Title: Harry Potter and the Rise of the Dark Legacy
Author: enchanted nightingale
Beta Reader: pussycatadamah
Pairs: Harry/Lucius (eventually), Ron/Hermione, Neville/Ginny, Remus/Tonks
Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I merely use them in my plot for fun.
Parseltongue
#Harry's thoughts when dreaming#
Dream
Chapter 5
October 10th, Harry's Room:
The Gryffindor was on his bed staring at the parchment before him in shock. He had been in this state for the past two days, ever since he had the test to learn his lineage.
At first the names had been ordinary; his father James Damianus Potter and Lilly Evans, his parents. Then Albert Henry Potter and Jasmine Carlota Parkinson, his grandparents on his father's side, and George Evans and Meredith Evans on his mother's side. After that the Potter family tree held several long dead uncles, aunts, cousins and siblings, all married with what seemed to be old pureblood families, like the Parkinson's, the Black's, the Longbottom's, and even the Malfoys. Some ninety years ago an ancestor had even married a Gaunt, of the Slytherin line. A chuckle had escaped him (after the initial shock had passed and he realized he was indeed related to Voldemort however distant it was) then and he made a mental note to search those distant relations at another date; the last thing he needed was to find out Lucius was his uncle or something. He probably was, Harry ruefully thought, but the more distant the relation the better for the teen.
'Not that it would stop me,' he thought wryly. It was just better for his conscience that way.
Back on the parchment again, he grew serious. There was nothing whatsoever to even hint of Elves. Sure, there was a Veela some twelve generations ago on his father's side but any further back the magical traits were alleviated leaving only physical characteristics and nothing more, like what happened with the Malfoys.
And then he had his mother's side of the family. It was unremarkable really. The only revelation he had was that his grandmother was in fact a very weak witch, more so than Neville and almost a squib. Sure she come from an old line of wizards that had steadily died out until only squibs were born, with his mother the first witch in centuries. Nothing amazing since even Hermione's tree, when the young prodigy had had developed at some point the year before, had shown a wizard by the name Gordon Granger some three centuries prior.
However it was not completely fruitless.
One of his father's grandparents, though deceased during Voldemort's first reign of power, had a husband that apparently divorced him.
"Everard Lionheart," Harry read. The name brought Robin Hood in his mind and a small smile of mirth.
As he stared at the name, which appeared blurred but not grey, like all those who had died, he decided to have Hermione do research on it. If need be he would ask help from Lucius; a perfect opportunity to spend time together while not arousing any suspicion from those in the dark, namely his friends.
Finally, satisfied with the decision, the Elf tucked the family tree away and turned in for the night, intending to discuss it further with Ailill first chance he got.
Lucius Rooms:
Draco was lounging in front of the fireplace in his father's personal quarters. The room was similar to his father's lounge back in the Manor, and a rather familiar place even inside the castle that served as his home for more than nine months a year. The blonde had discarded his tie the moment he stepped in the room and then the black school robe, choosing instead to stay with the basic school uniform, something he only did in the Slytherin Common Room and once or twice when training with Potter.
It was one of the few afternoons they had to themselves since the beginning of the school year. Between his prefect duties and his father's newly academic responsibilities they had not spoken like family since the beginning of the year. The older blonde was finishing a stack of papers on his desk with a tired sigh every now and then.
"What's wrong?" Draco inquired.
"The essays delivered by seventh years," Lucius replied.
Draco blinked. "It can't possibly be that bad…"
"Oh, it actually is," his father told him. "Not one of them knows anything more than what the books offer. The Hufflepuff's are still seeing me with fearful eyes so it is no wonder that half their writing is covered in blots of ink, the Ravenclaw's were so analytical that I got bored, the Gryffindor's seemed to take the whole theme out of a pamphlet of 'How to be the perfect Light magic poster boy' and the Slytherin's think I'm recruiting them for the Dark Lord. No wonder Severus is always so snarky."
Draco laughed at his father and Lucius glared him.
Then the teen smiled. "A glass of Sangria then?"
"Is that a peace offer on behalf of the student body?" Lucius asked.
"Is that your way of taking it?"
"I need a break anyway," the older wizard decided.
Lucius swished his wand marking with an 'Acceptable' the rest of the papers and he stood and walked over to the small sitting area and sat beside the teen, gladly accepting the conjured glass of wine Draco offered him.
"Muggle's sure know how to create good wine," Draco's father commented.
"Don't let anyone else hear you say it," Lucius warned. "Especially in the dungeons."
"I'm sure the Dark Lord will be lenient," Draco mocked.
His father frowned. "Seriously Draco. If a fanatic hears you it could be dangerous. This is really not the time to joke. Things are getting more dangerous as the time passes."
