Chapter 11
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"It was a good dig, Ron. That was some inspiring curse-breaking you did in the last chamber. It should earn you a bonus in your next pay-packet." Bill clapped him soundly on the back as they headed into camp, the dust of the tomb and the desert caking their bodies and their clothes.
Ron smiled at his brother as he tried to wipe some of the dust from his eyes. "Thanks, Bill. I understand now why you enjoy this so much. I like the challenge--the strategy required. But what I would really enjoy right now is something more than a strongScourify. A bath, with real water, followed by several cool glasses of beer."
Bill laughed, "Agreed little brother. You and I are of one mind then."
As they entered their tent and dropped their packs, one of the Goblin clerks stepped to the entrance behind them, and cleared his throat. Bill turned and reached out his hand for the bundles of mail and packages that were being offered.
"Thank you, Pahash."
Pahash nodded and was gone. Bill chuckled and handed one of the bundles to Ron, as he dropped into one of the chairs in the large tent. Ron had just finished unbuttoning his shirt and had begun to pull it off when Pahash had arrived. Tossing the shirt into a basket in the corner, he took the bundle and sat in the other chair. Bill had already summoned two bottles of the local beer, and they sat open on the table.
Bill took a swig of his beer, sighing with enjoyment. "The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with beer."
"Agreed! Even in 2200 BC they knew what a good drink was!" Ron chuckled and picked up the next letter in his pile. "Hey! It's a letter from Moine and the twins."
He opened it quickly and began to read, his expression turning quickly as his face flushed in anger. "Bloody Buggerin' Hell!"
"What's wrong?!" Bill asked, as he watched Ron grab his duffel and start throwing clothes into it.
Ron growled, oblivious to his brother's question, as he muttered aloud. "I'm gonna go to Azkaban and break out that worthless little weasel. Then, I'm gonna bring his sorry arse back here, take him to the farthest tombs, and seal him in with the scarabs and let them feast on him till he's dead!"
Bill grabbed him and spun him around. No easy feat considering his baby brother was at least a half a head taller than him, and just as wide. Ron's eyes were wild with fury and his body fairly vibrated, his magic roiling below his skin.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Ronnie! Look at me!" Bill looked up as he gripped Ron's arms firmly. He'd never seen him this angry before. "Talk to me! Are Moine and the twins alright? Has something happened to them?"
Hearing his childhood name seemed to bring him back to himself as he looked down at his older brother's worried expression. He pulled away and rubbed his hands over his face then through his long hair, dislodging the leather tie that was barely holding it back.
"No, they are fine. But Harry isn't. Isis' Tits! I told him not to bond with that bastard!"
"What do you mean? What's happened to Harry?" Bill knew instinctively, they would be returning immediately to England. He leaned out the tent door and waved at Pahash, then turned back to see Ron pacing the length of the tent.
"We need to go home--now!" Ron picked up his beer and drained the bottle in one go.
Pahash stuck his head into the tent and Bill had a hurried discussion with him in Goblin. Pahash glanced at Ron then nodded at Bill and was gone. Bill looked at his brother as he stripped his shirt off and threw it in the basket.
"Come along. Pahash has baths ready for us in the bathing tent, and is making arrangements for emergency travel back home. He will inform Kthor of our family emergency. You can give me the details while we bathe and dress."
He pulled Ron to his feet and they exited the tent.
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Ron and Bill apparated to the boundaries of the Malfoy Estates and walked to the iron gate that had kept generations of Malfoy's safe over the centuries, and their enemies out. Ron looked at the massive gate and thought how ironic that Harry, now considered a Malfoy, had not been safe inside these gates. It was too eerily reminiscent of his time at the Dursley's under the blood wards.
The gate slowly opened as they approached. Both men stepped through and made their way along the winding walk to the main doors, where their Mother was waiting on the top step.
She was smiling brightly at them. Ron hoped that meant that Harry, his brother in all but blood, was doing better. Hermione hadn't painted a very pretty picture of Harry's condition in her letter to him. Or the other letters that came while he and Bill were down in the tombs. He'd taken the time on their trip to scan them all.
He still itched to take a boat to Azkaban and have a round or two with Ferret boy! Bill had made him see reason while they'd been traveling, but that didn't help the desires he had to visit the same horrors on the Ferret that he'd done to Harry. He'd just have to dream about it and hope Ferret Boy's punishment fit the crimes he'd committed.
