Chapter Ten – Sounds of Silence
"WAKEY WAKEY!!! RISE AND SHINE!!!!" Harry's cheerful voice rang through the hall of Potter Manor, making the occupants groan and bury further into their pillows.
"Shut up Potter. Some of us need our sleep!" Came the muffled voice of Blaise Zabini, from his room as Harry passed.
"It's Potter-Black and we have to get to Kings Cross some point this morning! Preferably before the Hogwart's Express leaves!" Harry said in an annoyingly cheerful voice.
"What time is it?" Seamus grumbled from his bedroom.
"Well I let you all have a lie in... plus the portkey only arrived about thirty minutes ago."
"What time is it Potter?"
"Well..."
"Potter! Answer Finnegan's question! What time have you woken us up at?" Draco yelled from their bedroom. Harry paused in front of the door and nibbled his lips, making Flees, who had been walking around with him in cat form, snicker in their minds.
"Well... I thought we should get there with time to spare..."
"What is the fucking time Potter! It isn't bloody hard!" Pansy screamed, making Harry and Flees flinch and wonder where they could hide...
"Well... its about seven in the morning." Harry said, managing it without breathing and then running off to the training room, where there was a room that could only be entered with a Parseltongue password. The screams of fury that followed him, made them both run just a little bit faster.
IIIIIIIIIIIIII
After much grumbling, and finally convincing Harry that it was safe to leave the room, they all finally managed to get to Kings Cross with an hour to spare before the train left.
"Okay, so... er... are we all going to sit together or are we going back to Gyffindor, Slytherin." Blaise finally asked,, making everyone look at Harry ad Draco, who were both under glamour as normal humans.
"Well how about we go into separate carriages and then, after I have broken the news to Ron gently, we will run back to the Slytherin carriage. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good for me. Though will we all fit in one carriage?"
"Doubt it."
"How about Neville, Dean and I grab a carriage next to the Slytherin one, then Harry can have one on his own, that way he won't have to worry about leaving anyone behind and he can tell Ron the er... news in private. Plus we don't have to pretend that we don't know." Seamus said, girnning at his own brilliance.
"Er. Seamus, you have been living with me, and thus Draco, for the past month. I think they will assume you know." Harry pointed out gently, not wanting to hurt his feelings.
"Ah, well then, we won't be in the firing line. Good luck on your own Harry." Seamus said, patting Harry on the back and then walking away to find a carriage.
Harry watched him leave with a bemused smile on his face then turned back t the others who were watching them with barely suppressed amusement.
"Right then. I'll go and find a carriage at the opposite end to you lot. Okay? See you in a bit and hopefully in one piece." Harry said, his nerves showing slightly.
"Harry, you'll be fine, you have Flees with you, it'll be okay."
"I was thinking about that."
"About what?"
"Flees."
"What about him?"
"Wouldn't it be suspicious if I have a cat now and so does Smokey? I realise that they look different, but Hermione is amazingly perceptive."
"What do you want to do about it?" Draco asked curiously.
"Wanna swap? How about I take Slinky-"
"Anguis."
"Right, him, and you take Flees." Harry said, ignoring the grumbling coming from said cat, who was now the same colouring but reversed.
"He doesn't look entirely happy about that decision." Draco said warily, bringing Slinky out from under his cloak.
"He'll be fine. This way I can feel happy knowing that you will be safe and you can also. Plus you can ask Slinks if I am okay and vice versa with me and Flees."
"Fine fine. What is Flees' name again?"
"Malachi."
"Okay fine. Why that though?"
"Well it was his original name." Harry said shrugging, making Draco look at the cat, who was now cleaning himself, in shock. Harry smiled gently at Draco and then handed the cat cage over, taking Slinky in return and wrapping him around his shoulders.
"I'll see you in a bit then." Harry said after all the others had wandered off to find where Seamus had nabbed them carriages.
"You'll be okay?"
"I'll be fine. Now go." Harry said smiling and nudging Draco to the other end of the carriage. Harry then turned around, shrank his trunk and walked onto the train, grabbing the end carriage like usual.
He didn't have to wait for long, before Hermione, Ginny and Ron all walked into the carriage and stopped in shock when they noticed Harry, taking in the changes that he had gone through (his hair was slightly longer and, as he no longer needed glasses, he was going to say he was wearing contacts.)