The teen nodded, cowered by his father's stern tone of voice.
"HE had yet to learn of the Slytherin's joining Potter's little project but it is only a matter of time. Be more discreet, do not alienate the rest of your House," Lucius warned. "We are in a dangerous spot. Being marked as traitors by the Dark is not acceptable at this point. If necessary lie. Get Potter to back you up. He'll jump at the opportunity to help." In his mind he added a silent 'He better'.
The young Slytherin nodded. "But are you loyal to the Dark father? Because the signals I get from you are mixed to say the least."
Lucius sipped from his wine, thinking of how to answer that.
Draco glared him. "I'm your son! I need to know."
"I know Draco. I'm just worried about you."
"Are you really spying for Dumbledore or the Dark Lord?"
Lucius thought about the whole mess he was with Voldemort since failing at his summer mission. Then how he was caught up in this mess with the green eyed minx known as Harry Potter. Having Dumbledore approach him through Snape, who knew perfectly well the reality of his union with Narcissa, had been sly and fast for the man. They had been concerned he might hurt their Hero. Something Lucius considered. It would not be bad nor difficult getting into the role of a willing mate, his Lord would like that. The only problem was that he was unsure if he really wanted a Lord like Voldemort. Ever since the Dark Lord's resurrection, he had been steadily losing faith in the man and his son's decision not to join the Death Eater had certainly influenced Lucius a lot.
Then again, he was developing a soft spot for the elfin teen. The boy was sly and slippery enough to be a Slytherin, devious enough for a Malfoy and sexy enough to catch Lucius' eye and hold it. Sure, the boy was his future 'mate', if he believed what the Light side said, but he was still in the beginning. He was unable to discard his upbringing and all the life he led so far and 'play house' with Potter. No matter how ideal the prospect of a true mate sounded. And not out of guilt for his wife. As it was, Narcissa would probably give them her blessing.
But as a Malfoy and a former Slytherin he would not risk his option on the promise of a perfect other half. It could be the dream of every witch or wizard, what few had found and more than he ever thought he could have since before he was promised to Narcissa Black, but the continuation of the line was still on him. It was too soon to throw whatever security he had to the wind. He could trust his son, he already did on most things, but he was certain the teen would cave in given enough pressure. For his safety, it was not an option. Not so soon. Maybe later… 'Much later.'
Draco's face fell. "You want tell me." He knew it.
"Not yet," Lucius amended. "How is school going?"
The teen gave up with a roll of his grey eyes on questioning and followed the blatant change in topic, making the rest of the evening pass quietly between father and son.
October 15th, Slytherin Common Room:
Pansy threw her quill away from her with a look of disgust, uncaring of how her behaviour strayed from normal. Blaise was sitting next to her finishing one of his own homework assignments but at the noise he looked up from the parchment and observed his friend with no little amusement.
"What?" the girl demanded angrily of him.
As to not aggravate her more he shook his head.
"Nothing, you just seem a bit on edge to me," Blaise admitted. "But you must not show it to the rest of them," he continued with a quieter voice.
She nodded unhappily. "I'm just worried. My cousin Everard joined Him last week."
Blaise immediately cast 'Muffliato' (A/N: Did I spell it right?) around them for some more privacy and turned to his friend with undivided attention. He knew it was a subject they would discuss a lot the coming days.
"There's nothing you could do, Pansy. When one's time comes it comes."
"I know that! But grandfather Gerbert is the patriarch of the Parkinson and loyal to the Dark Lord to a fault," Pansy told the dark skinned boy. "My older sister will be next and I'm following in her footsteps when I graduate! Time is running short for me and everyone else in my family. Unless we change the patriarch I'm done for."
"I know," Blaise said darkly. "And you're not the only one. My new stepfather is a follower though not Marked. At least last time I checked that is."
The girl huffed in annoyance. "What is your mother going to do?" Pansy asked quietly.
Blaise shrugged. "The usual I suppose. She can't really help it. It's her nature."
Pansy nodded. While it was a well known fact that Annabelle Alivah Zabini was not a common witch. In fact, she was not completely human. Her son and his best friends had deduced that at age nine. It had been a year after Flavien Zabini; Blaise's father died while his mother was gravely ill, and Annabelle had already married and killed two husbands, earning the title of the 'Black Widow' that had followed her until she married Zabini, her fourth in line husband and stayed married to him for a decade. All that and the fact that she knew her husband was unfaithful, would lead the man to an early grave.
"It might be different now though," Blaise tried again.
"How?" Pansy demanded.
"Well, Potter seems capable enough," the teen replied.
Pansy frowned. "It is too soon to tell. He wants to help but our situation is much more different than that of other students. He won't make it."
"We have already agreed to give him a chance," Blaise reminded her.
