CHAPTER TWELVE
Flame you came for me, fire meet gasoline
I do not own Harry Potter
-o0o0o0o-
Sirius Black and Lucius Malfoy apparated to where they believed another Horcrux was being held.
Grimmauld Place. Sirius could not quite explain it, but he had felt a darkness emanating from his family home through the wards that were connected to him as Lord Black.
He had been pushing it off for as long as he could, not wanting to go to the home that was the object of such trauma and denied grief.
This was the last place he saw his little brother. Before Voldemort killed him.
He didn't want to feel it. Refused to mourn the death of a man he knew was a death eater. But here he was, standing with Lucius Malfoy in the dark and decrepit entrance hall of his home, and for a moment, he allowed himself to feel the grief of losing his brother.
"Are you sure you want to be here for this, Sirius?" Lucius asked his companion softly. He noted the haunted look in his friend's grey eyes, and felt his heart twinge in compassion.
Not pity. Never pity. Lucius Malfoy would never pity Sirius Black. That would disrespect everything this man stood for, everything he accomplished.
Sirius Black, the man that raised Harry Potter. Sirius Black, the man that was wrongfully imprisoned in Azkaban. Sirius Black, the man that actively fights for the rights of werewolves, veelas, centaurs, and more creatures than Lucius can name. Sirius Black, one of the most feared Lords in the Wizengamot and rightfully so.
Very few of them fought in the last Blood War. Very few of them bear the scars and trauma of watching allies, comrades, friends, and brothers in arms fall.
And Lucius. Lucius fought for the wrong side. He knows that now. And he will do everything he can for the remainder of his days to rectify that error.
He knew he fought for the wrong side the moment he looked into the emerald eyes of Harry Potter. He knew he fought for the wrong side when one summer he woke up to the sobbing of an innocent child, crying out for his mother and father after having a nightmare.
Only the nightmare was not a nightmare, it was a memory.
Nobody else was awake that night. His room had been the nearest to Harry's and he did not want to wake Narcissa after she had a difficult night with Draco.
So Lucius had walked into Harry's room. The little boy was thrashing within the covers, tears and snot running down his face that was screwed up in agony and terror.
He gently shook Harry, who woke up and looked at Lucius with such innocent, glassy eyes.
"Unca Lucy?" He whispered. So innocently. Lucius simply held onto Harry. Cradled him until the pair fell asleep together.
Nobody asked him about it the morning after, and Lucius and Harry had never mentioned it.
He shook himself off his stupor having heard Sirius' voice, equally as soft as his own.
"Yes. I need to be here." Sirius answered back.
"Kreacher!" he called clearly. The old, raggedy house elf appeared, sneering at Sirius.
"Blood traitor master has called for Kreacher, oh my mistress would roll in her grave," he lamented.
"Kreacher, shut up." Sirius commanded. The elf immediately stopped talking.
"We're looking for an object of the Dark Lord's." Lucius said, his voice soft yet commanding. "It could be anything, but it radiates the most vile magic known to man."
"Master Regulus' locket," Kreacher mumbled, so low Sirius barely heard it. But he did.
"What did you just say?" Sirius asked softly, his voice threateningly low.
"Master Regulus' locket. Oh!" he wailed. "Kreacher is a bad elf. Kreacher tried to destroy it! He tried, but the locket would not break!"
The elf began to get hysterical. "Kreacher, I'm going to need you to tell me what happened." Lucius said consolingly. "We will destroy the locket, but you need to tell me what happened."
"No no no! Kreacher was ordered not to tell! Kreacher promised!" He whimpered.
Sirius hated having to do this, but he had no other choice. "Kreacher, as Lord of your House I demand you to tell us." His heart was thundering so loudly he feared the whole of London could hear it.
Kreacher struggled and struggled until he finally relented.
"When Master Regulus was finally entering into the Dark Lord's ranks, he was so excited. But then months passed by, and he began to not eat. Not sleeping. Master Regulus was regretting joining the dark lord, it showed more and more every day." Kreacher began. "But one day the Dark Lord asked Master Regulus for an elf. Reluctantly, he offered up Kreacher. The Dark Lord took me to a place..a horrible horrible place. Kreacher was riding on a boat. Kreacher did not want to do this. He made Kreacher drink a horrible potion!" He was sobbing by now, and Lucius and Sirius were growing more and more disturbed the more they heard the story.
"Everything was dark. Voices were filling Kreacher's head. It burned. But Master Regulus had ordered Kreacher to come home after business had been done. So Kreacher did. Master Regulus was horrified at what happened. He..he was Kreacher's friend." Kreacher cried.
"So Master Regulus made a replica locket and ordered Kreacher to take him to the cave. He instructed Kreacher to leave. Master Regulus had consumed the potion. He was turning on the Dark Lord. He instructed Kreacher to take the original locket and destroy it. He said no matter what, Kreacher must destroy it."
