The Bonds That Tie
Four days ago, Harry and Severus finally talked things out and ended their night with some fun. They didn't have sex, but they messed around and went to sleep together in Severus's room. The next morning, Harry had breakfast with the man and finally went back home because his adoptive parents were wondering where he was. Harry, of course, explained things to Lucius and Narcissa about living situations and they understood that after Severus was turned at the start of summer, Harry was going to need to be around him a lot to ensure things went smoothly. Harry explained that since he would still be under seventeen, legally, it might be better to have them stay at the manor. Lucius and Narcissa, of course, were fine with it and agreed with the idea. Harry and Severus would live together in Harry's room until Harry graduated and beyond that; they would either stay for a bit or go find a place of their own. Harry had already said he would not return to Godric's Hollow, but maybe his own manor if he could find it. If not, the two could purchase their own home. Lucius and Narcissa had already extended out the invitation for them to remain forever, so that was on the table too.
Harry also sat down with Draco and asked if he'd be willing to feed Severus for a bit, just to get him used to feeding and handle the crazy thirst. After that, Severus and Harry agreed to start hunting on muggles just because it would be easier. The whole situation with Harry only craving Severus's blood would fade when the man became a vampire because they couldn't drink each other's blood. They could in an intimate setting, but not for feeding itself. Harry had been told this by Sanguini during conversations about vampire mating, and of course, Sanguini offered a place in the coven for Severus too and Harry said he would talk to Severus about things, but right now, no one knew he had contact with other vampires because if word got out to the wrong people; it would be bad. Sanguini understood and also offered any assistance to Harry with things, they even discussed how to go through the transformation even though Harry already had a general idea and had been pretty spot on when he told Sanguini how he was going to do it. The rest of the time Harry had spent since the talk with Severus had been trying to figure out how to find Potter Castle.
Right now, it was about lunch time on the 26th of March. Everyone was eating while Harry enjoyed goblet of warmed animal blood, just to be able to join them. Harry hadn't yet revealed that potion Sanguini gave him and it was mainly because he didn't know how to reveal where he got it from because it couldn't just take credit that he created it.
"Harry, you're going to give yourself a stress-induced stroke over trying to find that old family home." Draco teased.
Yes, Harry was still trying to find it and it was infuriating that he had nothing to go off of. "Leave him be, Draco. Harry's very determined," Narcissa chuckled.
"There must be something about it somewhere," Lucius offered. "Isn't there? The ministry? The bank?"
"There's nothing. My family kept this place under serious levels of lock and key," Harry remarked. "Merlin above, I'm starting to think my only choice is talking to the dead and asking."
"I wish I could help more, pup," Sirius mentioned. "I only ever knew of Potter Cottage. Not even your father knew, nor his own parents. They've been at the cottage in Godric's Hollow all their lives, even when Fleamont was a boy." Sirius could basically go to any room in the manor. There was a blank portrait put up in the main room, library, dining area, and even Harry's room.
"I know, Uncle Siri…I'll find it, don't worry. I'm not one to give up so easily." Harry assured.
"I know, Harry. Oh, and Remus wants you to visit soon. He misses you." Sirius informed.
"I'll visit him sometime over the holiday," Harry nodded.
"I've just thought of something…" Severus suddenly spoke. "Black, did Harry's great grandparents live at the cottage?"
"I…Don't believe so." Sirius replied. "Why?"
"Harry," Severus faced his future mate. "Have you tried going to the cottage to look through old documents? If your grandfather's parents lived there, it's possible they left documents or wills with the information that Fleamont Potter took with him when he moved with his wife."
"I've…Never been to the cottage. I do know where it is, I passed it while heading to find the Peverell home. Still standing in its near destroyed state," Harry remarked. "Do you think my grandfather would have kept important documents like that laying around in an abandoned house?"
"It wasn't abandoned until your parents died, and besides…Non-magic folk can't see the wreckage. It's just an empty lot to them. The cottage is protected, marked to memorialize your folks. No one's been there since the night Hagrid came to get you." Sirius enlightened. "Severus might be onto something, Harry…It might be worth it to have a look?"
"I've got nothing else to try," Harry sighed. "Fine, I'll go later tonight." He decided.
"May I join you?" Severus questioned. "I did not visit your mother this year as we had the crisis with you over the Christmas holiday. I won't hinder your searching."
"You don't hinder me, Severus. I can't tell you what to do, I'm not your keeper." He chuckled. "You can come if you like."
"What time do we leave?" Severus asked.
"7:30 pm sound good to you?" Harry wondered.
"I'll meet you in the main room?" Severus said.
"Meet you there." Harry nodded.
. . .
As planned, at 7:30 pm, Harry and Severus stood in the main room of the manor.
"Ready?" Harry questioned.
"Are you?" Severus looked at the teenager. It would be Harry's first time going to the cottage since he was born there and left about fifteen months old with Hagrid to be taken to Dumbledore, who left him with his muggle relatives. Severus knew Harry was hesitant; this is where everything started with his parents dying and him becoming the boy who lived.
