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Warning: Slash… lotta slash!

Chapter Nine

Arriving in the park Harry made all his tattoos disappear with barely a thought as he headed to the public phone on the corner. Luckily the taxi service said there was a taxi nearby, he wouldn't have to wait more then 10 minutes. He would probably still be late but there was little he could do about that right now. Sitting down to wait Harry didn't bother trying to figure out some way to tell his friends everything that had happened in the past 2 days with Snape. He knew no script would work in this situation.

The taxi was early, only taking about 5 minutes. If his luck held and they beat traffic he might still be on time. He knew he was nervous when he struck up a babbling conversation with the driver. Did you know the guy had come to this country 8 years before, and drove taxi's during the day and on weekends while putting himself through night-school and supporting his little sister?

They agreed that the local football team (A/N: I so wanted to call it soccer) had done appallingly that year, like Harry knew, and that the Prime Minister was an absolute wanker. Through all this Harry managed not to notice that traffic was fairly reasonable today and they pulled up outside the hotel at only 2 minutes past 3pm. He could simply say traffic sucked and it would be entirely believable. Paying the driver, and realizing that he really ought to head to Diagon Alley and draw out some more cash, converted to British pounds of course, soon, preferably tomorrow since he was in London anyway Harry headed inside.

Hermione was already there, her nose buried in a book as she waited near reception for the others to show up. When she saw him she jumped up and hugged him, wishing him a happy birthday before asking him with a very serious face whether he was okay or not. He assured her that he was fine, would be fine anyway, and that he just really needed to talk to them, begging off at the worried look on her face Harry said he didn't want to have to go over it several times.

Charlie and Ron arrived shortly after, smiling and wishing him and happy birthday. Charlie pecked him quickly on the lips in hello before they headed over to the counter to check in. They had agreed to split the bill for the suite four ways, although everyone knew Charlie would probably be paying Ron's share. Sign in was the typical pain in the arse that Hermione, the only one who had stayed in a muggle hotel before, assured them it always was, and they then headed to the elevator. Ron commenting on stupid, odd muggle contraptions all the way while Charlie went with the flow.

When they got to their suite they quickly dumped things in their rooms. Charlie and Harry would be sharing; it was no secret among the 4 of them that Harry had a bit of a wild side and that that side often included Charlie. Hermione would have the other room and Ron got the fold out couch. With that sorted out they all sat down in the lounge room, Charlie and Ron on the couch and Hermione in one of the two armchairs provided. Harry decided that telling this story and sitting still were mutually exclusive and so he paced in front of the lounge set.

"Okay, so, I'm going to go chronologically for myself, maybe not chronologically for the story. No interrupting 'till the end. 2 nights ago I was at this party and suddenly Snape shows up out of nowhere right in front of me. So I'm thinking that Tommy must have done something right? But he tells me no, that he's there to find out what I'm doing at a brothel like this place. Anyway we argue and I basically tell him to fuck off and he tells me that no son of his will act in such a manner." He knows he's talking to fast, but his friends still catch it too because he can hear the gasps.

"Now, I may have been thoroughly immersed in a little stress release but I sure as shit caught that comment. Incidentally I now know what people mean when they panic. I mean really panic, can't breath, oh gods help me, sort of panic. Tommy boy? Oh no, him I can handle! Having Snape pull that shit out on me? Well I couldn't actually seem to breath, so I passed out. I guess he took me home or something cause I wake up the next morning in a bedroom and when I find the occupants of the house you'll never believe it. Snape and his family! A wife and the cutest little boy you'd ever see. And so he's all 'join us for breakfast' and I figure sure, I'm seeing a complete lack of options, breakfast it is!"

He's gasping for breath now as he's telling it but he has to get through it "So I sit down but try to find a way out of it, tell him that my relatives will be worried cause I've been gone all night and he's all friendly and tells me we'll discuss it later. So, Cassi, his wife, strikes up a conversation over breakfast and I somehow hold up my end despite wanting to stab myself with my fork to make sure I'm awake and not in some bizarre nightmare. But no, reality. Of course reality, something this fucked up could only be my reality."

