The Bonds That Tie
Harry ended up in what seemed like dense forest, but it was a beautiful scene before him. However, while the foliage was a sight, what was better was the large castle he was staring at in front of him. Harry walked up the path and reached the black gates with a large P on them. Harry put the key around his neck and then raised his ring to the gate as it opened with loud creaking. The vampire waltzed through up to the doors and put a hand on the knob, turning it as the door opened and he could see darkness inside. Harry flicked his wrist to light the torches and lanterns with fire as the front entry way lit up with a soft, flickering orange glow. Harry began to walk through, taking everything in about what he saw. The house was huge! That was to be expected, it wasn't a manor, rather an actual castle! Harry couldn't believe this belonged to his family and now, it was his. Harry openly explored every bit he could find. Harry easily found everything and it was overwhelming, but Harry was overjoyed too. After months of searching, he finally found it. Harry searched all the floors, plus the tower entrance, where there were more rooms and hidden alcoves. Harry found the master bedroom first then the library, kitchen, offices, all the bedrooms, ballroom, grand room, and what Severus and Voldemort had been hoping for; the potions lab down in the basement.
There was mass amounts of storage space too; he could finally get his things from his other properties out of the Malfoy's house and into his own. Including things from the Chamber of Secrets in Salazar's secret room. Harry could hardly contain himself and knew work needed to begin right away to restore the place. First thing was first, calling Dobby.
"Dobby." Harry said gently as his friend appeared beside him when Harry was back at the main entry way.
"Harry Potter has called for Dobby?" The elf looked up at Harry.
"Hello, my friend." Harry greeted.
"What can Dobby do for Harry Potter?" Dobby asked with a smile.
"We're going to be moving here after I graduate Hogwarts; it needs a lot of work. Would you like to take on that task?" Harry inquired.
"Oh, Dobby would love to restore Harry Potter's family home!" Dobby nodded to him.
"It's a lot though, Dobby. Would you like some extra elf hands to help?" Harry offered.
"Dobby has lots of friends in Hogwarts' kitchens who would like to serve a master once again. If that is okay with Harry Potter?" Dobby hoped.
"Take whoever you like, as long as it won't get them into trouble for leaving." Harry remarked.
"Dobby knows Hogwarts working elves don't serve anyone. Dobby knows all the elves were just taken in because we like to work. Many would be happy to serve a master like Harry Potter." Dobby mentioned.
"Then grab some friends and bring them here to Potter Manor. You will be head elf and I know they probably won't take it, but I'll pay them and you too." Harry informed.
"Dobby has no need for money. Dobby only wishes to serve his friend forever." Dobby told Harry.
"I know, but you all do such good work and deserve a little something for it." Harry smiled.
"Dobby will accept no money from his friend Harry Potter." Dobby said firmly.
"Alright, alright…" Harry wasn't going to argue with him. "You grab a couple friends who want to serve someone again, and bring them here. Get it all fixed up and clean for me," He instructed. "When that is taken care of, come find me at Hogwarts or the Malfoy's place for what to do next."
"Yes, sir, Harry Potter!" Dobby saluted.
"Thank you, Dobby." Harry replied.
"Leave everything to Dobby! Dobby promises to have the house ready by summer!" Dobby enlightened. "Just in time for Harry Potter's birthday!"
"You're an amazing friend, Dobby. Let me know who you pick from Hogwarts and I can bond with them, if they like. If not and they're happy to serve as free elves, I'm okay with that." Harry stated. "I'm going to go unlock the fireplaces for Floo calling and travel." He added afterward. Dobby nodded as he popped away to get to Hogwarts, presumably.
Harry went on to locate all the fireplaces in the castle, opening each one and ensuring they were connected to the floo network. Harry knew that with the Fidelius charm, no one could get to the house unless he'd told them about it because he was secret keeper and then anyone else who knew was not allowed to reveal the information. It had to come from Harry himself. Though, Harry would probably tell Severus and make him secret keeper too. This would likely be their home, so it only made sense that they protect it. Severus had mentioned four days ago that if Harry found his house, he'd live there with him. Well, Harry had found it. Now, he needed to only open the fireplaces that would be used for high traffic to his house. Harry found a couch and pulled out a notebook where he made a list of all the fireplaces in the house, then marked which ones could be used for travel. Others could be for only calling and some just there to be normal fireplaces. It only took about twenty-minutes to set up the fireplaces, then Harry setting up their address names before Dobby returned with some house elves from Hogwarts.
