"Blah." Talking
"Blah" Parseltongue
'Blah' Thinking
After Harry woke up, the Order immediately held a meeting concerning his situation.
'How typical. Something happens and, oh heavenly Merlin, we have to talk about it!' Severus Snape thought, feeling a tad bit pissed off. Why? Because the Order of the Phoenix was full of idiots; immature idiots.
"Yes, yes, we're all happy that Harry is awake, but what about the Malfoys? Are you really going to keep them here, Albus? We can't trust them, they're Malfoys!" Arthur Weasley was one of those immature idiots. This was the third time he'd interrupted this meeting, about Potter, to talk about Lucius.
"Weasley, Albus already made them a loyalty test; the same one all of us undertook. And, we already had a hearing, in this very room, about trusting them. I'm sure that your small brain can at least remember that." Severus forced himself not to sneer. Or he tried, at least.
"That test obviously didn't stop Pettigrew from betraying us last time around. Besides which, Draco Malfoy wasn't tested, or did your small brain miss that part?" 'Arthur stole his insult! Oh, how cunning, how smart he must be! Stupid Gryffindor.'
"I didn't miss that, you overgrown worm. Maybe we should test all the teenagers in this house in their loyalty, then? While we're at it, why not re-test everyone else, too? We can even waste more time by holding regular screenings. How about that plan?" Severus was tired of constantly arguing about this topic.
"Severus! Arthur! Enough of this, we are in the middle of a discussion, argue on your own time, not ours." Albus' voice thundered. Looking at him, Severus was forced to admit that he looked very old and fragile.
Looking around the table, Severus was forced to admit quite a lot of things. Almost no one here trusted Lucius. It made him angry; who were these people to judge his Lucius? They didn't know him, didn't have to know the hell he had gone through during the First War, didn't know anything about him. Who were they to judge him?
"Albus, Arthur has a point. Why should we trust the Malfoys? All we have is the results of a test that has failed us once before; your reasoning that makes no sense to us, as does Severus Snape's, the word of someone who could be blinded by his love for Lucius Malfoy." Alastor Moody was also one to attack Lucius whenever he had the chance.
Severus was about to stand up and most likely do something worthy of a Gryffindor, when a new voice sounded.
"I will deny ever saying this in front of my Godson, but Snape has never lied to us before. And…he is a good judge of character, normally. The only person he's been so incredibly wrong about before has been Harry, and that was just because of James. I think if he trusts the Malfoy's… we should give them a chance." Sirius Black had come to the defense of Lucius Malfoy. Sirius Black. Defending Lucius.
"Oh, sweet Merlin, it's the end of the world." Remus Lupin sounded dazed; he probably hadn't even realized he had spoken aloud. Severus had to agree with the Werewolf: this was probably one of the signs of the apocalypse.
"Moony!" Sirius whined -'that's better... not so creepy.'
"We are discussing Harry, NOT THE MALFOY'S!" Molly Weasley apparently had enough of this. Ever since Lucius had helped Albus clear Potter's name, the woman had warmed up to him. That attitude had rubbed off on her daughter, as well. Miss Weasley and Draco were good friends, and could often be seen talking. Same with Miss Lovegood.
That brought unwanted memories. He looked at Molly, and wondered if she knew her daughter was in a relationship with Luna Lovegood…
"Harry's condition NEEDS to be addressed." Right, Potter, not the possible teen drama in the house.
"Thank you Molly. Poppy, if you would tell us your conclusions once more." Not all the members knew what condition he was found in; only the ones who had gotten him from those pathetic excuses for humans were aware of how grim it was.
Severus Snape didn't like Potter for all the wrong reasons -he was able to admit that now- but that didn't mean he was about to frolic through open fields with the boy, regardless of his current condition. Poppy stood up.
"Harry Potter was found battered and bleeding in his relatives' household on the evening of August fourth. He had multiple open lacerations on his back caused by what looked like a nine-tail whip found within the household. He also was bleeding from a carving on his chest that inscribed the word 'Whore.'" Poppy choked on the word, forcing it out. She had to pause to take a deep breath before continuing.
"He had internal bleeding from a knife wound to his kidney. He had several bruises upon his head and a severe concussion. His glasses had been broken in such a way that shards pierced the skin around his eyes, narrowly avoiding his eyes." She paused from breath, obviously steeling herself for what she would say next.
"His anal tract was torn and overflowing with semen." It was too much for Molly, who started sobbing into her hands. The rest of the Order who didn't already know had an expression of horror; a couple of them were green.
Lupin and Black had a murderous look of rage about them. Several members were moving away from them, especially when Lupin gave a growl.
