Chapter 6
-0-
-0-
-0-
All the men were appalled. The women narrowed their eyes. Draco had used an ancient charm that had gone out of use over the past hundred years designed to ensure a person's fidelity to their spouse, going as far as abusive control that was also conveniently hidden by the charm, when necessary. Though, there had been rumors that some members of the oldest Pureblood families still used it occasionally, feeling themselves above the Ministry laws.
Albus drew a weary wrinkled hand over his face. He never could understand how such a powerful young wizard would be so meek and quiet; so obliviously devoted to someone who was not the same in regard to him. Who's anger apparently, was at times, with the world in general.
"Lucius, as the Lord of the Manor and Patriarch of the House of Malfoy, you have the power to remove the spell. If you please. I would dearly love to have the old Harry back with us."
There were murmurs of agreement among the group, as Lucius stood and removed his wand from the head of his cane. With a flourish of movements and words, magic vibrated through the room as a greenish blue hue appeared in the rooms and around Harry, filling it, undulating, then fading, before it finally disappeared all together.
The older blond growled, "He put wards around their suite as well! Where did I go wrong?"
"Lucius, it wasn't you. I believe Severus said it best, that the Black's have a bit of madness running in our blood. Some more than others," Sirius whispered.
"How did we miss the charm with all the diagnostics we've done?" Hermione asked, her brow creased in thought.
"I believe Madam Weasley, that the charm was inactive. Harry was also in no position to protest, or protect his husband." Albus continued to hold Harry's hand. "He's going to be quite upset and depressed when he wakes. The realization that he was subjected to something he would feel he should have been able to resist, will be an emotional and psychological shock."
"Draco," Severus began, "must have cast it about six months after they bonded. That was about the time we saw changes. When Harry became more withdrawn and quiet."
"Don't talk about me like I'm not here." The viridian eyes glared in his direction.
Molly brushed the dark hair away from Harry's eyes. "Harry dear, we all realize you are here. We are not ignoring you, just trying to understand how removing that awful charm may affect you. And, we thought you had fallen back to sleep."
"I felt like I was in a dream. Unable to say anything. Control my actions. Crying out for someone to notice... to say something..."'To save me', were the unspoken words. He looked at Albus. "I thought I could resist 'Imperio'..."
Remus slipped automatically into professor mode, "'Subiugare Uxor Bindus Fedelitas atque Concelare' is a very old spell. It needs more than the caster to fuel it, unlike 'Imperio' does. He used the suite wards and Manor wards to ground the spell."
"What does it mean?"
"Subjugate spouse, bind fidelity, and concealment," Sirius whispered.
Harry thought for a moment, trying to absorb what the spells intent was and it's bearing on what he had endured over the last five years. Suddenly, his eyes flashed and his face reddened in anger, and tears of fury spilled from his eyes. How could Draco do this to him? He had given himself fully to the other wizard, body and soul, and he had been used, and abused; his trust betrayed. He started to hyperventilate, setting off the monitoring charm, as everything in the room started to rattle, glass shattering as small items fell to the floor.
Hermione rushed to his side and cast the spell to send Harry back into the Healing Coma. The rush of magic in the room immediately dissipated and the commotion stopped. Molly rose, pulling her wand and followed Cissa out into the room to put everything to rights. It would give them an opportunity to talk quietly, away from the men.
Hermione closed her eyes. "Barbaric. I realize I still don't know allot about the Wizarding World, it's past history and traditions, but this one is truly barbaric and sadistic."
Severus snorted. Miss-Know-It-All of Hogwarts, actually stating she doesn't know a lot about the Wizarding World. Did she even realize what she had just said?
"It was used in arranged marriages, Hermione. Especially when the marriage was used politically, to join families." Lucius explained.
"Different spells were used to ensure that the marriage was consummated before midnight on the day of the marriage or bonding. Some wedding nights had to be witnessed to be declared legal." Remus added, giving a look of understanding when he saw the young healer's lip curl in distaste. "It did make the consummation more difficult for the couple, none more so than those who hadn't even laid eyes on each other until the ceremony."
"That's awful! I certainly hope Harry didn't have to be watched." She exclaimed as she cast another Warming Charm over Harry.
Lucius swallowed a smile. "Definitely not. We have forsaken most of the more archaic customs."
"The spells went out of practice, but not the arranged marriages. Some of the older families still follow the old customs when they deem it necessary." Remus stifled a yawn.
"Well, Harry is out for the night and it's time for everyone to head to rest, I think." Hermione stood with her hands on her hips, eyeing the men around the bed. She watched as they each stopped, kissed Harry on the forehead or patted him on the hand until the door finally closed behind them.
She sunk down on the edge of the bed, reaching out she brush some of his unruly hair aside revealing the faded lightening bolt scar. "Things were suppose to get easier for you, Harry. You were supposed to be happy and live out the life you wanted. What went wrong?"
She leaned down to kiss his cheek too as Madam Pomphrey arrived to take over His care for the next forty-eight hours.
Tbc…