Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter and everything recognisable belongs to J K Rowling.
Thanks to all those who reviewed. Another long chapter, don't say I'm not good to you. Enjoy!!
Chapter Twenty Seven
Harry sat, staring out of the window not taking in a single thing Professor Flitwick was saying. He couldn't take in any of the lecture, his mind was on something else, or rather someone else. It had been a week now since he had learnt from his parents that the traitor was found, the one who had been drugging him.
Harry shook his head slowly, he still couldn't believe it. Dennis Creevey. The annoying little brat that had been chasing him around like some sort of lovesick puppy was the one who had been slipping Sedare potion into his drinks. And to top it all of, the idiot didn't even know it was Sedare potion! He had been tricked into thinking it was some ridiculous 'Friendship' potion or something like that.
Harry felt his anger burn inside him. How utterly stupid could someone be? Harry vaguely remembered his dad saying that he should keep calm and not do anything to the Creevey boy. Harry scoffed silently at that. How was that even possible? Harry was going to rip that little bastard apart when he found him!
It seemed though, that the Headmaster knew that's what Harry was going to do and so took the necessary precautions, by sending Dennis away on temporary expulsion. He made it sound like he did it because he was outraged at Dennis' behaviour and that he could have easily killed Harry by overdosing him. Harry's health had suffered considerably and even now, Harry couldn't take any sleeping potions because of Dennis. It light of that, Dennis had to be severely punished and so it was decided that he was to leave the castle immediately. In fact, Dennis had already been sent away by the time Harry woke up and was told everything. But Harry knew better than to believe Dumbledore. He knew Dennis was sent away for his own safety, rather than as a punishment.
Harry had to admit, at least Dumbledore knew him better than the rest.
His gaze drifted from the window over to where Ron and Hermione were sitting. He still wasn't talking to them. He knew that they, along with Ginny and Damien were the ones who caught Dennis and had dragged him to Professor McGonagall. He didn't feel that they deserved any praise for it though, he had never asked them to play detective and catch the one responsible. As far as he was concerned, whatever the four did had nothing to do with him. He wasn't a part of their life anymore.
He idly picked at his quill, pulling apart the feathers. He couldn't concentrate. All he could think about was how he wanted to kill that Creevey kid! But underneath all that anger and fury, Harry felt the sting of frustration. He knew now that the 'Dark Prince' was using Dennis to get to him. He was the real danger, not Dennis. He wanted to get to Harry, but Harry couldn't figure out why. It had to be a Death Eater. That much was certain. The only plausible explanation was that a surviving Death Eater wanted to avenge Voldemort's death. Harry tried to think of who had survived the last battle and who would be that fanatical as to try and avenge their master's death.
"Mr Potter?"
Harry looked up to see the tiny Professor staring at him. The rest of the class was staring at him as well. Harry looked at him blankly.
"Yes" he asked.
The tiny Professor gave an audible sigh.
"You weren't listening were you?" he asked.
"No" Harry replied.
Professor Flitwick looked disappointed.
"Well, how about joining me at the front here. We need a volunteer for the Sadore charm. You've just volunteered." He said rather crossly.
Harry racked his brains, he had never heard of the 'Sadore' charm. Sighing to himself, he got up and faced the three foot high Professor.
"Brace yourself, Mr Potter." He said in his squeaky voice, making Harry struggle not to laugh.
"I'm sure I'll be fine." Harry retorted, trying to imagine a duel with his tiny Professor.
He saw from the corner of his eye both, Hermione and Ron looking apprehensively at him. He promptly ignored them. Professor Flitwick told Harry to point his own wand at his temple and cast the Sadore charm. Harry did so and at once found the classroom before him melt away. Everything blurred in a frenzy of colours. At last his sight cleared and he saw only Ron and Hermione before him. He looked around at the empty classroom. What had just happened? He stared at the two before him, confused as to why they were still here and where the rest had gone. Even the tiny Professor was gone. Ron and Hermione were still seated in their chairs and were staring at Harry, their mouths slightly open
Suddenly, a squeaky voice filled the room and with a pop, the rest of the students and Professor Flitwick reappeared exactly where they had last been. Harry blinked a few times, utterly confused.
"So, who did you see, Mr Potter?" the Professor asked.
"What?" Harry asked.
"When the charm was cast, who did you see still sitting in the classroom?"
Harry's gaze darted over to Ron and Hermione but he didn't say anything. The expression that the two were wearing suggested that if Harry said anything they would both burst into tears.
"What happened?" he asked his Professor.
