CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I own nothing, all JKR's.
For those who fight with me today, shall be my brother
-o0o0o0o-
Hermione was shaking as she tried to close Blaise's wound, blood was all over her hands as she screamed for someone to help.
Melania Black ran to her, immediately working on attempting to stitch Blaise's wound shut but nothing would hold. The wound would knit back together momentarily and then tear open once more.
Theo was trying to stifle the panic he felt at the fact that his friends were not yet back. Trying to hold back the fear that his father was probably one of the men in the masks.
He, instead, focused on the french girl that arrived with Harry's jacket and portkey. She was beautiful, there was no denying. With silvery hair and clear, baby blue eyes. Her features were high and angular, blending together beautifully and forming an aristocratic face. Her nose was straight, and slightly upturned at the end, reminding him of a button.
"What's your name?" He asked her, handing her a cup of tea spiked with a calming draught, courtesy of Andromeda.
"Fleur," She whispered in her accented, soft voice that had a melancholic lilt to it. "Yours?"
"I'm Theo." Her eyes lit up briefly in recognition.
"Harry, the boy that saved me from that awful man," she shivered. "After he killed the man, he whispered your name." She spoke of Harry reverently, her saviour.
"Why?" he asked, his breath hitching in slight panic. She gave him an apologetic look.
"I do not know, it was almost as if..he was apologising to you."
Theo felt his entire world crashing down around him. Had Harry killed his father?
It doesn't matter. Theo told himself sharply. Father deserved it. Merlin knows what he was going to do to Fleur.
But a voice in his head, sinister and quiet, rang through his mind. But he was still your father.
No. Theo thought fiercely. The only father figures he had were Sirius, Remus, Lucius, and Frank. They were more fathers to him in the short four years he had known them than his blood father in fourteen years.
"What is your last name?" he asked for what was probably after a long silence. "So I can write to your parents for you."
She smiled at him gratefully. "Delacour."
He tensed. "Your father is the French head of the DMLE."
She nodded gravely. "I am not under the impression that my attack was coincidental, Theo. They want to get to my papa."
"We will find him," He said with a reassuring smile. He rested a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him with teary eyes. "I promise, no harm will come to you here."
She smiled at him, and it was a lovely smile indeed.
-o0o0o0o-
Harry, Neville, and Draco found the twins quickly. Being introduced to the famous and highly spoken of Bill Weasley in the heat of battle was not how they imagined the acquaintance would be made.
It seemed most of the death eaters had been felled, but the numbers of the ones left were overwhelming. Coming at them all with speed and experience.
"There's too many of them!" Bill shouted, his voice barely heard over the cacophony and anarchy of battle.
Harry was bruised, bleeding, and on the verge of vomiting. Every man or woman he had killed today is now at the forefront of his mind. Theo's father.
Merlin, how is he going to look Theo in the face after this? But he occluded his mind and pushed the unwelcome thoughts away. He had time to face them tomorrow, but they had no room in the battlefield.
Just as he thought they were going to be overwhelmed by sheer numbers, Frank,, Lucius, Remus, and Sirius appeared with Dora and Amelia Bones in tow.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief as the tide of the battle began to turn, and the remaining death eaters portrayed away.
Before he could even comprehend what was happening, he was pulled into a bone crushing hug by Sirius.
Harry relaxed, holding his godfather, the man that raised him with newfound strength. He wept into the man's shoulder. "I killed them," He sobbed. Sirius sighed, closing his eyes and caressing his grandsons hair, murmuring words and pressing soft kisses onto the boys head.
"I know, Harry. I'm so so sorry," And he was. He shouldn't have to fight. None of them should.
He pulled away from Harry to similarly hug Draco and Neville.
The boys melted into his arms and he watched as Harry held onto Frank and Remus, Lucius patiently waiting his turn whilst checking on the Weasley twins, scanning them for injuries.
Bill Weasley was in shock, watching his brothers in what seemed to be a family reunion.
He watched as Fred and George fiercely hugged the younger boys. Watched as they melted into the embrace of the men–of Lord Sirius Black–watched as the cool expressions slid off their faces and for a moment he was reminded that they were only sixteen years old.
He watched the trainee Auror hug Harry fiercely, tears running down her an unfamiliar Hufflepuff boy stand idly by, as flabbergasted as he was.
Harry approached the boy, and surveyed his cuts and injuries.
"I think we've met before," Harry murmured. "Hello, Cedric."
"Hi, Harry," Cedric smiled sheepishly, though his eyes were haunted. Harry knew that look.
