Chapter 16
Harry's Love, Riku's Family

7th of August 1995
Grimmauld Place, London
Lea's POV

The twins and I have been using this time – that Sirius has used to cheer Harry up elsewhere in the house – to come up with all kinds of small signals we can give out along with things we can say and do during the reading, all of them with the goal to make Harry realize just how deep he has already nestled himself in our hearts.
But apparently are these signs unnecessary as Harry and Sirius walk back down from the staircase about twenty minutes after their departure, Harry sharing a quick uneasy glance with Sirius before the man lies a confident hand on the lovely angel's shoulder and Harry apparently draws motivation out of this single move.
He nods at his dad, crosses the room to our side of the table and then asks George, who is on my left: "Can I sit here?" And George, Fred and I share a wide grin, before George moves a bit away from me and says: "Be our guest." And in my heart I think: "Our guest of love and romance." But don't say it out loud.

Harry sits down and asks: "Anything interesting happened while we were gone?" While he looks me right in the eye, making my stomach clench at seeing those beautiful eyes that shine like the fountains in Radiant Garden on a bright Summer midday and I say: "Just some more talk of what Fred and George want to do after Hogwarts."
George then wraps an arm around Harry, which the little angel doesn't seem to mind one bit as I can see his body tense but can almost sense it's not out of sudden shock or fear, but more out of some kind of mental restraint and he asks: "Speaking of which, what are your dreams of the future, Harry my good man?"
And while I know just fine that the man wanted to say my good mate, do I smirk at his subtle flirting and Harry lowers his head, suddenly seeming very insecure and scared, as if having dreams of the future is a bad thing, which makes my inner fire awaken with worry over the little black-haired angel and he says:

"I'll – I'll tell you some other time, I promise. I just – I just need – heh." He sighs in the end and says: "I've had this dream of what I want for my future since I was nine, but – well, the inspiration for the dream came from Figgy and – I just don't think the Magical World will want their hero with the job I've been dreaming about."
This, while the whole Figgy thing worries me, makes me angry that my little angel is doubting a dream he's had for over six years and while trying to keep my anger out of my voice, do I ask: "Harry, since when does an entire world get the rights to decide one person's life – or even his future career for that matter?"
And with a voice I haven't heard since Axel and Roxas said goodbye in The World that Never Was, before Roxas and Riku fought and Roxas was brought into the Virtual version of Twilight Town, does my little angel say: "Since that wizarding world has only one hero they constantly lie their focus and expectations on."
This infuriates me and I ask: "Since when is it right to –." But then Fred says: "It isn't." And I realize he interrupted me because my anger got the better of me before George says: "And that's why Harry needs as many people caring for him as possible." I nod and then decide to just dive right into the deep and say softly:

"People like us." And while I know that Fred and George believe I have gone one step too quickly for Harry's liking, do I see a smile growing on Harry's shadowy face and when he turns his head from the table to look at me, do his eyes shine like the fountains yet again as he softly, with love in his tone, says: "Yes, like you."
Making a large smile appear on my face while Fred reaches out from behind me to lie a hand on Harry's back and I personally shuffle closer to the boy to give Fred some more moving room as I wrap my arm around Harry's other shoulder and whisper: "We'll make them see you're more than a hero, Harry, I promise."
And my two mates nod in agreement, making stars shine in Harry's eyes as he smiles at me, his left hand reaching up to squeeze George's hand while he softly lies his beautiful head against my chest and whispers: "I have a lot of stuff about me – a lot of issues – that need to be healed." But I just squeeze his shoulder and say:
"And we'll be there to heal them all, little angel. We'll heal them all and make you shine like your eyes do every time I see you smile." At this Harry blushes, but I just softly use my other hand to caress his cheek with the back of my fingers, daring not to go further because of his fragile state and because his parents are across the table.

James' POV

I know darn well that Lea and the twins lied to Harry when he went to sit with them and asked them if anything had happened, but the scene before me makes me want to coo too badly to be angry at them as the four of them just look picture perfect, all of them snuggled close together and the 3 Dominants around their little mate.
I, of course, know darn well that Harry will need some time getting used to the whole idea of having Dominants for mates as my poor little baby has had to confide in – and care for – himself almost his whole life – and because he has already proven that his trust in adults has been shattered many a time – but still smile at the scene.