"You cast the Sadore charm on yourself. When in a large gathering, the Sadore charm allows you to see only those you share a connection with or care deeply about. Everyone else disappears from view. The Sadore charm is useful to use when in a situation where the real identity of someone before you is questionable. If someone disguises themselves as your loved ones whether it is by polyjuice or transfiguration, the Sadore charm, once cast will allow you to determine their identity. If you see them, that's fine. If you don't then you know someone is under their disguise. Of course, it is useful to know who you would see when under the Sadore charm to begin with. So, who was it you saw?" he asked again.
Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione and then looked away.
"No one." He answered. "I didn't see anyone." With that, Harry sat back down, refusing to look at the hurt looking Ron and Hermione or the surprised looking Professor.
xxx
"How have you been?"
"Fine"
"Liar"
"No, really. I'm fine."
"He's still ignoring you, isn't he?"
Damien sighed and looked away from his dad's hazel eyes. He was sitting with his dad in his living room. He fiddled with his wand, picking the edge with his fingernails. He didn't want to do this right now.
"Damy?"
"I don't want to talk about it." He answered tiredly.
"Oh no! Not you too!" James mocked, a look of faked horror on his face. "You've caught Harryitis!"
"Not funny, dad." Damien said but the corners of his mouth twitched, threatening to break into a smile.
"Come on, that was funny!" he said, throwing an arm around his son. In a softer tone he continued. "Surely it's not that bad is it?"
Damien shook his head.
"He knows how to hold a grudge, I'll give him that." He answered miserably.
"Yeah, wonder who he gets that from." James said genuinely.
Damien laughed, "Yeah, that's a right puzzle." He said, looking at James with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" James asked with a confused expression.
"I would say his temper is one hundred percent like yours!" Damien chided softly.
"Me? I'm not like that. I don't hold grudges for so long." He defended.
"Yeah, right! What about last year when you wouldn't speak to me for weeks!" Damien reminded him.
"That was totally different. You were meeting Harry without telling any of us while we were out searching everywhere for him. You completely broke my tru…" he trailed off, the reality of the situation hitting him in the face.
"Exactly" Damien said sadly.
He sighed and looked away, wishing he could turn back time so he could fix this whole mess. He felt James put a gentle hand on his shoulder before being pulled into a hug. Damien let his dad comfort him. It felt nice.
"He'll come around, Damy. Just give him time." James reassured him.
"I don't know, dad. I don't think he'll ever be the same with me again." He confided.
"You're his brother. He loves you, even if he acts like he doesn't. He risked everything to protect you. That will never change. He knows, deep down that you meant no harm. He'll forgive you, eventually." James said.
Damien didn't know if that was true. He stayed next to his dad, letting his dad rub circles in his back. His dad used to do that to him when he was very little. Whenever he would get upset, about anything, his dad would pull him into a hug and then rub soft circles in his back. It felt so comforting. Damien felt a flush as he thought about a fourteen year old, needing to be treated like he was an eight year old, but damn it he was upset. And besides, no one was here to see them.
Damien suddenly found himself wondering how Harry got comforted. When he was a young boy, if he got upset, what would Voldemort do to comfort him? Did he comfort him? He knew that he must have as Harry was so close to him. But try as he might, he couldn't see Voldemort hugging Harry or rubbing soft circles in his back. It didn't fit his image, or Harry's.
"Dad?"
"Yeah"
"Do you think Harry's happy?"
"No, I think he's still really angry." James responded.
"No, I meant happy living with us?"
James stopped what he was doing and stared at Damien.
"Why do you ask?"
"It's just…I don't know I was just thinking the other day. He's not exactly having a great time here. I mean with the drugging and fighting with us and breaking up with Ginny and everything. I just thought if he…you know, regrets what happened. If he ever wishes that he didn't kill Voldemort."
James felt his heart speed up. He was thinking the same thing this morning. He had seen Harry before he left this morning. The dark circles under his eyes showed he was suffering from sleepless nights again. But he didn't talk to James, as soon as James stepped into the room, Harry was out of the door. James was left wondering what to do with him. Other than forcing Harry to sit down and talk to him, there wasn't any other option. Then again, tying him to a chair and forcing Vertiserum down his throat so he told the truth about his feelings, wasn't a course of action James was willing to take…yet.
"I really don't know, Damien. Harry's such a private person, it's hard to know exactly what's going through his mind." James answered sadly.
"Sometimes I feel like Harry hates it here." Damien said. He felt an unbearable urge to tell his dad about his fears about Harry leaving them. "Sometimes I get the feeling that Harry's on his last straw. I think he might just give up on us and leave and never come back! I don't know if I would be able to watch him walk away from us again. It nearly killed me last time, I don't think I would be able to stand it again!" He said, tears springing in his eyes.