"Padfoot?" he asked softly, not taking his eyes off the – objectively – handsome boy.
"Yes, pup?" Sirius asked tiredly, looking away from answering Amelia's questions.
"Please, send a patronus to Cedric's father. Tell him he will be spending the weekend at Potter manor to be checked for injuries and recuperate, and we shall drop him off home afterwards?"
Sirius nodded sharply and sent off his grim patronus, watching fondly as it disappeared in a puff of white smoke.
"You killed today." Neville said, a statement. Not a question.
Cedric shifted uncomfortably. "I had to," he defended half heartedly. "They were attacking a muggle family."
"No judgement here," Fred snorted.
"We probably killed half of them on our own." Draco offered.
"Does it.." Cedric hesitated.
"Get easier?" George finished the question. "No. But they signed up for this. And so did we. It's war, Cedric."
The boy shook his head in denial, his soft brown hair dishevelled and tear tracks running down his dirty and bloodied face. "The war was supposed to be over. We're just kids."
"So were my parents." Harry said monotonously. "So were his parents," he nodded to Neville. "And their uncles." He said, gesturing to Fred, George, and Bill.
"It's not fair. None of you should know what it's like to have blood on your hands." Bill muttered, looking at the children he was beginning to fervently admire after only moments of knowing them.
Dora walked over, throwing her arms around Harry and Draco's shoulders.
"But we do." Said Cedric, strengthening his resolve. They were all younger than him, and yet their eyes had always been haunted.
He watched them in Hogwarts, admired them. Admired their tenacity and the way they broke down rivalries and barriers.
And now, he felt they were kindred spirits. They had seen what he saw, and they fought, just as he did.
For whoever fights with me today, shall be my brother.
-o0o0o0o-
Narcissa released the breath she had been holding as she saw her children, all of her children, and her brothers, and husband come home in one piece.
Beat up, bruised, and bloody, but in one piece.
Andromeda and Melania managed to staunch the bleeding of Blaise's wound, and the boy was now resting and sleeping peacefully in one of the many rooms of the manor.
She saw the new boy arrive with them, and for some reason saw a new, inexplicable bond between him and the boys.
It is true what they say, the bonds forged on the battlefield are second to none.
She saw Harry walk over to Theo and whisper some words. She saw Theo fiercely shake his head in denial as he saw Harry hang his head.
She saw Theo clasp the back of Harry's neck and pull him into a fierce hug. She watched as Harry held him tight.
She watched as they pulled away and rested their foreheads together in a signal of mourning, of brotherhood.
Of a bond never to be broken.
Harry muttered some words she could not hear, and Theo said words back, and that was that.
It seemed a crushing weight that was on the boy's shoulders lifted immensely, his eyes brightened for a moment and she smiled fondly.
Hermione and Daphne ran to their best friends with a speed that made them look like blurs.
Hermione pounced on Harry with such fervour with a hug that nearly knocked him flat, but he felt himself melting into her embrace. He nestled his head in her hair and kissed the top of her head briefly, closing his eyes and memorising every aspect of her.
He breathed in her comforting vanilla scent and nearly cried. He was alright. They all were.
He noticed she was shaking, and pulled away gently.
"I–I thought we lost you." She nearly sobbed. "When Fleur came with your jacket, I–I thought you were gone."
"Shh, shh," he whispered gently, hugging her once more. "I'm alright Hermione. We're all alright." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Daphne giving everyone hugs, with a look of relief so palpable on her face, tears filling her eyes. His heart ached.
They never should have sent them away. But Harry knew he would not be able to focus in battle, for his heart and mind would rest with Daphne and Hermione, fretting and worrying about them.
They were capable witches of course, but they mattered to him so much it ached.
He and Hermione pulled away and she ran to everyone else, and Daphne approached quietly.
"You stupid, stupid boy." She murmured, cradling his cheek gently. The soft way she looked at him made him nearly unravel, all the emotion he was holding in coming out. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into a hug.
This one seemed even more intimate than the one with Hermione. She murmured prayers and thanks into his chest as he hugged her. Over a head taller than her, he rested his chin on the top of her head and held her to him.
"I'm so glad you're safe." She whispered, muffled though it was, he heard her. Heard how her heartbeat was now steady, and how warm she felt in his arms.
He pulled away gently. "I will always come back to you, Daphne. To all of you." He whispered.
"You better, you idiot. Nearly gave me a heart attack," she tried to joke, but he saw the tears of relief in her eyes.
He kissed her cheek gently, and lingered for a moment before pulling away.
A new girl joined the fray, and hugged him softly.