I then turn my face to where Sora and Riku are sitting and smile even wider as Sora is back on Riku's lap, the boy having actually shrunk in on himself a little to lie his head under that of Riku's while Riku is holding Sora's hand with one of his own and is using the other to rub soothing circles around my eldest's back.
Feeling hurt that I came back to their lives just when they get people in their lives who can take over where I was supposed to have left off, do I feel Sirius wrapping his arms around my chest in a cross before he pulls me against his chest and whispers: "They still need us, Jamie. That's the whole reason Sora came here in the first place."
This makes me smile, more because Siri was, again, able to see that I needed to be comforted without even seeing my face and I lean back against the malnourished, but still well-muscled body of my own true love, the abs and muscles that Siri and I developed during Quidditch Practice and Siri during Auror training having never left him.

I then turn around in his embrace, determined to show him some love like he does me and while I trace one of the muscle lines between his chest and rib-cage with my finger, do I whisper against his chin: "Told you those muscles would remain forever. You worked them too hard. I told you that time and time again, didn't I?"
Sirius growls softly, obviously aroused by the finger now slowly – slightly of its own accord – sliding down to just above his belly button and whispers huskily: "As if you ever complained. You know darn well you were always unable to resist me if I pulled my shirt off." Now I smirk, remembering those days and whispering:
"Want to relive them after pillow talk?" And a searing kiss against my lips is my only answer, my shock causing for a loud moan of my own arousal to escape my throat before I hastily respond, burying both my hands in Sirius' wild mane of hair and fisting feisty amounts of his onyx-black locks in my need to pull him closer.

Sirius, in an act of his instinct alone, wraps his arms around me so that his hands are in the back pockets of my pants and his fingers squeeze my ass cheeks, causing for another moan to escape me as I remember the wondrous nights that made Sora and Harry, not to mention how Sirius made love to me every yearly anniversary.
The man then squeezes again and pulls his hands up at the same time, causing for me to lift myself off my chair and while on instinct alone, do I spread my legs as Sirius sits me down on his lap, his hands instantly pushing my lower body close enough against his own for my arousal to touch his through his almost skin-tight pants.
Feeling that warm, wet heat that is my Mate's Hardness I let out a guttural moan, my mind instantly reminding me of how it used to feel inside me and then suddenly a strong voice asks: "Can we read on, please?" And instantly my mind takes over from my instincts and I remember that we are not in Siri's bedroom.

Turning blood red with embarrassment that I was almost dry-hopping my mate right in front of my own sons, I pull away from those devious lips that can make me forget all about my environment, but then Riku takes away some of my embarrassment as he says: "It really is like they say. Like father, like son."
And instantly, while Harry had been hiding his embarrassed red face in George's shoulder, Lea using his muscled arm and thick sleeve to block Harry's sight from us, does the black-haired boy look up shocked, looking extremely cute as his head sticks out over the man's arm, his blue-green eyes wide with shock at Sora.
My brown haired baby, in the mean time, has turned more red than the Weasley hair and asks: "What? Nineteen year old mind, remember people? I might look fifteen, but my instincts still need to adjust to that, you know?" And while Hermione and Ron are still beet red, do others nod in understanding with my embarrassed little boy.

Sora's POV

I don't know what's worse about this situation. That Riku made sure my parents didn't feel too embarrassed by making them think I could react as feisty to his romantic acts as mum did to dad – or that my one true love has actually felt the hardness I had tried hiding from the world by squeezing my legs together.
When mum and dad had started groping each other in their kissing, had I turned my head away, but because I barely know them – even now – was it hard for my instincts to recognize their voices as those of my family and my body had therefore responded to the guttural, erotic sounds coming from close beside me.
I had realized this and had tried to hide the growing length, but had apparently moved too frantically as Riku had noticed the movement and to my shock, I had felt the hand on my back move to my front, over my skin-tight jeans – which I'm cursing this very minute – and had actually felt the growing appendix inside them.

I know part of my mate is disgusted that I actually got hard over the sound of my parents almost doing it, but his crystal blue eyes had held nothing but love – even if they had been dark with their own hidden lust – and he had made sure we got to where we are right now, me feeling embarrassed for a whole other reason.
I still however feel relieved that I actually took the De-aging potion as it made me come up with quite the valiant excuse and kept the rest of the group away from asking anymore questions and so – if only to feel perfectly calm again – do I repeat: "Like Bill said before, can we read on?" And everyone nods in agreement.