"As ready as I can be, I suppose." Harry nodded. "You should handle the apparating. I've never been, I don't want to mess it up."
"Alright then. Hold on," Severus offered his hand this time.
Harry linked his fingers with the potion master's, and then they were gone seconds later. The two arrived hidden alcove of two buildings and looked around before walking out hand in hand. The town was quiet, but a few people were still meandering around. Severus and Harry walked down the street until Severus stopped at the cottage as Harry just took it in. Last time he was here, he only gave it a glance before moving on to where he was going.
"Would you like me to come in with you?" Severus asked.
"I thought you wanted to go visit with mum?" Harry wondered.
"I just wanted to be here with you, Harry." Severus admitted. "I'll still visit your mother before we leave, but I promised you some days ago that I'd accompany you here. I sensed your hesitation, I figured you didn't want to go alone. Now, you don't have to be."
Harry smiled some and leaned over to kiss the man's cheek. "Thank you, Sev," Harry took a cautious step towards the gate and walked through with Severus right there beside him and holding his hand.
"I'm right here," Severus promised.
Harry approached the front door and turned the handle to open the door. It gave an eerie creaking as Harry swallowed his fear to keep moving. It seemed like a basic set up; living room right away, then farther back was the kitchen. Down the hall looked to be three other doors, they were likely a bathroom, and guests rooms. Harry didn't know. The vampire turned to go up the stairs slowly as Severus recalled when he walked these stairs and passed over James Potter's dead body. Harry too recalled this as Severus had allowed Harry to see his memories of that talk with Dumbledore. Harry ended up tightening his grip on Severus's hand while passing the master bedroom and only peeking inside, then he went down the hall further to find a bathroom and at the very end was the nursery. His room so many years ago. Harry inched towards it, seeing everything as if time had frozen it like that.
Harry laid eyes on the crib, mobile above it, changing table, toys…It really was moving. It had to be hard for Severus; he was in this room with him, holding his mum's body after she'd already died. Severus was being strong for Harry, who still felt the pain of wanting to cry, standing in the room, Harry could scarcely recall the scream his mother gave when Voldemort killed her. Despite how young he'd been, he could see everything as if it was happening all over again. A distant memory of her saying that he was so loved by her and his father. To be safe and strong. Harry closed his eyes as he let his mind take him back to that awful night. He was young, but he'd been nearly a year and a half old; it was there and repressed until triggered, like now. Harry saw that blinding green light as his mother's body fell; his eyes snapped open and he quickly left the room as if it had burned him.
"Harry, are you alright?" Severus asked.
"I-I remember it. That night…" Harry told him.
"You were so young, but I know there have been muggle studies about recalling traumatic events," Severus informed as he stood next to Harry, who was against the wall. "How much do you remember?"
"Enough that I wish I didn't…" Harry sighed. "It was every bit of why I'd hesitated coming back," He gathered himself. "I don't want to be here anymore."
"Well, let's go then. We can come back another time, when you're ready to be here. Your family home won't go anywhere during such time." Severus suggested.
"No. We're here…I'm not gonna waste the trip. I just can't be up here right now." Harry got off the wall and headed for the stairs. Severus walked behind Harry, grabbing hold of his hand as they descended the stairs back to the main level.
Harry traipsed through the hall, finding what he had assumed was a small half bathroom behind one door, then the guest bedroom, and of course, an office. Harry wandered into the office and looked around, then cast the Lumos spell to see better. He had night vision, but Severus didn't, and the man seemed to want to try and help the best he could.
"I don't even know what I'm looking for…" Harry mumbled.
"Things of value would be kept in hidden places. Your father was an Auror, I'm sure if he brought any work home with him; it's already been cleared out by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement shortly after his death. That saves time in things to file through." Severus informed. "Let's start around the desk? Or you check the desk and I'll try the closet?"
"Sounds good to me." Harry went over to the desk and began to check over the top of it, then inside drawers. If Harry came across files, he'd pull them out to check over what was inside. It looked like bank statements and letters. Then Harry found letters from Sirius and Remus. Harry began to go through them as Severus was rummaging through the closet to see if anything popped out as useful.
"Nothing in the closet except some old clothes, couple boxes," Severus revealed. "What have you got there?"
"Letters from Sirius and Remus to dad…" Harry replied gently. "The responses to them learning mum was pregnant, needing to get together again. Remus's thank you's to dad for supporting him when he couldn't find work before the Order…Sirius's thank you's to my grandfather and my dad for taking him in…" Harry put the letters away where they were and rubbed his temples. "I swear this place is trying to hurt me in its own way." He muttered.
"Did you check the desk for secret compartments?" Severus suggested.
"No…I didn't even think about it to be honest." Harry looked at the desk.