"So after dinner Cassi takes Tainen upstairs and leaves Snape and I to chat, he lays it all down for me. How he and mum were best friends at Hogwarts, how they dated until the start of 7th year. How about 2 months before mum married dad, James, gah, whoever the fuck he was, she got cold feet. Went to visit the guy who had been her first love. Things got out of control. Turns out she got knocked up, told James the whole story so at least when he choose to die for me he knew that I wasn't really his by blood. They decided to raise me as their own, cause Snape was a death eater. Put a glamour on me to make me look like James and told no one."

"Only they left a time delayed letter, Dumbledore got it about 6 months ago and still didn't tell me! Kept even more secrets about my life from me that weren't his to keep! That BASTARD! Dumbledore was supposed to tell Snape when I turned 15, so I can't rally hold it against him, he come looking for me the day he found out. Guess he even did right by me in not trying to sugar coat it, just told me the facts."

"Anyway, he asked me to come stay with them. I ain't ever been a son and don't really know how to be or that I want to be but a big brother! Something about that, when he said it, I just couldn't help it, I wanted it. So I agreed to keep contact, but figured staying wouldn't be a good idea. But Snape, he told me I could come and go as I please at all hours, that he'd make me a portkey so I had total freedom between Little Whinging and his place. So I said yes, and moved in yesterday. And he even went out and got me a birthday present, this really cool necklace which is charmed to be the portkey. And maybe I was testing them a bit when I went out last night. That and I really wanted to go to that party but still, and they were cool about it."

Harry seemed to run out of steam, and they were all gaping at him like fish. He flopped into the spare armchair and waited for the coming explosion…

He didn't have to wait long. Hermione was out of her chair and hugging him, practically in tears at this new 'issue' in his life. Ron had exploded from his seat ranting about the evilness of Snape versus the fact that he had seemed to be okay in the story, so far, and cursing Dumbledore for keeping this from him. Harry had eventually told them about the prophecy, so they knew everything else, well except about his last defense and he guessed he'd have to tell them that too if they were going to help him find a way to keep it from Snape and Dumbledore, whom he really didn't want to know.

Charlie just sat there until after Hermoine was done before hugging Harry too. He didn't let him go though, instead he slid around behind Harry so he was holding him against him and Harry would never admit how good that felt just then, how reassuring. Now that the main burst of energy, frustration and desperation was over, now that it wasn't his burden alone anymore, they were able to calm down and examine everything Harry knew. They talked about the pros and cons of having Snape in his life. He could learn about his mother, have a family, have a real home to go to. But at the same time there was the threat of Tommy, made even more real by Snape's position as a spy, there was his unease at being a son, and there was the fact that he way the new guy in a pre-made family with their own little world, he was the outsider. But they all really liked his necklace.

They discussed Dumbledore's latest betrayal and that brought up the question about whether or not he still fit the prophecy now that James wasn't his father. When they started discussing what they were going to do when his glamour did finally fall he decided that it was time to give up his last secret to these people, well at least Ron and Hermione, he still had a few others from Charlie.

To say they were shocked would be an understatement, and they were maybe a little hurt too, but knowing how cautious Harry was they could understand his reasoning of wanting one last, absolutely secret defense. He explained about the spider's web, and how he had found out what it meant, how the glamour had actually dropped entirely and he was maintaining the morph completely on his own. As proof he showed them his tattoos which he had never before been able to show any of them. Their reactions amused him no end. Charlie's eyes darkened in that way he knew meant Charlie wanted him, preferably right now, Ron was in awe, Harry had just become the coolest person he had ever met, and Hermione just took it in stride, supposing there wasn't much she could say about them now.

When they asked him to drop the morph and show them what he looked like he told them that he had never done that, that not even he knew what he really looked like and he didn't want to know tonight. Hermione said she'd get on it right away. That she was sure they could come up with something. Harry hugged her in thanks and then changed the conversation, deciding things had been too deep for too long.

The others went with it and they chatted about what the others had been up to since school let out and how the Dragon Tamer life was suiting Charlie. Norbert was apparently doing fine, as was Harry's favorite Hungarian Horntail who had recently recovered from the Draconian version of the flu. It wasn't long before Hermione pointed out that they all better change if they were gonna go eat before the concert.