"Damien" James said softly, as he saw the tears well up in his eyes. He hugged him tightly, letting the boy bury his face into his shoulder. "Harry's not going anywhere. He won't leave us again. He never wanted to leave us in the first place. He hated being away from us. Just because Harry is angry with you doesn't mean he hates you and wants to be away from you. This is just an argument. All siblings go through this. It will pass, you'll see."
Damien pulled away and shook his head.
"No, it's not just a sibling argument! It's much more than that! You won't understand dad, you don't have a brother. You don't know what it feels like!" Damien said with a sob.
"Okay, so maybe I don't know what it's like, but I know my own flesh and blood. Harry doesn't hate you, even if he say he does." When Damien still didn't stop crying, James continued. "I promise you, I won't let Harry walk away from us. I swear I'll always bring Harry back home. I promise." James reassured him.
Damien looked up at him, his tears still clinging onto his black eyelashes. He gave his dad a weak smile and rubbed at his eyes.
"I don't know what's wrong with me, blubbering like a baby, I'm sorry." He said, looking quite red in the face now.
James smiled and lightly kissed Damien's head.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." He said, making Damien chuckle quietly.
Just as Damien pulled away and rubbed away the last of his tears, the door opened and Harry walked in. He stopped at the sight of Damien and James. Damien looked up at Harry, caught off in surprise as well.
For a fleeting second, Harry's expression darkened at the sight of Damien in tears. He saw the red and puffy looking eyes and the tear soaked face. The words 'what's wrong?' were nearly out of his mouth before Harry stopped himself.
James saw the look of concern on Harry's face at the sight of a distressed Damien. He saw as Harry opened his mouth, obviously to ask Damien what was wrong, but at the last moment he seemed to remember that he was pretending he didn't care. Harry snapped his mouth shut and looked over at his dad. Damien looked away as well.
"Come in, Harry." James said as Harry was still in the doorway.
"I didn't realise you were…I'll just come back." Harry said, already retreating from the room.
"No, it's okay. You stay, Harry. I was just heading anyway." Damien said as he got to his feet.
He gave his dad a smile as he left the room. Harry purposefully looked away from Damien as he walked past him to leave.
"See you later, dad. See you, Harry." He added softly as he left.
Harry didn't answer but turned to watch as Damien disappeared out the door. James watched Harry closely. He could see the conflicted emotions Harry was going through. He still felt angry enough to ignore Damien but at the same time, the sight of his brother upset had him concerned. As Harry was overprotective of Damien in every way, it was causing him a great deal of pain to see Damien upset and not be able to ask him what was wrong.
James didn't say anything to Harry and moved to his desk as Harry came over and started rummaging through his trunk. Harry pulled out his outdoor cloak. James waited patiently for Harry to either leave or to say something. Harry stood, holding his robes in his hands and looking towards the door. Finally he gave up and faced James.
"Dad?"
"Hmm" James answered, pretending to be marking essays.
"What was Damien doing here?"
"He's my son too, remember." He answered, focusing on the parchment before him.
"I know that, I meant why was he upset?" Harry said, a note of annoyance in his voice.
"He wasn't upset." James answered.
"Yes, he was. He was crying!" Harry said.
"Why does it matter?" James asked as he looked up and met his eyes.
Harry looked taken aback. He recovered and glared at James.
"I thought it mattered to you if your son was crying!" He replied.
"It does matter to me. Damien being upset hurts me but it doesn't hurt you so why are you concerned?" James asked in a calm tone.
"I'm not concerned!" Harry replied angrily.
"Just as I thought." James replied, much to Harry's annoyance.
"Why are you being funny today?" Harry asked with a scowl.
"I'm not being funny, I'm being serious. You don't care about him, not after he lied to you. I know that, even Damien knows that. Everyone knows that!" James paused and watched as Harry visibly looked stunned.
"I never said that I didn't care…it's not…oh, forget it! It doesn't matter." Harry said angrily as he opened the door and left, his robes billowing behind him.
James smirked, Harry was worked up enough to start thinking about how he treated Damien. With a bit of luck, he'll see how awful he was being to him and hopefully both boys will make peace. Hopefully being the relevant word here.
xxx
Damien sat outside, the weather was getting warmer, it was fast approaching May and within a week the exams were going to start. But Damien couldn't focus on school exams. He knew that Ron, Hermione and Harry had their N.E.W.T.S but even they couldn't focus on them. So much was going on just now that their heads were always filled with more distressing thoughts. He was going to fail his exams. Damien knew that but couldn't bring himself to care.