"My boys!" Molly grabbed both men and hugged them tightly. "Harry will be so glad to see you, Ronald."
Ron knew from Mione's letters that Ferret had put spells on Harry, removing his freedoms of choice, making Harry submit to his whims alone, and effectively cutting him off from all his friends and adopted family. Moine, the twins, and Neville were only able to visit when Draco was away. And Draco's parents had arranged that for Harry. Ron had to take a few deep breathes to bring his anger back under control.
"How is Harry, Mum? Will he fine?"
"He's up and walking finally, but there's a lot of emotional scars to deal with on top of the ones from the Dursley's. But he's strong. Always has been and with all of us behind him, he'll stand up again on his own two feet, stronger than ever. You'll see." She looped an arm through each of theirs and led them into the manor. "Harry should be waking from his nap right about now."
As they entered the main hall, Lucius and Narcissa stood waiting to greet and welcome them to the manor. Ron was startled by their appearance. The couple, though immaculately attired, and not a hair out of place, could not hide the signs of weariness, stress, and worry that surrounded them. They looked almost... humble. As Molly led her sons to greet them, Lucius held out his hand.
"I am sincerely sorry you were not informed sooner. I used all my contacts at Gringott's, but I was told at every turn, you could not be notified until you'd returned from your remote location. Not even in the case of a dea--" Lucius choked on the last word as he grimaced. His wife put her hand on his arm in comfort.
"Not to worry, Lord Malfoy." Bill replied calmly, as he shook the man's hand. "We were still wet from the bathes and buttoning our shirts when we port-keyed. What a ride that!"
"How long are you able to stay?" Narcissa asked.
"Well since Harry saved Maglus from the Dark Lord, he has given us an open leave until Harry is better and out of danger. He told us to relay to Harry that his door is open to him as always."
"It seems I talked to the wrong goblin then," Lucius mused.
"Well saving the life of a Royal Goblin and his only son, can do wonders for one's standing amongst the goblins of Gringotts. "
"If I recall, Ronald," Molly began, "It was both you and Harry that day in Diagon Alley doing the saving."
"Can I see him?"
"Right this way, Mr. Weasley. He's just waking from his scheduled nap."
Ron snorted. That had to be Poppy and Hermione's idea. "Please call me Ron." He replied, before following Lady Malfoy up the stairs, Bill, his mother, and Lord Malfoy behind him.
As they topped the stairs and moved to the landing, they noticed Sirius and Remus approaching from the other end of the long hallway.
"Ronald Weasley! Bill! It's so good to see you again!" Remus exclaimed, as he stepped up to them, his hand in greeting.
"You two are looking well. The desert agrees with you." Added Sirius, as he stopped beside Remus.
"Hello, Remus... Sirius." Ron shook their hands before stepping aside for his brother. "How is Harry?"
Remus, Sirius, and Lucius all exchanged looks before Narcissa finally answered. "He's doing much better now. He is walking a little more each day and the physical therapy is helping him regain mobility and use of his injured limbs again. If he continues to improve, there is a good chance he may even be able to fly his broom again.
"We don't know about the sight in his left eye yet. The damage to his orbital bone has healed very well, but the Healer thinks he may need to wear glasses again." Remus added.
Seeing the angry flush appearing in Ron's cheeks, Bill hurriedly asked. "How is he doing emotionally?"
Lucius answered. He sees his Psych-Healer on a regular basis. And, surprisingly, his mood is much improved, mainly because of the children."
"Children? What children?" Ron asked.
"The twins Harry wanted to adopt. And Severus' son, Sebastian, has been spending considerable time with Harry as well."
"Yes." Sirius chuckled. "Evidently he was sneaking in, daily, for three weeks before anyone found out."
"Indeed. My son can be quite... determined, when he sets his mind on something." Severus emerged from one of the rooms, and approached the group. "It is a vexing trait he inherited from his... Da." Something sad passed through the Potion Master's eyes as he spoke, then it was gone.
"Hello, Professor. How are you?" Bill stuck his hand out in the man's direction, purposely avoiding acknowledgement of the man's pain.
"Misters Weasley. I am well. Harry will be quite delighted you have come." He looked toward Lucius and Narcissa. "He is awake and has just finished bathing. Healer Longbottom is helping him settle himself back in his bed. I believe he is ready to receive visitors now. His lunch will be arriving momentarily."