Mr. Weasley then takes the book and says: "I think it's best if either Kingsley or I myself read the next chapter." And because I had already been able to sneak a peek over dad's shoulder, my eyes reading the word Ministry do I nod in agreement as I say: "I just hope we can get these chapters quick. They just can't be good."
Everyone nods at this, while I mostly feel this way because of what was read about the situation in the chapter about my little brother arriving at this place and while I feel relieved that my family can soon leave this retched place behind – especially my dad – do I still feel bad that we have to let my little brother experience this twice.

I then, while still in Riku's lap, turn myself to make sure my hips are firmly under the table and out of sight while I spare a worried glance at my little brother, the boy apparently having come to the same conclusion as me as he is now pale as a sheet, while one hand grips a twin's hand tightly and the other is lost in the shirt of the other.
Lea, in the mean time, has his arm still wrapped around the left shoulder of my little brother and is using his other to softly rub up and down my brother's arm from his shoulder down to half his upper arm and back and the twin on his side is softly rubbing Harry's squeezing hand with his thumb, squeezing back in comfort.

All in all do I feel confident that my little brother has all the support he will need to get through these chapters and then I suddenly come up with a shocking idea as I ask: "Dad, are Underage Magic suspects allowed to bring family along to their appointments? Or perhaps even future family members like in-laws or mates?"
Everyone looks at me shocked and Sirius says: "Well, only really powerful families are indeed allowed such and the amount does depend on the power behind the family – not to mention that the in-laws need their own family's approval of the relationship before they can be called in-laws or mates – but yeah, overall that's allowed."
"So if we get Riku's family to approve of me dating him and if we get Arthur's approval of Fred and George dating Harry, we can take them to the meeting?" Everyone now looks at each other in shock and dad has a huge smile on his face as he says: "With the power the Blacks, Potters and Longbottoms have together – hell yeah!"
He ends with his smile – if possible – growing even bigger and I turn to Riku as I say: "We're meeting your family first thing tomorrow." And while I wonder why everyone but my older friends, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George are all paling at this idea, Moody twitching slightly in concern, does Riku nod in agreement.

Riku's POV

I just know something happened to my family, even if Sora has yet to have fully caught on. When we arrived had Sirius already tried to tell me what had happened to them, yet the worry over his announcement alone had made Kairi ask about their hearts, which had in return caused for us to explain our Light and Dark magic.
Also, do I already have a strong feeling that the Lestrange family is involved as Sirius had stopped in pain reading there, had looked at me and my lovely little Veela and had then muttered to James that he misses them, which would have made me believe the worst had I not been told by Sirius that they weren't dead upon our arrival.
Still, I pull Sora closer as I just know that whatever had happened to my parents is something that has happened a while ago and that it's probably something as incurable as being a Heartless in a world where there is no Keyblade Wielder around and I take a deep breath before I ask: "What happened to them? My parents?"

Everyone looks shocked at this, the elders even cringing at my blatant proof that I know something has happened to them and while Harry closes his eyes in pain, making me know he somehow knows just like the adults do, does Sirius take a deep breath and ask: "Remember how I said they can no longer function in the outside world?"
I nod, while Sora now slides onto my lap sideways and presses his side into my chest as close as possible in a sign of him being there for me, making me smile ever so shortly before I look at Sirius inquiringly and he says: "The Lestranges. A day after Pettigrew betrayed Jamie, they found your parents house.
They attacked it and by the time the authorities came, Frank and Alice –." Here Sirius takes a deep breath and Sora quickly pushes himself closer against me, causing for me to give his side a soft squeeze in gratefulness before Sirius blows my whole world apart as he says: "They were tortured into insanity by them."