"I know," she told him. "I guess we wait for now."
Blaise nodded satisfied.
"Can't you two look gloomier?" Draco asked as he slipped to sit between them.
"Hey, Draco," Pansy greeted.
"Have fun with your father?" Blaise asked his friend.
Draco shrugged. "We've had no chance to talk for a long while. It was nice," the blonde replied.
"You just enjoyed the wine," Pansy guessed correctly and Blaise laughed.
"So are you two done with your essays?" Draco asked them and Pansy offered him her essay to check it over.
October 19th, Library:
Hermione was occupying the same table in the most secluded and private part of the school library for every spare moment she had. The usually sour Mrs. Pince was content to even lengthen the table for her as the girl poured over hundreds of books with the genealogy of the oldest and purest wizard families. Her head was spinning with names, dates and events that surrounded the House of Potters, who were related to every pure-blooded family in Europe. Seeing that Harry was more closely related to Malfoy than Ron had certainly been amusing. She had also noted Harry's relation to Riddle, or Voldemort as he went by nowadays, remembering her words to her friend during their second year.
But despite everything, she had still a long way to go. And the librarian had been very helpful providing the books and charts she needed as well as nifty spells to find certain books easily.
So far she was nowhere near a clue as to Harry's unusual creature inheritance.
'I still have the Restricted section to finish,' she thought half heartedly.
She rubbed her eyes and continued, her curiosity got the better of her as usual.
Luna came at some point for her own studies and saw Hermione surrounded by large piles of books.
"Still nothing?" she asked the older girl.
"If you exclude the fact that every pureblood and half-blood in the country are at least second degree cousins then everything is fine," Hermione replied.
"Have you found if Ron is related to Malfoy yet?" Luna asked with a smile.
It made Hermione laugh. "I did and now he's up in the tower pouting. Harry tries to convince him it could be worse."
"Good luck with that," Luna replied. she noticed the family tree and studied it for a while. Hermione kept quiet as the younger girl did this. She often felt Luna was not all there most of the times, but for the girl to have ended up in Ravenclaw it meant that she had brains and knew how to use them.
'When's she not day dreaming,' Hermione amended.
"Interesting," Luna said after a while.
"What is it?" the Gryffindor asked.
"Harry's family tree is extensive, but it mentions nothing about his grandfather's line on his mother's side," Luna observed.
Hermione blinked and looked at the paper. "You're correct!"
Luna nodded. "I know."
"Could it be that maybe they were all Muggle's?" Hermione guessed.
"Not possible," Luna said readily. "In every Muggle family there must be at least a distant magical relation. It is a proven fact. You had one in your family tree, so George Evans' line must have had some magical blood sometime. There was a survey done a few years back by the Department of Mysteries. If you search a bit more you are sure to find something."
Hermione looked sceptical but Luna assured her there were practical records kept and to ask the librarian for the book. So the older girl gave in and changed the focus of her studies.
"Oh, and check the faded names," Luna asked. "They mean that the person either changed their name or gave a fake one to begin with."
"Thanks Luna," Hermione said sincerely.
"I'm happy I can be of help," the blonde girl replied and walked off.
October 22nd, DA:
The Great Hall was once again converted into a defence room for the purposes of the club.
"Again," Harry yelled.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Around him there was a flurry of colour and the pairs cast the Patronus Charm. Harry smiled when he saw Pansy's Kneazle run by his feet. She had come a long way. Only Draco managed the Patronus on his third session, followed by Blaise Zabini and after another session a few more. Also, there were more members of the Slytherin House that joined after the first three weeks. Now he counted ten seven years, most sixth, five and four years and all the younger years of Slytherin attending the DA. The house had few numbers already, unlike the rest of the houses in Hogwarts, so while he was sometimes a bit pressed, Harry managed. He had talked with Padma Patil, from Ravenclaw, and the girl had agreed that she and a couple of other Ravenclaw's could handle the first two years.
Harry watched on satisfied as every one of the teens present managed a Patronus. Draco had managed a silvery wolf, twice as large as a normal one, but a wolf. Zabini had managed a lion, something his fellow snakes laughed at and teased, Crabbe had a rat, Goyle a sparrow and the room was filled with a dozen of other animals that glowed.
"What do you think?" Harry turned to the expectant figure that lurked in the background.
Lucius was impressed and told him so.
"You have done a wonderful job teaching them," he told Harry. "I know for a fact that my son's friends had tutors at home and still had trouble with certain spells. The Patronus Charm is more than a magnificent improvement."
"A compliment? From you Mr. Malfoy?" Harry asked with a sly smirk.
"I never say what I do not mean," Lucius stated.
