The Bonds That Tie
Harry knew he took a risk in telling Neville the truth, but there was a sub goal to get more people on his side. Harry was working with Voldemort, but refused to say he was a follower because he wasn't. If it could be any word used, Harry would call it a partnership because they were working together to put an end to the corrupt ministry of magic, and Dumbledore's manipulations. If Harry had gotten Neville to listen, there was a good chance of the others doing the same, but only once it was safe to reveal things to them. If Albus caught wind of the plans prematurely; it would only look like Harry joined the dark side and things would end up failing. This had to be an inside job, slowing getting rid of the problems without the suspense on him and Voldemort staying hidden away. Essentially, Harry was doing the dirty work. Severus handled spying and the death eaters were watching things from a safe distance. Lucius had the ministry handled while Draco and his friends handled recruitment. Harry also doubled as a spy because he could get close to Dumbledore for information, which already proved useful with figuring out the horcrux situation. Now, Voldemort had back five parts of his soul. One got destroyed four years ago and the other was safely hidden inside Harry, this was both at Voldemort's request and the fact no one yet knew how to remove it without killing Harry, which was already hard due to him being a vampire.
At the moment, Harry had just arrived back to Malfoy Manor and apparated himself into the main room where everyone still was from before when he'd left.
"You know, I'm not gonna lie. I'm jealous as hell that you can apparate anywhere except Hogwarts." Draco chuckled.
"Oh, I can apparate within its walls still." Harry replied with a smile.
"But Dumbledore put up anti-apparition wards to stop you from apparating. They were designed against vampires." Severus remarked.
"They don't work," Harry informed. "I can still apparate within Hogwarts. I just choose not to so the old fool thinks he's found a way to stop me." Harry shrugged. "I have a million other ways I can escape the castle under his radar and I use apparition as soon as I'm off the grounds. He doesn't have any control or power over me." The vampire grinned. "I'll show him eventually that nothing he does can stop me. I rather enjoy seeing his shocked face."
"How did it go with the Longbottom's?" Voldemort questioned.
"About the way I expected it would go," Harry responded. "Both surprised, Neville all for it and his grandmother unsure of the prospect, but in the end, agreed because my point couldn't be argued that if it failed; nothing will have been lost." He explained.
"She wasn't at all concerned with the fact you're not a fully trained healer?" Bellatrix wondered.
"That was her main argument. Still a student, not trained, how would I do it without a wand. I told her I was being trained by Severus, who she knows it's a master Legilimens and Potions Master. And I told her I can perform wandless and wordless magic easily." Harry stated. "It's set for after this school year ends to let me try. She said she'll contact St. Mungo's and set it up."
"Do you truly believe you can repair them?" Narcissa asked.
"I believe I can. It's not gonna be easy by any means, but that doesn't make it impossible." Harry stated.
"Why won't it be easy? Go in, put everything together, pull them out?" Rabastan asked.
"Which can take time. Yes, getting in will be easy…But if their minds are in shattered shambles as described, that's going to take time and energy to repair. And it's not just one person, it's two. Then there is finding where they are hidden in their own minds and having to bring them out and catch them up to speed on everything they've missed or when they come out they'll continue to be just as confused or driven back to insanity. They have to know who they are, so that's more I need to research. I'll have to talk to them while still inside." Harry stated. "No, it won't be easy at all."
"It's going to leave you exhausted and weak," Severus commented. "I suppose I'll be on standby to feed you." He added. "What about your magical core?"
"Should be fine." Harry informed. "I'm not going in blind to the task, but it'll take time. I'm debating on if I should find them first, then repair, or heal then find."
"What difference does it make?" Draco questioned.
"Not sure it would many any. My theory is them coming forward first would help in repairing damage, taking less strain off me if they came out of things knowing what happened as opposed to healing them and then bringing them out where they'd have no idea what took place. They'll still need to be informed of the last decade or so, but I'm thinking them present for the healing would make them aware of what took place, to help them heal as well. I can repair the mind, but it was still traumatic to undergo. It would mean their minds heal, but they'd still have to work through everything and taking on too much in that can cause a setback." Harry explained. "However, if they're present while the healing of shards happens, it could heal them too. Then the only thing upsetting is how much time they lost with Neville and those others that couldn't be saved during the first war."
"When put like that, I believe it would be wiser to have them present for the healing. Allow them to see their past coming back together and then filling them in on what they've missed." Lucius offered.