"Harry?" Ginny asked finally, walking forward and sitting down next to the nervously smiling boy and smiling widely, not noticing a large snake, narrowing its eyes at her.
"Harry? What is that around your shoulder?"
"It's my familiar. He's called Slinky." Slinky hissed his amusement at the name ad coiled tighter around his shoulders, squeezing them reassuringly.
"Ah right. So where have you been all summer? The Order's been frantic looking for you." Ron said, still eyeing Slinky nervously, but sitting down opposite him, next to Hermione, who had yet to speak.
"I was at my family home. And technically it wasn't all summer, just August." Harry said cautiously.
"Fine, but still why didn't you contact us?"
"I kind of had a hectic summer. Actually, I need to tell you guys something."
"Does it include why you were living with Draco Malfoy?" Hermione asked suddenly, making Harry's eyes widen and do an amazing impression of a deer in headlights.
"How do you know that?" Harry asked eventually, calming himself down with the help of Slinky.
"Malfoy and the Slytherin's went shopping in Diagon. Some Order members heard him mention you and that he was staying with you." Hermione stated, making Harry wince and mentally clap himself on the back for his acting.
"Ah, right. Well I suppose now would be as good a time as any to tell you all then." Harry said, swallowing hard and shifting in his seat slightly to make for a better getaway.
"What is it? Why was he living with you?" Ron asked in a pained voice, making Harry pale slightly and believe that perhaps Divination was an exact art, because he was getting a premonition that things were going to become slightly messy.
"Well see... you know how I kept disappearing in sixth year and we kind of drifted apart?"
"Yes. I had assumed it was because you were still grieving the loss of Sirius."
"Well it partly was, but then it changed around about Christmas time. See Draco and I-"
"Harry! Is that a wedding ring?" Ginny cried out, as Harry cursed himself for brushing his hair back behind his ear.
"Yeah that's what I wanted to tell you. Draco and I kinda started seeing each other over Christmas and well we got married during the summer. Surprise!!" And with that Harry jumped up and ran out of the carriage, screw Gryffindor courage, he liked his life at the moment.
"POTTER! GET BACK HERE!" Ron bellowed, making Harry pick up the pace and leg it to Draco's carriage.
"No chance!" Harry shouted back, before he turned and ran into the Slytherin's carriage and hid behind Draco, who had just stood up to greet him presumably.
"I thought you were a Gryffindor Potter?" Theo asked, amusement lacing his voice.
"Screw Gryffindor. I would rather live right now and I have an angry red head out for my blood." Harry hissed, getting laughs from everyone in the carriage, including Draco, who was looking behind him at his mate.
"You told them then. I assume it went well."
"Oh yes. Spectacularly well in fact." Harry sad sarcastically, still clinging onto Draco and moving closer to wrap his arms around him.
"Ah. Well I'll protect you my little mate."
"Sure you will. You're a bigger wimp than me." Harry murmured dryly, muffled slightly because he was resting his head on Draco's back.
"Hey! I resent that!" Draco said, managing to turn around in Harry's grip and kiss the brunette gently on his forehead.
"Pfft. Resemble it more like." Harry muttered, leading back to the seats and sitting down. None of them had noticed that Slinky had left the room until they heard a high pitched shriek come from the cart next to them and Dean ran into theirs, slamming the door open in a frenzy.
"Dr-Harry! Will you control your damned Familiar!" Dean yelled, noticing the crowd that they had acquired and remembering whose owner Slinky's supposedly was just in time.
"Heh, he loves you Dean."
"I swear to god, if Dumbledore doesn't allow you two to share an apartment, then I will lodge a formal protest against it. Actually, bugger that, I'll beg him." Dean said, handing slinky over to Harry and then grumpily leaving the compartment, much to the amusement of the Slytherin's in there.
"I think you had better keep a better eye on Slinky from now on." Draco said, begrudgingly saying the name through gritted teeth.
"I agree. So then, think you are up to meet my friends?" Harry said, grinning widely at Draco's spluttering. "Joking."
IIIIIIIIIIIIII
Harry and Draco walked into the Great Hall holding hands, followed by the others, who wee bickering amongst themselves about something or the other. When they reached the doors, Harry turned to Draco and sighed.