"Dobby has returned with friends," Dobby announced as Harry was coming out of the grand room, having set up the last fireplace.
"Excellent." Harry stated. "Now, introduce everyone…"
"Dobby has brought Zoopy, Booky, Ranby, and Zanpy for males. And then Dobby has Nilmy, Jispy, Kolly, Milsy, Vismy, and Winky for girls, sir," Dobby said, motioning to each elf as he said their name. "But Kolly has requested to go to Grimmauld and work with Kreacher. Dobby was told they were family."
"Kolly may go to Grimmauld. Just tell grumpy old Kreacher that Lord Black has allowed this." Harry nodded.
"Kolly thanks the nice Lord Potter-Black and wills make him proud!" Kolly bowed her head to Harry. "May Kolly bond with Lord Black before she leaves?"
"Of course," Harry agreed. He recalled with Dobby's bonding that their magics had to mix for a bond to form, so when Kolly extended hers, Harry did the same; the two magics collided and wrapped around one another before going back into their bodies. Kolly bowed to Harry before popping out to, assumingly, go to Grimmauld Place.
"It's wonderful to meet the rest of you. I'm Harry James Potter-Black-Malfoy. I am Lord Potter and Black, but only adopted as a Malfoy. Also, I am Lord to the Slytherin line and I do. Now, I'm not sure what Dobby has told you…But this is my family home and I would like to restore it as well as modernize it to the current times. I hope you'll be able to help me with this. I've placed Dobby in charge of elf work here and I'm very happy to have you all working for me. Any that wish to bond formally may come forward and do so." As expected, they all stepped forward and one by one, Harry bonded to them, making all officially his elves to work for the Potter family.
"We will not let Lord Potter-Black down." The elves said together.
"Thank you. Dobby has the instructions of what to do and see him for any questions or orders." Harry smiled. "I leave it in your hands, Dobby. Place them on work you think they'd thrive in. There's kitchens, bedrooms, library, yardwork. I trust you to handle it. Find me if you need anything."
"Dobby will do as Harry Potter says." Dobby announced.
"You're a good friend, Dobby." Harry hugged him. Who cared if it wasn't proper? Harry sure as hell didn't. Dobby was his friend and had always been there for him. "Now, I'm off back to Malfoy Manor. I'll see you all soon and be checking in at random."
With that, Harry apparated himself back to the manor, very pleased with how things had gone tonight and it was all thanks to Severus. Harry really needed to find a way to thank him properly.
. . .
Harry apparated right into the main room of the manor in his some-what bow, then stood straight as he saw the Malfoy's, Severus, Voldemort, Bellatrix, Rabastan, and Rodolphus. Though Harry did just notice his Slytherin friends there along with their parents.
"Well, did you find it?" Pansy questioned first.
"I did." Harry nodded. "And I owe that find to you, Severus."
"It was your idea to go to Godric's Hollow and search for documents." Severus told him. "I just accompanied you,"
"No, it was your idea to check Godric's Hollow thinking my grandfather might have had documents from his parents, who assumingly lived at the manor. You who suggested checking the master closet. And it was you recognizing the bank seal to check for authenticity on being family to open the chest and lead me to the key that was a portkey to the house." Harry told him. "Don't argue with me. Shut up and take the credit, Professor."
"Yes, dear," Severus remarked.
"Good boy," Harry smiled and kissed his cheek. Severus flushed a bit, but tried to maintain his normal demeanor. Harry saw right through, so did others, but said nothing. Nobody would tease Severus for actually enjoying all the attention Harry gave him. The two were definitely closer after their talk four days ago.
"I did tell you I'd help you if I could." Severus remarked.
"When do we get to see it?" Draco chuckled.
"When it's fixed up and clean. I've got Dobby on it, and nine of his friends from Hogwarts." Harry informed.
"You stole elves from Hogwarts?" Lucius asked.