"Would you like to join him? It is not a bother to have Dobby bring two more meals." Narcissa offered with a small smile. "I know it won't be Molly's cooking but Chef is very good."
Ron looked a bit surprised at Narcissa's subtle compliment to his mother's cooking abilities. "Thank you, Narcissa. I would enjoy joining Harry for his noon day meal."
Bill placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Ron?"
"Yes, Bill."
"I'll take my meal with the others and see Harry after. You two need to reconnect."
Ron smiled and one armed hugged his older brother. "Thanks Bill." He turned to Remus, "Is Hermione here?"
"She's at home trying to tame her husbands," Narcissa answered instead, as the men around her burst into laughter.
Everyone headed for the stairs, as Remus pushed the door open to Harry's suite for Ron, before following the others. He gave Ron a warm smile and a pat on the shoulder as he passed.
Ron stepped into the room, then stood there, taking in the sight of a now mostly healthy Harry. He really didn't want to think about how close Harry'd come to dying. To loosing his best friend. It would be like loosing a part of his soul. His heart. Something he never wanted to dwell on too long; not since the war with Voldemort, did he fear loosing him. They had tried being lovers, and it was a pleasant and warm time in his life, but Harry was too much his brother. Too much his best friend, and being lovers could have destroyed that.
But he still remembered waking, curled up around the smaller man; sometimes with Hermione there as well. They were cherished memories he kept close to his heart. Feeling his eyes sting with rising tears, he walked toward the bed, where Harry could see him.
"Ron!"
Harry looked a little worse for wear, but he had seen him worse after spending the Summer Holidays with his Muggle relatives. Ron could only imagine what he'd looked like after Ferret boy's damage with a Beater's bat.
Deep breath.
"Harry," he whispered, his face pale.
Seeing the fear in his Best Mate's face, Harry held out his arms and beckoned him. "Come here Ron. I'm alive."
Ron swiftly, and on silent feet made his way onto the bed and into Harry welcoming arms. He held Harry carefully in his strong arms, his head on Harry's chest, so he could hear his heartbeat. Harry was always braver and smaller. The runt of the litter that stood up to violent relatives thrice his size, giant snakes, Dementors, Mountain Trolls, Death Eaters, and the Darkest Wizard in a century, and ironically, it took one man with a hunk of wood, to bring him to the brink of death.
Ron laid down beside him, and curled up next to him as they used to do during the war. They would lie together and talk, dream about a future where they would both marry, share Sunday dinners, and show their children how to be wizards and witches, and fly on a broom. When Hermione joined them on the evenings they didn't need her in the hospital ward, they all dreamed together of a time when there would once more be a Potter, Weasley and Granger as another Golden Trio at Hogwarts.
"I should have killed him during the war, when I had a chance," Ron whispered as he toyed with a button on Harry's sleepshirt. "Then--then you wouldn't have been hurt."
"He was on our side, Ron. As much as he angered and belittled you and your family, you are not a murderer." Harry was quiet a moment as he let his fingers cord through the thick red hair, surprised at how long Ron had let it grow. "His madness comes from the Black family. The healers think it was triggered by Bella Lestrange's torture sessions at Voldemort's feet, when he called a meeting. I was just his unfortunate victim."
"You shouldn't have bonded with him."
"You know why I did. And, if it had meant your life as well, I would have done the same. I needed to make sure Sirius and Remus survived. They are all that is left of my parents. I had survived killing Voldemort, I was free from Azkaban, and I wanted my godfathers with me, free to enjoy life."
"You made too many sacrifices, Harry. Your parents, your childhood, and most of your life. This shouldn't have been one of them. I don't think I can live in a world without my best friend here with me. Remember, we're supposed to grow old together. Going to Gryffindor Quidditch matches..."
"And we will. Someone has to show up and drive Aunt Min and Albus crazy."
Ron snorted. "Yeah, there is that..."
"Someone told me that a handsome redhead had shown up and was wandering about the Malfoy mansion."
Both men looked up the open doorway to see other third of their friendship. "Hermione," they chorused.
She smiled brightly and circled the other side of the bed, toeing off her shoes to crawl onto the bed on the side opposite Ron. She leaned across Harry and kissed Ron warmly on the mouth, before lying down and wrapping her arm over Harry to twine fingers with Ron.
"It's so good to see you again, Ron. We've missed you."
Tbc…