Fairborn Adventures

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Chapter 88

June 27th, 1978

Hot air brushed over his chest in steady even breaths. A pair of lithe arms held on to him tight, pressing soft curves and warm skin against him. Blonde hair tickled his nose and blocked his vision.

'It's like sleeping next to a bloody furnace.'

Harry attempted to slip his toes out from underneath the blanket. 'And this one is way too thick for a summer night anyways.'

"No," Marlene murmured and curled her legs around his: "You're not sneaking off again. You'll stay right here with me..."

"It's very hot, love, you're practically radiating heat," Harry sighed: "I'm going to start sweating if you keep me under here."

"I don't mind," Marlene whispered and buried her face in the crook of his neck: "You'll be my sweaty pillow until we can take a shower together later on..."

"I could think of worse ways to start my last day at Hogwarts," Harry chuckled. 'And I have no plans of traveling back in time to repeat another few years.'

Marlene trailed a path of faint kisses down his neck: "This might be the last night we spend in this room." Her fingertips brushed over his chest and down to his abs: "I'm going to miss it a bit, I think. We've had a lot of firsts in here... and plenty of very good memories as well."

"I remember them all." Heat traveled down Harry's body as a few of his favorite images, along with Marlene's cute gasps and sweet, little moans, swirled in his mind.

"I can tell, Harry," Marlene chuckled into his neck. She snuggled even closer to him and sighed deeply: "But very soon we will spend the nights in our own bedroom, in our own little home."

"It's not really that little, is it?" Harry mused: "We should check with the goblins and see how far they've progressed with the renovations. Last I heard, the roof and plumbing have been fixed."

"We will have to cast some wards as well." Marlene's fingers curled around his shoulder: "And for that, we'll have to take down the Fidelius on either the Room or the Chamber. Two secrets are one too many for a single soul..."

"I've been thinking about it-" Harry said carefully, "-and I'm not sure that would be a good idea."

"What?" Marlene's hand stilled. She propelled herself up on her elbows, the velvet blanket tucked underneath her armpits to look at him incredulously: "You don't want to use the most powerful ward to protect our home, the place we want to raise a family?" A deep frown marred her face: "And why? To hide two rooms in a castle that Dumbledore will likely never let us enter again anyway?"

"I don't doubt that Voldemort already has one of his followers probing for the Room of Hidden Things periodically. We cannot allow them to enter and pass him the knowledge that the Diadem has been taken. It will be an uncertainty that keeps eating away at him," Harry explained.

"And as for the Chamber; the moment we lift the Fidelius, Dumbledore will turn Myrtle's Bathroom upside down. He will find the marked sink, and depending on how unfortunate we are, he might even know a parselmouth somewhere in the world that will help him enter. The last thing we need is Dumbledore noticing yet another similarity between me and Riddle. We cannot risk either of those scenarios, we have to keep up the charm in both locations."

Marlene was silent for a few seconds before she clenched her jaw: "I still don't like it, Harry."

"Neither do I, but there are other protections we can use for our home, equally as powerful ones." He reached out with his fingers, brushing his thumb over the small golden locket that dangled in the valley of her cleavage. "They'll just be a bit more abstract..."

"Blood magic?" Marlene whispered. Her brows twisted: "But that wouldn't be all, would it? To protect something of such importance, you'd need a sacrifice... something dear to you."

Harry nodded solemnly: "Yes."

"We've sacrificed enough already, Harry!" Her eyes turned a shade darker, her nails dug into his chest: "The few things and people we have left are too precious to sacrifice. What could you even use as-"

She paused, her mouth open in a small gape: "You ancestor's tome?"

Harry swallowed with a nod: "Aurelius has taught me everything he knows, week after week for almost two years now."

"But I know what he means to you!" Marlene frowned: "And he was the most accomplished wizard of his time, not even mentioning that he was the master of all three Hallows for half a century. There must be tons you can still learn from him!"

"I'm willing to sacrifice that knowledge in exchange to create something permanent," Harry said.

"Permanent?" Marlene echoed. "How so?"

"The wards on our future home will be powered like those of the Chamber of Secrets," Harry explained: "They will never fade, even after my Death, and only my- our blood- will ever be able to invite people in there."