"What's wrong?"
"Dunno. I suppose in here, my world gets a little smaller. Our there," Harry waved to the doors leading out of Hogwarts, "I felt large I suppose."
"Ah. Well you know, you are only going to be here for another year, then we can leave and be free. Plus technically we should be getting our own apartment here, being that we are married and we should be getting a bit more freedom." Draco said before leaning forward and kissing Harry gently and then walking over to the Slytherin table and sitting down next to Blaise.
Harry sighed again and then walked over to where his friends were sitting at the Gryffindor table.
"You okay Harry?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Whatever you say Superfly." Dean said with a grin, getting a half-hearted grin from Harry back. The hall then became hushed slightly as Flitwick placed the stool in the centre of the room and McGonagall lead the new firsties into the hall to be sorted.
"Wonder if he's gonna give a warning?" Neville queried as the Sorting Hat opened his mouth and began to sing.
"The time has come,
My little ones
To talk of many things"
"I think I can see where this is going." Harry muttered to Dean, who snorted into his hand and received an icy glare from McGonagall
"Of Dark Lords and
Of Light Lords
And of Demons who can sing"
"I've heard Draco sing in the shower and let me tell you, it ain't pretty." Dean once more was subjected to a glare from McGonagall as he laughed aloud and then blushed when everyone looked at him.
"The time has come
To pick your side
For whom you wish to fight
And so, My children
I do my Job
To sort you for your life
There is one thing
I wish to say
One thing
I wish to warn
Be wary of those
Twinkly eyes
Those Eyes of ruby red
See forward to those
Of Icy glaciers
And be lead
By emerald seas.
So now's the time
For me to choose
Where you shall
Make your friends
Be Slytherin or Ravenclaw
Hufflepuff or Gryffindor
They will stand by you
Through thick and thin
Choose your friends wisely
For they will help you win.
"You know. I'm disappointed. Where was the rhyming?" Seamus asked, once everyone had gotten over the oppressive silence and began to murmur to their friends.
"It was there. Just in small doses." Neville pointed out casually and making Harry snort into his hand and get another glare from McGonagall, who had just called out for 'Dobson, Anita' (GRYFFINDOR).
"Harry, do you know if there is a way to get muggle technology to work within Hogwarts?" Dean asked quietly across the table, trying to avoid the wrath of McGonagall. Harry ignored him, looking at something under the table in his hands. The three seventh year Gryffs looked at each other and frowned in confusion.
"Harry?" Neville called tentatively, looking at the demon in confusion.
Seamus frowned and then grinned before grabbing whatever it was that had Harry's attention, getting a gasp and exclamation of annoyance from Harry and making McGonagall look over at them and growl in irritation.
"Harry? Are you reading CSI?" Seamus asked in amusement, looking at the book in his hands.
"Give it back!" Harry hissed, snatching the book out of Seamus' hands and glowering and the three snickering boys.
"Reading CSI Harry? Just a tweak obsessive don't we think?" Dean said lightly, though Harry noted that he was discreetly trying to read the blurb on the back of the book.
"Perhaps, want to read one? I have another in my pocket." Harry offered, making Dean's eyes light up and nod eagerly.
"Okay! I never thought of packing my own ones or bringing them here with me. Do you have a lot on you?"
"A few. I find them better than wizarding novels."
"Have they ever wrote crime novels?"
"I don't actually know..." Harry said musingly. "Hang on." The three Gryffs looked at him in curiosity and then 'ahed' when he began hissing to Slinky.
"Well Slinky says that they attempted it, but it was really crap." Harry said eventually after a quick conversation with the snake. Slinky then nodded as if to agree and then leered at Dean in a very serpentine way, making the poor boy shudder.
"Why were they crap?"
"Er... Heh, apparently the two aurors that it was based around caught the suspects within a couple of chapters of the murders happening... It was always a Slytherin who was the murderer." Harry said, rolling his eyes and grinning at the chuckling boys.
"I think I remember my gran reading that book. She said it was very um... what's the word?"
"Clichéd?"
"No, um... predictable. She stopped reading it about half way through. I may send her some muggle ones."
"Well I can recommend a few... some of them aren't even CSI!" Harry said, glaring at the shocked gasps that went through the other three. "Hmph!"