"That's the direction I was leaning towards," Harry nodded.
"You're not going to attempt this on both in the same day, are you?" Severus wondered.
"That depends on a multitude of factors during the first round." Harry informed.
"Such as?" Narcissa asked.
"Well, it depends on if I can do via possession or astral projection. Possession, I can keep track of time. Astral projection, I cannot. However, options then go onto another factor; how long it'll take. Then energy and magical stores. Now, in possession…I can monitor myself, I'll know when it's time to step back before I do damage to myself. And that's fine. If it takes too long and I'm weakening myself, I can step out and return the next day or later on after getting back my strength and energy." Harry explained.
"And in Astral Projection?" Voldemort inquired.
"That one requires someone to be monitoring me and it has to be you, Severus. Our bond lets you watch my energy and magic stores. If I have to astral project, I'll be using meditation to project my soul into the Longbottom's, at separate times. It's considered out of body, so you have to monitor my physical body while my soul is out of it. If you sense my stores are hitting dangerous levels, you have to wake me up." Harry told him firmly.
"I can do that." Severus nodded. "Will it affect the process if we pull you out before you're done?"
"I don't know. This has never been done before, this method, at least. How many people do you know would think of using a vampire's abilities to heal a shattered mind? We're not exactly liked nor accepted by the general population. Same with werewolves. If I were anyone else, I'd be just as outcast as the rest are and even that is fairly limited. I'm tolerated as being in full control and still prophesized to destroy the dark lord. Bet you after that, the tolerance disappears." Harry remarked. "Not that I care. I know who is on my side."
"Can't even say after that because you don't intend on destroying Voldemort." Bellatrix reminded.
"And how much tolerance or acceptance do you believe I'll have when that comes out, Bella? When it's revealed that not only did not destroy him, but helped him? It'll be like the old days where vampires were hunted down by mass groups of people with torches, stakes, and pitchforks." Harry asked calmly. Bellatrix went to speak, but stopped. "Exactly. That's why things have to be approached slowly and cautiously. It's why we have to swing this to everyone seeing Dumbledore as the one who created Voldemort, that it's not Tom's fault. He did choose the wrong path, and aside from negative side effects in bringing people back from the dead, he's working at fixing the damage he caused." Harry explained. "As Dumbledore has done for years, this needs to be done through a very carefully laid plan. Making moves when the time is right to change a mind and the minds that need changing are the ones who were affected by the first war. When that part of the population shifts, others will fall in line."
"Carefully laid indeed." Draco chuckled.
"Speaking of…That whole changing minds bit? Neville's with us." Harry stated.
"Longbottom is on our side?" Draco blinked.
"He is." Harry nodded. "I told him earlier when I'd finished talking to him and his grandmother about the idea. Neville asked me to be upfront about why I wasn't forgiving the others in Gryffindor, or anyone and I told him the truth. I told him Dumbledore was manipulating me, using my influence for his own agenda. I told Neville I'm allied with Tom, explained how Dumbledore manipulated him to becoming the dark lord. I said that Tom had his soul back except for two pieces and that Dumbledore has been keeping me alive to kill me at the right time in order to kill Tom. He was shocked, at first, and I thought he was going to immediately tell someone…But I did tell him that I didn't want to keep secrets from friends, that I had forgiven everyone, but keeping my distance because it wasn't safe that Dumbledore could use them against me." He explained. "I also told him I'd obliviate him if he wasn't on my side."
"And he agreed to be quiet?" Severus asked. "Harry, I don't know if Longbottom was the best choice to start your recruitment with."
"He can keep a secret." Harry stated. "Don't doubt his ability, Severus. I have full faith in Neville, he showed the most promise with the army of students. As a teacher, he was my star pupil and the most improved. What held him back was his wand. He never picked one from Ollivander; he inherited his father's. The wand chooses the wizard, and Neville's father's wand was still loyal to Frank, who isn't dead. Some wands can be inherited, or won in conquest. But this one couldn't." He explained.
"What about his mind? He can't shield it from Albus." Severus argued.
"And as long as Albus thinks I'm not good with anyone but Slytherin, Albus won't suspect there's a reason to pry." Harry informed. "Severus, love, don't doubt me. As I told Neville, I have far too much riding on these plans than to make such a careless mistake. I literally just told you this. I'm keeping my distance from them for a reason and it's so Albus doesn't believe they'll be of any use to him in getting information because we're not close." The potions master flushed a little when Harry called him love. "However, your teachings on the matter of Occlumency may be required. Neville wants to learn when school resumes."
