. The gaudily dressed older man came into the room and said, "Severus, I'm sorry I'm late. There was a house matter that Professor Flitwick needed to discuss with me. Please, my boy, have a seat. Would you like some tea?"
"Thank you Albus, but no." Severus gracefully sat down in one of the overstuffed chairs near the Headmaster's desk and stated, "There is something major brewing, Albus. The Dark Lord is gathering the Death Eaters together, and he has hired outside agents, as well. They are stationed throughout the world, looking for something. Unfortunately, my sources were unable to tell me exactly what was being searched for."
The Headmaster stroked his beard, deep in thought. He eventually sighed and asked, "Do you think it has anything to do with Harry? Tom knows he can never truly win until he defeats the boy, so I would think finding Harry would be one of his top priorities."
"Yes, I'm afraid Harry is at the center of the Dark Lord's new plan. That blasted boy—he probably isn't even aware of what is going on around here. He's let no one know of his location, not even his best friends, so he most likely has cut himself off from the entire wizarding world. Otherwise, someone somewhere would have had word of him."
Albus carefully watched the other man as he asked, "Severus, I've never pried, however I am beginning to feel that I must. What exactly happened between the two of you that caused Harry's flight?"
Severus shifted uncomfortably in his chair, wanting to avoid the question. He knew his actions had driven his young husband away. Taking a deep breath, he replied, "Harry showed up at the cottage when I was 'entertaining' Lucius Malfoy. Remember, at that time, we had heard rumors that the Dark Lord was planning on kidnapping Harry. I had resumed my affair with Lucius in the hopes he would tell me about it. Lucius always talks more than he should."
"Harry didn't know about your relationship with Lucius?"
"Merlin's balls, Albus. How in the hell was I supposed to work that into a conversation? 'Oh, by the way Harry, the Order wants me to sleep with Malfoy so I can get information from him. Nothing to it, really.' Yes, I could see that going over well." The dark-haired wizard glared at his friend.
"Now, now, I mean no offense, Severus. I know that we've asked way too much from you over the years—if your assignment is what caused the break with Harry, then I am truly sorry. When we find him, I will do my utmost to mend the damage. I promise you that."
"Don't you mean if we find him?" Severus leaned forward in his chair, sorrow clearly written on his face, "I doubt anything we say will repair this, Albus. If Harry were interested in continuing our relationship, he would have returned by now. I have given up hope for a reconciliation. My main concern now is that he is safe."
"Never say never, my boy. Now, I feel we should contact the Order and update them about this new piece of information. Do you know exactly where the hired agents are located?"
Severus drew out a piece of paper from one of his pockets and handed it to the Headmaster. "You'll find everything I've learned written here, Albus. Please do contact the Order. They might have additional information, as well. I will continue to make inquiries, but I fear time is running short." He stood and brushed his black robes, saying, "Now, I have some potions that need my immediate attention. Please excuse me, Headmaster." With a nod, he turned and exited the office.
The Slytherin Head glided through the passageways of the school, deftly avoiding contact with anyone. He entered his rooms and quickly unbuttoned his robe, throwing it on the back of a nearby chair. He was wearing a pair of black trousers and a dark green silk shirt underneath. Severus walked over to a cabinet near the fireplace and took out a bottle of firewhiskey and a glass. He settled into his favorite chair and poured himself a stiff drink.
As he stared into the amber liquid, he thought back to the day that Harry had disappeared.
Severus had contacted Lucius and arranged to meet him at his and Harry's cottage. He didn't like the idea of holding the tryst there, but he couldn't allow Lucius into the dungeons at Hogwarts and had no desire to go to the Malfoy mansion.
The blond man had shown up, excited about the new plans that were being made by Voldemort. It had taken very little to get the man to talk—a simple blowjob had done the trick. Severus quickly got rid of Lucius afterward, not wanting to bask in the afterglow as the blond did.
Once Lucius was gone, Severus went into the sitting room, intending on apparating back to Hogwarts immediately. He had glanced around the room and noticed a small, brightly wrapped package sitting on the dining room table. His heart sank as he read the note attached, 'To Severus on our one year anniversary. With all my love, Harry.' The dark-haired spy realized that his spouse had shown up at the cottage and had probably seen him with Lucius.
Severus immediately went to the aurors' headquarters, where he talked to Kingsley Shacklebolt and found out that Harry had scheduled a vacation. He then returned to Hogwarts, hoping to find the other man there. When he found his rooms empty, he contacted the Weasleys, then everyone else he could think of, with no luck. His young husband had simply vanished.
The potions master had used every trick he knew during the first few weeks, searching frantically for his missing spouse. Gradually, over the next year, he realized that Harry was gone, possibly for good and gave up the hunt.
Severus rose from his chair and crossed into his bedroom. He moved to a trunk at the end of his bed and muttered a spell, unlocking the trunk's wards. He lifted the lid up and carefully took out the present Harry had left for him, still in its original wrapping. Clutching it to his chest, Severus slowly laid down on the bed. He wouldn't allow himself to cry—he hadn't cried in the nearly two years Harry had been missing. He closed his eyes and tried to will the pain away, to no avail.
Severus finally fell asleep, still holding the present tight to his body. As he dozed off, a faint whisper escaped his lips, "Harry…"
August 2, 2001—Oceanside, Georgia, United States
"Damn, damn, damn!" Harry stormed into his condo, throwing his art portfolio roughly onto the couch. He was glad he had already dropped Dria off with Robin for the evening—he could vent his anger without scaring the baby.
His meeting with his attorney that afternoon had not gone well. The pompous older man had looked over his glasses at Harry and informed him his case didn't look very promising. The lawyer opined that the best thing for Harry to do was to return to England, appeal to his spouse in person, and hope that Severus would not take an interest in his young daughter. If he did, the courts would most likely grant custody to the Hogwarts potions master.
Harry had no desire to face his husband, but after hearing what the attorney had said, he was afraid that if he didn't, he would lose his baby girl. There was no way he could allow that to happen—she was the only thing that had kept him sane the past two years.
Glancing at the clock, he realized he barely had time for a shower before Joshua arrived. The green-eyed man wished he could cancel the dinner, but he figured that Joshua was already on his way over to the condo. Sighing, he walked into his bedroom and began stripping off his clothes.
After a quick shower, Harry stood in front of his closet and tried to decide what to wear. He finally chose a pair of black jeans and a deep red polo shirt. He rapidly dressed and was attempting to tame his wild hair when he heard the doorbell ring.
Harry smiled at the sight of the man standing on the other side of the front door. Joshua was dressed similarly to Harry and was holding a bottle of wine in one hand.
Joshua grinned as he stepped into the condo, "So, ready for a big night on the town?" He handed the bottle to Harry, leaned over and gently kissed Harry's cheek.
Harry could feel his cheeks burning as he looked up into Joshua's laughing blue eyes. He didn't have much experience with flirting—his first and only relationship had been with Severus. He smiled shyly as he put the bottle on the kitchen counter then picked up his jacket.
Maybe a night out with Joshua could distract him from his problems. He could only hope.