Seamus chuckled and went to say something but stopped when Dumbledore stood and started his star of term speech.
"I would first like to start with introducing the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor for this year. Please give a warm welcome back to Professor Lupin. Those of you who were here four years ago will remember him." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly as the fifth years and up all stood up and cheered for Remus, making him blush brightly and wave at everyone.
"Did you know that Remus was coming back this year?" Neville asked Harry. Harry looked at him smiling brightly, CSI book forgotten on the table.
"Nope! Not a clue. Huh, not like him to be able to keep a secret really." Harry said thoughtfully.
"Huh, well it's pretty cool! I think DADA is gonna be wicked this year." Neville said, making Harry grin widely and remind those around him uncomfortably of the Weasley Twins.
"Well I will let you eat your fill and then go to your beds so that you can be bright and early tomorrow morning for your lessons. Will Messers Black please come to my office after. Thank you." With that Dumbledore sat down and the food appeared on the table in front of them, getting gasps of shock and awe from the first years.
"What do you think Dumbledore wants with you?" Seamus asked around a mouthful of food. Harry, Neville and Dean stared at him dumbfounded. "What?"
"Please tell me you didn't ask that."
"What!?"
"Seamus why do you think Dumbledore wants to spe-"
"Harry!" Harry looked to his right as Lavender and Padma sat down next to and opposite him and grinned winningly... well it would have been winningly had he been single... and straight.
"Yes?"
"Is it true what Ron is ranting about you?"
"It depends on hat he is ranting about."
"You and Malfoy!"
"Malfoy-Black."
"Huh? So it's not true then?"
"Yeah, it is, if he saying that I'm married to Draco. We both took a name that we had in common. Potter-Black and Malfoy-Black."
"Er... Why Black?"
"I am Lord Black and he was heir apparent should I have died before inheriting."
"Ah, so you both took your family names? That's so cute!" Lavender gushed, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
"Why Malfoy though?"
"Have you seen him? He's gorgeous. Plus he is very sweet if you get to know him." Harry said, glancing across the hall at his 'husband' and grinning brightly at him when he caught his eye. The other three rolled their eyes at the sighs coming from Lavender and Padma and then snickered when Harry blushed at something Slinky hissed.
"What did the snake say?" Neville asked, once he had calmed down somewhat and then chuckling even more when Harry blushed even more brightly.
"Jeesh, you're lit up like a bulisha beacon." Dean said, chuckling at Harry, who glared at him and then hit his head down on the table. Slinky hissed something else, making Harry sit up straight and grin in a way that made the other three boys stop laughing immediately and begin to get worried.
"You know Dean, Slinky says he is going to wear you down." Harry said with a malicious grin, which grew when Dean paled and looked at the snake in question.
"Pardon?"
"You heard me. Now I've got to go. I have a meeting with the Headmaster and my husband." Harry said with a grin and standing up, he went to walk off, before he stopped and turned around, his grin even wider and making many who look his way shudder in fear.
"What?" Dean asked wearily, eyeing the snake on his shoulders.
"Slinky wants to stay with you, he says he would feel better if he could keep you safe." Harry said, walking over to the Gryffindor and placing the large snake around his shoulders.
"Er... He's kinda tightening!" Dean said, a hint of panic in his voice.
"Yeah, he's hugging you." Harry said with a grin before turning and walking over to Draco, who was waiting for him by the doors. Walking up to him, he smiled brightly and noticed that everyone in the hall was waiting for something. Be it a confrontation or something else.
"Want to give them something to talk about?" Draco asked when Harry was within hearing distance.
"What do you have in mind?" Harry asked, walking closer to him and then grinning brightly when Draco grabbed his hand and pulled him to his side, kissing him sharply on the mouth. Harry pulled away gasping and breathing deeply after a few moments and then noticed that you could hear a pin drop in the hall.
"So then husband, shall we go see Dumbledore?" Draco asked loudly, well loud enough to be heard by everyone. Harry blushed lightly and nodded, before following Draco out of the hall.
As soon as the doors closed behind them, the whispering erupted throughout the hall, making a group of Slytherins and a group of Gryffindors smirk at each other across the hall.