Apparently, Poppy had more to say.
"There was tons of evidence to suggest a lifetime of abuse all over Harry's body. However, there was also evidence of…"She looked to Albus, who nodded to her gravely.
"There was evidence to suggest he was with child, at one point." A few members fainted, Lucius amongst them. Severus was in shock.
It was fairly common in the wizarding world, as a whole, for males to have children; all that was needed was a strong individual or a potion. Since Potter was more then strong enough, it made sense. However, the body needed to be matured otherwise the risk of losing the baby is much higher. One could even give birth to a dead baby, if the body wasn't matured enough. Potter was small, he always had been; his body wasn't fit to bear children.
Albus stood up, after the fainted members came back to themselves.
"As you all can see this is very grave. On top of all that, I'm not sure how mentally stable Mr. Potter is. The Ministry has already "given" Hogwarts a Defense teacher, but I need someone, or multiple someones, at Hogwarts this year. Any suggestions?"
Mad-eye made the first suggestion, which sounded like sheer madness, but also like something Severus really wouldn't mind doing.
"Why don't we just kill the Minister?"
"Ah, that seems like too much work, my old friend." A few members snickered at the joke.
When Poppy got back to Harry's makeshift bed, she was greeted with an unusual sight.
Harry was sitting up in bed, making what appeared to be a doll of some sort. Poppy had been shocked when she first saw Harry Potter upon his arrival. He looked absolutely beautiful, even in such a state. But cleaned, he looked like someone dropped from Heaven by accident.
During the last four years of his schooling, he had charms to hide the way he really looked; all of his professors merely thought he was hiding small things, like pimples and other things young teenage boys hid from the world. Alas, that simply wasn't the case.
His hair was long and dark as the night sky. During his childhood, Poppy had always been worried about how pale he had appeared, but that was nothing in comparison to how he really looked. It was almost as if he had never been kissed by the sun, or was secretly a Vampire. Of course, Poppy had made sure that wasn't the case, as Vampires were naturally allergic to some medical potions. His body structure was so small that he looked feminine.
"What are you making there, Harry?" Poppy asked kindly, sitting down next to Harry. Harry was already all healed physically, but Poppy wasn't about to just let him go and expect him to be fine. No, she was sure that he was going to suffer some after effects from all the long years of abuse he'd had.
She blinked rapidly to make her tears go away.
"A rag doll for Draco." His voice, as always, came as a shock to Poppy. He was soft spoken, unless he wanted to be loud, which had only ever happened a few times. Yet, it wasn't a recent thing; he'd always sounded like that.
"A rag doll?" Looking down at Harry's bed she saw two other rag dolls, all complete. She reached down to pick them up, looking at Harry to make sure he didn't mind. He didn't.
The one in her left hand had shoulder length blond wool for hair. It was smiling, and dressed in what looked like expensive clothes; kind of like what Lucius Malfoy would wear.
The one in her right hand had black wool for hair and was dressed in black robes, like a Hogwarts professor. It was also smiling.
"Who are these two?" Poppy had a hunch on whom these two were. The better question was: are they rag dolls or voodoo dolls?
Harry looked over at her hands to see what she was inquiring about.
"Blondie is Lucius Malfoy and the other one is Severus Snape." Harry turned back to the doll in his hand. Its' hair was done and some clothes were near his knees. Its' body needed to be put together.
"Why did you make them?" She hoped she sounded casual and not suspicious.
"I made them to give them away. The rag doll of Lucius Malfoy is going to go to Severus Snape, and visa versa. They aren't going to see each other often this year, so I thought they'd like a doll." He took the threaded needle and started connecting the torso to the head.
"Why? I thought you hated Severus." Harry made quick work of connecting the head, then started to connect the arms. Harry was silent for a long while.
"I don't hate Snape. I dislike his blind spots in regard to me, but I don't hate him. He might hate me, for all I know, but that really doesn't matter. Besides, Draco likes him, so there must be a good person under there." The doll was complete. Poppy could tell this was something Harry was good at, he knew exactly what he was doing and could do it quickly.
"Done." Harry held the doll up to look at it, a smile on his face.
"That was quick."
"I'm good at making things."
Finding Mr. Potter had been a lot more difficult then he thought it would be.
The young man was in the highest levels of the house, talking with a portrait of some Black ancestor.
"You are hard to find, Mr. Potter."
"We apologize for the inconvenience, Lord Malfoy." 'We? Why is he referring to himself in that way? He doesn't when he's talking to his friends… maybe he shouldn't have come up here by himself…'
"Please desist looking at me in that manner. I said "we" because it is a habit, not mine, but it has rubbed off on me I'm afraid. I assure you I'm as sane as the Headmaster." The boy grinned, and Lucius understood what his son meant; that look really was unsettling.