"Here," Severus walked around the desk and opened the drawers to pull things out carefully and check for compartments. There was nothing so far, but then he ran his finger over something inside the top right and flipped the latch as the top of the desk shifted slightly. Harry and Severus pushed the desk upward to reveal folders and documents. After fifteen minutes of filing through everything, Harry still had nothing and sat back while Severus had picked up the last item in his pile of things.
"Okay. Focus, Harry…If you were an important document about family things, where would you be…" He asked while looking around.
"The master bedroom. An office is too easy, it's the first place anyone would look…" Severus offered to him. Harry realized he was right before he quickly went up the stairs and entered his parents' old room. Harry checked the nightstands, under the bed, dresser drawers and finally the closet. Harry found nothing and huffed. "Come on, guys…Help me out." Harry sighed as he prepared to leave the closet and felt the boards shifting under his feet. Harry turned back around and knelt to the floor as he moved some things aside and saw a trap door. Harry pulled it open and found a lone wooden box inside. It was just big enough to hold papers, so was this it?
Harry sat back and tried to open the box, but to no avail. "I'll just take it with me and maybe someone better suited to figuring out what's on this can break it…" Harry got up and returned to Severus in the office.
"Found something? What do you have there?" Severus asked.
"Found it in a trap door of the master closet…It's enchanted, I can't open it. I figure we'll take it with us?" Harry shrugged. "Now, let's get out of here. This place gives me the creeps. We still have to stop at the cemetery, don't we?"
"You don't have to, Harry." Severus stated gently.
"I want to." Harry stood up. "You were there for me, I can be here for you too."
Severus nodded as the two left the house the way they'd found it, and finally exited the cottage to continue down the street. The walk was short, but they finally got there and Severus brought Harry right to the headstones of his parents. The two stood in silence before Severus drew his wand to form some flowers and Harry ended up leaning his head on Severus's shoulder; the man put his head on Harry's. After a good five minutes, Severus linked his hand to Harry's, and when the vampire tangled their fingers; the potions master got the hint. It was time to leave. Harry enjoyed the time he got with Severus for this trip, but at the same time, it had hurt him to be there. Harry might go back to get some things to hold onto as mementoes of his parents, but he wanted to avoid that cottage on the next trip to Godric's Hollow. Harry didn't mind the cemetery, that was peaceful. Finally, Severus apparated them back to the manor.
. . .
Severus landed them just inside the gates of the manor, then the two made their way inside the door and walking through to the main room where everyone still sat chatting gently.
"Harry, Severus…Welcome back." Narcissa greeted.
"How did the search go?" Draco wondered.
"Uneventful, unless there's something in here." Harry pulled the box from his pocket and enlarged it back to normal size. "It was hidden under a trap door in the master bedroom closet, covered by other boxes to protect the door." He held it in his hands. "It's enchanted, but I can't seem to break it." He added lightly.
"Let me try, Harry. I'm the dark lord's curse and enchantment expert next to potions master," Severus offered. Harry gave him the box as they both sat down. Severus inspected it closely, pulling his wand and trying a multitude of wordless things and the object never budged on opening. "Yeah, whatever is on this was to keep everyone out…Except maybe members of the family. Harry, have you tried putting your ring to it yet?"
"No," Harry pulled the box back into his lap and he then raised his Potter lordship ring to the front opening. It did nothing. "So much for that…" He muttered.
"Wait…This is a bank seal for Gringotts right here," Severus pointed to the seal on the front lock. "Not just any either. That's the seal used for inheritance tests, to prove who you are. If it only opens to family, it needs to know you are. Use your blood, Harry…See if that works?"
Harry tilted the box again and used his fang to prick his thumb and bring the blood forward before turning it over and letting three drops hit the seal and then there was a click. Harry lightly lifted the cover as it opened and then Harry let it drop back down as he quickly captured Severus's lips in a quick, but deep kiss. "Sev, you're a fucking genius!" Harry said after pulling back and then Harry lifted the lid of the small chest upward to open it fully. Inside there were more papers that Harry pulled out to look over.
"What do they say?" Lucius questioned.
"I can't see anything," Severus informed.
"I can…They're enchanted just like the ones Griphook had sent off with Dobby to give me about my accounts at the bank. Only I can see them because of how protected the information is…" Harry read through the papers. "Nothing on the house in these, more bank statements it looks like. Letters to old friends, and so on. Harry moved the papers aside to find a secondary part of the chest that he noticed had a circular indent on top. "Huh…A hidden compartment…" Harry looked at his ring then set his hand inside and placed the ring's top in the indent as the bottom part opened to reveal that there was a note Harry lifted. "To always take you home…" He read off before seeing an old style skeleton key. Harry lifted the object up by the chain it was attached to.
"What's that, Harry?" Draco wondered.
"I think it's a portkey to the house..." Harry replied.
"Try. Try it, Harry. You've come this far, see it all the way through." Bellatrix told him.
Harry lightly gripped his hand around the key and just like that, he was gone.