Sirius felt everything constrict. His throat. His heart. His brother turned. His brother died trying to kill the Dark Lord.
His brother had figured out what it had taken them years longer to learn.
I should have known, truly. Sirius thought wryly. Regulus was always the smarter one.
Kreacher was wailing now, and Lucius was at a loss. Regulus Black had turned. Regulus had defected. Nobody had any idea. None of them. A testament to the power, the talent, and the friend they had lost.
"Can you bring the locket?" Lucius asked kindly. "We are going to destroy it. We are going to fulfil Master Regulus' wishes."
Kreacher glowed for a moment, and disappeared and came back within one second. The Locket felt…horrible. Somehow even worse than the others.
More sinister. Perhaps he placed more of his soul in this container than the others, but it mattered not.
Lucius placed the horcrux in a magic dampening bag. Sirius was catatonic, but he placed a hand on the elf's head gently.
"You..you're a good elf, Kreacher. If you need anything..come to Potter Manor."
Kreacher nodded, eyes filling with tears. "Thank you, Master Sirius." He turned and apparated away, and Lucius and Sirius did the same.
-o0o0o0o-
With the paired portrait frame made and hung into the library of Potter Manor, Lucius and Sirius immediately went straight for the library, disregarding every form of questioning from the family who followed them.
"Salazar! Rowena! Helga! Godric!" Lucius called them all, waiting patiently for them to appear.
"Hello Lucius, dear." Rowena greeted.
"Are you alright, Sirius?" Helga asked concernedly. "You look a bit peaky."
"I'm fine, Helga." Sirius answered warmly. He wasn't. He would deal with it on his own.
"We have found another horcrux, and…Salazar, it's your locket." Lucius said softly.
Slytherin began grumbling and cursing whilst Rowena smirked. "Ha!" She said under her breath.
"Shut it, Rowena." Salazar grumbled.
"We suspect he would have an artefact from each of the founders. The only one of Helga's that was circulating around his time was the cup." Sirius said.
"No! Not the cup! It's solid gold." Helga grumbled, annoyance building within her painted form.
"And the only other one would be the sword of Godric Gryffindor, but there's no possible way he could get that." Remus mused aloud.
Gryffindor smirked. "I have it keyed to my blood and magic. Only a true Gryffindor at heart could use and access the sword."
"Riddle is as Slytherin as it comes," Frank muttered.
"That bastard has no claim to me, nor my house. He is the exact opposite of what Slytherins were. What Slytherins should be." Salazar snapped.
"Well, what are we going to do?" Andromeda asked.
"We do what we're already doing. Playing the long game. Compiling information and training until we drop." Cassie answered swiftly.
Salazar nodded in approval. "Now that is very Slytherin."
She smirked.
-o0o0o0o-
The looming presence of the dementors seemed to suck out every vestige of life from Hogwarts.
The children felt every inch of joy being ripped away from them, and the boggart incident had not helped at all.
It has been months since, and winter break was looming. Harry had every single world cup private box ticket waiting in his nightstand for him to mail out. The ones counting his family are all with them, but the others from the teams are Harry's presents to them.
As they were already leaving tomorrow, Harry was preparing to send them all out, though he was upset he wouldn't see the reactions of his friends.
Harry was preparing to send the presents out until he got a letter from Sirius' owl, Regal.
"You got something for me, boy?" Harry cooed, taking the letter and feeding the owl some owl treats.
Regal hooted in thanks and flew right off, back to Potter Manor.
Harry froze as he read the contents of the letter. Sirius' writing was shaky, and there were some stray tear drops staining the parchment.
They had found another horcrux.
Regulus Black had turned on the Dark Lord.
How many more could this man have made? Harry thought in anguish, his eyes travelling the letter over and over again, reading Sirius' pureblood scrawl multiple times.
He didn't know what to do. Voldemort was a monster, that much he knew.
But this? When will these abominations end? This was the fourth one, counting the horcrux that until recently was in Harry's scar.
Harry sighed, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders as he prepared to call his friends and have another one of their meetings.
Harry could not help but feel he dragged his friends and family into the burden that was supposed to be only his to bear.
He knew it had to be him, and could not, for the life of him, understand why they stood by him the way they do.
But he was beyond thankful for that fact.
-o0o0o0o-
Oliver Wood's mother Tatiana and his father Tobias woke him early Christmas morning. He yawned as he blindly walked down the stairs of Wood Manor, stumbling along the way quite a few times.
He blearily blinked his eyes as he saw the stack of presents, and sitting atop a decorated box, a small envelope with his name written on it.
He kissed his mother and father good morning before walking over and picking up the envelope, curious to see what was inside. He tore open the envelope, and there was a letter inside.
Dear Oliver,
I have had these tickets ready for you since my second year, when you and our friends defended me and had my back during a vulnerable moment for me. I hope you will enjoy them. Merry Christmas, friend.
