The Bonds That Tie
Harry mostly minded himself while at Malfoy Manor, keeping to his room that he'd been given to stay there. Draco showed it to him after his little nap on the 16th, and of course, it was right across the hall from Draco; close by in case of hunger emergencies. The room was quite large, with his own bathroom. The décor black, green and silver for curtains, drapes, and the bed canopy drapes too. The bed was king-sized, Harry had a small sitting area near a balcony window which he only used at night to avoid the sun. Harry had two nightstands with wall-hanging lanterns for light. There was other light around the room too, and Harry could control it all with a little fire manipulation. Harry didn't have much right now, except a couple sets of Draco's old clothing that was magically adjusted to fit Harry; he needed to get the rest of his school stuff from Privet Drive, but detested the idea of going back there for even a moment. School would start in two days, so he had no choice but to go there at some point and retrieve it. Today was the 30th of August and Harry was relaxing in his room, having wanted to stay out of the Death Eater meetings. Everyone was still getting used to him being a vampire, and giving Harry his space. However, Harry did need to go down and check in about getting his things from the Dursley's.
Harry made his way out of the room and down the stairs to reach the main floor, then over to the dining room. Draco had given Harry a tour of the manor after showing him where his room would be and Harry loved how having a new home. That was if he got to stay forever; he had no objections to such. Harry pushed the door open and walked in.
"Harry!" Draco smiled. "Good to see you out of the cave finally." He teased.
"The basement would have been more cave-like," Harry replied.
"We're glad you're here," Voldemort said. "We need to speak to you. Have a seat, my-," Harry instantly glared at the man. "Right, don't use that. Just…Have a seat, Harry."
Harry took a seat next to Draco and wait for someone to start. "Harry, it has come to our attention through simple deduction of facts that Dumbledore may try to gain control of you several ways." Lucius started.
"I warned that bastard not to try anything or he'd regret the day he crossed me…" Harry growled.
"Settle down," Draco patted his shoulder. "We have a plan to help, but you have to listen."
"Continue, but my method is making him regret in a matter most painful…" Harry remarked.
"Talking my language, Potter." Bellatrix smirked. "I like this kid." Harry rolled his eyes at her.
"We believe Dumbledore's plan is to act as your magical guardian to take your inheritance at Gringotts. As the last of your Potter line, you should have everything ever left to the next heir. Without being at the bank, there's no way to tell just what you've been given." Lucius continued calmly. "However, with you being a vampire and refusing to go under Dumbledore's control; the idea is that he's going to go to the bank to claim you've died, which isn't untrue with your…Undead status as a vampire."
"And he has Miss. Granger, and the Weasley family as witnesses to your vampirism." Severus added. "I attended an Order meeting on the 19th where Albus has ordered for members who can search to find you. I made mention you will likely make an appearance for 6th year, so not to fuss too much."
"I do plan to return." Harry nodded. "So what is the plan to ensure the manipulative fool doesn't get what's rightfully mine?"
"The first matter is showing that you are very much alive at Gringotts." Narcissa said. "So you'll need to appear under the glamour charm to appear as your old self."
"Easy enough." Harry replied.
"The second is removing Dumbledore as your guardian, which can only be done by having someone else take custody over you." Lucius said.
"I don't have any other family, and Dumbledore told me Remus couldn't because of him being a werewolf." Harry informed.
"Lupin?" Severus asked.
"He was one of my father's best friends, and though Sirius was my godfather; he left it in his will that while I inherited everything he left me, his godfather status was given to Remus Lupin." Harry explained. "The man is basically my uncle."
"I was one of your father's good friends too, Harry," Spoke a familiar voice as Harry saw Peter Pettigrew.
"You speak to me again and I'll do what my godfather didn't, rat-boy. I'll destroy you myself…There won't even be a finger left to find this time." Harry narrowed his eyes as they instantly turned red. Peter cowered down, his eyes not meeting Harry's. "You dare claim you were my father's friend when you are the reason they are dead. Remus and Sirius were right, you should have realized that if Voldemort didn't kill you, they would…" He glared. "I lost years with my godfather because of you framing him for your death. And I lost my parents because of you. Their death is on your hands. I let you live once…There are no second chances." He glanced to Voldemort. "I want him gone."