"Well, since his sanity is debatable…" Mr. Potter giggled. Not chuckled…but giggled. Lucius suddenly remembered why he joined the light. Lord Voldemort might have scared Lucius, but Potter absolutely terrified the blonde.
"Why are you here, Lord Malfoy?" Potter asked once he had stopped giggling.
"'Lord?' Why address me as such? Because I am a pureblood?" Lucius was genuinely curious. Those mannerisms had been out of style by his grandparent's time, so he hadn't been tutored in them.
"No, because you are a Malfoy, and you haven't given me permission to address you informally. You are the head of the Malfoy Clan, even if you were a half-blood or less, you would still be the Head of the Malfoy Clan, and a Lord. Draco would be called Young Master Malfoy." Lucius nodded. Well, that was enlightening, if Potter was telling the truth.
"Does that apply to all pureblood families?"
"No. Just the ones with what is sometimes called "Royal Blood" or "Old Blood." Some Families are Knights or Guardians. In the Malfoy's case, its' Knight Family is the Zabinis and its' Guardian Family is the Lunars, who sadly no longer exist." Harry looked away to the floor, as if deeply saddened by something. 'Perhaps the boy has a crush on the Zabini's boy, Blaise, and doesn't wish to think of him?'
"I see." How to change the subject so the boy would get that look off his face?
"How do you tell who is Royal or otherwise?" Lucius asked; he'd have to remember to check this information at a later date.
It wasn't Potter that answered the question, but the portrait he had been talking to earlier.
"You don't know that?! Oh, how education has fallen… Well, young Lord Malfoy, you can't tell. It's just one of those things that is. I suppose I can tell you the Royal Bloodlines. They are as follows: Malfoy, Black, Weasley, Prince, Dumbledore, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Potter, and Peverall." Lucius blinked, and then looked at Potter.
"We are both of Old Blood. Why still address me as 'Lord?'" Potter smiled at Lucius, which was just as unsettling as his giggling.
"Manners. You have not given me permission to address you informally."
"You may call me Lucius, if I may call you Harry." Another chilling smile.
"That sounds agreeable… Lucius." Harry had an odd accent. Not quite English, but something else. He wondered where it was from.
"You do not have to call my son 'Young Master.' Is that only for older addressing younger generations?" As Lucius asked this Harry wondered into another room, signaling for Lucius to follow. The blond wasn't sure if he should. What if the boy was leading him into a dangerous trap? After all, the boy had no real reason to be as civil as he had been.
Steeling himself, and discreetly placing a hand near his wand, he followed.
They came to a sitting room. Through the arch lay expensive rugs under old, expensive furniture. It was burgundy in color, no dust in sight. A raised marble mantle with a fireplace was tucked away in the back, with a few windows here and there. The windows had at once been stained glass Lucius could tell, but time had taken its toll, and grayed the ink. There were no portraits in this room, but upon the walls were tapestries of all sorts.
Sitting in front of the non-lit fireplace was Harry, the sofas angled to face the door and the fire simultaneously. Lucius choose one to sit on, turning to Harry when he was situated.
"To answer your question, yes. The term is for older addressing younger. Otherwise, as I am younger than Draco, I would call him 'Sir.' However, those rules are almost never abided by, so they often aren't mentioned. I also don't address Draco formally and never have, because he gave me permission to address him informally. On the train to Hogwarts in our first year, he offered me friendship, which I turned down, but the offer allowed me to address him informally."
Lucius nodded. Who knew that Potter knew all this? Where had he learned it? His relatives weren't part of the wizarding world, and even if they were, that didn't mean they'd know about these mannerisms. After all, Lucius himself didn't know them, so how the hell did Harry know them?
He was just about to ask him when into the study came Luna Lovegood, absentmindedly observing the ceiling. Her eyes landed on Harry and himself.
"Oh, hello Lord Malfoy, Harry." Her voice sounded preoccupied as she looked to the walls. "I saw a Crumble-Horned Snorkack come in here."
'Ah, right, Draco did say this one was… odd.'
"Did you? How interesting. It must be very clever, for I didn't see it. Lucius was just leaving, Luna, perhaps we could hunt for it together?" Harry stood up, a kind smile on his face for Luna. Those smiles weren't so creepy; they just looked somewhat mingled with sorrow.
Lucius left the room, wondering about the conversation he had just had with Harry.
A/N: My chapters from this point on will be getting longer. Which also means that my update rate will get slower. Also added to the fact that I have School...well, I shouldn't have to say that Reviews would be apprectiated.