Chapter 14
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He'd read halfway down the page, when he felt the spell hit him in the back and the books slipping from his arms and hands, to hit the floor silently. He puzzled on how the books made absolutely no noise as the heavy volumes struck the floor near him, until he realized he was falling backwards. He was falling backwards, and he couldn't move! Couldn't stop himself. At the same time his heart started to race, he felt strong hands catch him, then arms wrap around his chest.
The feeling of relief he began to experience was quickly replaced by a feeling of confusion as he realized he was being pulled backwards. He wanted to free himself so badly, as he was moved away from the shelves and into a darkened doorway. As his body was turned and pinned against a nearby wall, the Petrificus Spell was removed and replaced with a simple Binding Spell. He opened his mouth to demand what this person was doing, and nothing came out. Blinking and squinting he tried to get a clear look at the person, a male person, who was pressed up against him. But it was dark and he couldn't focus. Where were his glasses!
Harry began to struggle furiously, trying to break free, trying to get his wand, or raise his cane to protect himself. But he was firmly pinned. His attacker turned slightly and Harry saw him briefly in the pale light from one of the windows on the far side of the room. What he saw made him gasp.
Pale white blond shoulder-length hair, pale skin, and the robes against him felt luxurious. His mind tried to process what he was seeing and feeling. He froze and his body began to tremble, as he tried to think clearly. He couldn't see Draco's face well enough to see how angry he was. He had to get away. Where was Sebastian? He had to protect him. But this was his husband and he must obey him. No! Their bond was broken and Draco was in custody. But he was here--now. And he was trapped. Oh! Draco would certainly punish him for not obeying--for leaving the Manor--and for leaving it alone--without Draco.
Strong arms wrapped around him and held him tightly as warm lips nuzzled below his ear. Inhaling, Harry could smell the scent of one of Draco's favorite and very expensive French colognes. The lips were moving along his jaw now. This scared him even more. Too often Draco would be loving and affectionate, waiting until Harry's guard was down, before he struck out at him. He felt his body begin to tremble uncontrollably, as his eyes filled with tears.
"No-o-o..." He whimpered, his voice almost inaudible and shaky.
Colin was confused by Harry's behavior. Maybe the ferret never touched him. Well he would fix that. He would teach Harry how wonderful it would be to be touched and kissed. Feeling Harry begin to tremble, he reached up a hand and stroked fingers through the dark wild hair, leaning forward to kiss Harry--make him feel better.
"Let me kiss you..." He whispered.
But Harry didn't hear him. All he could focus on were the fingers in his hair and how he knew that any moment he was going to lose a handful of hair, ripped out at the roots. He felt lips pressed firmly against his, trying to kiss him, wanting him to respond. But he couldn't.
Sebastian walked out of the loo. He was a big boy and proud of it. He made sure all the buttons were right before he left the stall and had washed his hands thoroughly. He looked around the room searching for Harry. He frowned when he couldn't see him.
"Hawwy," he called.
He frowned, remembering Harry say he'd be waiting here for him. He walked around the shelves, heading back to the spot where they'd been when he'd whispered to Harry that he had to use the loo. As he cleared the end of the aisle, the alcove was empty. Then he looked down and saw their books scattered on the floor, beside... Harry's glasses! He walked quickly over and picked up Harry's' new dark-framed glasses that the Healer had said Harry would need for at least a while. Harry had picked them because they reminded him of the glasses he'd seen his Da wear in the pictures he had.
Sebastian clutched the glasses tightly in his hand, and looked around again. "Hawwy?"
Something was wrong. He could sense strong magic in the air and it felt... 'afraid'. "Hawwy!"
A sudden magical wind ruffled his hair, and he heard a scuffle behind him. Turning, he walked toward a door to what was most likely the storeroom. The noise was coming from there. He stopped near the door, reaching out to push it further open. Hearing a muffled curse, he stopped.
"Hawwy? Awre you thewre?" He asked cautiously, very worried now, since he could almost smell the magic and the fear in the air around him, as it lifted his hair and crawled along his skin.
"Please! Let me go!" Harry's voice suddenly echoed loudly.
Stepping around the door, into the darkened room, Sebastian could just make out Harry, pinned against the wall by a man that looked something like Unca' Luc. Sebastian's eyes widened.
"You awre the bad man!"
Harry and the blond both turned toward his voice. Harry's eyes were wild and Sebastian gasped when he saw the tears and the fear in his Harry's eyes. The blond scowled at being discovered and cursed under his breath.
Harry opened his mouth. "Seb--!"
Harry's voice was suddenly cut off as the men disappeared, the loud crack of Apparition echoing in the large room.
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The boy stood stunned for a moment before he began to scream and cry as he ran from the store room through the front of the booksellers, his wild magic pulling all the books from the shelves in his wake--patrons and employees alike ducking and darting out of the way of the flying tomes. The front doors flew open before he reached them and the sound caused everyone on the walk outside to step back quickly, packages flying. Stopping on the curb, he looked around wildly, as tears streamed down his face, his chest heaving, and his magic crackled wildly around him.