IIIIIIIIIIIIII
"So what do you think Dumbledore wants with us?" Draco asked as they walked up the stairs to the Headmasters office.
"Please tell me you didn't ask me that."
"What?"
"What do you think he wants to talk to us about?"
"Anything."
"Well I can tell you the two main subjects that will come up. Where I was over the summer and where I am going to live during the school year."
"Ah. Well no need in putting it off. Come on, here we are. Know the password?"
"Nope. Wanna just start calling out all the different sweets that we know?"
"Not particularly."
"Good. I have the password." Snape walked up behind them, closely followed by Remus and Minerva.
"Snape! How ya doing old boy? And Remus, you wolf you. Minnie! Good to see you again!" Harry said brightly making the three teachers try and suppress grins.
"Quite Mr Potter. Shall we go up? Squares that look round." McGonagall said dryly, making Harry snort and get questioning looks from everyone else.
"How can a square look round? If it's round then it wouldn't be a square." Draco pondered, making Harry snicker even more.
"It's a sweet from a muggle book. They are squares with faces that look 'round when someone goes past." Harry explained, making Draco look at him in shock then snort with amusement. "Where's Mal?"
"Huh?"
"Malachi? Where is he? I'm amazed that he left you out f his sight."
"He's in his little kitty cage. I assume he is now in wherever I will be spending the year here." Draco said, knocking on the door and then opening it when 'Enter' was called out through the door.
"Ah, I'm glad you could all make it. Please please, take a seat." Dumbledore said, with his ever present, annoying twinkle.
"What can we do for you Professor?"
"I would like to talk to you about your living arrangements for the year." Dumbledore said, smiling brightly at the two demons.
"Okaay. So what so you want to know?"
"I would like to ask if you two are married legally."
"Yes. We had a small do. Only friends were invited. We were bonded together in the normal way by a close friend of ours. Would you like to see the certificate?" Draco asked, looking at Dumbledore coolly.
"Right! Well in that case, I think I shall give you the normal apartment here for students that are married. Though on occasion you do get the odd mated couple of magical creatures here."
"What should happen if another couple mates then? Will we have to move out?" Harry asked curiously, for no other reason than to find out.
"No no. We have a couple of those rooms so you should be fine. Now then, Harry. Where have you been all summer?"
"Well for the first month and a half I was at the Dursley's and then, when I turned seventeen, I went to Ollivanders and to a family home that I found out about. It is under fidelius so I was completely safe."
"Be that the case, I would have felt better if you had told me where you were. I could have then sent someone to watch over you."
"I was perfectly safe."
"You may have thought that, but I have it on good authority that Mr Malfoy here was seen with a rogue demon."
"You mean Smokey? He knows you were following him around you know."
"You know this Smokey?"
"Yep. He's kinda cool. Shares my love of CSI." Harry added with a smirk.
"Harry, I don't think you realise the danger you have been in. I am not entirely pleased with you."
"Well that makes the feelings between us mutual then, doesn't it professor. Now. Is that everything that you needed to talk to us about? If so, then Draco and I will go to our rooms."
"Harry, if you wouldn't mind staying behind for a second. Mr Malfoy can wait outside if he wishes, then Professors Snape and McGonagall will take you to your rooms." Dumbledore said with a bright smile.
"Okay Dumbledore, I'll play your games. I'll meet you outside in minute Dray." Harry said, making Draco narrow his eyes at Dumbledore and then nod stiffly and walk out of the office after the three professors.
"Harry."
"It's Mr Potter-Black."
"About that Harry. What do you think you are doing?"
"What do you mean Professor?" Harry asked, narrowing his eyes at the aging headmaster, wondering where he was going with this.
"Marrying into a Death Eaters family! Harry! His father is Voldemort's Right Hand!"
"Really? How does he live without it? Is he left-handed? Did he transfigure it into a human? Would that even work? I must ask McGonagall." Harry muttered, making Dumbledore wonder about the sanity of his saviour and puppet... well maybe not anymore, but he hoped he was.
"Harry-"
"Mr Potter-Black. Or just Mr Black if you wish."
"Sorry. Mr Black can we return to the important issues. Lucius Malfoy would give his right arm to take you to his master."
"Would he turn it into a follower."
"Harry! I don't think you understand the direness of this situation!"