Headed to their respective rooms, with Ron joining Harry and Charlie in theirs, they all got changed. Harry was wearing black leather pants with a simple white skin-tight wife beater bearing random slash marks; he decided to leave his tattoos showing. Charlie wore tight black faded jeans and a blue wife beater the same shade as his eyes, just for Harry who he knew loved his eyes, and his dragon-hide boots. The fact that Charlie had obviously helped Ron decide what to wear was obvious as he pulled on jeans that were tighter then he ever would have normally worn and one of Charlie's T-shirt which had been shrunk for the occasion. It read "My body is a temple" across the front and "worship me" on the back.

When they met Hermione back I the main room she was wearing a denim skirt which rested about 2 inches above the knees and a Chinese print red satin singlet top with calf high simple black boots. Approving each of the boy's outfits they decided to head out, leaving the key at reception so they wouldn't lose it. Dinner was at a simple low-key restaurant nearby where, with the help of magically fake Id's, the bear and wine flowed freely.

After desert they headed to the stadium where the concert was being held. They didn't have to wait long before the support band came on stage. They were okay, but nothing to write home about, and Harry couldn't even remember their name later. Then Linkin Park came on. They did 2 sets, and played 3 encores, playing a little bit of their older stuff as well as the newer stuff. Harry sung along to them all. Dancing and smiling and sometimes just watching, his eyes pinned to the stage, watching them perform. The other enjoyed themselves too. Although none of them liked the music they did enjoy the atmosphere but more importantly they enjoyed Harry pleasure. His life was always so fucked up, and this new 'you're daddy ain't your daddy' thing was just one more fucked up piece of the pie!

Something about Harry when he sang along to some of the songs caught their attention. His face when he sang Numb left all three of them breathless. But like all concerts, well all good concerts anyway, it was over far too soon. And the four of them headed through the crush of the crowds toward a near-by blues bar. Harry had chosen it specifically, thought he'd given the poor sheltered wizards a sample of two very different muggle musical styles. They grabbed a table and drank beer while listening to the music and talking about both the earlier concert ad the band now playing.

It wasn't much later, a little after 12, when they headed back to the hotel. Saying good night they each headed toward their own rooms, Ron and Hermoine to sleep and Harry to properly thank Charlie for the great birthday present. It was never like it was with anyone else when he was with Charlie. Something about Charlie heated him up and cooled him down all at the same time, created a slow burn that could last for hours as they had every kind of sex imaginable.

Tonight Harry wanted the slow kind. The kind where you had been going for hours and still hadn't made it to the main event yet. The kind that left you so exhausted you never thought you'd move again, and at the same time so sated that your eyes just kinda role of their own free will in their sockets behind your closed eyelids.

Losing their shoes and socks they fell into bed, kissing slowly, softly, building the fire. Hands began to explore skin that they knew almost as well as their own, but it still seemed new every time. Harry kissed every inch of Charlie's face, learning it all over again with his mouth before they pulled apart long enough to divest each other of their shirts. A whole new play ground opened to their mouths and hands, and Charlie wasted no time in exploring his, pushing Harry backward so he was flat on the bed then leaning over him so he could trail his tongue from Harry mouth to first one nipple to bite, lick and tease, before kissing a blazing trail to the other and repeating the same action.

Pulling him up for a kiss, Harry's hands went to work on Charlie's pants, having them undone in short order. Shimmying out of the skin-tight material was gonna take some work and Charlie had to stand to achieve it, dragging Harry with him, knowing that there was no other way that he was getting Harry out of those pants. They fell back onto the bed, laughing about the stupidity of fashion that they would have to leave the bed to strip. They returned to their explorations of each others body's, taking their time, worshipping every inch of each others skin, the different textures of different areas, the smells and tastes of the most intimate areas, the feel of the others skin burning against their own.

It was Harry who lost control first; reaching for the lube and condom he knew he had thrown on the bedside table earlier he pushed up Charlie's legs, preparing him easily and then putting on the condom. Sliding smoothly home, to a place he refused to acknowledge was his home. And Charlie was right there with him now, losing control, half wanting to speed things up but half wanting to prolong the beautiful agony of the knifes edge. Slowly at first, they moved together. It was Charlie in the end who broke first, speedy things up, forcing the rhythm into something closer to his hurried heart beat. It didn't take long at the new pace before he was falling over the edge and dragging Harry down with him.