Several shoppers on the street yelped as their packages were magically yanked from their hands and flew into the air, and invisible hands seemed to shove them aside, as though someone was searching them. Not seeing Harry or the bad man anywhere, Sebastian began to sob again. He raised his face to the sky and yelled at the top of his lungs.
"PAAAAPAAAAA!"
"Whoa there, little man! What's--"
"--wrong, Sebastian?"
Sebastian had turned to head back to the Pettery, and run smack into the legs of the twins, as they'd just exited the Apothecary, their arms full of packages not yet shrunk. Strong hands grasped his arms to keep him from falling, and he looked up into two identical pairs of concerned blue eyes surrounded by bright red hair.
Sebastian wailed and threw himself into George's arms. Fred crouched beside his brother, his hands also now free. The child sobbed against George's shoulder as if his world had come to an end. Fred rubbed soothing circles on the small back, as he gave his brother a questioning look. They looked around them. No Harry. Glaring at the crowd that had gathered, they stood, George holding Sebastian.
"Off with ya now! Nothing to see here, unless some of you want to be test subjects for some of our new experimental products!"
There were several startled looks and everyone started to disburse immediately. The twins were very well known and their reputation had preceded them more than once—some, in most spectacular ways.
Watching the street clear, Fred grinned evilly at his brother. "Yeah, I thought as much."
"Come on. Let's get off the street, so we can find out why he's so upset and where Harry has gotten off to. This is not like Harry at all."
"Yeah. Let's go to into the booksellers."
Stepping into the shop, their eyes widened at the mess, and Fred whistled. "Blimey! What a ruddy mess! Yo, Magnus! What happened here? A heard of rampaging Hypogriffs get loose in here?"
The manager looked up and scowled at them before going back to Levitating shelves upright and spelling books away. Most of the patrons had fled but a few were still trying to step around the piles of books without falling.
A small blond witch stood up from behind the counter, her arms full of books, hair in disarray, and a large bruise blooming on her chin. "A child ran screaming through the shop and evidently experienced wild magic as well." She narrowed her eyes at George for a moment.
"Oi!" George snapped, looking affronted.
She looked up startled. "Oh sorry, didn't mean you... it was that child, actually."
She nodded her head toward the child in George's arms. Sebastian raised his head and looked at her with wet red cheeks and red swollen eyes, tears still evident on his face. Looking around, he saw the state of the shop. The full bottom lip came out as tears again began to fall.
"I-I sow-w-wy! Had to fin' him! Bad man take him! T-Take my Hawwy!"
Sebastian buried his face in George's jumper and began to wail again. Both Fred and George looked alarmed. Fred stepped forward to get closer to the young woman, while his brother tried to calm the small boy.
"Do you remember seeing the man that was with Sebastian when he came in? He would not willingly leave the child alone. Have you seen him?"
She thought for a moment. Setting the stack of books on the counter, she looked at Fred and nodded. "Yes. Mr. Potter-Malfoy--walking with a cane. I remember because he looked as though he was in a bit of discomfort. And--" Her brows furrowed a bit as she tried to remember. "He seemed a bit nervous as well. Kept looking around. As if he thought someone was watching them--or following them."
George stepped forward, and prompted Sebastian to raise his head and look at them. "Tell us Luv, where were you and Harry the last time you saw him? Show us."
Sebastian pointed toward the back of the shop, past the cafe' area, and the twins began moving that way. Fred stopped by the counter.
"Thank you. Don't call the Auror's just yet. But please contact Severus Snape at Malfoy Manor and tell him we need him here immediately. Please keep this quiet. Harry has lived way too much of his life in the public eye already."
"Oh my! Yes, I will contact Professor Snape right away. And, I will say nothing. I've always had a soft spot for Mr. Potter-Malfoy. The poor man has never had a life of his own." She smiled briefly and hurried to the office to use the fireplace.
Fred hurried to catch up to George who was standing in the center of the rear reading room. Man and child were looking at the fallen books Sebastian had left behind. Curiously, in this area, all the books had remained on their shelves. Sebastian was stuttering through his tears, as he tried to explain what had happened and what he had seen before Harry disappeared.
"S'm-my fauwlt...pwomised Papa I would take cawre of Hawwy..."
George crouched down again to face the forlorn little boy, and reached out to cup his face, encouraging him to look up from the floor.
"Little man, this is not your fault. We will find him. You said he was in the back room when you came out of the loo and found his glasses." Sebastian nodded. "Was he alone?"
Sebastian's lip began to quiver again, and the large eyes welled with tears again. "I should 'ave had him come wif me. Papa tol' me to hold his hand an' not let go."