This hug was not a hug of relief and love, like Hermione's. Nor a hug of fear and intimacy, like Daphne's.
He felt the gratitude coming off of the girl in waves, and watched how Daphne smiled softly as the girl began saying her thanks once more in rapid french.
"Let's write to your father, Miss Delacour," Harry said softly, pulling away.
"I already did," Theo called softly, looking up from his place near Cedric. "I'll be expecting a reply by tomorrow, since they were staying in a vacation home not far from here."
Harry nodded tersely. The girl offered to give his jacket back, but he shook his head.
"Keep it," he grinned. "You wear it far better than I do." he joked, to lighten the mood.
She rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Oh Circe!" She faux squealed. "The Harry Potter gave me his jacket!" she said, looking at Daphne with a fake look of admiration.
Daphne threw her head back and laughed, taking Fleur's hand with Hermione. "We are going to be great friends, Fleur." She smiled devilishly at Harry, eyes flashing with amusement as the girls went to talk.
The boys reconvened in the sitting area at the top of the staircase.
Cedric was subdued.
"Hey," Harry said softly. "Don't look like that. Taking a life never gets easy, but you should be proud. Not many would stand up and fight to protect innocents. That's one less family broken apart or dead. And that's because of you, Cedric."
"Why are you all being so kind?" Cedric asked, not angrily, but curiously. "You don't know me."
Harry nodded to the faded scar now on Cedric's forearm. "You bear battle scars just like we all do."
"As far as we're concerned, that makes you one of us." Neville smiled.
"Welcome," George began.
"To the club." Fred finished.
"Where we fight assholes and nearly die almost every year." Draco interjected with a wry smile.
Cedric laughed. "Anything else I should know?"
"The pet basilisk," Neville said.
"And the founder's portrait. Helga's going to be thrilled." Harry laughed.
"The what? And who?" Cedric asked, eyes wide and mouth agape.
Bill nodded, agreeing with his sentiment.
"Let's introduce you. Nev, call the girls, will you?" Harry asked. Neville nodded and shouted.
"DAPHNE! HERMIONE!"
The girls stormed up the stairs, Fleur in tow. "What?" Daphne asked, eyes wide.
"Let's go see Nathaira."
They grinned.
"Uh..who is Nathaira?" Fleur asked.
The grins grew wider, if possible.
-o0o0o0o-
"Oh." Fleur squeaked. "That's Nathaira." Daphne laughed.
The basilisk's magic washed over the three newcomers, and they became capable of understanding her.
"Hello, younglings." Nathaira hissed. Then narrowed her eyes. "You are injured. What happened?"
The founders came from the twin portrait at Potter manor to see their young charges.
Harry explained the world cup and battle.
"You have killed," Nathaira hissed with pity, lacing her tone. "I am sorry, younglings. Nobody should be forced to take a life."
"It was necessary." It was surprisingly Cedric who spoke. "Many more would have been dead, had we not."
Nathaira bowed her head in agreement, something akin to respect shining in her eyes.
Nathaira changed her gaze to Bill, who bowed his head in respect to the serpent queen.
"You have great power, young one. And knowledge."
"Thank you," Bill murmured.
"I may not be able to see the future, young ones," she addressed them all. "But I see great things, from all of you. Great tragedy, and trials, but you all, and two others you will meet soon, will change the world."
"How do you know?" Harry mused, hissing in parseltongue. "You just said you can't see the future."
She chuckled. "I cannot, but I can read the stars from my area of sleep, hatchling. Your destiny is written in the stars. Just as young Arthur Pendragon, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, eyes wide.
"Some friendships can transcend lifetimes." Nathaira responded vaguely.
"...Like, reincarnations?" Neville asked warily.
Nathaira hissed a laugh. "No, their time has come and gone, and their souls are at rest, together. Merely that the future mirrors the past. It always has. I remember them fondly."
"Okaaayy.." Harry dragged out. "Salazar, Godric. Helga, Rowena, please allow us to introduce our new friends."
The founders smiled and greeted the newcomers, who were gobsmacked.
"Woah..I should have hung out with you all much sooner." Cedric breathed.
They laughed.
"You are from my house," Helga smiled. "I can sense it."
"I am," Cedric said proudly. "Loyalty and hard work."
"And fierce fighters." Slytherin snorted. "Every Hufflepuff I have met, once something or someone dear to them is threatened, I have learned it is best to stand back."
Cedric blushed and ruffled his hair nervously. "History seems to have distorted your image, Lord Slytherin."
"Don't I know it," he huffed. "They made me an evil prick that hates Godric!"