"It brings us to the same problem of how I'd teach him or any others the skill without Dumbledore getting suspicious, Harry…" Severus sighed. "The room of requirement is too obvious, so would faking detentions in the dungeons."
"There's the Chamber of Secrets that Albus can't access." Narcissa suggested. "And Harry has a portkey right to the snake door. All he'd need is to gather those who wanted to learn and take them there himself."
"Exactly." Harry informed. "Though there is the downside of large groups. I obviously can't gather the entirety of the old army and take everyone. That would be rather noticeable."
"So what's your idea for large groups. When words gets out to the students of Dumbledore's plans to have you killed all these years, many will revolt against him and join you, vampire or not." Severus commented.
"Who else knows Occlumency well enough to teach it?" Lucius asked. "My thought would be having more teachers to the subject."
"I do." Bellatrix raised her hand.
"As do I," Voldemort added.
"Me too," Narcissa informed.
"I learned from Severus himself, so me as well." Draco remarked. "Everyone in Slytherin knows, actually. Uncle Sev taught me first and then we used nights in the common room before curfew to teach the others. Anyone who wants to learn."
"The problem would be getting people to agree to learn under them. I'm assuming Neville said something along the lines of having your back, not Voldemort's." Severus stated.
"Does it matter when we're all allied? But yes. He said he was on my side, even if I'm allied to the dark lord. I also said those on my side didn't have to take the mark because I've got the coin, which works on the same idea." Harry reminded.
"What about smaller groups?" Voldemort suggested. "Certain amounts on certain nights. Not too many at once to arise suspicion. Once they have it down, let them practice on their own and bring new people in to keep cycling out?"
"That would work, as long as Severus doesn't mind doing it throughout the week." Harry agreed. "We'd just have to watch how many people go at what time to ensure those not interested or can't be trusted not to blab don't take notice of the disappearance."
"It would be best after hours then, when everyone should be in bed. Have them sneak out and get to the dungeons to portkey with you," Draco suggested.
"Too risky to have that many people move throughout the castle after hours. The pictures could give them away, plus other teachers patrolling." Harry told him.
"What about building them a portkey to the chamber? Something they could leave their bed curtains closed and all just transport on their own. One for each house with someone you trust to keep it hidden?" Bellatrix offered.
"That might work." Rodolphus nodded. "Right, Harry?"
"It could." Harry thought on it. "But again, those items would have to be kept hidden from sight and only activated on the nights they're supposed to be there. It would have to be handed off if we split the groups up." He paused. "I could activate the coins…Anyone who signed up for the army last year is still held by that curse Hermione created. Anyone talks and they'd be revealed right away."
"Didn't that already get outed by Umbridge?" Draco asked.
"Doesn't matter." Harry stated. "Every name still on that parchment is bound by the curse, regardless if the group was discovered. It's whoever talks about it. When the army was outed, Hermione, myself, and Ron were excluded as the founders. We could reform the group and no one would know because Dumbledore believes it disbanded last year when we got caught. He doesn't know about the coins, only that it was formed by me because Umbridge wasn't teaching us proper defense."
"That wouldn't fly again as he knows I'm teaching that class this year." Severus reminded.
"Exactly. So the old fool has no reason to believe the students would be forming the army again. Because there's no reason to, so there's no suspicion that we're up to something. And he thinks I'm pissed at the others still…As long as he believes that, he won't suspect we're good and by the time he catches on; they'll have learned how to protect their minds. Further driving him to desperation and making his own careless mistakes because he won't be thinking clearly." Harry informed. "He'll dig his own grave and bury himself under so much dirt he won't be able to get back out."
"You're driving him to destroy himself." Voldemort realized. "That's far worse than anything we could ever do to him."
"Exactly." Harry smirked. "I don't have to do anything to him."
"So very Slytherin of you." Severus rolled his eyes. Harry sensed the arousal his future mate let off. That was Severus's way of saying Harry's dark side was hot. "How big was Dumbledore's Army again?"
"Thirty-six, made up of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor." Harry replied. "But that number has changed…Some abandoned it after being caught, other betrayed the group. Some have graduated or left of their own accord."
"We won't need Slytherin if Draco's been teaching them…Can you trust the people in those houses, Harry?" Severus asked.
