Pretty Boy

Chapter 33

Dumbledores Desperation Revealed

"It smells disgusting," said Remus. The four of them stared down at Lucius Malfoy's remains from the top of the basement stairs. The twisted mangled remains that had once been Lord Lucius Malfoy a proud pureblood. He wasn't much of anything anymore and they couldn't help but wonder did the Dark Lord know? They did feel slightly sorry for Narcissa, especially Severus, he knew she loved the sadistic bastard. How he would never know, but there was nothing that could be done now. Perhaps she'd have the guts to leave, save Draco before he walked down that very same path his father had trod.

"I thought it took longer than that?" said Harry almost gagging at the smell, disgusting didn't quite cut it in his opinion. He'd watched TV shows, it normally took longer for such a smell to begin. He knew they weren't always accurate, but surely they should know that?

"Our magic causes us to decompose quicker," said Severus in explanation. "The magical residue will be gone by now, we can get rid of him."

"How do we do that without leaving our signatures?" asked Sirius, "If we transport him it will leave a trace, unless we dump him somewhere he won't be found for a few hours."

"I won't leave a signature," said Harry, he wasn't using a wand for it to leave any signature behind. "I wonder…" murmured Harry casually, walking forward he pressed his finger into a part of the uninjured Death Eater. Pushing his magic through, willing the wizard to be Apparated somewhere he'd be found, to the Ministry of magic - without him. It worked; Lucius Malfoy disappeared from the basement. Although they wouldn't find out if he'd appeared in the proper place until they received word.

"You Apparated him…without going yourself." gaped Remus wide eyed. That shouldn't be possible, nobody had ever thought of that before. Otherwise many people would survive Death Eater attacks. They'd be force Apparating people to safe places, away from the attack.

"Yes," said Harry, "I don't know where though." a sheepish grin appearing on his face.

"Brilliant," said Sirius in amazement.

"Breakfast?" asked Remus.

"Sure," replied Harry nodding in agreement.

"It's better to have something in your stomach when taking the Aging Potion," said Severus as if that was the only reason he was agreeing to stay. Sirius and Remus just smiled wryly, they were getting to know the man better. They realized it was just his way of agreeing, he wanted to be there but felt the need for an excuse.

"Great, come on then, let's get out of here." said Sirius, as Remus finished cleaning and sanitizing the entire area. By the time they were stepping out of the basement, the awful smell was no longer lingering up their noses. By then Remus had relaxed for the first time, if they had thought it was bad, well it was ten times more overpowering for him. His sense of smell was greater than the normal wizard, more so nearer the full moon. Which was quickly approaching yet again, thankfully Snape had brewed his Wolfsbane potion.

Twenty minutes later, they were sitting in the kitchen eating breakfast which had been prepared by Remus and Harry. Sirius couldn't cook to save himself, he'd asked to help but Remus just shouted 'no' adamantly. Apparently he even burnt toast; some people just shouldn't be near any electrical appliances. Sirius had been distracted by a letter that came for him a few minutes later anyway.

"Dumbledore kept everyone in the Order up all night looking for Harry, what the hell is going on with him?" asked Sirius as he joined them.

"What do you mean?" asked Severus.

"Tonks wrote to me, or rather me and Remus; to let me know they didn't find any trace of Harry. They were out all night looking for him, she has work today she's bound to be exhausted!" said Sirius shaking his head in confusion.

"He does seem more desperate doesn't he? It's not as if the war has gotten worse or anything." said Remus. "Now we know he's always known…why is he so willing to tell us now?"

"It's getting closer to Harry's twentieth birthday." stated Severus darkly.

Two confused men stared at him not understanding where he was going with it.

"You receive more magic, with ninety percent of his magic bound…it would have burnt out. Harry would have died on his birthday if I had not removed them. Four magical bonds I removed blocking his magic." said Severus

Sirius and Remus' confusion turned into a deep seated horror.

"Despite that he was still able to use Wandless magic when the need arose." said Severus proudly.

"Merlin," breathed Remus utterly blown away.

"Amazing isn't he?" said Severus satisfied.

"Yes," said Sirius, his godson was unique, he'd always proudly thought it, but right now…for the first time he began to see it was true.