Harry walked over to the blonde professor, eyeing the man suggestively. He stopped by his side and leaned closer, mindful of their audience, and turned so no one but Lucius could see his face.
"You better not. Pity we have company."
"You are shameless Mr. Potter," Lucius told him.
The teen shrugged.
"Won't you join us, Potter?" Draco asked as he happily watched his silvery wolf prowl the room and get back to him. "A demonstration would be nice."
"For those who did not see it during OWLs last year," Blaise Zabini added. "I thought Umbridge might combust like an overblown toad.
The Gryffindor snorted; that was a perfect description of what happened the year before. Harry turned around at the expectant looks of the other students.
"Come on," Blaise cajoled.
"I would too be interested in seeing your Patronus," Lucius said from behind him.
The only Gryffindor in the room could have rolled his eyes. He would have shown his Patronus anyway but he could not refuse Lucius.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry intoned. The familiar silvery stag jumped from his wand tip and trekked the Great Hall once before returning to Harry and standing at his side expectantly.
"A stag?" Lucius murmured.
"My father's Animagus form," Harry offered.
"I don't remember seeing his name in the Ministry records," Daphne Greengrass commented, recalling their lessons with McGonagall back in their third year.
Harry smirked. "Never said he was registered."
The Slytherin's laughed and Lucius snorted in the background.
"I would have never though a Gryffindor would break the law," Pansy teased.
"Obviously my father was not your regular Gryffindor bunch; but enough of that now. Say the incantation once again and then we will move onto the practical demonstration."
"Practical?"
The Slytherin's grew alarmed.
Harry pointed at the far end of the room; where the Head table usually was, now stood a large trunk, closed with magical chains.
Lucius wanted to groan. He was almost afraid to ask whether or not Harry had brought a real Dementor in the castle.
"I didn't!" Harry said indignantly as if he had read his mind.
"Well, I had you capable, Mr. Potter," his DADA professor told him.
Draco and his friends laughed.
Harry rolled his eyes at them.
"As if. No, I have brought a Boggart."
"A Boggart?" Zabini asked him.
"Mine turns into a Dementor," Harry informed them.
"The next best thing," Draco said wryly.
"Does it have the same effects?" Millicent Bulstrode asked.
"Believe me it's the same," Harry told them.
"We'll take your word," Draco said quickly.
"What am I to do?" Lucius asked.
"In case someone faints, has a seizure or something like that," Harry replied. Then, seeing Draco's look of disbelief, he added. "We are not third years anymore. The times are changing again. There are worse things out there and many might have a different fear now. And as a former Slytherin, you will be more discreet than other professors."
Lucius was impressed with Harry's reasoning, better than that of most of his professors and peers, about Salazar's House and it seemed that the young snakes were as well.
"Indeed," he simply replied and followed the dark haired teen to the small trunk.
Potter went on to say the differences and difficulties they might face up against a real Dementor when performing the spell.
"You are to face the creature only twice tonight," Harry declared. "If you are too shaken then only one. Immediately after your try eat the chocolates that have your name on them. trust me; they will make you feel much better. Is everyone ready?"
He lined up the other teens and got in front of the trunk. As he had said, a Dementor came out and then Potter stepped aside, letting the Slytherin's perform the Patronus Charm. Many were affected immediately and very few tried a second time. None managed to cast a corporeal spell, managing only the mist.
"This is so disappointing," Draco complained after the session.
All the Slytherin's were seated on bean bags that Lucius had conjured around the room. He was now talking with one of the girls Harry still had trouble remembering; she had broken down crying in front of the Dementor and Harry spelled the creature back, interrupting the session. The Gryffindor was enjoying his chocolate bar in a very rare, and probably first, moment of relaxing with members of the Slytherin's House he was fighting with for years.
"You all did great," Harry reassured the blonde.
"Not saying that to make us feel better are you?" Pansy asked.
"For this we have the chocolate," the green eyed teen replied. "I did not manage a corporeal Patronus until I was almost Kissed."
Blaise snorted. "You are impossible Potter."
"How so?" the Gryffindor demanded.
"You were almost Kissed?" Draco yelled.
Lucius looked up with a frown.
"Third year," Harry replied. "The Dementors guarding the school attacked me all at once." He shivered. The memory still made him feel like he had then.
"How did you survive?" Blaise asked.
Harry laughed. "Now if I told anyone I'd probably end up in Azkaban."
"Oh, now I have to know," Draco told him.
"Dream on Malfoy," Harry told him. "I'll never say."
The Gryffindor bid goodnight to the last Slytherin's to leave the Hall, who were Parkinson and Zabini, but without Malfoy. It had been odd that they willingly stayed behind, talking about this and that but nothing of real substance. It was as if they were making small talk, testing the grounds for something. He felt as if they expected something from him but he was in the dark.
