The Human Stain Chapter 15: Messai, a harry potter fanfic

The Human Stain

By Anna Kate

Chapter Fifteen- Messai

The funerals of Mercy Gutazzi and James Taylor took place on the school grounds a week later, as per the request of their parents. Harry and Draco were both in attendance, both of them having healed their outwardly scars and washed the dried blood from their bodies.

Draco had done the grim task in silence. As a pureblood wizard, he had taken pure white roses, closed the children's eyelids and placed white petals on their eyes. He had then kissed both of them on this lips, and left.

Harry had watched him with quiet sorrow, and then he took a red rose, kissed each child's heart, regardless of how awkward he had felt, and placed red petals over their lips. Then he had intoned a quiet wizard's funeral song;

"The dead do not see.
The dead do not speak.
The dead do not hear.
But they are with us."

Then he left the dead to the dead.

In Wizarding Tradition, the last people to see the dead alive are usually the ones to give the blessings of the rose and the song. Unfortunately, the last person to see James and Mercy alive was a muggleborn student nurse, who knew nothing of the blessings. Therefore, Harry and Draco had taken the task.

Now, the two men watched as two white coffins were lowered into the ground beside the lake, under the old willow tree, and realised how much of a waste it was.

The sun was setting over the lake as Harry and Draco made their way back to Draco's tower. The halls were quiet for the time of afternoon. They had walked there in silence. Neither wanted to talk about the days events. As Draco told Mirella the password, Harry slipped his arms around the other man's waist. As soon as they in the door, Draco turned in the embrace and began to cry.

Harry found tears in his eyes too.

In the hospital wing, Claudia was working. Though James and Mercy had died, she would work hard to keep Merlo going. He could not be lost as well. John helped her change Merlo's bandages and dress the cuts and burns.

Merlo looked like quite a peaceful person. His hair was chin-length and curly, a light straw-blond. His face was quite long and thin, and his eyes slanted slightly in the corners. His lips were quite full and his mouth was long. He was rather handsome.

"You should get some sleep," John told her after her week of working there. "You've been working very hard." Claudia smile and put down the jar of ointment.

"Thanks." She said quietly, took one last glance at the sleeping boy, and left.

When she arrived at Draco's tower, and Mirella's portrait had swung open, there was no sign of the two men. Climbing the winding stairs, she walked to the top and pushed open Draco's bedroom door. They were lying together on the bed, asleep, with a gap in between them.

Claudia climbed onto the bed, and lay down between Draco and Harry, Harry moved until one of his hands curled in her hair and Draco turned in his sleep to face her. Closing her eyes, Claudia fell into a deep sleep.

Harry woke up a few hours later. He blinked wearily, his eyes sore from crying, and noticed that in front of him was a mass of curly black hair. He recognized it immediately, and sighed, realising Claudia must have climbed in with them. Draco stirred the other side of her, and lifted his head, blinking at Harry. Harry smiled and raised a finger to his lips.

"Let her sleep." He mouthed, and Draco nodded. Harry shifted gently away from Claudia and Draco did the same. The two men stood and padded quietly out the room, leaving the sleeping girl alone. Draco led Harry downstairs and as they reached the kitchen, they began to talk.

"Does Claudia normally climb in with you?' Draco asked casually as he reached up for the mugs in the top shelf. Harry frowned at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Does Claudia normally climb into your bed at night?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at the other man. Harry thought for a second, then shook his head.

"Not normally. Occasionally, yes, especially after Anna died, and when she was younger. Why?" he replied and Draco shrugged.

"No reason. Chryseis was never allowed in Pansy and my bed, at all."

"What, not even if she had a nightmare?" Harry was shocked. Claudia had always been allowed to climb in between him and Anna if she had a nightmare, and they had never forbidden it. Especially after Anna died, Claudia slept almost continuously on the other side of Harry's bed. Harry snapped out of his memories to notice Draco looking at him strangely.

"No! Of course not!" Draco sounded completely astounded by the suggestion and Harry's frown hardened. "You should have taught Claudia that years ago!"

An icy silence fell over them. Harry's eyes narrowed.

"Excuse me?" he asked, a dangerous tone underlying his voice.

"You should have taught Claudia not to seek comfort from her parents years ago." Draco told him firmly. Harry stood still.

"And what, pray tell, gave you the idea that you could lecture me about my parenting skills?" Harry said quietly and Draco raised an eyebrow at him.