"No! I don't think you understand! Draco is not his father! Lucius beat him over the summer and Draco came to live with me. We got married because we love each other and dear god I think I am going to vomit for even saying that!" Harry added all in one breath, making Dumbledore question his sanity even more.
"Mr Black. What you have done is very silly. You are far to young to be getting tied down like this. And what about young Miss Weasley? You have lead her on only to shatter her hopes."
"Lead her on? She's a stalker! They don't need leading! They'll bloody follow anyways until you get a pissing restraining order!" Harry said, hissing the last part in a dangerous voice. He quickly took a deep breath as he felt the air in the room begin to heat up and looked up at the Headmaster.
"I'm sorry you think that, but don't you think you are making a mistake with this marriage thing?"
"If so then let me make my own mistakes! You're supposed to learn from them so let me learn! And if I haven't made a mistake, then yay, I've found someone to love me back. It's about damned time." Harry said gently, feeling drained from this conversation. "If that is all you needed to talk to me about Headmaster..."
"No. One last thing. What do you know about this Smokey character?"
"Not much. I will warn you though. He won't be around for a while. He's gone to Tartarus to see his Grandfather. Apparently he needed to sort some things out. If you do happen across him, let him get on with things. He is doing you a favour in the long run."
"You can't honestly believe that." Dumbledore said, twinkle leaving in is astonishment.
"I do and so should you. He is disposing of the Death Eaters. They will kill us, why shouldn't we return the favour? We've already found out that Azkaban doesn't work, they just break out! So kill them! They can't break out of death!"
"Harry-"
"It's Potter-Black! You try to win this war your way and I will do it mine. If that means following Smokey and Ice, then I will. Don't get in their way professor because they might not stop at you."
"Is that a threat Mr Black?"
"No, it's just a warning. I have no control over the Silent Killers. They do what they want."
"So Smokey is a Silent Killer?"
"You mean to say that you didn't realise that?" Harry asked, dumbfounded.
"We weren't entirely sure. Ow we know for certain however."
"Yeah, whatever. Well I'm leaving now, whether you wish me to or not. Goodnight Professor." Harry said, standing up and leaving the office. Outside Draco was leaning against the wall, watching as Snape and McGonagall glared at each other.
"Hey, finished?" Draco asked softly, noticing Harry sidle up to him, watching Snape and McGonagall warily.
"Yeah. Er... What's up with those two?"
"They were arguing who had turned whom."
"Ah, and I am guessing they haven't been able to reach a conclusion."
"Oh no. They did. Snape won. Apparently you are far more Slytherin than Gryffindor. Sadly the same can't be said about me."
"What you're not more Slytherin than Gryffindor?"
"No moron. The other way round." Draco said, swatting Harry gently and getting a sheepish grin in return.
"Ah Mr Potter. You're back. Come then, we'll lead you to your rooms." Draco and Harry looked at McGonagall and then nodded, following her and Snape through the halls in silence.
They stopped outside of a large painting of an old lady, who looked down at them and glared, reminding Harry shockingly of Mrs Black.
"Password?"
"At least she didn't yell it." Harry mumbled, getting a snort from Snape, and a confused look from Draco.
"The password is Crumbilicious." McGonagall said, her face showing exactly what she thought of said password.
"Crumbilicious? Cool. Is it possible to turn a limb into another person?" Harry asked in passing as McGonagall walked away, making her stop, shake her head and then carry on.
"Perhaps you should go to bed Mr Potter-Black. You will have a busy day of lessons tomorrow morning." Snape said dryly, lips twitching as he tried not to laugh.
"A busy day tomorrow morning? A whole day?"
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah you're right. I just like irritating you. Night night Sevvy."
"It's Professor Snape!"
"Yeah yeah. Night!"
Well that's another chapter done! I seem to be hitting quite a lot of blocks when it comes to my stories. I just don't seem to know where they are going. I haven't completely given up on Regeneration quite yet, but it is slowly getting there. I have no idea what the hell I will be writing and when the next update will be. Good news though, I will be going home for two weeks (hopefully) at the end of the month, so as I don't currently have working internet at home I will be writing an awful lot, so after that two weeks I should have a veritable back log of chapters! For the time being however, Enjoy! And please review!