His thoughts drifted to Dennis. The school, by now had learnt of his expulsion. The story that was fed to them was that Dennis was caught breaking on of the school rules and was suspended until further enquiry. What it was he was doing was not disclosed. Colin had been taken aside by Professor McGonagall and was told the truth. The poor boy couldn't face Damien or Harry. He stayed in his dorm most of the time, ashamed by his younger brother's stupidity.
Damien sighed and watched as the giant squid lifted out a tentacle, the water sliding off the large pink flesh and dropping back down into the lake. Damien wished he could talk to Harry. He knew that Harry was close to talking to him again. He had seen how Harry had looked at him earlier on today. He had been on the verge of talking to him. The thought brought a faint smile on his face. Hopefully, Harry would forgive him, sooner or later.
xxx
Harry watched Damien as he sat finishing his meal. He had lost some weight, Harry could see that. Like Ginny, Damien had also developed dark circles under his eyes. He was busy playing with his food, and talking in low tones with Ron. Harry watched with a bizarre feeling erupting inside him. He knew it wasn't Damien's fault, he knew he never meant to hurt him. So why could he not forget about it and make peace with him. 'Cause you're a cold hearted bastard who doesn't forget and forgive, ever!' the voice in his head told him.
Harry gave up on his own meal and left the Great Hall. He walked into his dad's quarter and threw himself onto the sofa. He hated this feeling, this awful feeling of guilt. Why the hell was he feeling guilty anyway? He wasn't the one who had lied and kept anyone in the dark. He wasn't the one who had stood by and watched as someone he supposedly loved, suffered.
With a sigh, Harry closed his eyes. His head was hurting. He started massaging his temples to try and ward off the headache before it got any worse. Damien's tear soaked face wouldn't leave him. He had figured that he was probably crying because of him, because of how he was treating him. Somehow, that thought only made Harry feel worse.
He hated the stupid feelings Damien made him feel. It was the same last year as well. Harry never felt guilty hurting anyone, but when he upset Damien, it just felt wrong. 'You don't care about him, not after he lied to you. I know that, even Damien knows that. Everyone knows that!' But he did care about Damien. He never said that he stopped caring. He stopped talking to him but he never stopped caring about him. He could never stop caring about him. Just like he could never stop caring about Bella or Lucius or Voldemort.
He was starting to feel slightly sick now as his headache worsened. He never heard the door open and someone come inside. He only realised that someone was with him when he felt gentle hands caress his forehead. He opened his eyes and saw the face of his mum, smiling at him.
"Headache?" she asked.
Harry tried to smile back, but it came across as more of a grimace. He sat up so he could see his mum the right way up.
"You're back up early." He said, not answering her question.
"I wasn't very hungry." She replied. She watched as Harry tried to pretend he wasn't in pain. She sighed mentally to herself. Why did he do that? Why did he not just say he was hurting and needed help? Was it really that hard for him?
She got up and headed over to the small cabinet that held potions. Lily always made sure James had a good stock. She pulled out a vial of pain relief and walked over to Harry, who was watching her with a frown. She held out the vial and Harry just looked at her.
"I don't need…"
"Yes, you do." Lily interrupted.
After a few seconds, Harry admitted defeat and took the offered potion. He gulped it down in one go.
"Better?" she asked.
Harry didn't respond. He held the small vial in his hand, twirling the empty bottle between his fingers.
Lily sighed and sat down next to him.
"Harry, did I ever tell you about the time I first started Hogwarts?"
Harry shook his head.
"I was miserable when I first came here."
Harry looked up at her in surprise.
"Really?" he asked.
"Really" Lily confirmed.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Well, you see it was all my sisters fault. When she found out that I was going to a school for magical people she got jealous. She wanted to come with me, she even wrote to Professor Dumbledore and asked if she could attend with me but of course she was turned down. She was so upset about it she fought with me. I always looked up to my older sister so her anger with me was very hurtful. I tried to make her understand that the situation was out of my hands and that I couldn't do anything even if I wanted to but that didn't matter to Petunia. She said a lot of hurtful things to me that I still won't forget to this day. When I arrived at Hogwarts, all I could do was think about Petunia and her harsh words. It completely ruined my first impression of Hogwarts as I was too upset to appreciate anything. Over the years I grew apart from Petunia and now I only speak to her twice in the year."
She looked at Harry and had to stop talking at the look of confusion on his face.