"In Pureblood Houses, children are not allowed to seek comfort from their parents. It's forbidden. I saw my parents twice a week if I was lucky." Draco said and Harry gave out a bark of laughter.

"Oh yes, and look where it got you. Mad! Schizophrenic!" Harry snapped and Draco flinched. "Claudia came to us when she needed us, to feel safe and protected. Just because you couldn't protect your damn daughter, doesn't mean I ca-." Harry never finished his sentence as Draco came up to him and punched him in the face.

Doubling over, Harry only vaguely registered that his nose had a dull throb to it and was probably bleeding. Standing up straight again, Harry glared even further at Draco.

"Get out." Draco hissed, white with fury. Harry hesitated for a moment, then turned on his heel and left Draco, shaking and quiet.

As soon as the portrait had shut behind Harry, Draco turned and pressed his hands to the smooth counter top of the kitchen and cried.

Harry had spent a good half hour roaming about the castle, looking for somewhere to calm down. He had broken into Moaning Myrtle's toilets to clean up his face, and had spoken sparingly to the ghost, who failed to recognize him, and then wondered around. He refused to go back to Draco, not until they were both sufficiently calm enough and he had nowhere else to go.

He stumbled across the Headmaster's office door randomly. And he decided to go in. He knocked tentatively on the large oak door and it swung open as someone inside called out 'COME IN!'. Harry shut the door quietly behind him.

"Ah, Harry." Harry spun around to meet the figure of Remus Lupin against one of the bookcases. He was holding a very old tome in his hands.

"Professor." Harry said, nodding slightly to the werewolf, and Remus smiled, bearing slight fangs. His amber eyes glowed strangely in the twilight of the room.

"I was wondering when you would come to visit, Harry. You caused quite a commotion when you left, and you've caused one now that you've returned." Remus turned and put the book away, and turned towards the desk. Harry could see his robes clearly, and they were bronze and silver in colour, matching the odd colours of Remus' hair. "Severus is out at the moment, he should be back soon. He's with the parents of James and Mercy," Remus smiled sadly "He's far better with people than I am." Harry snorted at that.

"Sorry to be disrespectful, professor, but Snape is one of the least social people I know." Harry told him and Remus grinned and sat down. Harry sat in front of him.

"Oh, I agree. Most definitely. But, he's better at being the social Headmaster than I am." Remus smiled again at Harry, and Harry couldn't help but smile back. Over the years before Harry left, the two had started a father and son relationship. The werewolf felt responsible for Harry, and Harry needed a parental figure for a while. They hadn't really slipped out of the routine.

"So... you married Snape?" Harry said, trying to make conversation. Remus laughed, throwing his head back.

"How blunt of you! Yes, I did. Some 3 years after you left. A bit late, perhaps, since we were both 46 at that time, but... he eased some of my pain and filled some gaps. He was, and still is, a great support." Remus smiled, flashing those fangs again, and Harry really couldn't remember a time when Remus had smiled so much. The other man had been so quiet...

"You look younger." Harry stated, startling himself. He hadn't meant to be that frank! But it was the truth. Remus' skin looked less wrinkled and the silver streaks in his hair seemed to have decreased. He looked a lot younger. Was it the effect of Snape or something else? Remus shrugged.

"Werewolves mate for life. When I married Severus, I mated with him for life. The effect of that was my appearance went back to how I should look, not how the curse made me look." He wrinkled his nose distastefully. "Severus reverted me back to my old self." He continued, and Harry smiled. Remus reached up and brushed some hair away from his eyes, and Harry noticed the ring on his right ring finger.

"Why do you wear your ring on your right hand?" Harry asked, frowning the onyx and gold ring. Remus looked at it.

"Wizarding Tradition. All marriages over the age of 40 wear their rings on their right hand. Don't ask me why." Remus shrugged and Harry nodded, considering this. "And it's supposed to be silver, but considering that silver is somewhat fatal to me, I thought it best to wear gold." He said and Harry stared at him shocked, before he grinned and cracked up laughing. Remus steadily joined in, until both men were hiccupping and had tears running down their faces. "Ah, Harry, I've missed you."

Harry smiled sadly. "I've missed you too, Professor."

"You've never really fallen out of that habit, have you? Calling me Professor." Remus mumbled, eyes losing focus as he got caught in his memories. Harry nodded, quiet for a moment. Then, the door swung open.