I feel my whole body stiffen and all my muscles tense, causing for my hold on Sora to tighten as well, but my mind barely registers this as I can only think of my parents, unable to think for themselves any longer due to three people casting terrible Dark magic on them for what I can only assume were hours on end and I ask:
"Why did it take them so long? Why did the authorities take so long to reach them?" And Sirius sighs as he says: "Like Jamie, Harry and Lily, were Frank and Alice under a Fidelius charm, protecting them from everyone else as it made only one person able to know their location." The man then shakes his head and says:
"I'm sorry, Riku, but to this day forward I still do not understand how they could have been caught when Jamie was the only one betrayed about his location. Kingsley told me later that the wards of the Fidelius didn't fall until the Aurors had arrived, so I – I just don't understand it one bit." The man sighs at the end in sheer defeat.
Hating how I have hurt my future father-in-law with letting him tell me this story, do I say: "Let's just visit the family I have left tomorrow and see if they have any idea." Sirius nods and Harry says: "Neville and I have been pretty close over the years. I'm sure he won't mind if I ask him." This makes me smile at Harry and Ron asks:

"How are you two close?" And Harry turns red, making me know it's some kind of secret that he had been close with my little brother and the boy sighs before he says: "Let's just say you and Hermione weren't the only ones present when the students scapegoated me. Neville was there too sometimes when things really went wrong."
This, while it really makes me worried over whatever could have happened to the boy that I already consider my little brother – if only because he is just as easily likeable as Sora – makes Ron and Hermione share a shocked look before they both smile at Harry, apparently relieved someone else was there during these times.
Harry then stands from where he is still closely hugged by Lea and the twins and asks: "Can I use the fireplace, dad? It'll take a while to get Madame Longbottom convinced of all this." The man nods and says: "A good point, kiddo, but I would advise you to call her Lady Longbottom, especially if she finds out of your new heritage."

The boy nods, while I can tell that he doesn't really see how such a thing can be important to all of this and – like Dumbledore when he first came in here – does the boy head over to the fireplace, but then, strangely enough, does he crouch down on his hands and knees in front of it with a jar of strange powder in it in his hand.
Sirius suddenly waves his wand at the boy and Harry looks down shocked before Sirius says: "Trust me, you'll need it." The tone in his voice making me know the man has experience with this form of magic, while on the same time it makes Harry smile at his dad in gratitude before he throws the powder into the fire.
"Longbottom Manor, Heir Harry James Potter calling for Lady Augusta Longbottom." Sirius suddenly says, his tone almost a perfect imitation of his son and he turns to Harry as he says: "You need full reason for these fireplaces to work. My dear father enchanted it that way after he had Reg's first birthday party."

And while I wonder why someone would install such securities after a birthday party of a toddler, does the fire in the fireplace light up green and does the face of an elder woman with stern features and very strong blue eyes that actually prove to me I might actually have a relation to this woman appear, while she herself looks at Harry.
"Heir Potter, glad to see you are finally living up to the amazing reputation your family has left you, child." Now Harry turns red, but then his voice is as firm as Sora's when he tries to convince me of something and while I again see one more resemblance between the boy and my one true love, does Harry say:

"That might be more true than you can think, Lady Longbottom. You see, – ehm – ahem, say you're of Veela nature, but in dire odds with your family – you on the Light, they on the dark. Would you then reveal to the public eye – if your family were to play a large role in every day society – that you have a mate and child?"
The woman looks the boy through with stern eyes, but Harry seems determined to see this mission through and when my grandmother realizes this, a small smile fleetingly crosses her face before she says: "No, Heir Potter, I would not. Does this question have any meaning towards the vague comment you made earlier?"
Harry nods and says: "Indeed, Lady Longbottom. For you see, my father is not, in fact, James Potter. It's the Veela, Sirius Black, who was able to give me a chance of life and who separated me from himself to make sure my grandmother and aunts by marriage – especially Bellatrix Lestrange – wouldn't find out of my existence."
"Yet, they did as a Potter. A clever move, Heir Potter. The Blacks are powerful, but the Potters hold more value in the hearts of those around us, whether they be Light or Neutral. So, why did you decide to reveal this information to me before anyone else? Surely it's not just because you share a dorm with my grandson?"

Now Harry smiles widely and says: "While Neville and I share both a dorm and a close – but, by my request, hidden – friendship, one where I can benefit of Neville's true character and care and where I can be assured to just be myself without anyone watching, due to the secrecy, will it soon not just be friendship I share with your grandson."
The woman looks intrigued, while I am amazed at how well-spoken Harry explained his friendship with Neville and on the same time defended the actual secrecy behind it and then Harry turns to me and Sora and says: "May I introduce to you, Lady Longbottom, two people who have been kept from us for far too long."
The woman then turns to me as well and Harry says: "The first and Primal Heir of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Longbottom and the First and Primal Heir of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, Riku Longbottom and Sora Arturo Black." Making both of us smile widely at the woman in the fire.