Fred put a reassuring hand on the small shoulder. "I don't think the Professor meant for you to keep holding his hand as you used the loo."
"Sebastian, was he alone?" George asked again, gently.
Agitation immediately filled Sebastian's expression. "The bad man took him!" He cried. "Hawwy was scawred and cwying. I could feew his magic. It was puwwling my hair and picking my skin! Then they App'wated!" He turned and wrapped his arms around Fred's legs and buried his face in the soft denim.
Just then, Severus stalked into the room, his robes billowing, Lucius at his side, closely followed by Hermione and Narcissa, then Sirius and Remus.
"Sebastian!" Severus called to his son.
The small boy turned his head and looked up at his Papa, eyes reflecting his pain and agitation. Severus crouched and opened his arms toward his son in invitation. "My son."
"Papa!" Sebastian cried, as he crossed the short distance and buried his face in the dark robes as his father wrapped strong arms around him. The small body began to tremble again and the twins just shook their heads, amazed that he would have any tears left.
"Professor--
"--Sebastian says a--"
"--bad man took Harry, but--"
"--we don't know who--"
"--he means, Sir."
Severus stood with his son in his arms, as the other adults moved forward to stand around them. He looked from one twin to the other, before looking down at the caramel curls against the wool of his robes.
"Sebastian. My Son. Who took Harry?"
Sebastian looked up, sniffling at his father, as he wiped the back of his hands over his eyes, Harry's glasses still clutched tightly in one of them. Severus cast a Cleansing Spell on his nose and face, then a spell to reduce the swelling and irritation in his eyes. Taking the glasses gently from his son's grasp, he pocketed them in his robe.
"T'ank you, Papa."
"You're welcome, my Son. Now, your answer please?" Severus raised an elegant eyebrow at his son in inquiry.
"The bad man, Papa. The bad man took Hawwy."
Ron and Bill had just walked in, when Lucius leaned in toward Sebastian. "What did the man look like, Sebastian? Did you see enough to describe what he looked like?"
"Oh yes, Unc'a Lucius! I know jus' what he wooked wike!"
"Tell us, my Son."
"He wooked wike you, Unc'a Lucius! Like...like... Papa? Who is it that lives at Unc'a Lucius an' Auntie Cissa's that I can' be awound?"
Narcissa gasped and went white; Lucius gasping as well as he reached out to steady her.
"What?!" Sirius barked. "He doesn't mean--Draco?!"
"Dwaco! Tha's him! He would'n let Hawwy get 'way an' Hawwy was scawred."
Fred and George came out of the storeroom with Harry's cane, and a cufflink that was not his, but was indeed very expensive.
"Bloody hell! The Aurors--!" Ron began.
"No!" Snapped Severus, Narcissa, and Lucius, all at the same time.
"We will find him." All eyes turned to Severus, as he passed Sebastian gently to Narcissa and Hermione. The Healer was already digging in her ever-present potions case for a Calming Draught for Sebastian.
"Hermione and I will take Sebastian back to the Manor and await word from you." Narcissa spoke softly, over her 'nephew's' head to Lucius. Sebastian, totally exhausted, was already half-asleep.
Lucius kissed them both and nodded at the Healer before the women moved to the other side of the room and Apparated.
"I placed a Tracking Charm on Harry right before he left the mansion, just for this very possibility." Severus was explaining as Lucius rejoined the group.
"Let's get on with it then!" Sirius demanded. Remus placed a reassuring hand on his arm and nodded in agreement.
"I will contact Shacklebolt and verify that Draco is still in custody. It is extremely difficult to break the Ministry's custody--but nothing is ultimately impossible unfortunately--at least where my son is concerned." Lucius voice conveyed both distress and disgust, as he strode quickly to the back of the shop to the alley to send his Patronus.
Severus strode into the storeroom and stepped to the wall his son had indicated and cast a series of intricate spells, thankful he had kept current on all of his magic since the end of the war.
The tip of his wand glowed a faint blue, and his hand was tugged toward the back door of the shop. He headed that way, everyone on his heels. As they exited into the alley, meeting up with Lucius, Severus continued to explain the results of the other spells.
"There was evidence of strong uncontrolled magic in that space, and the sense of fear was palpable."
Remus nodded, anger and worry in his eyes. "I could smell him--and it. But the other... it didn't smell like Draco, though... it was familiar."
"Yes. There was a second magical signature from the Apparation. Harry is still too weak for that. It wasn't Draco's signature--unless he has uncovered a spell to camouflage it. Of course he would have to find someone he could charm or manipulate to unbind his magic first. Sadly, if he has, I wouldn't be surprised." The last was mumbled disgustedly under Severus' breath, but still, Lucius had heard him.
The group passed quickly through Hampton Court until they reached Diagon Alley again. The blue had deepened already, meaning they were moving in the right direction. Impatient, Severus frowned down at his wand.
"Point me, Harry Potter-Malfoy!"
Tbc…