"I did no such thing!" Harry gasped at the accusation. "It was Dobby," He added. "Besides, the elves at Hogwarts are only there because they want to work and don't have owners. Dobby only took the ones who wanted to serve someone again. They had free will to leave whenever." He remarked. "Dobby brought them to work for me. Though, one went on to work with Kreacher at the Black house. Something about Kreacher being family and she wanted to be there."
"Well, I'd say it was a successful day then." Narcissa smiled. "Was it what you expected it to be, sweetheart?"
"More than, actually. It's huge, I have no idea what I'm gonna do with all that space…" Harry admitted. "I didn't explore everything in detail, but I did make my way around to see the doors and peek inside."
"Delightful!" Voldemort mentioned. "You've accomplished so much this year, Harry."
"I'm very driven," Harry stated.
"What does the house look like?" Blaise wondered.
"Large, stone-build, castle-looking. Fireplace in just about every room…Plenty of empty areas that don't have a designated room. Very old-style, gothic look. The lighting is lanterns and torches. The doors remind me of Hogwarts, being rounded doorways over square ones." Harry described. "And there's an incredible potions area in the basement…"
"Really?" Severus asked.
"Wanna see it?" Harry looked at him. Severus nodded his head to the vampire. "Go ahead, I'll let you in." He invited as Severus held Harry's hand and looked directly in his eyes to be able to see the potions lab through Harry's eyes. Severus finally pulled back and blinked a few times.
"That might be better than Salazar's…It takes up the whole basement." Severus stated.
"I know. I think there's a bedroom down there too, probably a bathroom. I didn't go crazy with my browsing around, but next time; I'm gonna see everything I can. You're welcome to join me, Severus." Harry remarked. "I'm probably going at the end of this school year, Dobby and the others have promised to have it cleaned up and upgraded by then. I said to keep the old-style look, but modernize to the age we're in currently."
"Can we all see too?" Theodore hoped.
"Of course." Harry pulled the key from around his neck and stared at it until he saw the strands of magic connecting it to Potter Castle. Harry carefully pulled that magic out and set it into his Potter lordship ring, then he put the key away in the box where it had been before closing it up and letting it reseal. Harry shrunk it down and put away in his pocket.
"What did you do?" Severus inquired.
"I duplicated the transportation magic to the house and set the copy in my ring to make my ring the portkey." Harry informed calmly. "And now the key can be put away for generations to come if it never gets passed down," He chuckled lightly.
"How do you do that?" Voldemort asked. "See magic?"
"I don't know. I just can ever since becoming a vampire. I can see and feel it, I can move it like I just did. I don't really ask why or how anymore." Harry admitted. "But it makes more sense for me to have the portkey in my ring, just like the one for Potter Cottage and the Chamber of Secrets is. And one for Grimmauld in my Black ring." He shrugged.
"You created a portkey to the Chamber of Secrets?" Draco blinked.
"Yeah, but it only goes to the snake door. I still have to use parseltongue to get in the chamber and then into the statue's hidden room." Harry stated. "I like easy access to places I'll be going frequently."
"Fair enough," Narcissa handed the paper back to Harry, who put it away. "I'm so happy for you dear." She kissed Harry's cheek.
"Thanks." Harry smiled. "Still pretty early in the night. Wanna go upstairs and you can teach me Occlumency and Healing?" He looked at Severus.
"As long as you're up for it." Severus agreed.
"I wouldn't have suggested it if I wasn't. Now, come on…I'm an a good mood." Harry pulled the man up.
"Have good lessons!" Narcissa called as Harry was practically dragging Severus out of the room and up the stairs to Harry's room. "They make a cute couple."
"We can just all be grateful they've made up and are getting along," Bellatrix stated. "That tension was thick."
"Indeed," Rabastan nodded.
"I'm just imagining how Harry would be if he actually got angry," Nott Sr commented.
"It wouldn't be pleasant," Francis Crabbe or Crabbe Sr, Vincent's dad, remarked.
"Wasn't he mad that morning after they bonded?" Rodolphus asked.
"I'd call that annoyance that Severus couldn't see the mistake he made and putting all the blame on Harry," Lucius informed. "I didn't sense anger."