"What?" she asked.
"You have a sister?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Yes, Petunia. Petunia Dursley." Lily said. Her eyes opened in sudden shock and she asked, "Did…did I not mention her to you?"
Harry shook his head.
"Oh, my, I feel awful." Lily exclaimed. She hadn't told Harry about her only living relative. "I'm so sorry, Harry."
"Do I have any other relatives? Grandparents?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"Harry, I…I don't know what to say. I feel dreadful."
"It's okay. I don't want to meet them anyway." Harry said dismissively.
Lily looked at him, wondering if she should address that appalling comment or not. She decided that it wasn't important. It wasn't as if Harry's aunt would be that glad to meet him anyway.
"Well, the point that I was trying to make was that I know that you're angry with Damien now, but I don't want this argument to drive both of you apart forever. He never meant to hurt you. You know that as well. You mean a lot to him, Harry. Your distance from him is tearing him apart." Lily said softly.
"It's his fault." Harry responded stubbornly.
"Yes, I know. But Harry, everyone is allowed one mistake."
"Not in my book they're not." Harry replied coldly.
Lily sighed.
"Okay, Harry. I'm not going to argue with you. Your relationships are your own private matter but all I want to say is that you should be careful with your words. Some things said in anger can never be taken back. I know from personal experience." A sad look graced her otherwise beautiful face. "Don't say or do anything to Damien that might drive him away from you. You may never get him back."
She left the room, letting Harry think over her words for the rest of the night.
xxx
Damien absently watched as the students hurried to get inside. Dinner was going to be served soon. He couldn't believe it was the end of yet another week. How many weeks was it now, since Harry had stopped talking to him? Six? Seven? He couldn't honestly remember.
He was sitting just at the entrance of the forbidden forest. He liked it here. It was peaceful and quiet. It gave him the needed break from his friends and parents. He could sit here for hours. But if he missed a meal, his friends, if not his parents, would come looking for him and he would have to sit through another lecture of how 'not eating isn't a way to deal with problems'. Damien shook his head angrily, it didn't have to do with any problems, he just wasn't hungry.
With a sigh he picked himself up from the ground and started making his way back. He was just making his way back as slowly as possible when a familiar drawl made him stop and turn around.
"What's the matter, Potty?! Feeling all lonesome tonight?"
Damien turned to see the owner of the voice, Draco Malfoy, and groaned. Malfoy was an obnoxious, annoying prat at the best of times but when he was flanked by his usual group of Slytherin goons, as he was right now, he was downright unbearable.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" he asked with a glare.
Draco smirked as he came to stand in front of him. Crabbe, Goyle and Nott stood next to him all wearing similar expressions.
"My, my, aren't we in a foul mood. What's the matter Potty? Everyone desert your sorry company?" Nott asked with a cruel grin.
"If I were you, I would keep my mouth shut!" Damien hissed back at him.
"Or what? It's not like you can do anything to me!" he looked Damien in the eye before adding with a smirk, "and everyone knows that your brother doesn't give a damn about you anymore. I could do anything to you and he won't give a shit!" Nott pulled out his wand and was holding it threateningly in his hand.
Damien felt the blood rise to his face. He gripped his wand tightly. Damien kept a close eye on Nott and his wand. Crabbe and Goyle were laughing stupidly at the sight. After all a fourth year up against a seventh year didn't have much scope of winning. That was, a fourth year that wasn't in the process of being trained by Voldemort's heir. Damien could almost hear Harry's voice in his head 'never take your eyes off the enemy. Take them by surprise. Wait until they make their first move, block it and then attack'.
That was exactly what he did. Nott threw a curse at him, Damien didn't recognise it. He concentrated and brought up his full body shield. The orange bubble covered Damien from head to foot, protecting him from the oncoming curse. Damien had to laugh as he saw the shocked and surprised looks on the four Slytherins. Damien brought down his shield and then struck Nott, not by his wand but his fist. Nott was too busy eyeing Damien's wand, waiting to block whatever curse was about to erupt from it. He never saw the other hand come flying at him. Damien struck Nott, straight in the face. The skinny boy stumbled a few steps back, completely taken by surprise.
Crabbe and Goyle lunged towards Damien, eager to use their fists rather than their wands. Damien ducked as Crabbe's meaty fist aimed at his head. He kicked Crabbe hard in the knee, making the large boy groan and fall to the ground. Just as Damien straightened up, a heavy punch caught him, snapping his head to the side. He fell to the ground, his jaw on fire. He hadn't moved fast enough. He looked up and saw Goyle aiming another punch at him. He moved away, missing the punch Goyle aimed at his head. Goyle grabbed Damien by the neck and pulled him to his feet. Damien punched him as hard as he could in the stomach but it made no difference to the podgy seventeen year old. He tightened his grip on Damien's throat, lifting him clear off the ground while Nott and Crabbe stood up. Malfoy was still standing where he was. He didn't make a single move, either to harm Damien or to save him.