Marlene shook her head: "Magic like that requires a bigger sacrifice than some yellowed old parchment, an overabundance of ink, and ancient knowledge. Even sacrificing your personal relationship with him won't hold up."

"You're right of course," Harry admitted with a small, sad smile: "But you misunderstood the intention. I won't sacrifice the tome; Aurelius will sacrifice himself.

She was silent for a few seconds, her eyes shifting in between his.

"His dreams of witnessing the prosperity of his last descendants..." Marlene whispered: "His desire to guide all the future generations of Peverells and consult them throughout their life..."

"Aurelius is willing to sacrifice it all in exchange for the assurance that his blood will prevail, even if that means he won't ever see it for himself..." Harry finished for her.

"But will it be enough?" Marlene swallowed, fixing the blanket underneath her armpits again.

"We think so," Harry pondered, tearing his eyes up from where the fabric had slipped momentarily: "The imprint he left of himself in his tome might not be human, but its dreams are the same they had been when he took his last breath. Magic will recognize and value giving up on all that."

'At least I hope so. One can never be sure with abstract magic.'

"He's taught me lots as well over the years. I still remember how quickly he approved of me and treated me just like a daughter." Marlene held his eye, biting her bottom lip: "I should spend some more time with him and give him my thanks."

"Aurelius considers it an honor." Harry gently cupped her jaw and tilted it down for a kiss until her lips curled and she sighed in contentment: "And he pretty much saw the future Lady Peverell the moment I first mentioned you."

"Good-" desire smoldered in the depths of her blue eyes. Marlene let the blanket slip out from underneath her arms and straddled his lap, leaning down until she was pressed against his chest:

"-because I can't wait to finally share your name, Harry." Her hands roamed through his hair, dragging lightly while her hips began moving back and forth at a torturing pace: "That reminds me, we still have a wedding to plan at our new home, including our wedding night..."

"I-" Harry's breath came ragged. His finger dug into the soft curve of her hip, traveling south: "-I didn't know the latter required planning..."

"Oh, I have plenty of plans for that night," Marlene whispered into his ear before her lips came crushing on his again.

Harry was about to tighten his hold and flip them over when she suddenly pulled back with a wide smirk.

"Wh- what are-"

"Sorry for teasing you, love." She pecked his lips one more time before wiggling off his crotch with an apologetic pat on the chest: "But there's quite a lot of things we need to get done before boarding the Express in a few hours."

"You're a cruel witch, Marlene," Harry groaned in disappointment: "You even said we'd take a shower together."

"That was before we got caught up discussing your favorite branch of magic again." She jumped off the bed and began picking up discarded items of clothing: "As much as I'd like to continue, we won't get any breakfast if we let things get hot and heavy now, Harry, we never do."

'She's not wrong.' Harry reluctantly admitted.

"What about-" his eyes followed her as she got dressed, "we could try to make it quick..."

"I think I'd rather wait for tonight when you're all worked up about it," Marlene giggled. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and glanced back at him, batting long eyelashes: "I'll let you do whatever you want with me then... anyway you'd like me..."

"I like the sound of that," Harry grinned and heaved himself out of the bed. "And I suppose it will make up for blue-balling me all day, just barely."

"It's not blue-balling!" Marlene laughed and clasped her bra behind her back: "As you call it, it's 'just the right amount of teasing'."

"Cruelty," Harry muttered under his breath as he got dressed, spinning his wand between his fingers while he waited for Marlene to fix her hair.

"I see you're already practicing your pout for when our NEWT results come in." Marlene strolled over to him with a bounce in her step, smiling widely: "How does it feel to get beaten in classes that you've taken twice?"

"You know I don't care about most of the theory stuff." Harry rolled his eyes and reached for the door handle: "Magic is meant to be performed and I remember only one of us having the entire Great Hall in shock after his performance."

The door to the room opened and they slipped past.

"Even Dumbledore admit-" The word died on Harry's tongue seeing the very person standing in the corridor with his back turned toward them, studying the giant tapestry of the dancing troll like it's the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen.

'I suppose the day wasn't off to the greatest start anyways.'

"Headmaster..." Harry acknowledged him, instinctively taking a small step closer to Marlene.