"I plan to do the same as I did with Neville. I'll tell them the truth, with the warning of obliviating if I believe they're going to betray me." Harry stated.
"How will you know?" Lucius wondered.
"I have good lie detection as a vampire. There's certain factors in people lying that can be seen, worse that I can smell them. I can also get in their heads and look. Those who intend to betray will have their coins deactivated, obliviated, and sent back to where they were before then left out of the plans." Harry stated.
"Who can you expect from the old group will rejoin under the knowledge that you're allied with Voldemort?" Narcissa asked.
"Hard call to make…" Harry pulled out his notebook and started writing down names. "These are the original thirty-five…" He mentioned.
"I thought you said thirty-six?" Severus stated.
"I was the thirty-sixth," Harry rolled his eyes. "Edgecomb gave us up, so she's definitely out." He crossed off her name. "Smith abandoned it when found out, also never had much faith in it." Harry scratched out his name. "The Weasley twins left the end of that year. Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, and Alicia Spinnet all graduated." Harry then crossed out those five names. "Ginny, I'm purposely leaving out because I think Dumbledore has his hooks in her just a little too much." He crossed her out.
"Hasn't she given up after you yelled at her?" Lucius sighed.
"I think she's just biding her time to plan something else. No one as desperate as her just gives up unless they're planning far more advanced." Harry stated. "It matters not, nothing she does can affect the bond with Severus." He added. "Moving on with who would rejoin…Neville's already in, I suspect without doubt that Luna, Ron, Hermione, Dean, Seamus, and probably Cho without hesitation. I can't speak on the rest, but perhaps…Colin Creevy. He idolizes me eternally," He chuckled some. "The rest, I don't know. And that doesn't account for anyone new that might be interested."
"When do you plan on contacting them?" Draco inquired.
"That's the hard part. A full gathering at school would get attention, and I can't bring them all here. Nor my manor. It risks the locations."
"You can use Riddle Manor, if you like, in Little Hangleton." Voldemort stated. "It belongs to me, just sitting there. It is protected from sight to muggles, but not under the Fidelius Charm."
"It would be best to round them up before returning to school. As you said, a large gathering will attract attention. Better to find out who is on your side now because trying when school starts up again next week, you won't be able to get a massive group out to talk to them at the same time." Severus mentioned. "Send word to the members of Dumbledore's Army, have them reach out to anyone interested in join but inform that it's entirely quiet from adults, just like before."
"Can you turn their coins into portkeys from here?" Bellatrix asked.
"The coins are linked, so yes…If I link one, they'll follow suit." Harry nodded.
"Then those who have coins will have to take the others who don't have them." Lucius remarked.
"I'll work on that. Tom, if you'd be so kind to ensure the house is accessible?" Harry questioned.
"I'll take care of it," Voldemort nodded.
"Lovely. Now then…" Harry turned to face Severus. "This is going to take a lot of energy, so…Care to boost me?" He asked. Severus pulled back his sleeve for Harry. "I want your neck."
"I was meaning to ask about that…You never used to do it to me, why have to started to feed from the neck?" Draco wondered.
"It's a faster feed," Harry informed. "Neck has the carotid artery, which has a large concentration of blood that passes through it. Blood comes through faster as opposed to a smaller vein on the wrist. It's also far more intimate between bonded mates, and though we're not fully mated…We're bonded."
"Ah," Draco understood.
"Come on you," Harry practically pulled Severus away and towards the staircase.
"Yes, dear," Severus replied sarcastically. "Anything for you."
"Aw, I knew you liked me somewhere deep down. Guess it was hidden in your blood and I've drawn it out." Harry smirked. "Let's go see what else I can pull out…"
"Ha-HARRY!" Severus sputtered.
"Darling, wait until we're upstairs to yell my name." Harry chuckled as Severus's cheeks reddened. "You said anything…" Harry reminded as he danced gently behind Severus and licked his neck. "I'm taking the invitation."
"I hate you…" Severus mumbled, but his words were empty. It was more of defeat.
"Perhaps so, but you love what I do to you…" Harry whispered in his ear, nipping the lobe. "Come, before someone sees how unbelievably hard you're becoming."
Severus suddenly had no arguments, going upstairs with Harry freely before his arousal was noticed by anyone in the main room. Once they were upstairs, Harry locked the door and pinned Severus against it, capturing the man's lips with his own and Severus just melted into it right away.