If he was truthful, he would probably realize that had he paid more attention to them he would have had more than an idea, but Harry was anxious to corner Lucius and snog the man silly. He was afraid that if he were late he would miss his chance. After all he could only wait so long.
Lucius on the other hand was amused at how impatient the little Elf looked as he did everything but push the two Slytherin's out of the makeshift classroom.
"You looked ready to blast them out of the doors," Lucius commented.
"They got the hint soon enough," Harry replied as he dropped his glamour and walked over to him, leaning his head up to kiss Lucius' soft lips.
His professor pulled him closer still and kissed harder. The teen arched his body closer to the older wizard and moaned into the kiss.
The blonde placed his right hand on Harry's shoulder, running the palm up and down his arm, while his left tangled in the long raven black locks, pulling Harry's head closer, deepening the kiss.
'This is what I waited for all day,' the teen thought as he latched onto Lucius' robes and rubbed his body along the man's front.
Lucius pulled away with a gasp and then turned Harry around, pushing him none too gently against the stone walls.
Harry gasped and the aristocrat took the opportunity to kiss him senseless and rub his building hardness along Lucius' upper hip.
The blonde pulled back, inspecting the swollen lips and mussed hair of the thoroughly kissed teen.
"You really should stop doing that Mr. Potter," he hissed.
"You are already half way there," he almost whined.
Lucius wanted to groan.
"You are not ready yet, Harry," he told the teen and kissed him again.
The teen latched onto him, enjoying the kiss for the moment, feeling his blood heat up at their proximity.
When he left the Hall that night it was with a smile on his face that lasted the rest of the week.
October 31st: Breakfast:
Harry all but dragged his feet through the stone corridors to get to his classes that morning.
Everywhere around him the students were excited. The customary feast that took place at dinner was a special occasion for the boarding school. The older years were questioned by the first years and everyone was equally excited, as every year something new was introduced, courtesy of Dumbledore.
On the other hand the Dark Elf was sullen and glared at whoever tried to wish him for the day or ask him if he were excited or not.
Hermione was more sensitive than most, as well as Neville. Those two had taken to glaring people on Harry's behalf when the teen grew tired of glaring after a while.
The green eyed teen plopped on his usual spot at the Gryffindor table with a sigh. "Honestly, people are getting more insensitive every year," he muttered darkly. "I hate Halloween."
"Noted," Ron told him as he sat down on Harry's right and grabbed a turkey sandwich.
Harry filled his goblet with pumpkin juice and took a large sip with a grimace. Even the juice tasted horrible today.
"At least there's not a ball, like Lavender was hoping," Hermione told them. For her it was bad enough that the air headed girl was sharing a dorm with her but Hermione did not want to hear more gossip and mindless chatter than she could take. Sure, as a girl she was somewhat conscious of the trends in clothing and make up and or things like that, but she could live without hearing about them twenty four hours a day, or at least the part that did not occupy giggling over half the male population of the school. She was glad Ginny and Luna were her friends. As far as female company went, those were all he needed, girly enough but more mature that half their senior years. Her mind returned to the breakfast table as Ginny's boyfriend said something.
"It would have been fun, dressing up," Neville replied.
"Too much bloody trouble," Ron told him.
"At least now you have a date," Harry told him and Neville laughed with him as Ron blushed and Hermione huffed.
"What do we have first class?" Ron asked, changing the embarrassing subject.
"I have Sprout," Ginny replied. "At least I get to work with Luna."
"McGonagall," Harry said after Ron's sister.
Hermione had an owl land in front of her with her copy of the 'Daily Prophet'. She paid the fee and stuck her head in the paper.
"Have you finished your essay for Transfiguration?" she asked the boys.
Neville and Harry frowned at the girl, while Ron panicked.
"We had an essay? When? Why didn't you guys tell me anything?" he exclaimed.
Harry rolled his eyes and tried the scrambled eggs. "She's pulling your leg," he told his best buddy.
Ron brought a hand to his galloping heart. Then he remembered the cause.
"Hermione! Don't scare me like that!"
"Serves you right," his girlfriend smirked over the paper.
Harry laughed at Ron's grimace. He turned to Hermione. "Anything interesting going on?"
"Define 'interesting' please," she replied. "But no, everything is quiet, no new attacks. It says that the rebuilding on Diagon Alley's finished and the shops are now open for business… Hm, Fudge is accused for receiving bribery, nothing new there… A new children's broom is coming out… No, nothing much to be honest. Oh, there's a list of 'Dos and don'ts' when faced with Death Eaters from the Ministry of Magic."
"Let me see," Harry asked eagerly. It should provide a laugh if it was anything like the list that had come out during summer months.