"Remus, why did I let you- Potter?" Snape was standing in the door way, halfway through pulling off is black gloves, staring at Harry. Harry rose from his chair and Remus just smiled.

"Professor Snape." Harry greeted, inclining his head and Snape did the same back to him.

"Mr. Potter. Well, I must say I am somewhat surprised to see you. Of course, everyone was. Luna contacted me hours before your arrival back in December." He said, and then he wandered over to Remus and placed a kiss of Remus' cheek. It was oddly affectionate for the old stern potions master.

"How was it?" Remus murmured and Snape shrugged.

"Mr. Gutazzi was not happy. He was babbling away in Italian; I had to ask Mrs Gutazzi to translate for me. And Mr. and Mrs. Taylor could not speak for tears," he sighed. "I, too, will miss James and Mercy. Two of our brightest pupils, gone. It is such a shame."

"Such a waste." Harry mumbled and Snape turned to him, eyebrow raised. Harry shrugged and bowed his head. He felt like that old schoolboy he had once been some 30 years before. Why did Snape have this effect on him? It was stupid!

"Yes." Snape conceded slowly, nodding. "Yes, it is. Unfortunately, Mr. Boot is not lucid enough to answer any of our questions." He sighed and Harry nodded. If Merlo was conscious enough to answer whatever questions Snape had, maybe he could then go home to his mother. Luna, Harry knew, hadn't visited yet as she couldn't get off work, but was assured in the fact that he was awake.

Sighing, Harry sat back down in his chair and watched Snape and Remus interact.

There was a strange glint in Remus' eyes. And it had nothing to do with the predator that lay beneath his skin.

Draco had made his eyes even sorer by crying after Harry left. He sat in his living room, staring at the fire and sipping at his hot drink. Claudia was watching him from the stairs.

She sat on her dad's bedroom landing, watching the blond man. He had not moved from that spot since she had arrived, and it was rather disconcerting. The man Claudia had come to accept as an extension of her small, and rapidly declining, family was extremely upset and she had no idea why.

Sighing, Claudia made her way down the steps, and sat down beside Draco.

No words were passed as Draco leaned forward, placed his drink on the table in front of him, leant back and then pulled Claudia against his chest. His eyes closed and he breathed in the scent of her hair, which smelt so much like Harry's and felt like it too; feathery and soft. More of a downy texture then the fine locks that Draco had.

Claudia wrapped her small hands around Draco's forearm that was braced cross her chest. She pressed her cheeks against it and reveled in the warmth of Draco's form against hers. He was almost a father to her now. She felt his sadness and needed to quiet it. So she let him hold her, and closed her eyes and lulled into a trance-like state, happy in the knowledge that her fathers would look out for her.

Fathers?

Harry was watching Remus and Snape talk to each other in a corner of the office, heads bent close together. Remus was clutching one of Snape's sleeves and Snape's hand was around the back of Remus' neck. They both had a concerned look on their faces, but their body language spoke of absolute comfort and trust around each other. They looked so much more... happier together than the last time Harry had seen them.

Remus nodded at Snape and turned to Harry.

"I'm sorry to kick you out Harry, but Severus and I have to go to the Ministry to some reports. Could you go anywhere?" he asked, and Harry thought for a second, before nodding. He rose, and turned to go. Remus suddenly turned him around and hugged him. Harry froze but then put his hands on Remus' shoulders, closing his eyes. Then Remus let him go and Harry walked out the door.

Harry wandered the halls of Hogwarts for a few hours, and then decided it was time to go back to Draco's tower. He found Mirella's portrait, said the password and entered. He didn't call out since Draco was sitting on the sofa, staring at the fire, wrapped in his dressing gown over his pyjamas.

"Hey." Harry sounded quiet, even to himself. Draco jerked and then blinked at Harry, but then he reached out his arms like a child asking a parent to be held. Harry walked over to the sofa and bent down, wrapping his arms around Draco's waist, and Draco's arms linked around his neck.

"I'm sorry." Draco whispered and Harry kissed the side of Draco's neck gently. "I shouldn't have said that. The funeral reminded me... reminded me of Chryseis. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. I'm sorry for what I said." Harry mumbled, and Draco gave a shaky laugh. Harry held Draco for a while, but realised soon enough that a pain was running through his scar. He gasped as a shot ran through it.