"Well, looks like the bastard showed him a few moves. Not bad!" Nott spat at Damien.
Damien was struggling to free himself. He kicked out with his foot, catching Goyle between the legs. With a painful yell, Goyle dropped the fourteen year old and fell to the ground, grunting with pain. Damien was quick to pick himself up. He blocked another curse aimed at him by Nott before shooting his own curse at him.
"JABASCO!" Damien yelled and his curse hit its target. Nott grabbed at his stomach and leaned over, vomiting violently. Slimy, pale coloured flobberworms wriggled on the ground as he threw them up. The sight was rather disgusting.
Damien saw Malfoy looking at Nott with a smirk. He caught his eye and lifted his wand. A meaningful look sent his way. Damien understood it perfectly. He had to curse him, otherwise it would be too suspicious. Damien let Malfoy throw a stinging hex his way. He blocked it easily, his orange shield absorbing the curse effortlessly. Malfoy threw a snarl his way before firing another hex. Damien moved out of the way and it was just in time as Goyle moved towards him aiming another punch at him. Malfoy's hex hit Goyle and the boy fell to the ground screaming as red boils erupted all over him.
Malfoy looked stunned. He had just helped Damien without really meaning to. He shared a look with Damien who looked just as surprised. Malfoy had to pretend to be with the other Slytherins. It was vital for his survival in the Slytherin house.
Damien let Malfoy fire another curse at him. His jumped out of the way, firing the disarming spell at Malfoy as he jumped.
"EXPELLIRAMUS!"
Malfoy's wand flew out of his hand. Damien caught it as it flew over to him. Damien took a moment to observe the Slytherin. This was not a chance to be missed. He sent a jelly legs jinx at Malfoy and watched in mild amusement as Malfoy did a weird jig dance. Malfoy looked at Damien with a murderous glare. His pale cheeks were flushed in embarrassment and the usually slick back hair was beginning to fall out of place.
Damien was so caught up in watching Malfoy humiliate himself that he almost got hit by Crabbe. Damien kicked out as Crabbe tried to grab him. He foot caught Crabbe in the stomach and the force of the kick had the Slytherin gasping for breath. Damien aimed another powerful kick at his jaw and Crabbe fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Damien looked around with a start. He had done it. He had single handily took down four students that were three years older than him. Damien took the moment to observe them. Nott was still throwing up disgusting flobberworms, Goyle was whimpering pitifully as angry red boils continued to erupt all over his body, Crabbe was still out cold and Malfoy was skipping and jumping next to him.
"Now that felt good!" Damien said with a smile.
"Not for long."
Damien whipped around, both his wand and Malfoy's pointed at the person who spoke. He quickly lowered it as he saw a very angry looking Lily Potter standing before him. Her green eyes narrowed at him and silently promising him a long and sufferable detention.
xxx
"I can't believe you!"
"They started it!"
"You should have walked away."
"From four Slytherins? Not a very good idea, mum!"
"He does have a point, Lily. Slytherins are known to play dirty. They would happily hex him from behind." James said, jumping to his son's defences.
"Don't you start!" Lily warned him.
James sighed but backed down. Lily was not to be tested when she was this angry. He gave Damien a look that plainly said 'I-can't-help-you're-on-your-own-sorry!'
"Mum, I don't know why you're being like this. I didn't do anything wrong. I only defended myself. That's not against the rules!" Damien said.
"Defending yourself is disarming them. Not kicking and punching them and knocking others unconscious!" Lily yelled, going red in the face.
"You knocked someone unconscious?" James asked, his eyes wide and round with surprise.
Unlike his wife, James was actually very proud of Damien. He had taken on four boys who were much older and knew a lot more spellwork than him. Well, in reality only two out of the four knew proper spellwork but that fact that he beat them was amazing. However, Lily seemed to disagree and James knew not to aggravate her anger by openly praising Damien.
"Who did you knock…?"
"James, not now!" Lily yelled. She turned to Damien. "You acted and behaved completely inappropriately! I would never have thought you would resort to such violent behaviour. A simple disarming spell on the four would have been acceptable, but you resorted to acting and fighting like muggle street thugs! Where did you even learn…?"