"Nothing serious," she told him. "The usual, don't open your door to black robbed men, use passwords, don't go out alone at nights…"
"I get it," the Elf told her, not bothering with the paper any more. He just slumped in his seat and selected an apple to peel.
"Were you expecting something?" Ron asked.
"To tell you the truth, always something goes wrong on Halloween so I was not exactly expecting it, more like dreading it," Harry replied honestly.
His friends nodded in agreement and finished their breakfast.
That night… Halloween Feast:
Harry entered the Great Hall with apprehension. No one knew what they might find on a night like that in school. Hermione, exasperated, pushed him gently through the doors and then steered him to Gryffindor table.
"Honestly Harry," she tutted. "No one is out to get you tonight."
"Not in here that is," Ron added.
"So have fun, relax as much as you can and eat something," Hermione berated Harry.
He gave in and nodded. He walked over to Seamus and Dean, who were gathered near Lavender and Parvati. "Hey guys and girls," he greeted. Ron and Hermione sat on his left.
They were greeted warmly by their classmates.
"Does anyone know what Dumbledore has in store for us tonight?" Dean asked the new comers.
Harry shrugged. "Probably something big."
"And a tad eccentric," Hermione added.
"The food is always good," Ron shrugged.
"Ron!" Hermione gasped.
"What?"
Their friends laughed as Hermione fumed.
"I'm kidding," Ron amended.
"You better be," Seamus teased the red haired boy.
Several students from other Houses came by, greeting Harry, Hermione and Ron.
"All those from DA?" Seamus whistled.
Harry nodded.
"Impressive," Parvati admitted.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore just entered," Hermione said. Sure enough the Hall quieted down.
"Hope the speech won't be long," Ron said in hushed tones.
"I want to welcome both our old and our new students to another Halloween night together. But as I know how excited you are, I give you 'Sir Patrick and the rest of the Headless Hunt'!"
The headless horsemen burst through the walls and doors. Harry almost groaned.
"This won't end well," he said as a choir of ghosts appeared in front of the Head table, following the game of Head Hockey he had already witnessed in his second year.
"Why?" Seamus asked, excited at the spectacle.
Some of the first years screamed when one of the heads sailed over them and one even passed through one of the Slytherin second year girls who was almost hysterical after that.
Then Nearly Headless Nick hovered at Harry's side, a scowl on his face. Hermione shivered at the feeling the ghost gave her and scooted towards Ron, making room for the Gryffindor Ghost.
"Hey Nick," Harry greeted.
"Headless morons," the usually kind ghost grouched.
The comment raised a few eyebrows.
"Ignore Sir Patrick," Harry soothed the ghost.
A head sailed over them, followed by boisterous laughter.
"Easier said than done," the Gryffindor ghost said solemnly.
"He missed Dumbledore," Dean said joyously, enjoying the show.
Forgetting himself, Harry went to pat Nearly Headless Nick's shoulder and for the first time ever, his hand touched the shoulder as if it were solid.
"No way!" Hermione gasped and Harry wrenched his hand away from the equally surprised ghost.
"What?" Lavender asked.
"Nothing, enjoy the show," Hermione told her as nice as she could then turned to Harry, pinning her eyes on her friend.
"Harry?" the ghost questioned.
"Um," the teen was at a loss.
Then Nick placed a hand on Harry's arm but it did not go through. It was as if the boy was made of the same material as he was. But that was impossible.
Then again, this was Harry Potter.
"Maybe we should just forget about it," the ghost said.
Harry nodded numbly and watched the ghost leave his side.
The seat did not remain open for long as Hermione occupied it immediately.
"Harry…"
"I know."
"This wasn't normal."
"I know."
She paused. "Is it…you know, a new trait?"
"I have no idea," he replied honestly.
The two friends sat in gloomy silence, ignoring the acrobatics of the ghosts around them.
"You really know how to get attention," Hermione finally whispered.
Harry glared her.
"I mean, what are the odds?" his best friend's girlfriend said.
"I get it," Harry whispered back sulking. "I'll speak to Ailill. He already saw," he added.
Hermione glanced carefully at the head table and saw said man looking at Harry, meeting her eyes and then averting them to hear something Dumbledore was telling him.
The teen turned back to face her friend. "See that you do," Hermione told him.
"Did you guys see that?" Lavender squealed.
The two friends turned to watch the remaining show, Harry ducking when stray heads came his way and ignoring Hermione's chuckles.
Soon the show came to an end and the food appeared on the tables.
"Finally! I was starving," Ron muttered.
At the Head table, Dumbledore had seen the incident with the ghost and let out an exasperated sigh. He had seen the incident with Harry and Sir Nicholas and swallowed one of his cherished lemon drops the wrong way.