"Leave us, Wormtail…" Voldemort ordered.
"No, not leave the room. I want him dead." Harry stated.
"The honor is all yours, Harry. Go on." Voldemort told him.
"I didn't kill them." Peter argued. "Master, please! I've been faithful to you, done all you asked."
"I can't stop him, Wormtail. I'm afraid there isn't anything I can do to save you this time…And despite my wrong doings to Harry Potter; he's elected to leave me alive. I will not cross that threshold." Voldemort said calmly.
"You're on thin bloody ice, Tom…You and Bellatrix." Harry warned. "Thin ice that has already started to crack to the point of one wrong move and you're going through…"
"Warning received," Voldemort informed.
"You're not actually going to kill the rat…Are you, Harry?" Draco asked.
"I left the coward alive so he could be used to clear Sirius of all charges…He spent twelve years in Azkaban because of Pettigrew. And then spent two more years on the run to escape the dementor's kiss if caught…Things could have been very different in my life had I been raised by who I should have always been with. Sirius is gone…There's no reason to let him live longer." Harry remarked. "I never go back on my word. Everyone believes Pettigrew is already dead, I'm only making that statement true."
Peter whimpered. "He's all yours, Harry," Voldemort said. "I'm curious to see how you destroy him. Burst into flames? Take control of his body and break his neck."
"Much to messy, Tom. I'd rather not dirty up the Malfoy's dining room and vampires are known for their silent, unsuspecting kills. Nah, something much simpler. A matter of…Wrong form at the wrong time." Harry turned his head towards Peter Pettigrew. "Peter…Look at me." Peter looked away from him. Harry was in front of him in a flash with his speed and Peter looked right at him and felt himself go stiff. Harry's eyes were glowing red as Peter got out of his chair and shrunk down into rat form, staying still. Harry used his hand to levitate Peter off the ground by his tail and brought him to the middle of the table. "Nagini…Got a treat for you…" Harry hissed out. The snake by the fireplace uncurled and slithered up onto the table.
"I can eat the rat?" Nagini looked at Harry.
"Kill him." Harry said as he dropped the rat onto the table. It tried to run but Nagini struck fast to bite it, then throw it in the air and swallow it in one bite. Harry sat back down in his chair as Nagini slithered towards Harry and Harry stroked the top of the snake's head gently. "Good girl," Harry informed.
"I like this boy, master," Nagini told Voldemort then worked her way up Harry's arm and around the back of his neck, then the front so her head was on part of her body. "He's warm…"
"I don't see how he's warm…" Voldemort remarked.
"Warming charm." Harry informed. Nagini settled herself with Harry comfortably, then went back to sleep. "You were saying, Mr. Malfoy?" Harry's eyes returned to green as he looked at Lucius.
"You know…I entirely forgot you could speak snake." Draco chuckled. "And very nice play on wrong form at the wrong time."
"Circle of life. Snakes hunt rats and eat them. Such a pity Peter wasn't more careful in his rat form." Harry relaxed in the chair.
"Sure you weren't meant to be a Slytherin, Potter? Because that was very Slytherin of you." Severus commented.
"The hat wanted to put me there, originally. I said no, so it put me in Gryffindor. Evidently, I possess traits of both houses." Harry said.
"Wait…The sorting hat wanted to put you in Slytherin?" Voldemort asked.
"It insisted that I could be great there." Harry replied. "Or help me on my way to greatness. I don't remember. It was back in first year during the sorting ceremony. And…It also mentioned it in second year after your diary was destroyed."
"My diary was destroyed?!" Voldemort glared. "Lucius, I left that in your possession to protect!" He seethed.
"I assume it was the first attempt to bring you back to life by stealing Ginny's life force for yourself…Yes, I destroyed the diary." Harry informed.
"My Lord…The diary told me to send it to Hogwarts." Lucius replied. "Just before I took Draco school shopping; it ordered me to have it taken to Hogwarts. I knew I wouldn't get in for no reason, so I slipped it into Ginny Weasley's cauldron at the book shop." He explained.