They lay there, still holding each other, panting, and never wanting to move again. Charlie slipped into a peaceful slumber, his breathing evening out. But Harry could not sleep. He had one more thing to do tonight and he had to do it alone. He tied of the condom, dumping it in the bin near the dresser, on his way to the bathroom. He closed the door quietly, wanting no witnesses to what he was about to do, then he turned on the light.

He had never let the image in the back of his mind go before; it was honestly hard for him to remove the morph from himself after so many years of living with it constantly there. But after a few minutes he did it, the little corner of his mind he figured must hold his metamorph ability was empty for the first time ever. And he still hadn't opened his eyes. Taking a deep breath and standing in front of the mirror, he let his eyes open, and then felt them widen. Man it was weird to look at yourself and see a stranger, but a familiar stranger.

He still had his mother's eyes. His nose with a little thinner though, his cheek bones more defined. His hair was no longer the potter mess but silky and flat, too flat, black with obvious red highlights. He had grown a bit too. Whereas before he had only been about 5'6" or so now he was probably about 5'9" or maybe 5'10". His bones seemed to have thinned a bit too, somehow making him appear more delicate despite his Quidditch muscles. He could defiantly see Snape in some of his features. And while his hair wasn't 'greasy' the flatness did make it seem to just hang there. He seriously needed product to make it spike or something. His lips were a little thinner too but still his mother's red, instead of Snape's chewed out color.

All up, Harry decided, it wasn't that bad. He didn't look too much like the man, although you could see it if you were looking for it. But now there was more of Lily there too, and Harry really didn't mind looking more like his mom. Calling back up the image of 'Harry Potter' Harry morphed back and headed off to bed, Charlie's arms helping to protect him from the worst of the nightmares that night.

The next morning as he showered Harry decided there were probably worse things then waking up in bed with Charlie Weasley. Especially when Charlie had such an amazing mouth which he put to such good use, blowing Harry's brains out before he was even really awake, then kissing him quickly and telling him, as he left the room, that he'd order breakfast for him. Harry showered quickly, more awake then usual before his morning coffee, thanks to a good nights sleep, they'd fallen asleep around three and it was a little after 11 now, and a great wake-up call.

The other two were awake as well when Harry made it out of his room. Having packed his bag, he added it to the other three already by the door. Breakfast turned out to be a full English breakfast, with plenty of coffee. While they ate Harry told the other's what he had come up with last night.

"I was thinking. What if we say that the glamour fell last night, that I woke up this morning looking Snape-like and so one of you taught me a new glamour that I have to re-cast each morning or something. That way they never have to really know what happened, they can't prove it. Assuming of course that anybody knows just such a glamour spell?"

The others figured that this idea would probably work, and if Snape or someone insisted on seeing him without his 'glamour' he would have the night alone to drop the morph, because it didn't look like an ending spell. Charlie knew a glamour spell that would work, and after teaching Harry to cast it, just incase anyone asked, Hermoine finally got the balls to ask the question they were all wondering.

"So Harry, do you know what you look like yet?"

"I'm only ever going to do this once, so don't ever expect it again, okay?" Getting nods all around Harry dropped the morph, allowing other people to see the real him for the first time since his parents cast the glamour on his infant self.

The general response was "Wow." Apparently he looked hot like that. With an eye role he recast his morph and told the others to hurry, he really needed to stop by Gringotts to restock his cash supplies before he headed back to Snape's.

They all finished breakfast and checked-out just before the 12:30 late checkout time. Catching the underground to the stop two streets away from the Leaky Cauldron, the 4 of them made their way to the muggle entrance to the wizarding world. They all greeted Tom as they headed through his pub, walking quickly to Gringotts Harry went to deal with the Goblins with the others waited. Heading down to his vault and then changing the money into pounds Harry left Gringotts with his bag a fair bit fuller.

Harry parted ways with the other 3 outside Gringotts, Hermione would be going to the Weasley's for a few days. As they were in public Harry merely shook hands good-bye with Ron and Charlie and gave Hermoine a quick hug before he activated his portkey.

Please R&R