"Ah." Dumbledore turned around, a good-natured smile on his wrinkled face: "Don't let me interrupt you, Harry. I believe to have heard my name?"

"Nothing of importance, I had just finished, sir." Harry took Marlene's hand: "Have a good day."

"As interesting as this tapestry might be, I did not come here to stare at it." Dumbledore took a step sideways, blocking their path, the ridiculous, grandfatherly smile still fixed on his face: "When I couldn't find the two of you at breakfast, I figured you must be up here in the Room."

"That is such unfortunate timing-" Marlene returned the smile with one of her own, "-because breakfast is just where we're heading now. If you would excuse us, sir."

"Not so fast, my dear." Dumbledore didn't show any inclination to move out of the way: "I have shown lengths of leniency to the two of you that would have any of my predecessors and even the current board of governors call for my immediate dismissal. I allowed you, two young students, who back then were not of age, to spend entire nights in this room together, because I believed it to be reasonable given your mutual affection. Now I wish to talk to your fiancé, Ms. McKinnon, and you will abide by my wish."

"I couldn't think of anything we still have to say to another, Professor," Harry raised his eyebrows.

"You will find that we have a great deal to talk about, my boy, which is why you will follow me to my office for a chat. In the meantime, Ms. McKinnon-" Dumbledore held up a hand when Marlene opened her mouth, "-will be steering down to breakfast, where she can prepare a lunch box for you, shall it take us longer than expected. Alternatively, you might head towards the kitchens before boarding the Express. Our diligent elves told me you were the most frequent visitors over the last few years..."

'Why does he have to be so annoying?'

Harry soothingly traced his thumb over the palm of Marlene's hand. He glanced down at her with a small, reassuring smile: "Secure a piece of treacle tart for me, will you, love?"

Marlene held his gaze questioningly for a few seconds before nodding. "I'll find the biggest piece." She stood on her tiptoes and pecked his cheek. "See you later, love."

"Headmaster." She tossed her hair over her shoulder and strode past him, heels clicking on the stone tiles of the seventh floor.

"I shall lead the way." Dumbledore smiled and strolled towards his office.

"Jelly Belly, old friend," he told the gargoyle guarding the staircase, which promptly moved aside.

Fawkes curiously peeked up from his porch as they entered. He chirped in greeting, his large black eyes fixed on Harry while Dumbledore took a seat behind his desk.

'Only him and me then… great.'

"Now then, Harry," Dumbledore smiled over his half-moon glasses: "You must wonder why I invited you to have this talk before you soon leave the school."

'Invited.' Harry bit back a snort. "You seemed rather insistent, sir. I'm dying to know why."

"Perhaps each of us could agree to be honest during this conversation." Dumbledore proposed: "It will make things less complicated and perhaps even enable you to join Ms. McKinnon for breakfast."

"A splendid idea," Harry chuckled.

"How did you like your time at the castle, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, stroking his long white beard: "It's been shorter than that of most students, but still rather eventful wouldn't you say?"

'Nice try.'

"Hogwarts is... amazing," Harry agreed truthfully: "It's the first place I've ever felt home. I've made friends for life here."

"You seemed to have met the love of your life as well, haven't you? I still remember seeing your eyes linger on Ms. McKinnon a tad longer than anyone else the night you were sorted." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled: "Should the wizarding public expect the announcement of a wedding anytime soon?"

'Most definitely.'

"Perhaps." A small smile graced Harry's lips. "Though it will be held in a rather small circle. I'm afraid that you won't be receiving an invitation, sir."

The surrounding portraits of former headmasters and mistresses shook their heads at his hidden insult. Dumbledore ignored them.

"And what are your plans for after the knot is tied?" the headmaster asked with a chuckle: "Neither you nor Ms. McKinnon revealed anything promising as one might expect from students who showed such an aptitude during their NEWTs. Horace has been complaining non-stop about it."

"Nothing has changed in that department from our last talk," Harry said. "We will take some time off, travel a bit, and simply see where Mother Magic's whims take us."

"Are you planning on getting involved in the war?" Dumbledore asked, keeping the tone casual.

"Not particularly," Harry denied: "It seems very risky. I'm more of a man of peace."