Gryffindor laughed heartily. "So you do care."
"Shut up." Slytherin grumbled. "You know you're my best friend."
Godric smiled. "As you are mine."
"Enough with the love fest," Rowena teased softly. "Our charges have just seen battle. How are you faring?"
"It's not easy," Theo murmured.
"Where is Blaise?" Gryffindor asked worriedly.
"He was injured." Fred said mournfully.
"We weren't there to help him." George spat, beating himself up for not being there to help their younger friend.
"That is out of your control, George," Hermione soothed.
"She is right," Slytherin said softly. "You cannot always be there, no matter how much you wish to be."
George shook his head. "If we were, we could have done something." He hissed.
"That is not a mindset you should have, hatchling. It will not do you any good. Battles will be won and lost. People will rise and fall. It is up to you to keep moving forward. Young Blaise will be fine."
They nodded, but the sting of it did not leave them. Especially Theo.
He could have shielded, or pushed Blaise out of the way. He would have rather taken the hit for himself. But what's done is done.
After a few more minutes of talking, they were all incredibly tired. They portrayed back home, and fell asleep in Harry's room. All of them.
-o0o0o0o-
The next day they were all woken by the glaring sun flooding in through Harry's large window.
As they all sat at breakfast together – with many hugs given to Blaise – Sirius informed Fleur that her father will be portkeying to Potter Manor soon to pick her up.
She sighed in relief, but also looked slightly mournful.
"I will be going back to France," she sighed. "Though I would not wish for the attack to happen again, I am thankful to have met you all."
"We're happy to have met you too Fleur, we will see each other soon." Harry said cryptically.
She furrowed her brows in confusion, but it all came back to her as she perked up. "Oui! The tournament. I will be at Hogwarts with you all this year."
"What tournament?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"Hogwarts will be hosting the triwizard tournament this year." Draco answered.
"What is that?" Hermione asked once more, annoyed she didn't know.
"It's an old tourney that's only been revived this year. They banned it because of the death toll." Theo said helpfully.
Her eyes widened. "Death toll? And they're hosting it at a school?" She was frothing at the mouth in anger.
"Yeah." Remus growled. "Not one of Dumbledore's best ideas."
Harry snorted. "When has he ever had any good ideas?"
Sirius laughed half heartedly. "Good point. Please," he said, looking at all of them. "Stay out of trouble this year."
They snorted. "I'm not going to be entering if that's what you think." Harry said, shaking his head.
His friends all agreed, but Cedric stayed quiet.
"I don't know, it seems fun."
"Fun?" Daphne asked, eyes wide. "Yeah, if you have a death wish." She admonished her new friend who shrugged sheepishly.
"I might enter." He said.
"Me too," Fleur nodded, smiling at him.
"I wouldn't," Harry shook his head. "Voldemort is stirring, I can feel it."
"I've felt weird all summer," Blaise said. "Like something is going to happen, something big."
"Big doesn't have to mean bad, right?" Fred said nervously.
"With us, big always means bad." Theo said ruefully.
They finished their breakfast in a subdued silence.
-o0o0o0o-
It was just after they finished eating that Fleur's father arrived, running to her immediately, checking her over.
"Are you okay? Is everything alright? Are you hurt? Who are these people?" He asked her rapidly in french. She said she was fine, and that Harry rescued her at the World Cup.
Mr. Delacour walked over to Harry, and put out his hand. Harry shook it firmly.
"Thank you, for saving my daughter." He said in thickly accented french.
"No need to thank me, Monsieur. Delacour. I was just in the right place at the right time."
"Nonetheless, I am in your debt. You saved one of the most precious people in my life. How can I repay you."
"No repayment necessary." Harry denied firmly but earnestly. "I only want your friendship, Monsieur Delacour."
"You have it, and my eternal gratitude, Lord Potter." The man smiled.
"Just Harry, please." Harry insisted.
"Then you may call me Jean." The man said, thanking Harry once more and nodded at him once more as he pulled Fleur away, who gave Harry and friends one more hug before she left.
Jean said goodbye to Sirius, and they portkeyed home.
"Well," Sirius sighed. "You just made one very powerful ally, Harry."
Harry shrugged. "No, I made a friend. That's much more important."
"That it is, cub." Remus smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of Harry's head. "That it is."
a/n: ahhh new chapter. pls review and tell me what you think? who do you think the two others we have yet to meet in this fic are? how do you feel about cedric and fleur's new introduction to the friend group. up next is the tourney beginning and we will see charlie weasley soon enoughh! pls pls review and tell me your thoughts! until we meet again !