The woman herself finally shows her full emotions as her eyes are wide with shock, especially when Sora proves that he is who Harry claims him to be and shows her the Black Heir Badge and I personally think about the time when I fully betrayed Sora, my eyes turning cold and harsh as I look her right in the eye.
My cold, harsh blue eyes locking with hers, I just know that my color alone convinces the woman before Sora pulls my attention away from her and back to him, the beautiful brunette kissing me full on the lips and whispering while lip-locked: "I hate seeing that darkness shine in your eyes, makes them lose their sparkle."
This makes me smile and he says: "There's that crystal look I love so much." To which I whisper back huskily: "As long as I have your love, Sora, my eyes will always shine with my love for you." And that apparently draws a gasp from a lot of adults around me before grandmother says: "Frank said the same thing to Alice."
And while I feel closer to my parents than ever, do I decide to take over where Harry left off. I move my arms under Sora's legs and gently pull my mate off my lap, setting him down against the side of his father before I move over to the fire place and with a single look tell Harry that I will take it from here, the teen nodding.

He then waves his wand at the floor in front of me and I feel the cold stone floor turning into something soft, like a pillow was put under my knees. Then Harry, while smiling at me, turns to Sirius and says: "You were right, dad, I did need it." And I realize he would have had very sore knees, had it not been for this spell.
Feeling grateful that the boy did it for me as well, I focus on my grandmother and say: "Grandmother, Lord Black informed me of the tragic events regarding my father and mother. May I ask for your permission to continue a Veela bond with my one true love since I was fifteen years old, Heir Sora Arturo Black?"
And while I have no idea where all this legal, official talk could come from, do I feel as if it's only better to take matters into my hands like this and my grandmother seems to agree, even if I can only fleetingly see this by the look in her eyes before she turns to Sirius and sternly asks: "What do you say, Lord Black?"

And the man smiles widely, yet with a strict back and firm shoulders as he has Sora on his one side and James on his other and he says: "I know from the tales I have been able to gather that Riku knows the risks of hurting my Primal Heir and has shown how deep his love lies, how strongly my Heir has his heart and how far his loyalties reaches.
I have also, due to the reactions and behavior of my Primal Heir to yours, seen how vehemently my Primal Heir feels for your Primal Heir and how strongly my Heir is willing to fight to prove his love and his heart belonging to that of your Heir." He then looks from me to Sora, who is smiling widely and he says:
"I can honestly say I have not seen such a close bond between two people, Augusta, since I first spend an extended summer in the Potter Household and that was between Dorea and Charlus. Sora and Riku most certainly love each other and have done so for far longer than we should try and stop them. I bless this bonding."

The woman nods, her eyes shining with pride and hidden tears and her stern features softening due to this as she says: "You were always the vocal master, Lord Black, even at school when you would present your little escapades of enjoyment." And while Sirius snickers at the fancy wording of the word prank, does grandmother turn to me.
"Make him happy, Riku." And while I know it's quite rude not to look at my grandmother while speaking to her, do her words draw my attention back to the love of my life and the Light of my Heart as I whisper: "For the rest of my days, grandmother." Making the woman smile at me while Sora's eyes shine with love.
Feeling myself get lost in those beautiful depths of green and blue, do I barely notice it when I change position, but then realize that the twins suddenly have me standing by having their hands around each of my arms and one of them says: "Your gran left, Riku." And the other goes on: "You can go back to your mate now."

And while I feel pretty embarrassed that I lost focus of my surroundings due to my love, do I feel no regret for this as Sora is just too cute when he blushes and then I suddenly notice something while being walked over to him and when I sit back down next to him, do I pull him close and whisper softly in his ear:
"I didn't know people could have their blushes reach all the way down to their stomach." And Sora squeaks as his knotted t-shirt still reveals part of his skin, which is now almost as red as his cheeks, the redness of it matching the darkness of his jeans all the better and I purr softly before I ask: "Shall we read on?" And everyone laughs.