"You've had a rather violent streak on our shores for that, don't you think?" The twinkle vanished from Dumbledore's eyes.

"Sir?" Harry feigned surprise.

"I thought we agreed on speaking the truth for once." The headmaster folded his wrinkled hands. "How many lives have you taken already, Harry?"

"Two, and both because I had no choice." Harry held his gaze, raising two fingers one after the other: "Lucius Malfoy and Rodolphus Lestrange."

"I believe your list is incomplete, my boy, and even both your hands won't cover it." The Headmaster spoke calmly but Harry could slowly tell the change in tension, as did Fawkes, who chirped behind him: "I believe you've taken dozens of lives, perhaps almost a hundred between Ms. McKinnon and yourself..."

'Each of them deserved it. Each of them was necessary.'

"I believe you're very wrong," Harry replied. "You almost make me look like some sort of serial killer in such an esteemed company." He gestures to the many portraits.

"I could have expelled you almost two years ago, but instead I decided to keep you here at Hogwarts." Dumbledore inclined his head like a curious child: "Do you know why I did so?"

"Please enlighten me, sir."

"I feared that by pushing you away, I'd make matters even worse," Dumbledore sighed: "I played a not so insignificant part in the creation and rise of the two recent Dark Lords in Europe. I was so determined to do better, to learn from my past mistakes. I even talked to one of my oldest friends about you and adhered to his advice, giving you space and not interfering in your affairs."

"How curious." This time Harry was unable to hide the snort: "I never got the feeling you did, sir."

Dumbledore ignored his jab: "I saw the potential you had the moment you stepped foot into my castle, but I also saw the parallels and similarities to two other boys I once met. I admit I was concerned, greatly so. And so I watched you closely and what I saw over the last two and a half years I did not like. Time and time again I warned you of the path you've chosen and tried to steer you away from it. Tell me, Harry, why did I fail?"

"I cannot answer that question, Headmaster, I don't think you've failed." Harry shrugged: "I also think it's quite ridiculous to compare me to the likes of Grindelwald and Voldemort. It's almost insulting..."

"Is it really, Harry?" Dumbledore shook his head sadly: "Each of you has murdered, more than once for selfish reasons. Each of you thinks that the goals justify the means. Each of you would stop at nothing to see your vision of this world, your dream, come true."

"You know nothing of my dreams, Dumbledore." Ice slipped into Harry's voice: "If I had the chance to, I'd take those I care for and leave Britain forever. It's people like you that try to stop me from it. People like you and Voldemort, who each choose to be obstacles in my path and keep taking things away from me."

Dumbledore frowned: "If the path to your dream is blocked by one obstacle after the other, then maybe you've chosen the wrong path, my boy, perhaps even the wrong dream..."

'They don't get it. None of them do.'

Harry snorted audibly. Then he laughed. High, cold laughter filled the Headmaster's office, echoing from the walls and distressing Fawkes.

"I don't want to rule the world, I don't see myself at the top, above everyone else. I want what I've always wanted... What I've been robbed of my entire life. I want my family, Dumbledore."

The headmaster was silent for a few seconds. "I can understand that sentiment, better than you'll ever believe me to, but your methods for achieving it are those of an oppressor, a monster even." Dumbledore snapped his fingers, lighting the fireplace to his left: "If I were to call Alastor Moody right now and have him place Marlene under arrest, then I don't doubt for a second that you'd create a bloodbath in the middle of the Great Hall."

Harry rolled his eyes: "What is it with these hypothetical situations..."

"They show that the lines have blurred already. Your lines, Harry. For you it doesn't matter any longer if the people you murder are Death Eaters, pureblood sympathizers, or if they simply disagree with you," Dumbledore explained: "Your world became black and white. Anyone that you deem to be in the way, anyone who becomes an obstacle or an inconvenience has to be removed..."

"I don't think we'll ever see eye to eye on this, Headmaster," Harry sighed, shaking his head: "You're firmly set to see the worst in me."

"I don't think you've shown me the worst of you yet, my boy. Which is why I will give you this one last warning." Dumbledore's blue-eyed gaze bored into his: "You're a threat, Harry, not to me, but to our society just as Voldemort is and just as Gellert Grindelwald once was. A doom that lingers on the distant horizon, waiting to consume anything in its path. The same way I made preparations to move against Voldemort and his followers, the same way I'm willing to do what is necessary to quench the spark of a second threat before it spreads into a wildfire. I waited too long the last two times, I will not do so again."