Harry Potter
Oliver blinked owlishly, and reached into the envelope and pulled out a singular world cup ticket. A private box ticket. He stared for a moment, completely catatonic before bursting into tears. His heart swelled with happiness and love for his little friend.
-o0o0o0o-
Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, Miles Bletchley, Alicia Spinnett, and Adrian Pucey had decided to be together this Christmas.
They had all gotten extremely close, what with Adrian and Katie dating and Miles wanting to date Alicia. A secret known by everyone in the room other than Alicia.
They had descended down the stairs of Pucey Manor, as Adrian's home was the biggest, thus having the most room for them.
Sitting atop each pile of presents for them all was a singular envelope, one for each of them with their names written.
"It's from Harry," Miles said, smiling softly as he read the letter.
They each tore through the envelope, and what they found inside made their throats go dry and a lump of emotion arose in their chests.
"He didn't," Alicia said disbelievingly.
"He did," Adrian said, fondness in his tone.
"We're going to the word cup with the Blacks and Potters," Angelina said softly. Katie was ecstatic.
"My present is going to pale in comparison," She murmured.
-o0o0o0o-
Marcus Flint had a hard time making friends. He knew that. So when Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy came around asking about a pickup game, he had never expected what was going to happen.
He was not the easiest person to get along with, and knew he had his faults.
His parents were not aware as to why he was sobbing over an envelope on Christmas Morning, but as Marcus Flint clutched his world cup ticket, the only thing repeating in his mind was one thought.
I have friends. I finally have friends.
Lucian Bole and Graham Montague sat in a still silence, surrounded by Marcus' soft happy crying in shock. They don't know what they did to deserve Harry's generosity, but they were glad they had a friend like Harry Potter in their corner.
-o0o0o0o-
Harry's closest friends got the World Cup tickets along with another, more personal, present.
He had given Theo a book and a portkey that was keyed to his own blood. The portkey itself was a silver bracelet that was of the highest quality with protection charms.
He had explained to Theo in a letter that if he were ever in danger – be it at home or otherwise – all he would need to do is say Sanctuary and it would take him to where Harry was.
The book itself was a book about wards – as Theo was fascinated by wards and ward schemes – and how to make and dismantle them. As well as sensing them. Theo was left alone the entirety of Christmas, his father either forgetting or not caring.
Theo took out his little box that he hid in the crevices of his floor boards and gingerly placed Harry's letter, the book, and the ticket in it. He stared at the bracelet clasped around his wrist and touched it gently.
"Thank you, brother." he whispered.
-o0o0o0o-
Daphne had gotten a portkey necklace from Harry, much the same as Theo's, but hers had her family crest imprinted on the back binding of the stone. On the front was a sapphire, that Harry said was the colour of her eyes. She smiled softly.
He had gotten her a rune carving kit as well, as he knew she loved Ancient Runes and wanted to develop her talent in it even further.
-o0o0o0o-
Hermione appeared to have gotten an entire library of books from Harry. Ranging from Muggle Literature to Magical Battle Strategy books. She was incredibly happy with her gifts, and she fingered the bracelet she got from Harry as well.
Harry was sending them all portkey's, for a reason that she didn't know. She got the foreboding feeling they would all need them sooner rather than later.
-o0o0o0o-
The twins had sobbed vehemently at the present Harry had given them.
It was start-up money for their joke shop, and a signed and legitimate contract stating Harry, Draco, and Neville as silent partners.
They each wore their own bracelets Harry had given them only days prior, and it glowed, as if allowing the comfort and presence of Harry with them.
-o0o0o0o-
Neville, Draco, and Harry were able to exchange gifts personally, as their families were spending Christmas together.
Harry had gotten Neville and Draco dragon hide wand holsters enchanted so if they got disarmed, the wand would appear right back in their holster.
He had gotten Draco a book of Battle Spells and a Potions kit.
He gave Neville a book of Battle spells as well that catered more to Neville's affinity of Charms and Transfiguration rather than Draco's affinity of curses and illusionary magic.
He had also gotten Neville a rare plant that even he could not pronounce the name of, as the boy loved Herbology.
The boys got portkey's of their own, but theirs were necklaces with their family crest carved out in jewels and crystals.
Harry had personally loved every gift he had been given. Books of battle magic, wand holsters like the ones he gave to the boys, dragonhide armour, and more.
This Christmas was one of Harry's favourites, and the smile that was on his face since opening the presents and sitting at the dinner table with his family would not be wiped off of his face until he fell asleep.
A/N: Another chapter for the books! I know we are very much zooming through Harry's first three years, but it will slow down a bit once we hit fourth year, which I believe is when the climax of the overall series begins. We will be introducing a few characters into the gang, and some inter-school unity. Pairings will begin starting year four, and things will begin to go dowwwn! I thank you all for being along for the ride. pleasee review and leave comments and feedback as it motivates me to keep writing. I am so excited for what this project will become and hopefully you all are as well. much love to everyone that supports this story and my others! I had to re-publish this chapters as some formatting errors occured, but please enjoy.