'That boy is attracting trouble like honey does flies!' he thought with wonder.
Ailill was sitting right next to him and he was already expecting questions over the incident.
"Harry is what he is," he offered to the Headmaster. "I shall inform him in our next session about this."
"Thank you," Albus replied.
On the other side of the table Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy stiffened their backs and tried to compose themselves.
"Severus?" Madame Sprout inquired.
"A cramp," he said through his teeth.
"I'll inform the Headmaster."
Down in the student tables, Harry winced about the same time the Dark Mark burned.
"What's wrong with Harry?" Ron asked Hermione.
They both saw the boy's hand rubbing his temples in pain.
"Harry?" Hermione tried.
"It's probably nothing," Harry offered. He glanced up at Dumbledore only to see the seat of Snape and Malfoy missing. "Or not," he said darkly. He stabbed a piece of his pumpkin pie and couldn't wait for the feast to end. The sooner he got to his room, the sooner he could go to sleep and the sooner this horrible day would be over and done for.
Later that night: Harry's Room:
The teen twisted his body on the large bed.
ooOoo
The room was cavernous. He saw droplets of water hit the floor but ignored it.
The anticipation for what was about to happen was almost making him cheerful; almost…
He scanned the room only to see hundreds of black robes mixing with the shadows.
He was calm in the knowledge that there were more coming.
Good little Ratssss said a voice from below him, somewhere he would not bother looking to.
They have entertainment value if nothing else were the words that left his mouth.
There was a collective shudder from the crowd.
He felt elated.
Soon several cracks were heard and five Death Eaters arrived.
"Bella?" he asked.
The witch threw her hood back and fell on her knees before him, crawling all the way to kiss the hem of his robes and then back.
He felt a spike of both gratification and disgust.
"Speak up woman."
"My Lord… They were prepared… The Order was there and then the Aurors arrived when we had them!"
"You failed," he hissed in anger. "You and your men failed. Perhaps you were not ready for such responsibility yet."
"My Lord, forgive me," the witch pleaded. "Next time…"
"Next time?"
She bowed her head and whimpered.
"Crucio!" he yelled with vindictive pleasure.
Bellatrix writhed in pain on the mouldy floor and he watched on, almost forgetting to stop the curse.
When he released her she sagged on the floor.
"You failed," he hissed.
"My Lord," the woman whimpered. Her associates fell on their knees as well.
"Avery, McNair and Dolohov,"he hissed.
"My Lord," the men said from the ranks.
"Two minutes each," he hissed. "Enjoy yourselves."
Do I get to eat one of them? the snake hissed.
Later, my dear he hissed.
For a while all he heard was the screams of pain and failure. He watched with relish as the rest of them cowered before him.
When Avery was done, he looked amused but the thirty Death Eaters could barely stand straight, still they took their places and turned to him.
"Lucius," he called out.
A man stood forward, a few strands of a familiar shade of blonde hair escaping the hood.
The man kneeled before him, repeating the motions Bellatrix had followed, but forgoing the pathetic crawling.
He still has pride the snake hissed.
He preferred not to answer.
"Lucius, what news do you bring from Hogwarts?"
"Everything is quiet my Lord," Lucius replied. "The wards are still holding, but the majority are focused on detecting dark magic when cast and the foundations of the castle. Dumbledore still doesn't trust me much, but Severus is working on him…"
"Enough of that!" he hissed. "I want to know about Potter!"
"I'm afraid there is nothing to report on Potter, my Lord."
"Nothing?" he sounded too calm and several people shivered. "You disappoint me Lucius, twice in one night."
The man tensed when the yew wand was raised.
"CRUCIO!"
#No,# Harry wanted to yell. He felt the words leave his mouth, felt the wood of the wand in his cold hands. He felt the pain of the man being tortured, the pleasure of the caster.
He recoiled in fear and disgust, trying to stop watching, striving not to alert Voldemort of his presence in his mind.
He turned as small as he could and waited, cringing at the screams that started after a while.
He wanted out of here.
He searched desperately but found no way out.
He stared through the only window he had and wanted to scream. He saw the proud blonde man on his knees, trying to keep his screams of pain from spilling out of his lips even as the Cruciatus was cast on him repeatedly.
"The only reason I'm not being more creative Malfoy," he hissed, "is because you need to be able to walk tomorrow. We wouldn't want Dumbledore of all people to know, would we?"
His only answer was another hiss of the Unforgivable curse.
And another after that, until the Death Eater was losing his senses and the feeling of hate lessened.
He found the cavern fading away from him just when he wanted to stay.
ooOoo
Just as soon as Harry could see the true surroundings again he kicked off the tangled mess that was the covers of his bed, grabbed his invisibility cloak and he was out of his private rooms before the guardian portrait could even blink.