Harry pushed back his chair abruptly, startling Fawkes who chirped in warning.

'How dare he.'

Heat bubbled in his stomach, threatening to spill over, lazing his every thought. He felt an itch in his fingers, an itch to flick his wand: "I don't want to consider you an enemy, Dumbledore. I never did."

"Neither did I," the Headmaster smiled sadly as he stood up well: "But I'm afraid you might leave me with no choice the next time we meet."

"You will come to regret this, Dumbledore," Harry snorted, controlling the overwhelming urge to curse the foolish old man. A layer of ice crept over the bowl of sweets placed between them with angry small hisses. "I'm not the enemy you should be focusing on."

"Focus, no, perhaps not..." Dumbledore inclined his head, studying the frozen sweets with a deep frown. His face seemed to have aged a decade in mere seconds: "But how can I live myself for not intervening a third time when I already should have done so shortly after you set foot into my school?"

"This is your final word?"

"I'm afraid it is." He nodded sadly.

"Then we have nothing more to say to each other." Harry turned and headed for the door, passing Fawkes who moaned a heartbreaking melody.

"You're a capable wizard, Harry Peverell." The Headmaster's voice rang from over his shoulder: "Unlike with any other student, the time is long gone when I could intimidate you with mere words and discourage you from committing further atrocities. But I wish I could, Harry, I wish I could..."

Hogwarts Express

With a high, shrill whistle from its steam engine, the Hogwarts Express began to pick up momentum, leaving behind Hogsmeade station and the small gathering of waving villagers that usually came to say their goodbyes.

Marlene's eyes followed the high towers, sharp roofs, and many windows that reflected the bright sunlight until Hogwarts castle was swallowed by the wild Scottish scenery.

'Gone. And I doubt we're most welcome there any time soon.'

The shoulder she had rested her head against suddenly flinched. She glanced up at Harry. Her fiancé's expression was one of sorrow and regret, loathing and bitterness.

'His talk with Dumbledore can't have been good,' Marlene frowned, drawing small circles over his palm with her thumb: 'But he should know better than to keep it a secret from me. Secrets are silly.'

His green eyes found her and softened. The dark shadows faded away before he closed them and sighed.

"Feels so strange, doesn't it?" Sirius, sitting opposite her, murmured and tore his gray eyes from the window in their compartment: "To leave knowing we won't come back after the summer."

"Well... you won't." James ran a hand through his hair with a grin and wrapped his arm around Lily's shoulder: "Lily and I will be back in two months to begin our masteries."

Sirius withered: "I can't believe you get to go back to the castle, playing some pranks on a fresh batch of firsties while I'll be stuck with my cranky grandfather." He ignored the redhead's head huff as she closed her book and glared at him. "Perhaps I should have run away and let Regulus deal with all this bloody 'Lord of the family' and Wizengamot bullshit."

"How's your brother faring in Slytherin anyway?" Marlene asked curiously: "I think I've mostly seen him by himself this year."

"Perhaps the most Slytherin thing he's ever done, although I doubt it was by choice." Sirius grimaced: "Regulus had been running in the same circles as most of the junior Death Eaters before grandfather changed the family's political outlook and allied himself with the two of you." He nodded at Harry and James. "They must have grown too wary of him, irrespective of what a perfect recruit he'd make with his blood status, so they kicked him out of their little club."

"But- is he- you know, still convinced of their aims?" Lily peaked up from behind her book.

"Honestly, I'm not too sure," Sirius sighed: "My harlot of a mother has poisoned his brain with her bigoted nonsense for years. Still, I think witnessing a few of the Slytherins not returning from their raids might have discouraged him. He's an idiot but he's still my brother, I don't want to see him dead."

"Then he should keep staying away from them," Harry murmured, eyes still closed.

Sirius frowned, exchanging a quick glimpse with James and Lily.

"Are you okay, Harry?" James questioned hesitantly: "You haven't said a word since we left the castle until now."

"I'm fine," Harry dismissed him.