"Neither did I. I've seen Harry mad, but not raging angry." Draco stated.
"When was he mad?" Narcissa wondered.
"That day he kicked Dumbledore out of Grimmauld. That was mad, but not raging. And even when he dealt with Pettigrew, he wasn't mad. That was annoyed." Draco enlightened.
"Has everything been worked out for Severus becoming a vampire?" Voldemort questioned.
"I believe so," Lucius nodded. "Severus is going to give up his place in Cokeworth and come live here with Harry when this school year ends as Harry will not only be turning Severus, but also teaching him how to be a vampire. And they're supposed to be mating at some point, or finishing the mating bond." He explained.
"How does that even work, how do they finish it?" Pansy inquired.
"They have sex and Harry marks him at the end," Draco informed his friend.
"What kind of mark, just…Bite marks?" Theo(Theodore Nott Jr) asked.
"Not sure. Just supposed to be a mark Harry gives him." Draco shrugged. "I'm assuming it's a bite of some kind, one that would leave a permanent placement and visible mark. It won't do much to our kind except those who know they're mates, but in the creature world; they're supposed to be able to smell the two on one another and know they're mated."
"Has it been worked out how they'll feed?" Gregory Goyle Jr wondered.
"They can't feed on each other, right?" Blaise pushed.
"They can, but it's more of an intimacy thing…Not actual feeding. It's just for the sake of sending the pleasure of being bitten through them. Or so Harry has said. As for feeding, Harry asked me if I'd be willing to let Severus practice on me." Draco mentioned. "I agreed. It's no different than when Harry did and it's just to help Severus get used to feeding and his hunger under control. After that, I believe Harry said they agreed on hunting unsuspecting muggles."
"But doesn't Harry hate that?" Pansy frowned.
"He does, but it's survival. I did say I didn't mind him feeding on me still, as long as they fed at separate times and days," Draco stated. "Guess they felt it would be too much, so going to something less drastic and dangerous. It's not as if the muggles know what's happened to them."
"As long as it's worked out." Lucius approved, as did Narcissa, who nodded in agreement.
"We should be getting home," Goyle Sr stood up and motioned to his son to do the same.
Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson rose with their daughter, Pansy, and then it was Vincent with his father followed by Blaise with his parents and Theo with his dad. The mothers of Vincent, Theo, and Gregory never came to the Malfoy's house because while they supported Voldemort's movements; they did not want to be part of anything crazy. However, since the goals had changed from when Voldemort first returned to his body two years ago; they were coming around to potentially joining up as allies to help the group grow in numbers.
"See you guys soon!" Draco waved as the families began to file out via floo, or apparition.
"Well, today's certainly been interesting." Bellatrix stated calmly.
"Always seems to be when Harry is around," Lucius stated. "At least Harry found his family home. I'm certain that's the reason for his good mood."
"And that he and Severus aren't fighting anymore." Voldemort added.
"I don't think they were ever fighting. Uncle Sev is just stubborn and had always had that grudge on Harry's dad, which spilled over onto Harry ever since first year at Hogwarts. The tension between those two has literally always been that thick since they met face to face." Draco chuckled. "I suppose all these years, Harry had just needed to make Severus see that he isn't his father. Severus needed to be told off and get a taste of his own medicine. I think that's how the muggles say it, or so Harry has mentioned they do." He shrugged. "Whatever, they're getting along."
"Thank Merlin for that." The group agreed.
The rest of the night was calm. Harry spent most of his night with Severus, learning Occlumency and Healing until Severus finally decided to get some sleep. Harry told him to enjoy it while he could because once he turned vampire; it would be rare that he did. Harry stayed up as he always did, reading things and making plans for how he would approach Neville and the man's grandmother to discuss the possible chance of saving Alice and Frank Longbottom from insanity. Harry also worked on making emergency portkeys to Potter Castle for all residents of Malfoy Manor, plus the other Death Eaters. Harry had a feeling that Dumbledore's quietness was because he was plotting something and Harry wanted everyone to have a safe place to evacuate to if it went bad. Harry wouldn't lose anything else and he would stop Dumbledore to fix the world as everyone knew it.