"We best get back," said Harry, he didn't like being looked at that way. He was nothing special, never would be. So what if he could do magic without a wand? As far as he was concerned, everyone probably could if they had to.

"Indeed," replied Severus, Hogwarts was starting back up and he had things he had to do before the students returned. With Harry's help though he had the most time consuming job done, brewing the potions for the hospital wing. He just had a few other things to do; handing in his class schedules was one of them. The last thing was filling in his students timetables, making sure they weren't conflicting with another teacher's schedule. Not only that but he and Harry needed to talk.

"I'll see you soon," said Sirius, it was more of a question than a statement.

"Yes," agreed Harry. "Floo?" he suggested to Severus, that way they wouldn't have to walk back to Severus' quarters the long way. Removing a vial from his cloak, he downed it and immediately aged almost twenty years in a few seconds. Merlin he couldn't wait until he didn't have to take this stuff anymore.

"Yes," said Severus, with that both of them got up, making their way towards the living room. Sirius and Remus waved them goodbye, getting only a nod in return before both men disappeared one after the other.

"We need to talk," said Severus after he was spat out of the Floo, wandering over to the Marauders map and opening it. Checking for Dumbledore's dot, he was in the Great Hall eating breakfast, he'd probably remain there for at least twenty minutes. The other teachers had also returned the Great Hall was filled with Professors.

"Yes, we do." said Hadrian, "What on earth made you think I was spoiled? If my father had raised me fair enough but I was brought up by Muggles. Muggles Severus, who didn't know much of anything never mind the magical world."

"Why do you think?" said Severus defensively, "You were the boy who lived, what else was I supposed to think?"

"Oh, yes, because the Boy-Who-Lived is invincible and nobody would dare hurt him." snapped Hadrian furiously.

"I thought Dumbledore would have told them how bloody important you were!" hissed Severus, "This was way before I knew what Dumbledore was capable of."

"Oh I am sure he did," said Hadrian his voice filled with sarcasm.

"What do you want from me Harry? An apology?" asked Severus impassively.

"I remember the first potions class, I walked in so excited, I could cook I knew this was one class I thought I'd excel in." said Hadrian, pacing up and down along the fire, his face a mask of stone. "Those questions, I didn't know them. My Uncle had locked my trunk up, I tried I really did, to learn everything that this world had expected of me."

Severus watched Harry warily, letting him get it off his chest.

Hadrian chuckled bitterly, "Turned out they didn't care, I could have been a complete dunce and they'd still have gaped at me. Nobody cared, as long as they had their saviour or in your case a scapegoat."

"I am sorry for my preconceived notions, there I've said it." said Severus gritting his teeth. "Are you going to let my past actions dictate everything we are building now? Or are we going to forget about it and move on?"

"You already know the answer to that," said Hadrian blankly, "What you did was nothing on what Dumbledore did. I knew who you were before this all started. What you have done for me since…I owe you my life."

"Consider it even." said Severus.

"You're still the most cynical, cranky and impossible person I've ever met." said Harry, his words may have seemed harsh, but his words were filled with exasperation and fondness.

"You aren't any better." replied Severus wryly.

Harry grinned sheepishly at him.

"Ready to brew again?" asked Severus, the argument forgotten.

"Yes." agreed Harry.

Ironically enough both of them felt more at ease and more comfortable in their relationship.

Harry was Severus' light in his dark cold world.

Severus was Harry's true light in his dark drearily life. For Harry was under no illusion that if it wasn't for Severus; he would still be back at his flat still unhappy. He also knew he would have died on his twentieth birthday never mourned, unwanted, unloved and cast aside. His body burnt and left in an urn to fade away into nothingness. On the urn the name of his fake name 'Harry Edward's' would have remained in storage. Oh no, no matter what Severus did - he would always have Harry's love for the simple reason that he saved him.

Separate they were both cold, hard men fighting for survival. Together they were stronger, happier more carefree and still fighting for survival. Now though both men had something worth fighting for at last.

It had been a long time coming but it was finally here and they could both appreciate it more. More than most people, but then again Severus and Harry weren't most people. They were both powerful, smart and going to take the wizarding world by surprise. There was a storm brewing and they were going to be in the eye of it.

There we go :D