"So it was you," Harry stared at him. "Glad you finally admitted it…"
"When did I not?" Lucius asked.
"After I emerged from the chamber, you showed up to find Dumbledore reinstated as headmaster. I brought you the diary and gave it back to you. You gave it to Dobby, and when I accused you of slipping it to Ginny…You replied with I'd like to see you prove it. Then Dobby was freed because of the sock in the diary, that you gave him…"
"Oh, yes…Your cleverness at twelve to free him from service with my family." Lucius recalled. "Sorry, Mr. Potter…I had orders to follow…And all worked out?"
"Before or after I almost died?!" Harry eyed him. "If it hadn't been for Fawkes, I'd have died down there…"
"Harry, it was years ago. Time to let the past go before you get angry…" Draco offered.
"I've been angry since I was old enough to understand I was living with muggles who hated magic, thereby extension…Hated me. Not that I knew about the wizarding world until I was eleven and Hagrid showed up to bring my letter…" Harry stated.
"And I promise you as your friend that I will help you extract whatever revenge on those who have wronged you…For now, relax. Okay?" Draco put a hand on his arm.
"Very well…" Harry sighed.
"Father, would you continue telling Harry of the plan?" Draco urged.
"Where did we leave off?" Narcissa asked.
"Replacing Dumbledore as my guardian…" Harry said.
"Ah, yes. So the easiest way would be for you to be…Adopted by another family, obviously one of a witch and wizard." Lucius informed.
"But not just any adoption, Harry…" Bellatrix chuckled. "One from blood magic."
"Like the type of magic that Dumbledore used to erect the blood wards over Privet Drive?" Harry questioned.
"Exactly like that," Narcissa nodded. "Blood magic is strong due to its binding capabilities. What we're suggesting, Harry…Is something called a blood adoption."
"Alright, you've got my attention." Harry invited them to proceed.
"The way it would work is you drinking a potion brewed to make you magically bound by blood to the family adopting you. You would retain your genetics from your own parents, but this would allow your signature to match the family taking you in. Making it so those questioning your familial ties cannot argue the family you're part of. Your looks will not change. This is the only way to get Dumbledore removed as your guardian, Potter," Severus explained. "You have to be taken in by a wizarding family in order for it to appear that you are their blood and guardianship would automatically transfer to your new parents."
"And who would be…Adopting me?" Harry asked.
"That would be us." Draco smiled.
"Y-Your family?" Harry questioned.
"We're a very old wizarding family, Harry. Part of the sacred twenty-eight…You do know what that is, right?" Draco inquired.
"Twenty-eight pure-blood families. Families who have remained fully pure blood throughout a set amount of years and remain so to current since the lists construction." Harry replied. "I knew the Longbottom's and Black's were on it. Weasley too, but I'm pretty sure Ron mentioned somewhere over the years that they were considered Blood Traitors?"
"Blood Traitor is a term used to familiarize pure-blood families who do not follow the views of the Pure-Blood ideology…Those believe we're all equal." Lucius explained.
"Ah. Then…Why adopt me? I'm half-blood and I totally don't support that some families are better than others, as Draco once worded it to me." Harry remarked.
"But you descend from a pure-blood family, Potter. I do believe your family would have been part of the sacred twenty-eight if not for Potter being such a common muggle last name. And the fact your mum was muggle-born." Draco informed. "But blood adoption to the Malfoy's, Harry, you'd probably be considered more pure blood than half. There'd be more pure blood in you than muggle."
"Won't doing this with my ideas of blood status make you blood traitors?" Harry questioned.
"No because it'd be adoption, Harry. Yes, in the family, but it won't affect our status on the sacred twenty-eight, nor will your views." Draco stated.
"So…Let me understand this in short summary," Harry paused. "You adopt me through blood adoption and it's enough to transfer guardianship from Dumbledore to you two," He pointed to Lucius and Narcissa. "Do I have to carry the Malfoy name?"