She stopped talking as the door opened and the answer to her question made himself know. Harry walked inside and stopped short at the sight of Damien. Lily narrowed her eyes at Harry and pointed a finger at him.
"You!" she started angrily.
Harry looked confusedly at her.
"What?" he asked.
"You taught him didn't you? You taught Damien muggle style fighting!"
Harry looked from her to Damien to his dad and then back to his mum.
"So what if I did?" he asked, not sure what the problem was. He was still avoiding looking at Damien, who was standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. James jumped in to avoid Lily shouting.
"Damien had a duel with four seventh year Slytherins. He beat them, literally!"
Harry turned to stare at Damien.
"You did?" he asked, all hostility towards the younger boy instantly vanishing. His green eyes were fixed on Damien and a surprised look appeared on his face. James could almost see the pride radiating from Harry.
Damien grinned like an eight year old.
"Yeah, I did."
Harry approached Damien in an instant.
"What happened? Who did you duel with?"
Damien launched into details, pretty much ignoring the two adults in the room. James watched in immense relief as Damien and Harry talked about the fighting in detail. Harry seemed to have completely forgotten the fact that he wasn't on speaking terms with his brother.
"They all ganged up on me! Nott threw a curse at me but I brought up the full body shield and blocked it. Then I punched him right in the face…"
"You punched him? Damy, you never listen to me! You should have kicked him. I told you, always use you legs. It's more powerful. You haven't trained enough to use your fists, they aren't strong enough. You probably hurt yourself as well."
Harry reached out and took Damien's hands in his own, looking them over, checking for injuries.
"See, you have bruised knuckles. You never listen, do you?" Harry stopped talking as he suddenly realised what had just happened. He was talking to Damien again. He let go of Damien's hands and stood back. Damien felt his heart miss a beat. Harry had talked to him like he used to. For a moment there, everything was back to the way it used to be.
Lily had been watching the two boys closely. She was still in the process of telling Damien off, but had stopped as she saw Harry exchange words with him after almost two months. The sight was enough to make her step back.
Damien looked uncomfortably at his parents, not really knowing what to say. He wanted to talk things out and make up with Harry again but the presence of his parents made it all the more uncomfortable. Thankfully James caught on and took a hold of Lily's hand and led her out of the room.
"I have to speak to you about…about that thing." James said, rolling his eyes at his own pathetic excuse.
"That, that thing…well, goodness! We should see to it at once." Lily said and both she and James left, closing the door softly behind them.
Damien looked at Harry uncomfortably. Harry was avoiding looking at him.
"Harry?"
Harry didn't respond. He didn't even look at him.
"Harry, please talk to me. I'm really very sorr-"
"If you ever do something like this again I swear, I'll never forgive you!" Harry said, cutting him off. Damien felt his heart leap. That sounded hopeful. He quickly nodded.
"I swear, I swear I won't ever keep anything from you, ever again!" he said with all the sincerity he had.
Harry looked at Damien and felt his remaining anger melt away. He looked so vulnerable and lost. It made Harry feel guilty again.
"Stop looking at me like that." Harry told him.
"Like what?" Damien asked.
"Like that!" Harry pointed to his face.
Damien dropped his gaze. Harry couldn't help but smirk at him. Damien looked up at him and smiled, relaxing a little.
"So, am I forgiven?" he asked, hesitantly.
Harry took his time answering, making Damien more nervous.
"I'm still really mad at you for what you did and I won't forget about it, ever." He started, Damien ducked his head in shame. "And I'm not going to forgive you either." Damien looked at the ground, nodding his head at Harry. "But I have to admit that not having you follow me around like a faithful puppy and bore the living daylights out of me was pretty hard to get used to."
Damien looked up sharply at him.
"Really?" he asked in genuine surprise, a smile playing across his face.
"Oh, stop looking at me like that. I didn't pay you a compliment." Harry said with a playful scold.
Damien blushed slightly. He looked at Harry more seriously.
"I really am sorry, Harry. I never wanted to go along with the rest."
"Then why did you?" Harry asked, the playful tone replaced by a serious one.
"I…its kind of hard to explain." Damien didn't know if he should tell him the truth. Seeing the expression on Harry's face, Damien decided to stick to the truth. "I was afraid, I guess, is the only way of putting it."
"Afraid of what?" Harry asked.
"Of your reaction. I thought that if you found out that someone was drugging you before identifying the culprit then you might…you know…go away."
Harry blinked at him.
"What?" he asked, not really sure he understood him.