"What?" Draco asked, drawing away, looking worried. Harry waved a hand, trying for a dismissive gesture, but then gripped Draco's thigh fiercely as another shock of pain split his head in two. He bit back a scream, and Draco yelped in pain. Harry scrunched up his eyes, trying to concentrate on pushing back the pain as was his body's instinct. Draco flew into Healer mode.

"Harry, lie down." He told Harry, standing up and pushing his lover onto the sofa. Harry lay down and Draco maneuvered him into the recovery position. He watched as Harry shook and cried out in pain and clawed at Draco's arms, gouging deep lines that bled. Draco could only watch.

Claudia was sleeping upstairs while all this way happening. But in her sleep, her eyes were fluttering rapidly and she was frowning.

In her dream, Claudia was in the river again. She knew she was here only to talk to someone, not to send someone further into death. She waited, looking down at the swirling white water around her, making the hem of her, today, white dress twist around her ankles.

"Claudia." A familiar voice sounded and Claudia looked up and nodded to Tom.

"Tom. I assume you know why I'm here?" she said and he nodded, but she told him anyway. "Lucifer is coming. I don't know who or what he is, but I as sure as hell know it's effecting my father badly. I need you to help, in some way, any way!" she told him and Tom nodded again, pushing his black hair out of his eyes.

"I know you need my help, Claudia, but there is no possible way for me to help you without being in the Human World again." He told her, and Claudia's brow furrowed. "I know what you're thinking. No spell can reawaken the dead."

"I wasn't thinking about the spell. Tom, what am I? Why can I travel to the afterlife, when no others can?" Claudia asked him and Tom ran a hand through his hair.

"You are a necromancer, Claudia. A raiser of the dead." He said bluntly and Claudia stared at him, an eyebrow raised.

"Wonderful. Now, moving on, how can I bring you back?" she snapped and Tom looked at her, thinking. "And how can you help me?"

"You have to bring me back by taking me back with you. With laying down with me in the water and falling asleep." He said, and Claudia nodded. "I can help you by giving you spells that can unravel Lucifer's power. I used those old spells myself once, but also I know the counter-curse." He told her and Claudia took his hand, and threw herself down into the water.

It was surprisingly deep and Claudia felt Tom's grip on her hand loosen. He lost hold of her, but then she snatched his hand back and pulled him in with her. Tom fell onto her, bumping together in the water and he looked at her with wide eyes. She pulled him to her body, suddenly registering the feel of the cold water around her, and closed her eyes, letting the water lull her to sleep.

Draco stared at Harry's form on the sofa, looking quite terrified at his lover. He had reached out moments before to check Harry's pulse and Harry's head had snapped up. He had looked at Draco with, not the familiar loving green eyes Harry always had, but cold silver ones that reflected Draco's father's.

Lucifer's eyes.

Looking at them filled Draco with an icy terror. But Harry was lying back down, moaning with the pain.

Draco could hear Claudia's bedroom door bang open and two sets of feet start down the stairs. Claudia raced down the stairs, with a tall, pale boy behind her, Draco staring dumbstruck at them. The two teenagers landed on the floor gracefully and raced to Harry.

They began to talk in a language that involved a lot of hissing, and Draco realised with shock that it was Parseltongue. He didn't know Claudia could speak it, and his breathing became erratic.

Claudia noticed this and turned to him, still hissing, and pushed him down onto the armchair. The tone of hiss seemed quite angry and Draco was suddenly scared of the fierce black-haired girl in front of him.

The boy was hissing to Claudia then, in English, snapped, "If you're so clever, do it yourself!" and Claudia hissed back, her tongue flickering out of her mouth quickly. The boy glared at her, and then bent back down over Harry, and Claudia joined him.

They had their heads bent close together, and were looking at Harry. Claudia's hands were over Harry's stomach and the boy had his over Harry's heart. They looked at each other and shook his head.

"Messai." Claudia whispered, and the boy nodded. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Harry's lips.

"Wake up, Harry. Wake up."

000

Author's Note: Okay, so now this is the longest chapter in the history of the Human Stain. And I have figured out that I have 4 more chapters to go if I get everything in. And, since I'm in summer holidays, I'm hoping to finish them before September, hallelujah!

For future reference, Messai means 'Help' in my twisted version of Parseltongue.

What did everyone think of this one? You like, or you no like?

Speak to y'all soon!

-Anna Kate