"Well, it can't be a lover's quarrel because blondie here still looks about ready to jump his lap," Sirius chuckled: "Must be something else then..."

"Leave it, Sirius." Lily said sharply, eyes softening when they turned to Harry: "Are you looking forward to the summer, Harry?"

"I do," Harry said, a tad more friendly. His fingers squeezed hers: "Quite a lot actually. We have big plans..."

"Shit, I almost forgot!" James grinned: "You guys are about to get married!"

"We'll definitely take him to a muggle strip club on his last night of freedom." Sirius roared in laughter and nudged James with his elbow: "I've read about this muggle city in America, Las Vegas is what it's called, reckon we'd get a portkey to there?"

"I firmly advise against it." Lily wrinkled her nose and rolled her eyes at them.

"Seconded!" Marlene smiled coldly. "And if I hear one more mention of muggle strippers, stag night is canceled indefinitely."

"You can't do that!" Sirius paled and swallowed. He eyed her warily while attempting a weak chuckle: "Fine, no muggles then. But no worries, Harry, I know a place in Knockturn that enjoys an excellent reputation. Apparently, they even have a Veela!"

"No, thanks," Harry chuckled: "I choose life."

"Yeah, Padfoot, I think you might want to stop..." James slowly edged further from Marlene.

Her sharp nails dug into Harry's thigh, she fixed the cold smile on her face: "My fiancé knows what happens to him, shall he voluntarily or involuntarily see a single patch of female skin he shouldn't. And trust me, I will know if something happened."

"Bloody scary this, and so possessive..." Sirius shuddered: "It's not too late to run, you know," he added with a grin to Harry.

"Running is pointless." Harry tilted her chin up to meet his lips in a peck until she felt her pout melt away: "Every path would only lead right back to her. It's where I belong for the rest of my life."

"Good answer." Marlene captured his lips in another, more heated kiss: "And why should you run? No one could be as perfect for you as I am."

"Not even a Veela for a night?" Sirius grinned.

He caught a slap on the back of his head from Lily.

"I think I'll head to the restrooms." Marlene stood from the bench and smoothened out her skirt, tossing her braid over her shoulder: "No more talk about Veela or strippers when I come back, or I will hex you."

Harry's amused chuckle faded away as she slipped through the door and into the hallway. She headed towards the direction of travel, dodging the trolley lady and tearing her eyes away from a bar of Honeydukes chocolate.

'Harry better get that one for me or his blue balls will last even longer.'

A small frown wrinkled her brows: 'Although he might not be in the mood for that later on anyways.'

Conversation was carried over to her. A group of first years blocked the path, unlike the majority of the school, they still wore their uniform, showing highlights of green and silver.

"-but you can all come over to my place during the summer," a boy with neatly trimmed hair stated proudly: "Father will be away for at least another month on some business trip and mother usually lets me do as I wish..."

'Business trip? But isn't that...'

Marlene paused and waited right beside the boy. His friends looked up and paled as they caught her staring down at them.

One of them swallowed and tapped his housemate on the shoulder, pointing up.

The small boy squeaked when he turned around, staggering back into his friends in freight: "I didn't do anything," he pleaded eyes widened in terror.

"What's your name?" Marlene asked calmly, the tip of her wand slipping out and pointing at her opposite feet.

"Wal- Walden McNair," the boy stammered, shivers on his entire body.

"Named after your father, right?"

"Yes- yes." He fidgeted with his fingers, hands trembling.

"Good." Marlene leaned back and smiled: "Your shoe is open, Walden. You should tie it before you trip."

She turned back around, chuckling when the group released a combined, deep breath and someone crouched to the ground.

Walking straight back to their compartment, Marlene burst in and nestled herself on Harry's side.

"That was... quick," he chuckled: "Is the hallway so crowded that you apparated?"

"No," Marlene leaned closer and whispered in his ear." But I still had an interesting encounter. Truly inspiring actually..."

"Oh, did you?" Harry's attention was now firmly caught, even though he continued absently playing with her long braid, twirling the ends between his fingers: "Is it something you'd like to share with me."

"I will only share that I found a location for our vacation this summer," Marlene smiled: "The rest is going to be a little surprise for later."