"I thought that you were going to leave. Leave Hogwarts and, and me, I was just, I was scared." Damien said, sounding childish to his own ears.
"You thought I was going to run out on you?" Harry asked.
"Well, yeah." Damien was starting to feel like an idiot.
"Where did you think I was going to go?" Harry asked with a laugh.
"I don't know! You didn't have anywhere to go when you ran away from Voldemort but you still left!"
Damien stilled. He never meant to say that. Harry looked at him, a strange sort of look in his eye.
"I didn't mean to say it like that." Damien apologised. "I only meant…"
"I know what you meant." Harry stopped him. He didn't sound angry. Damien let out a sigh of relief. It was always a bad thing to talk about Voldemort. It was a sure way of ruining Harry's mood.
"I just didn't want to lose you." Damien added.
Harry looked surprised at that. He looked at Damien more calmly.
"You won't lose me. I'm not going anywhere." He reassured him.
"Really?" Damien asked. He knew he was pushing it but he needed to pacify his fears. "I've seen you look at this place like you can't stand it. I can see you force yourself to stay and not walk out the doors with no intentions of returning and that scares me."
"Sometimes I do get that feeling." Harry admitted. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to walk away from you and mum and dad. If I leave, I would leave Hogwarts, not all of you."
Damien didn't know if that was entirely true. The conversation he had had with his dad came back to his mind. He figured now was the time to ask Harry about that as well.
"Harry, are you happy?"
Harry was caught off by the question.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you happy, with dad and mum and me and the way your life is turning out?" Damien asked.
Harry sighed and sat down. A weary look on his face.
"Why are you asking?"
Damien sat down across from him.
"I sometimes think that you were happier when you were with him, with Voldemort." Damien said.
Harry looked away from Damien, his eyes focused on a spot near the wall.
"Harry?" Damien called to him.
"It's complicated, Damien. My life with…with Voldemort was, different. I thought that I was happy but that was before I found out that everything was a lie. He lied about everything, including his feelings. Everything I grew up with was in keeping with a carefully constructed plan just to get me to stand at the front line at the time of war. I was nothing more than a tool to him. Nothing more."
Damien felt his heart break as Harry spoke. That wasn't the answer he thought he was going to get.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, not knowing what else to say.
"You have to understand something, Damien." Harry said, a fierce look on his face. "I can't stand people lying to me. Especially people that I care about. You should understand that."
"I do, Harry. I do." Damien said at once.
"Never lie to me again." Harry said. It sounded more like a plea than a command. Damien couldn't stand the desperation in Harry's voice and walked over to him, kneeling on the floor next to him.
"I swear, Harry. I will never lie to you or keep anything from you again. I swear!"
Harry nodded his head and looked at Damien carefully. He knew he was telling the truth and that was what finally allowed him to make peace with him.
"Just because I'm talking to you doesn't mean I'm talking to the rest." Harry pointed out.
Damien felt a surge of guilt for Ginny.
"Harry, Ginny didn't want to lie…" he stopped as Harry raised a hand, a look of pain flashed in his eyes.
"I'm not discussing it, Damien." He said stiffly.
Damien quietened down. He had just made up with Harry, it didn't make sense to argue with him. He would work his way to make Harry forgive the others. It just needed time.
"So, tell me about this duel against the Slytherins. What started it in the first place?" Harry asked, clearly changing the topic from Ginny. Damien went along for now.
"It was Nott, he was just talking crap about how he could do what he wanted with me just because I didn't have you to protect me."
Harry raised an eyebrow at that.
"Is that what he thinks?"
"He was just being a prat. He probably thought I wouldn't be able to fight the four of them. I mean if you hadn't taught me how to defend myself, I would never have beaten them."
"Who were the four anyway?" Harry asked.
"Nott, Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy."
"Malfoy?" Harry asked, his eyebrows rose at the name of his friend.
"He was the one who started it. He jeered at me for being by myself. But he looked like he regretted it as he skipped and jigged his way back to the dungeons." Damien added with a smirk.
Harry laughed as the metal image of Malfoy popped in his head. Damien was laughing as well as he ran through a thorough account of how he beat the four Slytherins, making Harry beam with pride the whole time.
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I couldn't make Harry stay angry with Damien for long.( I know, I'm a softie)
He won't be talking to the other three, just thought I would point that out. Harry and Ginny is a complicated matter which will escalate when…well, you'll see soon enough! All the relationships are heading for a rollercoaster ride. (evil wink!)
As for the Dark Prince, where's the fun if I reveal him so soon in the storyline? You all are going to have to wait a bit I'm afraid!!
Please review!! Cheers!!