The young Elf ran across the castle walls in a hurry, heading straight to the dungeons, deep under the castle.
He was still shaken from what he had witnessed during his impromptu visit into Voldemort's demented mind. He was still unsure as to how his shields had slipped, especially after all the training he had gotten from Ailill but he was unaware of it. And while it was not the first time such a thing occurred, and what he witnessed was not by far the most horrid thing the scaly bastard was capable of, this time it was marginally different to Harry for one main reason: Lucius was the one being tortured. The Gryffindor had been forced to see his chosen mate on his knees, submitting to that monster, taking blame for the imaginary offence and suffering under that despicable curse. The screams of pain that had been torn from Lucius' throat as the Cruciatus curse was held for longer than a couple of minutes as happened with Bellatrix and other two Death Eaters before the proud blonde had cut through Harry's own heart.
Harry reached the dungeons in record time and cursed when he realized he had forgotten to take his Map and even his wand with him. Mentally cursing his stupidity he threw all caution to the wind and with a motion of his hand a blue magical flame appeared in his palm, shedding light to the damp hallways of the dungeons. With the first of his troubles solved Harry decided to rely on his senses to find the quarters of the blonde.
When he finally located the passage he was both unaware of the password and mindful of the strong wards Lucius had placed around his quarters. It would be impossible to get into, but Harry, unlike the majority of witches and wizards, had access to every room of the castle, courtesy of one of the Founders himself.
Open, he hissed in the language of snakes. The carved snake on the dark grey stone wall sank back and lifted upwards, creating a passage.
He entered in a hurry, dropping the cloak away from him without the usual care he had for his father's gift.
Harry was nervously pacing the quarters when the flames in the fireplace turned green.
For a few moments the teen was rooted to the spot he stood as a black clad figure swirled into the flames and then stumble face first on the lush carpet. The Gryffindor caught sight of pale blonde hair and moved fast, managing to catch the battered man as he collapsed.
The green eyed youth held the Death Eater to him as the wizard rested his head on Harry's slender shoulder. Said teen raised a hand and pulled off both the black hood and the bone white mask, revealing the pale face of the Malfoy patriarch. The adult wizard looked worn out and the pain was showing on his usually stoic face.
"D-Draco?" the blonde both looked and sounded distraught.
"No, Lucius, not Draco," Harry whispered softly.
Silver eyes were clouded in pain, barely making out the obvious brunette characteristics of the one holding him.
"You'll be fine now; I've got you," the Elf said in the same tone.
The blonde still would not reply, his breathing erratic, eyes closed and with his body to have yet to stir.
With a sigh, Harry struggled to his feet, carrying the larger frame of the tortured man to the bed. When the teen managed to finish the task, he hovered a bit over the limp form before his indecision ceased and he started disrobing Lucius. Off went the vile dark robes, the tall, leather boots and the dusty under-robes. One by one the garments were tossed in a heap by the bed, until the Death Eater lay on the bed completely naked.
The teen left his side in favour of going through the cabinets in search of the potion stack the man was likely to have. He was not far off the mark when he found a number of vials, all labelled Pain relieving potions, 'A vial after the session and one after breakfast the next day', written in the elegant lines he knew to be made by Severus Snape. He grabbed it and took it to Lucius. The man seemed to recognize the potions and willingly opened his mouth.
Harry watched worriedly as he swallowed and sighed. He relaxed slightly and pulled the comforter over them to keep the chill from them. It would take time for the potion to kick in, he knew from experience.
The pain was all Lucius felt. Every bone, every muscle, every inch of skin was strained and made him wish he were unconscious. He never realized how he managed to stand on shaky legs from the filthy floor of the cave only to see another Death Eater being tortured but this one was not one to make it. It was Rodolfus Lestrange that was called forth to dispose of him. by the time the Dark Lord dismissed them, he was shaking. Had not Severus grabbed him and taken him on a side-along apparition he would not have made it.
"Make sure you rest," the Potions Master instructed. "And take potions, not scotch. I've spoken with Draco."
He barely nodded when he was led to Severus' quarters and then used the Floo to his rooms. By then he was fading in and out of consciousness. He thought he dreamed the strong hands that surrounded him as he collapsed on his feet, preventing him from crashing on the hard floor.
He felt as his bone white mask was slipped off and tossed aside. Then his wand was gently pried from his fingers. Then those hands were on his chest, relieving him from his garments.
"D-Draco?"
His skin was soon met with the cold air.
"Sh, I'll take care of you," a gentle voice whispered, a hand smoothing the lines on his face.
And then he passed out.
End of Chapter
A/N: What do you think?
Next: What happens the morning after and answers on Harry's behaviour where Lucius is concerned…