"You could hyphenate it with Potter if you wanted. It would be needed for legal documents." Narcissa replied. "We're not looking to take away who you really are, Harry."
"And it's one less way Dumbledore can attempt to control you, but Harry…There's a limit on this. Dumbledore has already been to Gringotts to make a claim you've died and when that waiting period runs out, which we don't know; it'll be said you've died and your entire inheritance will end up signed over to your next of kin, which is your muggle family. From there, I'm sure Dumbledore can get it from them with ease." Draco informed.
"Well, can't have that happening…" Harry mumbled.
"Then you agree, Harry? Will you accept being adopted by my family?" Draco asked him.
"As long as your family doesn't mind," Harry replied.
"We don't mind at all." Narcissa said.
"Alright then. I accept," Harry responded calmly.
"Severus?" Lucius looked to his friend.
Severus pulled the potion from his robes and set it in front of Harry after uncorking it. "We've already filled out the paperwork in anticipation you would accept. Its paperwork to take custody of you. We'll file it with Gringotts after you drink that potion. It'll ensure that when you go to Gringotts, the paperwork reflects the type of adoption as blood." Narcissa informed.
"This takes effect right away?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Severus nodded.
"Is it gonna taste like all the other potions?" Harry inquired.
"It shouldn't. In fact, with you as a vampire; you should love it. It's infused with Draco's and Lucius's blood as he's a Malfoy by blood. Narcissa is in there too. It makes you part of the family, without altering your looks any." Severus explained.
"Hey, you had me at Draco's blood…" Harry grinned as Draco only shook his head.
"You need to feed, don't you? It's been over a week." Draco smiled. "Just think…We'll basically be brothers after this."
"Are mom and dad gonna like me feeding from you?" Harry joked.
"We don't mind. It's better than the alternative…" Narcissa replied.
"Indeed." Lucius agreed.
Harry lifted the bottle, admiring the blood-red color before downing it quickly. "Wow that was good," Harry's eyes flashed red once then receded back to a green-silvery color.
"How do you feel?" Draco asked.
"Fantastic." Harry stated.
"Your eyes changed," Narcissa pointed out. "More of the silver like Lucius and Draco, but the green from your own mother."
"Fine by me," Harry smiled. "Now what?"
"It would be prudent to go to the bank and get things squared away right now." Severus informed. "Potter needs to hide his vampiric features under a glamour."
Harry waved his hand as his appearance changed back to before he got turned into a vampire, leaving only his silvery-green eyes. "Done,"
"We'll get ready and then we can floo to the Leaky Cauldron before going into Diagon Alley and Gringotts." Narcissa said.
"Are we all going?" Lucius asked.
"You should go with to Gringotts and get things taken care of. You're better at legal things. Draco and I will shop," Narcissa smiled.
"Of course you will," Lucius sighed.
"For Harry and Draco's school things!" Narcissa glared at her husband. "They start in two days and leave tomorrow to start classes on the 1st…" She reminded.
"I have Harry's letter right here," Severus pulled it from his robes. "I went through Surrey on my way here today and intercepted the owl carrying it." He gave it to Harry.
"Thanks and-," Harry set the letter down on the table. "My stuff is in Surrey still…"
"What stuff?" Draco asked.
"All my school stuff." Harry told him. "The trunk. My aunt and uncle make me lock it away in the cupboard under the stairs when I get back there for the summer. Even my wand is in there, not that I use it, but probably have to at Hogwarts this year…" He stated.
"No need to panic. Let's go to Gringotts and take care of the legal matters; give me your list, Harry. I will grab your things while I'm there with Draco. You two are about the same size and anything that doesn't fit; we can magically alter. After the bank, Severus can apparate Harry to Surrey to retrieve the trunk." Narcissa suggested. "All is fine." She smiled. "Let me have your letter, dear," Narcissa put out her hand as Harry handed it over to her and she sent it to her handbag by the door. "Now, let's get ready to depart." She informed.
"Off you go then, we'll remain here." Voldemort replied.
The Malfoy family, and Harry, with Severus all got up to leave the table and prepared to go out to Diagon Alley.